Master of Science Programme in Forensic Science
Degree Designation
M.Sc. (Forensic Science)
Curriculum Structure
Required Courses
Elective Courses not less than
Thesis
Total
Plan A1
36
36
Plan A2
15
3
18
36
Courses Description
Plan A1
Thesis
309 – 692
Thesis
Research study in the area of forensic science leading to new body of
knowledge under supervision of the thesis committee
Plan A2
Required Courses
309 – 501
Physical Evidence
Fingerprints; blood pattern analysis; tool marks and impression; firearm
and ammunition; explosive; arson & fire evidence; interpretation of glass
evidence; geological and soil evidence; handwriting identification and
questioned document examination; vehicular accident evidence
309 – 502
Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology
Principles of chemistry and toxicology for forensic science applications
including sampling; sample preparation, methods in chemical analysis,
instrumentation; qualitative and quantitative analysis; method validation, and
quality control and insurance, for analysis of drugs and controlled substances,
alcohol, inks and paint, explosives and gunshot residues, fire debris, texture,
glass, and toxic substances; concepts encountered in forensic toxicology
including drugs and poisons classification, toxicokinetics, toxiodynamics,
mechanism of action, toxicological signs, and toxicological investigation of
poison death
Credit
36(0-108-0)
Credit
2(2-0-4)
2(2-0-4)
309 – 503
Forensic Biology
The application of the science of biology in legal investigations; criteria of
death; changes after death; the stages of decomposition and skeletonization;
human fluids and tissues; wounds; roles of microorganisms, protists, plants,
and animals in forensic investigations
309 – 504
Crime Scene Investigation
Fundamental of crime scene investigations; entering and securing the
scene; processing the scene for evidence; photographing a crime scene;
documentation of physical evidence; evidence collecting and packaging
technique; crime scene analysis and reconstruction; investigative tools
309 – 671
Seminar in Forensic Science I
Seminar in the current topics of interest or new findings in forensic science
selected from those related publications or literatures or research articles;
public presentation and discussion in details also included
Seminar in Forensic Science II (Prerequisite: 309-671)
309 – 672
Seminar in the current topics of interest or new findings in forensic science
selected from those related publications or literatures or research articles and
varied from those in 309-671; public presentation and discussion in details also
included
874 – 591
Legal Procedures
General principles of judicial in civil and criminal cases; laws related to
criminal procedures; practicing in mock trials to be an expert witness in court;
the use of forensic science in the investigation; rules of evidence; post–mortem
examination; ethic for forensic science; judiciary process for privilege of
witness under the Thai constitution
Elective Courses
309 – 505
Forensic Molecular Biology
Human identification from biological evidences; the procedures for DNA
extraction from biological samples; quantitative and qualitative DNA
measurement; DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction; DNA profile
analysis; interpretation of the result; comparison the result to DNA database
and writing a scientific report
309 – 506
Training
Training at a forensic laboratory or a crime scene investigation unit at least
20 working days. The practical work must be implemented with approval of the
practical training committee
2(2-0-4)
4(3-3-6)
1(0-2-1)
1(0-2-1)
3(3-0-6)
3(2-3-4)
1(0-0-4)
309 – 681
309 – 682
309 – 683
318 – 503
324 – 544
324 – 741
325 – 544
325 - 741
Special Topics in Forensic Science I
Lectures on current topics of interest in forensic science by both Thai and
oversea experts; self-study assignment also included
Special Topics in Forensic Science II
Lectures on current topics of interest in forensic science varied from those
in 309-681 by both Thai and oversea experts; self-study assignment also
included
Special Topics in Forensic Science III
Lectures on current topics of interest in forensic science varied from those
in 309-681 and 309-682 by both Thai and oversea experts; self-study
assignment also included
Bioinformatics 1 (Prerequisite: by the Instructor’s approval)
DNA and protein sequence alignment and analysis; sequence analysis
