Advanced Forensic Chemistry

Catalog description

This course focuses on current topics and analytical methods utilized in today's modern forensic laboratories. Forensic Chemistry will include topics such as introduction to criminalistics, ethical dilemmas, computer-assisted data analysis, public speaking on technical and non-technical subjects, as well as courtroom testimony. The course will also include a detailed description of how modern analytical techniques are applied to forensic chemistry. Specifically, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, DART, headspace chromatography, TLC, liquid-liquid extraction, solid phase extraction, immunoassay and electrochemistry will be applied to the fields of forensic drug chemistry and toxicology. The course includes advanced statistical methods such as chi-square tests, multiple regression and correlation, nonparametric statistics, and analytical variances. Three lecture periods per week. May not be taken by students with credit for A CHM 450 or 451. Prerequisite(s): A CHM 226 and 227.