Course Details

Forensic Science

This lecture, discussion, and hands-on course introduces MSL students to forensic science techniques and controversies. Issues related to the introduction of such evidence as DNA, fingerprints, ballistics, and shoeprints will be discussed. We will consider how a fingerprint analysis is conducted and students will get a chance to do their own analyses (bring a laptop). We will ask and answer a variety of questions including: What can and can't a forensic science examination reveal? What are the requirements that a court imposes before it will allow forensic science evidence to be presented to a jury? How do juries think about forensic science evidence? How should they think about it? This is a credit / no credit class. The awarding of credit for this class will be based on the outcome of a one-hour take home question and satisfactory completion of an in-class forensic analysis.

Catalog Number: LAWSTUDY 953-0

Additional Course Information: MSL students only


Course History

Fall 2023
Title: Forensic Science
Faculty: Koehler, Jonathan (courses | profile)
Section: 1     Credits: 0.5
Capacity: 40     Actual: 9

Fall 2021
Title: Forensic Science
Faculty: Koehler, Jonathan (courses | profile)
Section: 1     Credits: 0.5
Capacity: 30     Actual: 12