Forensic science is a multidisciplinary field applying the basic sciences of physics, biology and especially chemistry to legal matters. Interest in crime scene investigations has led to many forensics high school courses and upper division courses for advanced college science students. However, at Minnesota State University Moorhead we have targeted college undergraduate students in offering a course in crime scene science. This laboratory driven class requires students to conduct forensic evidence analyses while learning the underlying science. This course is for non-science majors and assumes limited science and math backgrounds. All laboratories are presented as unsolved crimes; the labs activities include physical, microscopic and chemical analyses of hair and fiber, document analyses, fingerprint and impression development, DNA profiling and blood typing, glass and soil evidence analyses, identification of possible drug evidence and a final crime scene investigation involving evidence collection at a simulated crime scene, laboratory analysis of the evidence and a crime scene report. Basic science topics include measurements, use of proper standards and controls in experimental design, physical and chemical properties and changes, classes of chemical reactions, biological molecules and basic biochemistry. The course outline, more details on activities and resources, and how the basic science and forensic science have been combined to fulfill science transfer requirements will be presented. Initial student reactions will be shared, along with ideas for future course modifications and assessments.

Crime scene science: Lab driven liberal arts and science class

245th National Meeting (2013)

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