Courses
Forensic and Investigative Sciences
- FIS 50500 Current Issues in Forensic Science (3 cr.) Fall. This course will discuss recent developments in forensic science including the following topics: introduction to ethics, quality assurance and control, and use of scientific evidence in the legal system. Open only to graduate students in the Forensic and Investigative Sciences program.
- FIS 50600 Forensic Microscopy (3 cr.) Learn techniques in the analysis of forensic microscopic evidence. Topics include property of light, compound microscopy, micrometry, refraction, dispersion, stereomicroscopy, sample preparation, polarizing light microscopy, and instrumental microscopy. Open only to graduate students in the Forensic and Investigative Sciences program or by instructor permission.
- FIS 50800 Forensic Science Laboratory Management (3 cr.) Summer. This course focuses on management of forensic science laboratories: various organizational models, budgeting and common laboratory policies. Differences in the management style for public and private sector laboratories, strategies for employee recruitment, training and retention, managing workflow and maintaining compliance with accreditation bodies.
- FIS 51100 Forensic Chemistry I (3 cr.) P or C: 50500. Fall. This course will focus on the analysis and identification of commonly abused chemicals such as ethanol, controlled substances and prescription drugs. The history, legal issues, synthesis, chemical/physical properties, and laboratory analysis of these materials will be discussed. Special topics of the students' choosing will also be included in the form of student presentations. A separate laboratory section will also be offered in which students will complete practical exercises utilizing spectroscopy, chromatography and mass spectrometry that reflect common practice in forensic science laboratories.
- FIS 51101 Forensic Chemistry I Lab (1 cr.)
P or C: 50500 and 51100 or instructor consent. Fall. This laboratory section includes practical exercises utilizing spectroscopy, chromatography and mass spectrometry that reflect common practice in forensic science laboratories.
- FIS 51200 Forensic Chemistry II (3 cr.) P: FIS 51100. Spring. This course will focus on the use of instrumental techniques to analyze trace evidence types such as ink, fibers, paint, adhesives, tape, ignitable liquids, and explosives. A separate lab section will include practical laboratory exercises utilizing spectroscopy, chromatography and mass spectrometry that reflect common practice in forensic science laboratories. Special topics will also include current research such as pattern recognition techniques, novel sampling methods, and provenance determination.
- FIS 51201 Forensic Chemistry II Lab (1 cr.) P: FIS 51101 or instructor consent. P or C: FIS 51200. Spring. This laboratory section will include practical laboratory exercises utilizing spectroscopy, chromatography and mass spectrometry that reflect common practice in forensic science laboratories.
- FIS 51500 Forensic Science and the Law (3 cr.) Fall. Application of various laws and rules of evidence to the forensic sciences and how the admission of evidence derived from forensic sciences can impact the administration of justice in the United States. Topics include preparation for testimony, expert testimony, subpoenas, basic judicial processes, admissibility of scientific evidence. Open only to graduate students in the Forensic and Investigative Sciences program, students enrolled in the IU School of Law, or by instructor permission.
- FIS 52100 Forensic Biology I (3 cr.) P or C: FIS 50500. Fall. This course is an introduction to the use of biological materials to assign identity to persons associated with a crime. The course will introduce methods for the preliminary detection of biological evidence and introduce the use of DNA. The materials learned will encompass broader topics such as immunology, molecular biology, and genetics.
- FIS 52101 Forensic Biology I Lab (2 cr.) P or C: FIS 52100. Fall. This laboratory section includes practical exercises that reflect common practice in forensic science laboratories, including but not limited to collection and preservation of biological evidence, presumptive and confirmatory tests, DNA extraction, and PCR amplification. Open only to graduate students in the Forensic and Investigative Sciences program or by instructor permission.
- FIS 52200 Forensic Biology II (3 cr.) P 52100. Spring. This course is a continuation of FIS 52100 and will go into more detail about the structure of DNA, the application of molecular biology techniques for the determination of individual identity. The materials learned will encompass broader topics such as immunology, molecular biology, genetics, population genetics and statistics.
- FIS 52201 Forensic Biology II Lab (2 cr.) P or C: FIS 52200. P: 52101. Spring. This laboratory section includes practical exercises that reflect common practice in forensic science laboratories. This laboratory is a continuation of FIS 52101.
