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Science and Nature

Forensic Medicine & Science: Obtaining Evidence

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

This short course looks at the medical and scientific forensic procedures used in the period following a suspicious death, providing the information required to determine whether a crime has taken place. The course includes practical work, using human skeletal and dental identification methods.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge of the subject is assumed.

Content of Course

This is a multidisciplinary course, introducing elements of law, science and medicine.

 

1 – Introduction & Obtaining evidence from the crime scene I

2 – Crime Scene II

3 – Understanding post-mortem examinations

4 – The Identification process

5 – Identification II & drawing conclusions: “Has a crime taken place?”

Teaching method(s)

Lecture based, but with much class discussion encouraged; practical opportunities in classes 4 & 5.

Learning outcomes

Intended learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • understand the underlying principles of forensic medical and forensic scientific evidence;
  • understand the importance of maintaining the ‘chain of evidence’ form the crime scene;
  • critically evaluate both news media and entertainment representations of forensic work.

Transferable skills

Critical thinking, observation and deduction; discussion in group.

Sources

Core Readings

There is no essential text for the course, core knowledge will be introduced in the lecture notes with reference to relevant excerpts from selected texts such as:

 Burkhard, M. 2014. Handbook of Forensic Medicine. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell

Wyatt, J. et al. 2011. Oxford Handbook of Forensic Medicine. Oxford University Press.

Web Sources

http://www.forensicmed.co.uk/

Class Handouts

Class handouts: text-only electronic versions of PowerPoint presentations will be provided.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.