Our notions of forensics are often fictionalized, containing fantastic notions of what forensic science really is. In this course, you’ll explore the truth behind the science from its history to its modern-day developments. You will learn how detectives conduct thorough investigations as well as common equipment and methods that are used throughout the field. Finally, you will learn about collecting and analyzing the most common types of evidence found at a crime scene and how they guide investigators to answers. Let’s track your interests and continue your pursuit of justice through science!
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Unit 1: Investigating Crime: What’s It All About?
When you watch crime television shows or movies, there is usually one or two main investigators who handle all of the evidence from start to finish. They seem to have an endless amount of expertise and give results from multiple areas of study. But that’s not how forensics works in the real world. It takes years to become an expert in a particular area of study and teams of scientists to collect, analyze, and present the evidence. So how did we get here, and what are the expectations and roles of forensics investigators? Let’s find out.
What will you learn in this unit?
After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Unit 2: Think Like a Scientist
Where would forensic science be without science? It gives the practice of forensics a specific way of drawing conclusions that we can depend on. It also pushes scientists to be consistent, to challenge assumptions, and to incorporate the work of other scientists. Fortunately, science has also led to many kinds of high-tech equipment that helps scientists reach the kind of definitive conclusions that criminal justice requires. Science shows us the way and gives us the tools to get the job done.
What will you learn in this unit?
After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Unit 3: Act Like a Scientist
Forensic science is all about data, but let’s get more specific. There are different kinds of data and many ways and places to collect it. Forensic scientists also use a variety of tools and methods to analyze and communicate data and interpretations of data. Even the way that forensic scientists think will shape these reports, so it’s key to use a range of critical thinking skills. Standardization helps with all stages of the process, from documenting the scene to writing reports that can stand up in court decades later. There can be a lot to keep track of, so let’s see how to organize the chaos.
What will you learn in this unit?
After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Unit 4: At the Crime Scene
When a crime occurs and the police are called, a crime scene investigator will arrive to document the scene and collect evidence. There are strict rules and clear expectations when it comes to the collection and preservation of evidence. Their importance cannot be overstated. Any wrong step along the way can spoil an investigation. They keep the work within the bounds of the Constitution. They make sure the current team as well as future investigators can do their work. In short, they ensure justice and fairness for all involved.
What will you learn in this unit?
After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Unit 5: Back at the Lab
Much of a forensic scientist’s job takes place in a lab, but what exactly do they do there? In short, they gather clues in an effort to uncover the truth around a case. Indeed, given the right equipment and an eye for detail, forensic scientists can build cases from tiny elements invisible to the human eye. It is amazing how much information they can gather from samples of trace evidence. Whether it is reading glass to tell where a bullet came from or confirming that paint traces on a suspect’s clothing match those found at the crime scene, forensic scientists bring technology to bear to make a big deal out of little details.
What will you learn in this unit?
After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Unit 6: Fingerprint Identification
We’ve all seen it on television and in movies. The suspect brushes their finger across a table, leaving a single fingerprint. Investigators spot it immediately, submit it to a database, and are knocking down the suspect’s door after the first ad break. Real life is a bit more complicated than that, but the steps aren’t far off. Indeed, collecting and analyzing fingerprints is an essential part of forensic science. It’s led investigators to countless suspects. To do it well, they need to first locate fingerprints. Then, depending on the surface, they’ll use a method of their choosing to capture them. Back in the lab, they’ll determine exactly what kind of print they have and whether a match can be found in the national database. It’s a bit slower than TV, but fingerprints really do lead investigators to suspects’ doors.
What will you learn in this unit?
After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Unit 7: Working with Biological Fluids
Forensic scientists need to know how to handle blood at the scene. Blood shows up in a variety of locations and quantities, and these differences impact how blood is collected and stored for analysis. But knowing blood science well is only a start; there are other biological fluids to collect from a scene as well. Because this is a profession based on solid evidence, the identification, collection, and storage of bodily fluid evidence requires care and attention to make sure all evidence makes it back to the lab in the best shape for testing.
What will you learn in this unit?
After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Unit 8: Analyzing Blood
What looks like a messy crime scene to the untrained eye is actually a wealth of information to the forensic scientist. The patterns left behind through the physics of the event leave a story that can be retold to discover all kinds of details about what actually happened. The trained eye can discern everything, from the kind of weapon and the intensity of the strike, to the movements of the victim and assailant. In this case, we’re going to look specifically at the blood patterns left behind for the forensic scientist to interpret.
What will you learn in this unit?
After studying this unit, you will be able to:
