{"id":27702,"date":"2013-03-11T10:30:41","date_gmt":"2013-03-11T14:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/?page_id=27702"},"modified":"2020-09-24T14:30:31","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T18:30:31","slug":"core-curriculum","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/bmfs\/curriculum\/core-curriculum\/","title":{"rendered":"Core Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"

These core\u00a0courses cover essential topics in forensic science\u00a0providing\u00a0necessary training for students to work in a forensic laboratory. Many courses include laboratory or other hands-on components.
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Criminal Law and Ethics (FS 700, 2 credits)<\/h4>
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An overview of the legal, ethical, and practical issues of forensic science and its impact\u00a0on the justice system. \u00a0The course covers\u00a0the\u00a0traditional and emerging admissibility standards involving forensic science evidence.\u00a0The various roles law enforcement, attorneys and forensic scientists and the ethics and professional standards for the practice of criminalistics in various forensic disciplines is discussed.
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Crime Scene Investigation (FS 701, 3 credits)<\/h4>
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This combination hands-on and lecture-based course provides students with an in-depth review of crime scene assessment and management. Students learn methods for identifying, documenting, collecting and packaging physical evidence from various types of crime scenes. Techniques\u00a0such as crime scene sketching, photography and pattern evidence collection are also covered.
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Forensic Biology (FS 702, 3 credits)<\/h4>

\nThis lecture-base course introduces students to general criminalistics and the biological aspects of forensic evidence including biochemical and physical attributes of blood and other body fluids, and the common methods of body fluid identification utilized in forensic laboratories are\u00a0discussed. Other topics include thorough evidence examination, screening, documentation, report writing and ethical issues facing forensic biologists.
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Forensic Chemistry (FS 703, 3 credits)<\/h4>

\nThis course provides an introduction to forensic chemistry and\u00a0exposes students to chemical principles and instrumental techniques associated with the field, with particular emphasis on the analysis of controlled substances, fire debris and explosives, and on forensic toxicology. A relevant review of organic and analytical chemistry is included.
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Trace Evidence Analysis (FS 707, 3 credits)<\/h4>

\nThis lecture-based course provides an overview of the principles and concepts on the basis of\u00a0trace evidence analysis. Students learn proper techniques for the collection, preservation, identification and comparison of items such as glass, paint, hairs and fibers, using standard methods and instruments.
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Molecular Biology of Forensic DNA Analysis (FS 720, 3 credits)<\/h4>

\nThis course discusses the theory and application of human genetics and molecular biology to the testing of biological evidence. DNA structure and organization of the human genome and types of genetic variation occurring in humans is covered. Other topics include the history of DNA analysis and current PCR-based methods for testing of autosomal STR loci, Y chromosome STR loci and mitochondrial DNA. Lecture material also covers commonly encountered artifacts\u00a0in PCR testing, DNA profile interpretation and statistical analysis of results.
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Criminal Law II-Mock Court (FS 800, 2 credits)<\/h4>

\nThis interactive course builds on material discussed in Criminal Law and Ethics regarding the criminal trial process, the role of the forensic witness and the presentation of scientific testimony and physical evidence in court. Students present testimony as well as critique the performance of others in a mock court setting. Instructors utilize reports and projects prepared in other courses to provide the subject matter for the students’ testimony. Prerequisite: Criminal Law and Ethics.<\/em>
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Forensic Toxicology (FS 830, 3 credits)<\/h4>
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This lecture-based course gives\u00a0an overview of the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of common drugs of interest to the forensic toxicologist, with emphasis on applying the principles of pharmacokinetics to the interpretation of drug blood and urine levels. Students develop an understanding of how drugs (including ethanol) interact with the biology and physiology of the human body and acquire knowledge of the chemical structure of common drugs.<\/p>\n

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Directed Research and Professionalism in Biomedical Forensic Sciences (FS 870, 2 credits)<\/h4>

\nStudents register for this course in preparation of a research-based thesis project. With direction from a thesis research committee, the student investigates his\/her thesis topic, develops a research plan including an outline of the project, becomes familiar with quality control and quality assurance issues and begins data collection. Throughout the semester students are required to attend instructional and discussion sessions and must attend a minimum of ten designated professional\/scientific seminars. Prerequisite: Active involvement in the Master’s research project and a designated Principal Investigator.<\/em>
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Research in Forensic Sciences (FS 970 and\/or 971, 2 credits)<\/h4>

\nStudents complete an independent program of research that is incorporated into a thesis of publishable quality, states a hypothesis or scientific question and presents the findings to support the stated proposition. Thesis topics are developed in conjunction with a research committee consisting of faculty members and\/or other qualified individuals. Students register for this course during the semester in which the student anticipates graduation from the program. Prerequisite: Directed Research and Professionalism in Biomedical Forensic Sciences.<\/em>
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These core\u00a0courses cover essential topics in forensic science\u00a0providing\u00a0necessary training for students to work in a forensic laboratory. Many courses include laboratory or other hands-on components.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3330,"featured_media":0,"parent":27696,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27702"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3330"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27702"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75470,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27702\/revisions\/75470"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27696"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}