Forensic curriculum

The New Chemistry is a set of six hooks intended to provide an overview of some areas of research not typically included in the beginning middle or high school curriculum in chemistry. The six hooks in the set—Chemistry of Drugs, Chemistry of New Materials, Forensic Chemistry, Chemistry of the Environment, Food Chemistry, and Chemistry of Space—are designed to provide a broad, general introduction to some helds of chemistry that are less commonly mentioned in standard introductory chemistry courses. They cover topics ranging from the most fundamental helds of chemistry, such as the origins of matter and of the universe, to those with important applications to everyday life, such as the composition of foods... 

Returning to the matter of curriculum, this obviously is not the time nor the place to dwell upon specific courses or their detailed content. Other speakers will deal more completely with that topic. Rather, let us consider the ultimate goal of a forensic science training and education program. Simply stated, the goal, as I see it, is to educate and train students to interpret evidence and events correctly, so that such interpretations will prove or disprove the truth or validity of the state-... 

What about chemistry courses in the curriculum The question of whatconstitutes adequate educational preparation for the forensic science profession is a very controversial one. Almost without hesitation, when asked what background do you look for when you hire new personnel, the answer is a degree in chemistry. Yet, when pressed, this same individual will usually admit that there are a few things which were not covered in a Chemistry Degree that are valuable to forensic scientists. There is no doubt that a strong background preparation in Chemistry is essential. 

English system measurements into metric equivalents quickly enlightens the instructor to the abhorrence that the non-scientist has towards mathematical manipulations. No prior knowledge of scientific principles can be assumed. In our opinion, those subjects which have not been found to be easily integrated with chemical and biological principles are best omitted from the first course of study. Hence, forensic photography, the polygraph, document examination and speed detection devices are topics that are not included in the curriculum. 

The forensic science course offered can be a four-hour course that combines lectures with laboratory exercises or three hours of instruction consisting of lectures and several laboratory demonstrations. A brief outline of the course curriculum is presented for both the lecture and laboratory components of the course. 

H. J. Walls text (8) is a fairly recent treatment of introductory forensic science that closely parallels our course s curriculum. Unfortunately, this text is out of print and is no longer available. Therefore, the student must rely on lecture notes for reference during a significant portion of the course. 

With these introductory comments in mind we would now like to examine the M.S. program in forensic chemistry that is being planned for September 1975 at Northeastern University. Personnel from the Institute visited many of the schools listed in Table I, as well as a number of practicing laboratories. We wish to thank all those who freely gave advice without their help we would not have been able to advance to the present stage. As in research, a team effort was made by members of the Institute in the curriculum development. Personnel experienced in forensic science interacted with chemists, toxicologists and materials scientists to achieve a final program. 

Specimen Full-Time Curriculum of M.S. in Forensic Chemistry... 

In this context we note that the curriculum for the planned M.S. program in Forensic Chemistry at Northeastern University which is discussed in detail in Reference 2 will contain a new course entitled "Forensic Materials" as a step in the direction indicated above. The abstract of this course is as follows Forensic Materials (2 Quarter Hours) Fundamental types of solids, such as metals, ceramics, minerals, organic solids, including drugs, polymers, plastics, fibers their properties and determination by modern methods. Forensically important materials such as alloys, glass, soils, fibers, wood, paper, rubber, dyes, paints, ink, and their determination. Illustration of various materials as associative or dissociative items of evidence. 

---