Forensic Sciences Courses at Hamline
CJFS 1120 - Crime and Justice in America
Goals: To introduce students to the basic framework of the American criminal justice system.
Content: This course will focus upon the three main components of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, the criminal judicial process and correctional approaches used to deal with offenders and to maintain social order. This course is designed to introduce students to these broad topical areas and to explore the issues of equality of treatment and the professional decision-making processes that take place within the contemporary American criminal justice system.
Taught: Annually.
Prerequisite: None.
Credits: 4 credits
CJFS 1130 - LAB: The Science of Crime Investigation
This lab must be taken concurrently with the CJFS 3560 lecture.
The lab itself has zero credit value.
CJFS 1130 - The Science of Crime Investigation
Goals: To introduce non-science students to the development and role of the forensic sciences in legal systems from antiquity to today.
Content: The historical development of the forensic sciences in various civilizations; the emergence of forensic techniques such as fingerprinting, document and firearms examination, and DNA testing; their role in the U.S. and other countries; and the impact of major cases on forensic science profession.
Taught: Fall
Prerequisite: None
Credits: 4 credits
CJFS 3250 - Juvenile Delinquency/Juvenile Justice
Crosslisted
Listed under Sociology as SOC 3250.
Credits: 4 credits
CJFS 3500 - Forensic Anthropology
Crosslisted
Listed under Anthropology as ANTH 3500.
Credits: 4 credits
CJFS 3560 - LAB: Survey of the Forensic Sciences
This lab must be taken concurrently with the CJFS 3560 lecture.
The lab itself has zero credit value.
CJFS 3560 - Survey of the Forensic Sciences
Goals: The primary learning objectives of this course are to examine the roles and responsibilities of forensic scientists in the criminal justice and legal systems of the United States; understand the scope, scientific foundation, and techniques of a variety of the scientific disciplines practiced in crime laboratories; experience applying relevant analytical techniques to the examination of physical evidence, and practice oral and written communication through mock expert testimony and report writing.
Content: Course content will focus on defining “forensic science”; recognizing practices of legitimate, junk, and fraudulent science; examining the properties of physical evidence; discussing the scope, potential, and limitations of a variety of forensic sciences; practicing analytical techniques applied by forensic scientists; evaluating the criteria for admissibility of scientific evidence; and discussing the ethical responsibilities of forensic scientists.
Taught: Annually.
Prerequisites: BIOL 3050 and 3060, or CHEM 1130 and 1140.
Corequisite: CJFS 3560L.
Credits: 4 credits
CJFS 3570 - Special Topics: Laboratory Techniques in the Forensic Sciences
Goals: To develop skills in applying the analytical techniques used by forensic scientists to evaluate evidence, to become proficient in relevant instrumentation and microscopy, and to understand the role of science in medico-legal and forensic contexts.
Content: Course content will focus on the role of a particular area of forensic science in civil and criminal cases. Content specific to each forensic science taught will include properties of evidence, admissibility of evidence and expert testimony, evidence collection procedures, methods of evidence analyses, instrumental techniques, and interpretation and communication of results.
Taught: Two or three special topics courses will be taught annually.
Prerequisites: Will vary depending on topic of courses; generally CJFS 3560 or permission of instructor; Forensic Biology requires completion of CJFS 3560, BIOL 3050, and BIOL 3060.
Credits: 2 credits
CJFS 3580 - Forensic Sciences Internship
Goals: The primary goals of this course are to enable students to pursue an internship in a forensic science or related agency, to integrate this experience with their academic coursework, and provide a forum to discuss their experiences and present a research project.
Content: This course will be a discussion and presentation-based course set within the context of a forensic science-based internship. Throughout the semester students will reflect on and discuss their internship experience. Course projects include design, completion, and oral presentation of a research project.
Prerequisite: CJFS 3560, required co-registration in CJFS 3590 Current Issues in Forensic Science (exception: criminal justice majors).
