Keele University Prospectus Undergraduate | 2016 | Page 106

NATURAL SCIENCES

Forensic Science
Overview

Forensic Science at Keele, which has been accredited
by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences
(CSFS), is a multidisciplinary science subject
focusing on the application of scientific methods and
techniques in the context of crime. It is a fascinating
subject because every measurement and experiment
is unique, and the scientific results can have a
significant impact on the life of a single human being.
The story behind every scientific problem has a
human interest angle, but the forensic scientist must
be able to investigate and analyse the situation,
impartially and objectively, through careful and
exacting scientific measurement and clearly
communicate the outcomes to a court of law.
Forensic Science graduates have a broad scientific
education, with specialist understanding in particular
areas such as chemical analysis, DNA identification,
spectroscopy, microscopy and the biochemistry of
drugs, complemented by excellent data analysis,
reporting and communication skills.
Forensic Science at Keele has been consistently
achieving one of the highest ratings for student
satisfaction within the discipline in the National
Student Survey. Our graduates have excellent
career prospects both within the forensic and
analytical science sectors as well as in a wide
range of other occupations.

Course content

First year
Forensic Science Principles provides an introduction
to the subject and its role in the present day. Some
key areas such as identifying individuals, identifying
forgeries, chemical identification and the legal and
crime scene context will be introduced.
Chemical Science Principles will extend your
understanding of chemical science by providing a
theoretical and practical basis in analytical methods,
the identification of organic and inorganic substances
and an understanding of their chemical properties.
Forensic Analysis covers many chemical analytical
methods for the characterisation of forensic
evidence including a number of investigative
techniques, primarily based on spectroscopy and
chromatography as well as the statistical methods
needed for the interpretation of experimental data.
Forensic Identification presents the concept of
identifying individuals by the analysis of the unique
complement o b&