Course Descriptions

Professor DESIRE: Forensic science has been a popular college major in the United States for the past 10 years due to the prominence of the career and portrayal in the media.  Educating the entry level forensic scientist is often left to forensic programs or general science academics.  The optimal forensic scientist will have a strong background in biology and chemistry with knowledge of the criminal justice system.  If a college graduate possesses an education in forensic laboratory methods, general science, and criminal justice, they would be highly marketable for employment by crime labs in the United States.  Employers often find that applicants lack either a strong traditional science background or the ability to apply this traditional science to matters of the law. The purpose of this course is to provide both lecture and laboratory training to general science majors who wish to pursue a career in forensic science, and to provide criminal justice majors with an education that applies forensic science to the criminal investigation.

The course is designed to include all disciplines of forensic science while making use of already existing laboratory equipment.  The course would consist of a full year of lectures, with a lab each week.  Students will get hands-on training in most of the procedures used by modern crime labs, as well as learn about the history of how these techniques came into use.  Each laboratory is designed to handle 15 students.  Part of the forensic education will include field trips to a county medical examiner to view an autopsy and tour of the New Jersey State Police crime lab to view the trace, anthropology, ballistics, computer crimes, and DNA facilities.