- FIS 59000 Special Topics: Forensic and Investigative Sciences (3 cr.) Lecture or lecture/lab courses offered on topic areas that are not part of the regular M.S. curriculum. These topics may include: firearms and tool marks, questioned documents, forensic pathology, fingerprints, and others. They are electives in the M.S. in Forensic Sciences program.
- FIS 59400 Internship to Forensic Science (1 - 6 cr.)
The internship provides students with an opportunity to experience the workings of a practicing forensic science laboratory. Although a research project is usually the centerpiece of the intership experience, students will be given an exposure to all sections of the laboratory including case management. Students will also have an opportunity to attend a crime scene as an observer and to attend court to observe a forensic scientist offer expert testimony.
- FIS 59700 Laboratory Project Design (6 cr.)
P: FIS 50500. Develop a graduate level research project in forensic science, including literature searches, writing a research proposal, and defending the proposal.
- FIS 69500 Seminar (0-1 cr.) Fall, Spring. Weekly seminars presented by FIS faculty, visiting faculty and FIS graduate students. Required for graduate students admitted into the M. S. in Forensic Science Program.
- FIS 10100 Investigating Forensic Science Lecture (1 cr.) P: None. Fall, Spring. Forensic science is the application of scientific methods to matters involving the public. Crime scene investigation will be taught so students will have general knowledge on techniques used in the field. Students will also be exposed to basic understanding of common forensic science concepts and learn how analysis of specific types of evidence is analyzed in a forensic science laboratory. Topics will include but are not limited to crime scene, hairs, explosives, fire debris, serology, DNA, illicit drugs, fingerprints, footwear, questioned documents, inks, glass, paints, blood spatter, and soils.
- FIS 10101 Investigating Forensic Science (2 cr.) P: None. Fall, Spring. Forensic science is the application of scientific methods to matters involving the public. One of its principle applications is the scientific analysis of physical evidence generated by criminal activity. During this laboratory course you will learn basic techniques used to analyze forensic evidence. This will start with concepts in evidence documentation and collection. You will then learn concepts used in pattern recognition, forensic chemistry and biology, and trace evidence. There will be hands on activities in all these disciplines. Topics will include but are not limited to crime scene, fibers, hairs, explosives, fire debris, serology, DNA, illicit drugs, fingerprints, footwear, questioned documents, inks, glass, paints, blood spatter, and soils.
- FIS 20500 Concepts of Forensic Science I (3 cr.) Fall, Summer Session I. Forensic science is the application of scientific methods to matters involving the public. One of its principle applications is the scientific analysis of physical evidence generated by criminal activity. During this course students will learn basic concepts in forensic science and criminal justice system and apply the basic concepts towards evidence collection and analysis. Topics will include fingerprints, impression evidence, firearms, questioned documents, pathology, entomology, anthropology, and forensic science and the law and ethics.
- FIS 20600 Concepts of Forensic Science II (3 cr.) P: FIS 20500. Spring, Summer Session II. Continuation of FIS 20500. Students will learn basic concepts in forensic chemistry and forensic biology and apply the basic concepts towards evidence analysis. Students will learn instrumental procedures and methods used in forensic chemistry and forensic biology to analyze and evaluate evidence. Topics will include microscopy, spectroscopy, chromatography, hairs and fibers, arson and explosions, soils, glass, paints and inks, serology and DNA, blood splatter, illicit drugs and toxicology.
- FIS 30500 Professional Issues in Forensic Science (3 cr.) P: FIS 20500, FIS 20600, ENG-W131 and junior status. Ethics in forensic science. Counts as FIS Program Writing Intensive Course. Spring, day. Open only to majors in the FIS program or with consent of the instructor. Ethics in forensic science. Crime laboratory culture. Recent issues in forensic science, quality assurance and control in a crime lab.
- FIS 30600 Forensic Microscopy (3 cr.) P: FIS 20500, FIS 20600 Students will learn techniques in the analysis of forensic microscopic evidence. Topics include: property of light, compound light microscopy, micrometry, refraction, dispersion, stereomicroscopy, sample preparation, polarizing light microscopy, and instrumental microscopy. Microsopes are used every day in class to handle forensic type of evidence. The overall goal of this course is to develop techniques to analyze trace evidence.
