Undergraduate
Student Learning Outcomes
Forensic and Investigative Sciences
Students who graduate from the Forensic and Investigative Sciences program will learn:
Program Level Student Learning Outcomes
Aligned with IUPUI Plus+
- Generalize the forensic science system in the United States including crime scene investigation, crime laboratories and organization, specialized disciplines, and preparation for a career in forensic science
- Communicator: Evaluates Information and Conveys Ideas Effectively
- Community Contributor: Builds Community and Behaves Ethically
- Identity common pattern evidence in forensic science and determine the appropriate analytical techniques used to examine patterned evidence, such as fingerprints, tool marks, physical matches, and firearms
- Problem Solver: Thinks Critically and Analyzes, Synthesizes, and Evaluates
- Innovator: Investigate and Creates/Designs
- Interpret the use of chemical and instrumental techniques in forensic analysis and examine common chemical evidence, such as illicit drugs, fire residue, explosives, inks, and paint
- Problem Solver: Thinks Critically and Analyzes, Synthesizes, and Evaluates
- Innovator: Investigate and Creates/Designs
- Identify and analyze forensic biological evidence, such as bodily fluids, blood spatter, DNA and interpret evidence using population genetics
- Problem Solver: Thinks Critically and Analyzes, Synthesizes, and Evaluates
- Innovator: Investigate and Creates/Designs
- Recognize and demonstrate the use of ethics, bias, criminal and civil laws, rules of evidence, and expert testimony in the practice of forensic science
- Community Contributor: Behaves Ethically and Anticipates Consequences
- Innovator: Confronts Challenges and Makes Decisions
- Characterize common microscopes used in analysis of trace evidence and investigate common trace evidence with microscopes such as fibers, hairs, glass, biological and chemical materials
- Problem Solver: Thinks Critically and Analyzes, Synthesizes, and Evaluates
- Innovator: Investigate and Creates/Design
- Design a forensic science research project, formulate original ideas and present findings professionally
- Communicator: Evaluates Information and Conveys Ideas Effectively
- Innovator: Investigate and Creates/Designs
FIS 20500
- Describe crime scene investigation procedures and the role of forensic science in crime scene investigations
- Describe the fundamentals of crime laboratory culture and organization along with the possible job functions of forensic scientists
- Identify, characterize, and individualize evidence and various types of physical evidence
- Explain the rules of evidence, ethics in forensic science, and quality assurance and control
- Summarize and interpret techniques used in areas of forensic science by generalizing each area with specific types of evidence analysis; topics include, fingerprints, impressions, firearms, toolmarks, footwear, questioned documents, and computer forensics
- Explain the role of specialized disciplines in forensic science in criminal and death investigations; disciplines include, taphonomy, pathology, entomology, anthropology and odontology
FIS 20600
- Identify and investigate the basics of forensic chemistry and forensic biology evidence and job functions
- Explain the principles and terminology associated with microscopy, spectroscopy, and separation methods
- Identify and apply microscopy, spectroscopy, and separation techniques to forensic science
- Classify, Illustrate and Identify commonly encountered forensic evidence in casework
- Interpret the use of common forensic evidence and the different methods used to analyze evidence; common evidence includes Blood Spatter, DNA, Population Genetics, Illicit Drugs, Toxicology, Fire Residue, Explosives, Fibers, Hairs, Glass, Soil, Paint
FIS 30100
- Differentiate how commonly encountered trace evidence, such as fibers, hairs, glass, biological and chemical evidence, is analyzed in a forensic laboratory
- Explain the principles, instrumentation and applications of microscopic techniques such as stereomicroscopy, compound light microscopy, and polarized light microscopy
- Investigate the application of physical matches and impression evidence comparison such as fingerprints, tire treads, firearms, footwear and tool mark analysis used in forensic science
FIS 30101
- Prepare and examine trace evidence samples such as glass, hairs, fibers, chemical and biological materials and patterned evidence samples such as fingerprints and tool marks
- Analyze and compare samples using microscopic techniques such as stereomicroscope, compound light microscopy, and polarized light microscopy
FIS 30500
- Describe the fundamentals of crime laboratory culture, organization and quality assurance and control used in forensic science laboratories
- Define ethics/conduct and demonstrate how ethics/conduct are applied in the analysis of forensic evidence and to the presentation of expert testimony in court
- Identify the major features of the Code of Ethics of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and of other major forensic science organizations
- Distinguish the different types of bias encountered in forensic science and demonstrate methods to reduce or eliminate bias in forensic science
FIS 41500
- Describe how ethics are applied to the presentation of expert testimony in court
- Recognize the United States system of justice including the structure, participants, stages, philosophies and dynamics
- Distinguish the role of an expert witness in the justice system and correlate how to present and communicate forensic examinations and findings in a court of law
- Summarize the sources and evolution of the law of the United States and the development of the rules of evidence and specifically the admission of expert testimony and evidence in a court of law
- Apply the evidentiary rules and law of evidence in the collection of evidence, examination of the evidence, and preparation of scientific reports and testimony
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct accurate, comprehensive and focused scientific investigations and apply appropriate rules of evidence
- Conduct a literature search on a forensic science research topic and communicate your findings orally and in writing
FIS 49000 - Faculty-Mentored Research Capstone
- Conduct literature search on a forensic science topic using peer-reviewed resources
- Synthesize and communicate ideas on a forensic science topic in a professional presentation
FIS 48000 - Forensic Science Professional Capstone
- Prepare a graduate school application and resume and cover letter for a job search in the forensic science field
- Identify ways to network appropriately, demonstrate proper interview skills and recognize skills, talents, and interests that help inform searching for a suitable and engaging workplace
- Identify ways to manage workplace stress
