I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
Group XI Natural Science (non laboratory)
Dept/Program
Anthropology
Course #
286
Course Title
Prerequisite
Survey of the Forensic Sciences
None
Credits
3
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Phone / Email
Date
8/22/08
Randall R. Skelton
4245
randall.skelton@umontana.
edu
Program Chair
John Douglas
Dean
Gerald Fetz, CAS
III. Description and purpose of the course: General Education courses must be introductory
and foundational. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
The course explores the role of science in generating evidence that can be used in criminal
trials. It is a survey class that introduces the basics of several of the natural and social sciences,
connecting them together in a unified and engaging context. The consistent theme is the use of
physical evidence to test hypotheses of the form ‘person ___ committed crime ____ at the
location _____ at the time _____’. The course introduces the scientific method and portrays it
as the only reliable way to gain knowledge about ordinary reality.
IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
This course explores forensic science, which
Courses explore a discipline in the
is primarily concerned with using physical
natural sciences and demonstrate how
evidence to draw scientifically based
the scientific method is used within the
conclusions that relate to whether a crime
discipline to draw scientific conclusions. has been committed and who committed the
crime.
Courses address the concept of analytic
uncertainty and the rigorous process
required to take an idea to a hypothesis
and then to a validated scientific theory.
Lab courses engage students in inquirybased learning activities where they
formulate a hypothesis, design an
experiment to test the hypothesis, and
collect, interpret, and present the data to
support their conclusions.
The scientific method is explicitly taught,
including statistical evaluation of uncertainty
and the nature of “truth” in science (i.e. that
a hypothesis can only be shown to be false –
never shown to be true). This is framed
within the context of U.S. Supreme Court
mandates requiring understanding and use of
the scientific method in analysis of evidence
used in criminal trials. Analytic uncertainty
is explicitly addressed in terms of how
analytical results are expressed as an
exclusion, a consistent identification/match,
or a positive identification/match.
Not a lab course.
V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Discussion of the general principles of
Understand the general principles
forensic science begins with lecture 2 and
associated with the discipline(s) studied
continues throughout with the application
of these principles to the individual
forensic sciences.
Presentation
of the scientific method
Understand the methodology and
activities scientists use to gather, validate begins with lecture 4 and continues
throughout as the ways in which scientists
and interpret data related to natural
who practice individual forensic sciences
processes
gather and analyze data.
This is embedded throughout, as evidence
Detect patterns, draw conclusions,
develop conjectures and hypotheses, and from the forensic sciences is examined
and methods of gaining information from
test them by appropriate means and
these data are discussed.
experiments
Understand how scientific laws and
theories are verified by quantitative
measurement, scientific observation, and
logical/critical reasoning
Theories of forensic science, such as
Locard’s principle, are explicitly derived
and students are shown how they are
confirmed by reasoning and by
observation.
Understand the means by which analytic Two approaches are taken to analytical
uncertainty is quantified and expressed in uncertainty: (1) a statistical approach,
and (2) a practical approach that focuses
the natural sciences
on whether certain evidence falsifies a
hypothesis, is consistent with a
hypothesis, or supports a hypothesis with
a high likelihood.
VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. ⇓ The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
SURVEY OF THE FORENSIC SCIENCES
ANTHROPOLOGY 286
Dr. Randy Skelton 225 Social Sciences Building
Office Hours: MWF 10:10-11:00
Phone: 243-4245, Email: randall.skelton@umontana.edu
GOALS AND PURPOSE
Successful students in this class will:
$
gain an appreciation for the scientific method as a way to learn about the
world
$
be introduced to the basics of a wide variety of sciences
$
explore the breadth of forensic science in the 21st century
$
understand the roles of police, forensic scientists, attorneys, expert
witnesses and others in the process of a criminal investigation and trial
$
learn about careers in the forensic sciences and how to prepare for them
$
hear presentations by actual crime lab and law enforcement professionals
ADMINISTRIVIA
Text: Stuart H. James and Jon J. Nordby, 2005. Forensic Science. 2nd Edition. CRC
Press. This text is also required for ANTH 488: Forensic Science & Technology.
Class Blackboard Supplement: The course supplement will contain class
notes, announcements, and other materials. Point a web browser at
umonline.umt.edu for access. You will be supplied with a handout with
instructions on how to get into Blackboard.
