School of Chemical and Physical Sciences brochures Forensic Science brochure 2019 | Page 16

16 | FORENSIC SCIENCE
BSc Combined Honours
(Forensic Science and another subject)
UCAS Code listed below
Keele is the only university to offer Forensic Science in a genuine combined honours
system. Studying on this programme will allow you to combine your forensic studies
with another subject. There are currently up to 9 different subjects that you can choose
from. Undertaking this route will mean that you spend 50% of your time studying each
subject. You can opt to study both subjects for all 3 years (combined honours) or there
is a chance to study both for 2 years and then focus solely on one of these subjects in the
third year (major route). These programme routes allow you to personalise your degree
studies based on your ultimate career goals.
Whichever route you decide to take, all Forensic Science students take the same core modules in the first and second years.
Modules generally have a focus on chemical aspects of forensics, on biological aspects or on criminalistic science which includes
topics where the evidence and its analysis is often unique to the forensic discipline and not wholly based on biological or chemical
methods, for example, fingerprints and other marks and impressions, documents analysis or blood-spatter pattern analysis.
Year 1 Year 2
The aim of the first year, particularly in
the autumn semester, is to bring all the
students, from a variety of academic
backgrounds, up to the same level of
understanding across core chemistry,
practical laboratory skills and indeed the
discipline of forensic science itself. This
is achieved through the two “principles”
modules. In the spring semester one
module has a biological basis while the
other focuses more on chemical science.
Forensic Identification includes study of
protein biology, DNA, genetic markers
and an introduction to chromatographic
separation techniques. In contrast,
Forensic Analysis focuses on the key
spectroscopic techniques used by
the forensic scientist in the analysis
of chemical substances and the basic
statistical methods needed for data
analysis and interpretation of results. The focus in the second year is to
explore many of the core themes within
the forensic discipline which are directly
relevant to professional practice where
the related evidence types of DNA, marks
and impressions, drugs analysis and the
use of forensic imaging techniques,
are of daily importance.
In the autumn semester, you will
expand your understanding of
chemical separation techniques and
the spectroscopic analysis of evidence
at the molecular level using methods
such as Gas Chromatography-Mass
Spectrometry (GC-MS). In parallel, the
module on Forensic Genetics explores
the methods for producing DNA profiles
from biological material and explains how
these are interpreted to provide strong
identification evidence for the court. In the
spring semester the focus moves to the
study of the chemistry of drugs of abuse,
their effects on the human body and how
drugs may be identified in the forensic
context. You will also study bloodstain
patterns, fingerprints and other marks
and impressions, and forensic imaging
in the module Criminalistic Methods.
The Forensic Science modules taken for
years 1 and 2 by students undertaking
the combined honours route are shown
in bold on page 11. The content of the
third year will vary depending on whether
you are taking a major route in Forensic
Science or continuing to study a second
subject.
The following combined honours
programmes are available to students
interested in studying another subject
alongside Forensic Science
• Astrophysics and
Forensic Science (FF54)
• Biology and
Forensic Science (FC41)
• Chemistry and
Forensic Science (FF41)
• Computer Science and
Forensic Science (FG44)
• Forensic Science and
Human Biology (FC4C)
• Forensic Science and
Neuroscience (FB41)
• Forensic Science and
Physics (FF43)
• Forensic Science and
Psychology (FC48)
• Medicinal Chemistry and
Forensic Science (FF4C)
keele.ac.uk/forensic