Note 1: Forensic Science students majoring in Criminal Justice may take CJFS 5660 to complete this requirement.
Note 2: This is a required course for students pursuing the forensic sciences certificate who are not majoring in Criminal Justice; all FSC internships must be completed via this course and concurrent registration with CJFS 3590: Current Issues in Forensic Science.
Note 3: Students interested in pursuing a laboratory internship must have, at the time of registration, no less than a 2.7 GPA in the Natural Science courses and a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.0.
Credits: 2 credits
CJFS 3590 - Current Issues in the Forensic Sciences
Goals: The professional responsibilities of forensic scientists are currently evolving. The primary goal of this course is to explore and discuss issues currently engaging the attention of forensic scientists. Students will gain an understanding of how these issues affect the practice of forensic science, the admissibility of scientific evidence and testimony, and education of students preparing to become forensic science professionals in the United States.
Content: Throughout the course, students will examine issues currently engaging the forensic sciences community including recent legal challenges to the scientific basis and reliability of various disciplines, the impact of key legal rulings on the admissibility of scientific evidence and expert testimony, the formation and impact of scientific and technical groups to develop standards of practice, laboratory accreditation, certification, and the ethical practices and responsibilities of forensic scientists.
Prerequisite: CJFS 3560; concurrent registration with CJFS 3580 Forensic Sciences Internship (Criminal Justice majors excepted) or CJFS 5660 (Criminal Justice majors only).
Credits: 2 credits
CJFS 3670 - Legal Interviewing
Crosslisted
Listed under Legal Studies as LGST 3670.
Credits: 2 credits
CJFS 3680 - Law of Evidence
Crosslisted
Listed under Legal Studies as LGST 3680.
Credits: 4 credits
CJFS 3750 - Criminology
Crosslisted
Listed under Sociology as SOC 3750.
Credits: 4 credits
CJFS 3770 - Corrections: Theory and Practice
Goals: To provide students with an in-depth understanding of the issues and methods of punishment and social control within American correctional practice and to review the empirical research assessing the effectiveness of correctional practice.
Content: This course is designed for students who are interested in the approaches and models used in contemporary America to deal with criminal offenders. The primary focus of the course will include policies and strategies of intervention, decision-making in sentencing and supervised release of offenders and the treatment of offenders generally within the criminal justice process.
Taught: Annually.
Prerequisite: CJFS 1120.
Credits: 4 credits
CJFS 3810 - Criminal Law and Practice
Crosslisted
Listed under Legal Studies as LGST 3810.
Credits: 4 credits
CJFS 3820 - Constitutional Issues in Criminal Procedure
Crosslisted
Listed under Legal Studies as LGST 3820.
Credits: 4 credits
CJFS 3880 - Current Issues in Criminal Justice
Goals: To provide students with an in-depth understanding of issues which concern the law enforcement function in American society.
Content: This course is designed for students who are primarily interested in current issues that affect the law enforcement function in contemporary society. Issues that may be explored include professionalism within law enforcement, community policing and crime control, ethical concerns, community relations, and the police subculture.
Taught: Annually.
Prerequisite: LGST 1110 or CJFS 1120, or permission of the instructor.
Credits: 4 credits
CJFS 5660 - Capstone and Internship in Criminal Justice
Goals: To enable students to pursue internships and explore the connections between criminal justice knowledge and skills and experiences in professional workplace settings.
Content: An exploration of applied criminal justice and the application of criminal justice concepts to professional workplace practice; independent research projects and frequent on-campus seminars are designed to connect academic and workplace experiences.
Taught: Fall and spring.
Prerequisites: CJFS 3750, LGST 3810, LGST 3820, or SOC 3750; or co-registration in LGST 3810 or LGST 3820; or permission of the instructor.
Students should contact the instructor well in advance of the beginning of the semester to discuss their internship placement site to assure prompt commencement of the internship.
Credits: 4 credits