- FIS 40100 Forensic Chemistry I (3 cr.) P: CHEM C310, CHEM C311, CHEM C342, CHEM C344; P or C: CHEM C410, CHEM C411. This course will cover the major techniques and instruments used in the analysis of chemical and pattern evidence commonly encountered at crime scenes. The techniques of instrumental microscopy, gas, thin layer and liquid chromatography, and UV-visible and infrared spectrophotometry will be studied and used extensively. There will be lecture components for each of the type of instrumental analysis covered in the course.
- FIS 40101 Forensic Chemistry I Laboratory (1 cr.) P or C: FIS 40100 P: CHEM-C310, C311, C342, C344, C410, C411 or instructor consent. This course will cover the major techniques and instruments used in the analysis of chemical and pattern evidence commonly encountered at crime scenes. The techniques of instrumental microscopy, gas, thin layer and liquid chromatography, and UV-visible and infrared spectrophotometry will be studied and used extensively. There will be lab components for each of the type of instrumental analysis covered in the course.
- FIS 40200 Forensic Biology (3 cr.) P: FIS 20600, BIOL-K322, BIOL-K338 or instructor consent. This course is an introduction to the use of biological materials to assign identity to persons associated with a crime. The course will introduce methods for the preliminary detection of biological evidence and introduce the use of DNA. The materials learned will encompass broader topics such as immunology, molecular biology, and genetics.
- FIS 40201 Forensic Biology Laboratory (2 cr.) P or C: FIS 40200. This laboratory section includes practical exercises that reflect common practice in forensic science laboratories, including but not limited to collection and preservation of biological evidence, presumptive and confirmatory tests, DNA extraction, and PCR amplification. Only open to students admitted to the FIS Program.
- FIS 40300 Forensic Genetics (3 cr.) P: FIS 40200 or instructor consent. This course is a continuation of FIS 40200 and will go into more detail about the structure of DNA, the application of molecular biology techniques for the determination of individual identity. The materials learned will encompass broader topics such as immunology, molecular biology, genetics, population genetics and statistics.
- FIS 40301 Forensic Genetics Laboratory (2 cr.) P or C: FIS 40300. P: FIS 40200, 40201 or instructor consent. Only open to students admitted to the FIS Program. This laboratory section includes practical exercises that reflect common practice in forensic science laboratories. This laboratory is a continuation of FIS 40201.
- FIS 40400 Forensic Chemistry II (3 cr.) P: FIS 40100 or instructor consent. Spring. Continuation of FIS 40100. This course will cover the major techniques used in the analysis of chemical and trace evidence commonly encountered at crime scenes. This course will be broken down into 2 modules. The overall course will cover techniques used during the analysis of trace and chemical evidence in a forensic laboratory.
- FIS 40401 Forensic Chemistry II Laboratory (1 cr.) P or C: FIS 40400. P: FIS 40100, 40101 or instructor consent; open only to FIS majors. This course will cover the major techniques used in the analysis of chemical and trace evidence commonly encountered at crime scenes. This course will be broken down into 2 modules. The overall course will cover techniques used during the analysis of trace and chemical evidence in a forensic laboratory.
- FIS 40900 Forensic Science Research (1-4 cr.) P: Requires application and approval of faculty member supervising the research. Forensic science or literature research with a report.
- FIS 41500 Forensic Science and the Law (3 cr.) P: FIS 20600; P or C: FIS 30500. Open only to majors in the FIS program or with consent of the instructor. Application of various laws and rules of evidence to the forensic sciences and how the admission of evidence derived from forensic sciences can impact the administration of justice in the United States. Topics include preparation for testimony, expert testimony, subpoenas, basic judicial processes, admissibility of scientific evidence.
- FIS 43000 Population Genetics (3 cr.) P: BIOL-K 322, BIOL-K 323, STAT 30100. P: BIOL-K 322, BIOL-K 323, STAT 30100. Spring. This course will serve as an introduction to the principles of population genetics. The course will cover the theory behind population genetics that includes a historical perspective to the current accepted models of population theory; examine the relationships between allele and genotype frequencies, and the fundamentals of molecular evolutionary genetics.
- FIS 49000 Forensic Science Capstone (1 - 5 cr.) P: junior or senior standing in FIS Program and program advisor approval. Fall, day, night; Spring, day, night; Summer, day, night. One of the following: Internship at an approved crime laboratory or other organization, or laboratory research supervised by an FIS faculty member. Final paper required in all cases.