Undergraduate Course: Forensic Investigation (BIME10023)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | An introduction to forensic medicine and science and the application of techniques and methods from the biomedical sciences to the investigation of crime and death. |
| Course description |
Not entered
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 32,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 4,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 2,
Online Activities 4,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Formative Assessment Hours 4,
Other Study Hours 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
144 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
Other Study: learning skills session
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
ICA1 (25%) Assessed discussion board
ICA2 (25%) Written paper
ICA3 (25%) Case report
ICA4 (25%) Group presentation
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| Feedback |
The most important element of feedback during this course is considered to be the interactions during the class. There will be opportunity to ask questions and the class will be encouraged to respond, discuss issues and contribute ¿answers¿.
There will be an opportunity for a one-to-one session with the course organiser to discuss ONE of your written ICA in advance of the deadline. This constitutes feedforward and will replace formal feedback for that piece of work. Please be aware that this session is not intended to produce a collaborative effort but, rather, will raise questions and issues which you will be required to reflect on. If you would like to take advantage of this please contact Tim at any stage and we will arrange a 30 minute session.
Students are encouraged to use the Learn environment to ask questions but you are, of course, able to ask questions via email (or text).
Feedback for the group presentations will be provided immediately by the examiners and peer review comments will be collated and sent to each group
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the basic scientific, medical, ethical and legal principles that are relevant to law enforcement and the forensic disciplines, and demonstrate an ability to apply various aspects of the biomedical sciences to key forensic concepts.
- Understand the essential techniques and methods used by forensic practitioners (medics, scientists, lawyers and law enforcement agencies) and be able to discuss their validity, effectiveness and applicability within a professional setting.
- Discuss the literature relating to forensic practice and theory, and interpret research findings effectively, and understand the multidisciplinary approach to forensic investigation and critically analyse its role in a range of forensic issues.
- Understand some of the causes and effects of human behaviour and be able to relate these to issues affecting society as a whole, and demonstrate an awareness of the value of a multi-disciplinary and integrated team approach in law enforcement and forensic investigation and utilise this awareness in the development of personal and interpersonal skills.
- Increase awareness of how forensic science and medicine relate to the wider context of society and how forensic practice can contribute towards improving that society.
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Reading List
Comprehensive lecture notes will be available within Learn. Please note that these are intended to neither duplicate the lectures nor follow precisely the same material but will give you an overall perspective of the subject.
There are no formal course texts although you might find Wyatt J et al Oxford Handbook of Forensic Medicine, OUP 2011 useful. There are a number of general forensic science textbooks in addition to those which focus on a specialised area.
You should be aware that you will be required to search for literature relevant to the ICA exercises. A space will be provided within Learn where the class can share these resources.
You should also keep a note of, for example, the BBC website for news accounts of relevant forensic cases and criminal trials during which forensic scientific and medical evidence may be presented.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | ForInv |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Tim Squires
Tel: (0131 6)50 3160
Email: Tim.Squires@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Philip Horey
Tel: (0131 6)50 3160
Email: philip.horey@ed.ac.uk |
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