The module makes use of Blackboard as the VLE. Activities will be posted on the module on a weekly basis. Each activity will contain notes, as word files or power point presentations or in HTML format. A specific core text is used for further reading and learners will be directed to further reading through citations or directly through a network link. You will need to spend at least 15h per week study time, with some dedicated times for answering on-line formative assessments and for taking part in chat rooms.

Taught through VLE, the module will have eighteen activities. Activity 1 will deal with the nature and scope of Forensic Science. This will include an overview of the role of forensic science in the investigation of crime, the fundamental principles of the scientific evaluation of evidence and how the provision of forensic science services is organised and accredited in the UK. The fundamentals of crime scene processing will be covered by activities 2 and 3. This will provide an overview of how crime scenes are managed but will focus on the roles played by scientific support personnel at the crime scene in general and the recovery, packaging and storage of physical evidence in particular. Specific aspects of contact evidence will be the subject of activities 6 to 8 and 10 to 14. These will include: The individuality of fingerprints. Methods of fingerprint classification. The principles of visualisation and enhancement of latent fingerprints, and fingerprint analysis and identification. The impressions made by footwear and bare feet. Evidence provided by hairs and other fibres, glass, paint, blood stain and injury patterns, and tool marks. (Other aspects of contact evidence are covered elsewhere in the course, notably in the Firearms, Fires and Explosions and Forensic Biology modules.) Activities 15 and 16 aim to familiarise you with commonly used systems of criminal justice and the role of the expert witness in these systems. The criminal justice system of England and Wales will be described and you will be expected to compare this either with other systems within the UK or, if you are a student from outside the UK, the system in place in your country of origin. The ability to explain the strength of evidence numerically is of ever increasing importance. Therefore in activity 17, you will receive a brief introduction to the Bayesian statistical approach to the interpretation of evidence with the use of likelihood ratios. You will be expected and helped to develop the skills required by the expert witness, by gaining experience in writing expert reports and presenting evidence orally in the courtroom environment - including answering questions whilst under cross-examination. As part of the summative assessment for this module, you will need to attend the University for 3 days. These 3 days will be taken up by presentations by practitioners on their experience as an expert witness (one day), preparation for appearance in the courtroom environment (one day) and appearance as an expert witness in this environment (one day). Activities 9 and 18 will consist of a review of the module to date and the opportunity to catch up on unfinished work.

Two ~ 1500 word essays. One, which will be set after completion of activity 4, will be concerned with the critical appraisal of the processing of given crime scenes. The second will be set at the end of week 9 and will involve the synthesis, evaluation and appraisal of information pertaining to specific types of contact evidence. These essays test the attainment of module outcomes 1 and 2.

One ~ 1500 word expert witness report, set as part of activity 17, and one appearance as an expert witness in the courtroom environment. This appearance will occur during the residential period in Block 4 (see the Award Handbook for information on the timing of this period). These activities test the attainment of module outcome 3.

In addition to the four pieces of summative assessment outlined above, there will be regular formative exercises set through Blackboard. Most, if not all, activities within the module will feature one or more of these formative assignments. In many cases, they will be set using the on-line quiz facility within Blackboard. They will provide regular feedback and will be aimed at identifying lack of understanding at an early stage so that remedial action can be recommended
PASS CRITERIA: Coherence and soundness in response. Good understanding of subject matter; evidence of reading beyond VLE study guide with good use of relevant examples. Tasks completed competently
MERIT CRITERIA: A very good awareness and understanding of the subject matter. Assignments expressed cogently and lucidly. Tasks completed soundly, with evidence of critical analysis of literature beyond VLE study guide.
DISTINCTION CRITERIA: Originality and creativity in response. Accurate and thorough understanding of subject matter; evidence of a wide reading beyond VLE study guide, excellent use of relevant examples. Tasks thoroughly and comprehensively completed.

Entry to postgraduate programme in Forensic Science

Criminalistics: An introduction to forensic science (7th edn)" Richard Saferstein, Prentice Hall (2001) -core texts provided.

Several other texts covering crime scene processing and the specific aspects of contact evidence dealt with in this module are suitable and will be cited as and when required to support a learning activity

Suitable computer capable of accessing both the WWW and the University Server, and of running Blackboard. Library facilities as necessary