Attendance Policy: Attendance is not required, but is highly recommended.
Experience shows that those who attend regularly do much better.
Academic Integrity: Students will be held to the provisions of the Student
Conduct Code with regards to cheating, plagiarism, abusive language, and
other issues. Violations will not be tolerated.
Disabilities: Students with disabilities are encouraged to meet with me to
discuss any accommodations they require. I assume that accommodation
services and facilities will be provided by DSS.
Exams and Grading: Three non-cumulative midterm examinations will be held,
one after each third of the course. In addition, there will be a comprehensive
final examination on the designated final exam day. You must take at least
three of the four exams. If you take all four, the best three scores will be used
to compute your grade. The three exams will each count for one third of your
final score in the class. The grade you will receive depends on your overall
cumulative score in the course, assigned using this system: 100%-90% = A,
89%-80 = B, 79-60% = C, 59-50% = D, 49-0% = F. All exams with be 50
multiple choice, true/false, or other objective style questions marked on the
exam itself (no scantron forms). Because one exam may be dropped make-up
exams will not be allowed except in those cases deemed excusable by the
University, and you will have to show documentation.
LECTURE AND READING SCHEDULE
We will need to maintain some flexibility with this schedule due to uncertainties about
scheduling guest speakers. I will keep the schedule posted on Blackboard as current
as possible. Exam dates will not change. DATE
8/29
8/30
9/2
9/5
9/7
9/9
9/12
9/14
9/16
DAY
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
9/19
9/21
9/23
9/26
9/28
9/30
10/3
10/5
10/7
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
10/10
10/12
M
W
LECTURE
READING IN TEXT
1. Intro to the class
Forward and Preface
2. What is forensic science
Chapter 33
3. The scope of the forensic sciences
Chapter 1
!!! Labor Day Holiday !!!
4. The scientific method
5. The criminal investigation
6. The crime scene
Chapter 10
7. Forensic photography & art
Guest Speaker: Jim Bruckner, Crime Scene Photography, Rocky Mtn
Labs
8. Evidence & the comparative method Chapter 12
9.Microscopes & the physics of light
10. Crime labs & trace evidence
Chapter 16
Guest Speaker: Bill Unger, Director, Montana State Crime Lab
Review of 1st section of the course
Midterm 1
11. Oxidation: the chemistry of fire, bombs & gunpowder
12. Ballistics: the physics of projectile motion
13. Firearms examination
Chapter 20
14. Toolmarks, impressions, & basic genetics Chapters 18 & 19
Guest Speaker: Travis Spinder, Firearms & Toolmarks Examiner, State Crime
Lab
10/14 F
15. The Inheritance of Fingerprints
10/17 M
16. Fingerprints
Chapter 17
10/19 W
Guest speaker: Connie Muller, Latent Prints, State Crime Lab
10/21 F
17. Questioned documents
Chapter 21
10/24 M
18. Basic analytical methods
10/26 W
19. Serology of blood
Chapter 13
10/28 F
20. Other issues in serology
Chapter 14
10/31 M
Review of 2nd section of the course
11/2
W
Midterm 2
11/4
F
21. DNA testing
Chapter 15
11/7
M
Guest speaker: Megan Ashton, DNA, State Crime Lab
11/9
W
22. Forensic chemistry and toxicology
Chapters 5 & 22
11/11 F
!!! Veterans= Day Holiday !!!
11/14 M
23. Death investigation
Chapter 4
11/16 W
24. Forensic pathology
Chapter 2
11/18 F
Guest speaker, Dr. Gary Dale, Montana State Medical Examiner
11/21 M
25. Forensic anthropology
Chapter 7
11/23-25
!!! Thanksgiving Holiday !!!
11/28 M
26. Forensic odontology
Chapter 6
11/30 W
Guest speaker, Garry Kerr, Forensic Anthropology, University of Montana
12/2
F
27. Pseudoscience
12/5 M
28. Careers in the forensic sciences
Appendix C
12/7 W
Review of 3rd section of the course
12/9
F
Midterm 3
12/15 R 1:10-3:10pm: Final Exam
*Please note: As an instructor of a general education course, you will be expected to provide
sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.