The Profession of Forensic Science

Catalog description

This course will prepare students to make the transition to professional careers in forensic science and allied fields. The primary goals of this course are to: · Prepare students for the process of seeking and obtaining professional employment in forensic science or an allied field. In addition to standard employment practices, these activities (lectures and exercises) include behavioral-based mock interviews, preparation for background investigations and civil-service employment practices. · Develop professional standards and practices in forensic science which will not only prepare students to enter the field, but to excel and advance throughout their careers. These activities will include discussions of laboratory operations, quality assurance/quality control, professional conduct, ethical reasoning and laboratory safety. · Finalize students' education in forensic science and criminalistics through activities in case integration. The case integration activities prepare students to incorporate available information into the investigative process and to serve as consultants to the criminal justice system. · Prepare each student to sit for a comprehensive exam, to include the full content of coursework across the scope of the Forensic Science Program. This will be administered using the Forensic Science Assessment Test (FSAT) offered by the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) or its equivalent.