Forensic Science

Ever wonder how crimes really get solved? Is it as glamorous as it looks on tv? What clues can blood spatter provide? Was that death the result of a homicide or a suicide? If these questions interest you, then you may be the perfect candidate for this course! Students will learn how science can be applied to help solve crimes. Concepts from biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and math are used to investigate and problem solve in this intensive hands-on course. Meticulous skills in the areas of organization, documentation (i.e. writing, sketching), and lab work are a must! Topics may include evidence collection, fingerprint analysis, document analysis, hair analysis, blood spatter analysis, DNA analysis, drug analysis, and court duty. Students must obtain parental permission to be exposed to potentially sensitive/controversial/disturbing topics that arise from analyzing real crime scenes. There will be a lot of writing in this course, as forensic scientists must carefully document their observations and lab work in a very detailed manner. The four strands of experimentation, enduring understanding, modeling and work habits will guide student learning goals and assessments.