Investigate Your Future -
Forensic Science
"Forensic Science is the application of science to the criminal
and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal
justice system" (Saferstein, 2006). Ultimately, forensic science
is about the presentation of scientific information in a court of
law or for an inquiry body with legal powers. It brings together
many different subject areas: from biology to chemistry, from
engineering to physics and from psychology to law.
A forensic scientist is required
to aid an investigation by
using factual, unbiased,
objective scientific evidence
to determine whether a
crime has been committed,
who was responsible for
this crime and whether
there is enough evidence
to support a prosecution.
This evidence is essential in
criminal investigations as the
responsibility in a court lies
with the prosecution to prove
guilt, not the defence to prove
innocence. Forensic science is
a relatively new area for study
and has been highlighted and
popularised by the media. At
London South Bank University,
we aim to inform you of what
life is really like in the forensic
science field.
Forensic science is made up
of many different disciplines,
ranging from laboratory-based
analytical work to investigative
work. The course is designed
to give you a taster of many
different areas, which can offer
you a basis on which to make
further career choices. Specific
training in a particular forensic
science discipline is often
attained on-the-job.
In general terms, the Forensic
Science degree programme
aims to provide an academically
rigorous course of study that
enables the student to develop
analytical skills and knowledge
in preparation for the
professional practise of Forensic
Science. By following this
course of study, students will
gain an appreciation of those
factors which are important in
the evaluation of incidents and
scene of crime investigations and the presentation of scientific
evidence in a court of law.
Graduates of the Forensic
Science course at London
South Bank University will have
gained a wider perspective of
the interaction of Science with
Society. We aim to provide our
students with a diverse forensic
background to allow them to
decide on their future career
choices. Career prospects
can vary widely from working
with police or law enforcement
services, working as scene
of crime officers or working in
forensic science laboratories.
The degree course spans both
scientific and legal disciplines
together with police legal
procedural considerations. The
course will appeal to students
who, though interested in
science, are also interested in
its application in modern society
particularly with regard to police
work and government agencies
responsible for incident
investigation.
The core of the course
is centred on scientific
investigation and its role as
evidence in law. The context
of investigation extends
from police work at the
scene of a crime to major
civil and industrial accident
investigation by various
government agencies. So,
for example, investigation
of transport accidents or fire
and explosions in industrial
plants will feature alongside
units dealing specifically with
criminal investigations regarding
individual acts of violence and
theft.
The first year of the course
provides a foundation to
forensic science, by introducing
analytical skills and basic
science. In the second year,
students concentrate further on
the development of the required
laboratory skills, whilst gaining
more in-depth knowledge
on specific areas of forensic
science. In the final year of the
course, the main emphasis is
on crime scene investigation
and the final year research
project.
The teaching staff on this
degree course comprise
academics from a range of
disciplines and the Forensic
Science department has the
advantage of having two
academics who previously
worked for a major forensic
science provider in the UK.
As a university, we have links
with various police forces
and specialists in the forensic
science arena. This provides
students with first-hand
knowledge of many different
aspects of the various roles that
come under the title "forensic
science".
Students wishing to study for
the Forensic Science degree
are required to have at least
DD at "A" Level (or equivalent),
one of which must be in a
scientific discipline. A good
understanding of chemistry,
biology and physics will aid
further study at this level.
Despite this, an introduction
to basic science is included
in the first year of the degree
course to ensure a base level
of understanding. Students can
also choose to study Forensic
Science combined with the
study of another undergraduate
discipline (Criminology, Law or
Psychology).
Article by
Ms Hannah Willson
Department of Applied
Science
London South Bank
University
