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2022-2023 General Catalog 
    
2022-2023 General Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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CRJ 160 - Intro to Forensic Investigation


Last Date of Approval: Spring 2019

3 Credits
Course Description:
This course is designed for students majoring in criminal justice or exploring the field of criminal justice. This course aims at making the subject of forensic science comprehensible to a wide variety of students who are planning on being aligned with the criminal justice profession. This course introduces the non-scientific student to the field of forensic science. Through applications to criminal investigations, clear explanations of the techniques, and the abilities and limitations of modern crime labs, this course covers the comprehensive realm of forensics. The course strives to make the technology of the modern crime scene investigator understandable to future practitioners. This course will help students develop critical thinking skills as they evaluate concepts and topics in forensics and learn personal responsibility towards crime scene integrity and evidence gathering.

Prerequisites/Corequisites: None

Mode(s) of Instruction: traditional/face to face, online

Credit for Prior Learning: This course offers an opportunity for students to earn Credit for Prior Learning for skills that they have brought with them to Iowa Central. For more information, please ask the instructor and see the Iowa Central Community College catalog.

Course Fees: none

Common Course Assessment(s): None

Student Learning Outcomes and Objectives:
Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Recognize the major contributing factors to the development of forensic science.
  • Describe the services provided by a crime laboratory in the criminal justice system.
  • Recognize types of physical evidence in the processing of a crime scene.
  • Describe how to properly investigate a crime scene.
  • Describe how fingerprints and DNA have impacted forensic science.
  • Demonstrate how fingerprints are collected and compared to solve crimes. 
  • Demonstrate knowledge of forensic specialties like anthropology, entomology, fingerprint examination, accident investigation, and pathology.

Objectives:

  • Definition forensic science
  • Explain the history and development of forensic science
  • Explain what services are offered in a crime lab
  • Explain the functions of a crime scene technician
  • Demonstrate the processing of crime scene
  • Explain legal considerations at the crime scene
  • List common types of physical evidence and their significance
  • Explain AFIS and CODIS
  • Explain the procedures involved in crime scene investigation
  • Demonstrate how to identify, develop, and lift fingerprints
  • Demonstrate how to use data gained at vehicle collisions to evaluate a vehicles speed
  • Define anthropology, entomology, and pathology
  • Explain the stages a corpse goes through upon death and how forensic science uses this information to solve crimes
  • Explain current employment opportunities in forensic science

 



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