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Forensic Science Course
Course Overview
More and more people are becoming interested in this varied and challenging branch of science. Partly this is because of exposure on popular television programmes, and also because of the rapid changes in the technology now available to the forensic scientist such as DNA identification.
This course from MyDistance Learning will provide you with a great deal of information about this exciting and wide-ranging subject. Whilst we do not pretend that you will be able to step into a forensic scientist’s job on completion of this course – you would need to undertake a practical qualification to do that – we do provide you with invaluable insights into this complex world which will stand you in good stead should you wish to take that further step into a vocational, hands-on course or pursue it at a more academic level.
Forensic means ‘in the service of law’. To study forensics involves the application of knowledge to legal issues. The term is derived from the Latin word forensis, which means 'in open court, public'.
Forensic science is concerned with using scientific methods either in public, in a court, or in the justice system as a whole. In fact, any science used for the purposes of the law is forensic science. The prime function of Forensic Scientists is to provide evidence to support criminal investigations.
What will I Learn on the Course?
The Forensic Science course is designed into three main areas covering:
• Introduction to Forensics
• Criminology
• Human Anatomy and Physiology
There are a total of 33 units and you will complete a series of assignments, submitted by email and marked by your personal tutor.
Course Requirements
This course has been independently accredited as being equivalent to level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) which means it is comparable to an A Level or NVQ Level 3.
With this being a Level Three course, a reasonable level of literacy to GCSE A-C would be desirable
Course level: Level 3 NCFE (What does this mean?)
Study hours: 100
Length of course: 12 months
Tutor Support: 12 months (can be extended)
Tutor marked assignments: Yes
Final exam: No
Instalment plan available: Yes
Course Outline
The course is divided into three sections
Human Anatomy and Physiology (3 learning credits)
Key Topics
Unit 1 Introduction to the Human Body
• Human body structure
• Body functions
• Life process
• Anatomical terminology
Unit 2 Cells, Tissues and Membranes
• Cell structure and function
• Body tissues
• Membranes
Unit 3 Skeletal System
• Functions of the Skeletal System
• Bone tissue
• Bone development and growth
• Classifications of bones
• Divisions of the skeleton
Unit 4 Muscular System
• Functions of the Muscular System
• Structure of the skeletal muscle
• Muscle types
• Skeletal muscle group
Unit 5 Nervous System
• Functions of the Nervous System
• Nerve tissue
• Organisation of the Nervous System
Unit 6 Endocrine System
• Introduction to the Endocrine System
• Characteristics of Hormones
• Endocrine glands
Unit 7 Cardiovascular System
• Introduction to the Cardiovascular System
• Heart
• Blood
Unit 8 Lymphatic System
• Functions of the Lymphatic System
• Components of the Lymphatic System
Unit 9 Respiratory System
• Introduction to the Respiratory System
• Mechanics of Ventilation
• Respiratory Volumes and Capacities
• Conducting Passages
Unit 10 Digestive System
• Functions of the Digestive System
• General structure
• Regions of the Digestive System
Unit 11 Urinary System
• Functions of the Urinary System
• Components of the Urinary System
Unit 12 Reproductive System
• Introduction to the Reproductive System
• Male Reproductive System
• Female Reproductive System
Criminology (6 learning credits)
Unit 1: Introduction to Criminology
• Definition of Criminology and the theories used
Unit 2: Criminal Statistics
• Study of the trends of modern day criminal statistics
Unit 3: The UK Justice System
• The UK Justice system and key legal terms
Unit 4: Understanding Drugs
• The range of drugs, what effects they have, their methods of use, their prevalence, production, marketing and common street names
Unit 5: Understanding Violence
• Different forms of violence and the possible reasons for it
Unit 6: Understanding Property Crime
• Different forms of property crime and when and where they occur
Unit 7: Understanding Crime and the Community
• The role of the community in crime prevention
Unit 8: Understanding Trans-national and Organised Crime
• Forms of organised and trans-national crime
Unit 9: Understanding High Tech Crime
• The use of computers and Internet technology in support of criminal activities
Unit 10: Understanding Crime Prevention
• The causes of crime and use of problem-solving tools to reduce or eliminate the factors that can to lead crime
Unit 11: Understanding Youth Crime
• Why youths turn to crime and why everyone has a role in supporting youth and preventing youth crime
Unit 12: Understanding Anti-Social Behaviour
• Different forms of anti-social behaviour, who it effects, its long terms effects and approaches to tackling it
Unit 13: Introduction to Forensic Psychology
• What Forensic Psychology is, how it works - from basic theories and principles, through research, understanding and explaining results, to the actual application of psychological techniques
Unit 14: Introduction to Criminal Profiling
• Criminal profiling and how the use of scientific methods, logical reasoning, sources of information on people, criminology, victimology, and experience or skill are employed to interpret the events that surround the commission of a crime
Unit 15: Introduction to the Theory of Terrorism
• Terrorism and why it is a deliberate use of violence against civilians for political or religious ends
Forensics (9 learning credits)
Unit 1: Introduction to Chemistry
• The different branches of chemistry and topics such as the Periodic Table
Unit 2: Introduction to Forensic Psychology
• The application of Psychology in the field of Forensics and its history plus an overview of Forensic Psychology
Unit 3: Introduction to Criminal Profiling
• Crime reconstruction, its history and applications
Unit 4: Introduction to Fingerprinting
• A complete overview of Fingerprinting, methods of obtaining fingerprints and how they are used in Forensics
Unit 5: Introduction to DNA
• This complex subject is broken down into easy bite-sized sections to provide an understanding of how DNA is used to catch criminals
Unit 6: Introduction to Crime Scene Analysis
• How to analyse and collect evidence from a crime scene
Unit 7: Introduction to Examining Evidence
• An overview of examining evidence collected from a crime scene
Unit 8: Introduction to Forensic Computing
• An overall view of the world of Forensic Computing and how technology is used to capture criminals
Advice on further studies- training to become a Forensic Scientist
There are two main elements in the training required to become a general forensic scientist. The first involves academic courses, and the second, on-the-job training, usually with one of the main suppliers of primary services to the police.
Academic requirements
Requirements in respect of academic qualifications depend on the ultimate goal. For instance, to become an assistant forensic scientist or equivalent or a technical specialist, you are likely to need at least four good passes at GCSE including English and either science (Biology/Chemistry) or Maths, and at least one 'A' level in a science subject. To become a case-reporting forensic scientist and/or a forensic science researcher, you will usually require at least a good first degree in Biology, Chemistry or related subject, followed up, in many cases, by a postgraduate/MSc qualification in forensic science or by direct employment.
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