software; database searching; multiple sequence alignment and analysis;
comparative genome analysis; large-scale genome analysis
Analytical Instrumentation (Prerequisite: by the Departmental approval)
Theory, principles and the applications of the modern analytical
instrumentation; modern analytical instruments, chromatography, emission,
absorption spectroscopy, electrochemical methods and other analytical
instrumentation methods i.e. thermal analysis will be covered
Trace Analysis (Prerequisite: 324-542,324-543, 324-545 or by the
Departmental approval)
The analysis of trace gases, trace organic compounds, trace elements in
samples; sampling; pretreatment and the preparation of samples; the
application of various analytical techniques such as chromatography,
electroanalysis and spectroscopy emphasize on trace analysis; discussion in
details of advanced analysis from the publication papers in Thailand and
oversea
Analytical Instrumentation Laboratory (Prerequisite: 324-544 or taken
concurrently)
A practical introduction and experience in the use of modern analytical
instrumentation with afocus on the sampling, sample preparation (extraction,
clean-up, concentration, derivatization), instrumental trace analysis and data
interpretation of unknown samples
Trace Analysis Laboratory (Prerequisite: 324-741 or taken concurrently)
The laboratory course to complement 324-741
1(1-0-2)
1(1-0-2)
1(1-0-2)
2(1-2-3)
3(3-0-6)
3(3-0-6)
1(0-3-0)
1(0-3-0)
330 – 587
336 – 521
336 – 522
336 – 633
373 – 511
536 – 571
650 – 891
Principles of Scientific Inquiry
Principles of epistemology and philosophy of science; sources of
knowledge; limitation to an understanding of natural phenomena; modes of
acquisition of knowledge; scientific method and attitude; principles of causality;
scientific explanation; research process and the use of elementary statistics in
research design and the analysis of biological data; statistical packages;
publication of research finding; ethical issues in scientific research
Toxicology (Prerequisite: 336-501 or by the instructor’s approval)
Scope and areas of toxicology; classification, sources, physico-chemical
properties of toxic agents; toxicity test and evaluation; factors affecting toxicity;
dose-response relationship; mechanism of toxicity at molecular, cellular tissue
and organ levels, poisoning, sign and symptom of poisoning, treatment of
poisoning; analysis of toxic agents
Forensic Toxicology
Concepts encountered in forensic toxicology; drugs and poisons
classification; toxicokinetics; toxicologic investigation of poison death;
extraction and identification of drugs and poisons
Clinical Toxicology (Prerequisite: 336-501, 336-521)
Toxicokinetics, non-linear kinetics of drug overdose, dose-toxic response
relationship, time-effect relationship, tissue accumulation and body burden of
toxic substances; principles of management of poisoning or drug overdose
especially for common toxic substances; molecular mechanism of toxic
substances and therapeutic use of antidotes; trends in Clinical Toxicology
researches
Human Genetics
Basic knowledge in human genetics and common genetic disorders;
technique of history taking and interviewing patients and their families including
the construction of genetic pedigree; studies on population genetics,
cytogenetics, molecular genetics, biochemical genetics, immunogenetics,
genetics of cancer, and medical genetic applications
Forensic Entomology (Prerequisite: 536-212 or by the Departmental
approval)
Insects and arthropods interact with legal matters; use of insect knowledge
in investigation of crime or even civil disputes
Forensic Odontology
Basic knowledge of forensic odontology and anatomy; dental examination
and data records after death; radiographic examination of teeth and related
3(2-3-4)
3(2-3-4)
3(2-3-4)
2(2-0-4)
2(2-0-4)
3(2-3-4)
2(1-3-2)
870 – 493
Thesis
309 – 691
organs; age determination from teeth and related organs; DNA examination
from teeth; dental treatment data management; bite mark examination and
data collection; photographic dental records and data comparison ante and
post mortem; dental data management for personal identification in disasters.
Forensic Medicine
Relationship between medical science and application of law; evidence
examination for civil action and criminal action
2(2-0-4)
Thesis
18(0-54-0)
Research study in the area of forensic science leading to new body of
knowledge under supervision of the thesis committee