FRSC 8113/8111 – Forensic Science Professional Preparation/Capstone Experience
SPRING 2013
FRSC 8113: Tues, Thurs 8:00 – 9:15AM AG 224
FRSC 8111: Thurs 12:30 – 3:20 PM PHS 320
Instructor:
Wayne Bensley, Office – PHS 306, benslewd@alfredstate.edu, 587-4558
Office Hours:
Monday and Wednesday 11:00-Noon, Friday 10:00 - Noon or by Appointment
(Note that I have an Open Door Policy for meeting with students)
Course Website:
http://web.alfredstate.edu/benslewd/Homepage.htm
Course Descriptions: These courses are intended for students typically in their eighth and final semester of the four-year
Forensic Science Technology curriculum and are taken concurrently. The courses are designed to
prepare the student to enter the workforce and/or continue their education at the graduate school level.
Students will learn the details of topics such as resume and cover letter preparation, interview success,
the importance of ethical behavior in the field of Forensic Science, and theoretical and practical aspects
of crime laboratory work including a look at various standard operating procedures and quality assurance
practices. A debate on current issues and legal decisions challenging the validity of scientific testing
procedures commonly performed in Forensic Science will also be held. Students will also be required to
prepare and deliver expert witness testimony on their simulated casework in a mock courtroom setting.
Students will also complete a capstone project that requires their analysis of physical evidence in a
simulated casework setting. Students will also apply fundamentals of proper forensic laboratory report
writing by producing a professional quality laboratory report suitable for admission into a court of law
that communicates their findings.
Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course (FRSC 8113), the student will be able to:
1. Produce a formal resume with cover letter suitable for application to scientific laboratories,
including crime laboratories.
2. Demonstrate the skills required to successfully complete the interview process for future
employment in a crime laboratory.
3. Explain and demonstrate the importance of behaving in an ethical manner in a crime laboratory
workplace setting.
4. Compare and contrast the similarities and/or differences of daily operations, standard operating
procedures, and quality assurance programs in a crime laboratory workplace setting.
5. Debate the current issues facing forensic scientists.
6. Defend and provide their opinion about the results of physical evidence analysis as an expert
witness in a mock courtroom setting.
At the conclusion of this course (FRSC 8111), the student will be able to:
1. Construct a plan of analysis for chosen or assigned piece(s) of physical evidence encountered in a
simulated forensic casework setting.
2. Examine chosen or assigned piece(s) of physical evidence in a simulated forensic laboratory
analysis.
3. Formulate a conclusion regarding the identification or comparison of chosen or assigned piece(s) of
physical evidence.
4. Produce a professional quality laboratory report suitable for admission into a court of law in which
the results of laboratory analysis are clearly stated and explained.
Attendance:
As with the real-life example of holding a job, you are expected to attend each class and arrive ONTIME at 8AM. Please note that a late arrival is equivalent to an absence for the lecture on that
given day. Only absences of the type described in Academic Regulations 503 of the 1994 Student
Handbook will be accepted.
Civic Engagement
Project:
In accordance with the civic engagement initiative of Alfred State College, all members of this class will
participate in a Home-School Science Day. Students will be responsible for creating a workshop
involving hands-on learning activities in an area of physical science of their choice. Students will then
present these workshops to home schooled children from the greater Alfred community. The date, time,
and specific details of this project will be announced at a later date. Note that you MUST participate
in this project to pass the course.
Assignments:
A large portion of your grade for FRSC 8113 will be based upon several major assignments that will be
assigned throughout the semester. These will include the creation of a formal resume and cover letter,
the completion of a mock job interview, and multiple term papers or other written assignments. The
grading policy for these assignments is described elsewhere in this syllabus.
Final Examination:
There will be a final written examination for FRSC 8113 administered during the final exam week in
accordance with the campus-wide matrix schedule. This examination will be a culmination of your
forensic science academic career and will be curriculum cumulative in nature. It will consist of
approximately 150 multiple choice questions drawn from the material covered in various required
courses in the forensic science curriculum. This examination will count for 15% of your grade for the
FRSC 8113 course.
FRSC 8111:
The Capstone Experience portion of these concurrent courses (FRSC 8111) will entail the successful
completion of mock forensic casework in a simulated crime laboratory setting as well as successful
presentation of your work and conclusions in a mock trial setting. You are expected to complete the
assignment in an independent manner and will receive minimal help from the course instructor. You
will also be required to complete the work in a manner consistent with deadlines as you would encounter
in the criminal justice system and any missed deadline will automatically result in a failing grade for
the course. Any student who does not present their mock trial testimony on the assigned date/time
will automatically receive a failing grade for the course.
Grading:
FRSC 8113: Your final grade will be determined as follows:
Resume and Cover Letter
5%
Major Term Papers (2)
Written Assignments (Multiple)
20%
Mock Job Interview
Civic Engagement Project
5%
Final Cumulative Exam
FRSC 8111:
40%
15%
15%
Your final grade will be determined by your performance in the mock trial testimony.
The grade you receive on your mock trial will be equal to the grade you receive for the
course.
Final letter grades will be assigned as follows:
A: 90.0-100%
B+: 87.0-89.9%
C: 70.0-76.9%
D+: 67.0-69.9%
B: 80.0-86.9%
D: 60.0-66.9%
C+: 77.0-79.9%
F: 0-59.9%
Note that you MUST receive a final letter grade of C or higher in both courses in order to be
eligible to graduate from the forensic science program.
Principles of Human Being (General Class Advice/Rules):
 The use of cell phones in class has become increasingly annoying and disruptive in the eyes of the course
instructor. The use of cell phones during the lecture hour is unacceptable, rude, and unprofessional. Any cell
phone seen during the lecture hour will be confiscated by the course instructor and held until the end of class.
Any cell phone seen on or within the reach of a student (such as in a sweatshirt pocket) during an examination
will lead to an automatic grade of zero on the examination.
 Please read, understand, and commit yourself to abiding by the Alfred State Principles of Community.
 Civility and respect for each other will govern the behavior of all of us on this campus. Obscene, harassing, or
intimidating language is not acceptable in classrooms, labs, hallways, and byways of this campus. Please demonstrate
respect for yourself, your classmates, our staff and your professors by speaking and behaving as befits adults in an
academic environment. If you exhibit repeated immature or disrespectful behavior, I reserve the right to eject you
from class permanently.
 Do not disrupt class – respect the speakers!! Off-topic chatter with your neighbors is considered disruptive and rude
and will not be tolerated. After an initial warning, all parties will be instructed to leave the classroom.
 Academic dishonesty in any form will NOT be tolerated. This includes but is not limited to plagiarism on any
material submitted. Should you decide to cheat or plagiarize, you will receive a grade of zero on that assignment
without appeal. Should you choose to ignore this policy, you will be referred to the Academic Integrity Committee
for possible additional sanctions.
 Any work handed in after the deadline for that assignment will not be graded and the student will automatically
receive a grade of zero (0) on the assignment. Note that for FRSC 8111, any missed deadline will lead to an
automatic failing grade (F) for the course.
 Any student with a documented disability who needs to arrange accommodations must contact me and the Student
Learning Center at the beginning of the semester so that appropriate steps can be taken.
 Please feel free to approach me without fear of reprisal should you have an issue or concern with a fellow student or
with any other comment pertinent to the class and course.
FRSC 8113 – Forensic Science Professional Preparation
SPRING, 2013
Course Outline and Tentative Course Schedule
Class #
Date
Class Topic
1
1/22
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1/24
1/29
1/31
2/5
2/7
2/12
2/14
2/19
2/21
11
2/26
12
13
14
2/28
3/5
3/7
3/8
3/12
3/14
Introduction to Course, Preparing for the Job Search and Workplace – Resumes, Cover
Letters, etc.
Preparing for the Job Search and Workplace – Professional Workplace Behavior
Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science
Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science
Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science
Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science
Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science
Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science
Crime Laboratory Operations – Systems and Standard Operating Procedures
Crime Laboratory Operations – Standard Operating Procedures and Quality
Control/Quality Assurance
Crime Laboratory Operations – Quality Control/Quality Assurance and Proficiency Testing
TERM PAPER #1 DUE - ETHICS
Job Interview Preparations
Job Interview Preparations
Mock Job Interviews
Friday – Tentative Date for Home School Science Day
Mock Job Interviews
Mock Job Interviews
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE ASSIGNMENT DUE
15
16
SPRING BREAK 3/18 - 3/22
17
18
19
20
3/26
3/28
4/2
4/4
21
22
4/9
4/11
23
24
4/16
4/18
25
26
4/23
4/25
27
28
4/30
5/2
29
30
5/7
5/9
Mock Trial Testimony Preparations
Mock Trial Testimony Preparations
Mock Trial Testimony Preparations
Mock Trial Testimony Preparations
MOCK TRIAL PRESENTATIONS – GROUP 1
Mock Trial Testimony Preparations
Mock Trial Testimony Preparations
MOCK TRIAL PRESENTATIONS – GROUP 2
Current Topics in Forensic Science – NAS Report
Current Topics in Forensic Science – NAS Report and Ramifications
MOCK TRIAL PRESENTATIONS – GROUP 3
Current Topics in Forensic Science – FEPAC, Accreditation, Backlogs
Current Topics in Forensic Science – Turnover Rates, Job Hazards
MOCK TRIAL PRESENTATIONS – GROUP 4
Current Topics in Forensic Science
Current Topics in Forensic Science
MOCK TRIAL PRESENTATIONS – GROUP 5
Final Examination Review, TERM PAPER #2 DUE – Current Topics
Final Examination Review
While every effort is made by the professor/instructor to cover all the material in the syllabus, the order, content and/or
evaluation may change in the event of special circumstances (e.g. time constraints due to inclement weather, sickness, College
closure, technology/equipment problems or changes, etc.). In any case, students will be given appropriate notification in
writing, with approval from the department chair (or designate).
FRSC 8111 – Forensic Science Capstone Experience
SPRING, 2013
Course Outline and Tentative Course Schedule
Week One: 1/24
Introduction to Course, Assignment of Groups
Week Two: 1/31
Group #1 – Evidence Recovery – Final Reports due by 5PM March 28th
Week Three: 2/7
Group #2 – Evidence Recovery – Final Reports due by 5PM April 4th
Week Four: 2/14
Group #3 – Evidence Recovery – Final Reports due by 5PM April 11th
Week Five: 2/21
Group #4 – Evidence Recovery – Final Reports due by 5PM April 18th
Week Six: 2/28
Group #5 – Evidence Recovery – Final Reports due by 5PM April 25th
Week Seven: 3/7
Analysis of Evidence
Week Eight: 3/14
Analysis of Evidence - continued
3/21
NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
Week Nine: 3/28
Analysis of Evidence - continued
Week Ten: 4/4
Group #1 – Mock Trial Presentations
Week Eleven: 4/11
Group #2 – Mock Trial Presentations
Week Twelve: 4/18
Group #3 – Mock Trial Presentations
Week Thirteen: 4/25
Group #4 – Mock Trial Presentations
Week Fourteen: 5/2
Group #5 – Mock Trial Presentations
Week Fifteen: 5/9
Final Examination Review
NOTE THAT ALL FINAL REPORTS ARE DUE BY 5PM
ON THE THURSDAY PRIOR TO YOUR SCHEDULED
MOCK TRIAL PRESENTATION!!
While every effort is made by the professor/instructor to cover all the material in the syllabus, the order, content and/or
evaluation may change in the event of special circumstances (e.g. time constraints due to inclement weather, sickness, College
closure, technology/equipment problems or changes, etc.). In any case, students will be given appropriate notification in
writing, with approval from the department chair (or designate).