| Title change | Number/Prefix change | Description change | |||
| Undergraduate |
| From: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course Prefix & Number | Descriptive Title | Credits/Hours |
| CH420 | Forensic Chemistry | 4 - |
| To: | ||
| Course Prefix & Number | Descriptive Title | Credits/Hours |
| CH420W | Forensic Laboratory Techniques and Documentation | 4 - |
|
Abbreviation for Class Schedule(20 spaces) CH420W Forensic Lab |
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Current Course Description: The applications of chemistry to the analysis of physical evidence. Topics included will be serology, analysis of arson debris, drugs, explosive residues, gunshot residues, papers and inks, paint chips and DNA. Laboratory techniques will include gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, electrophoresis, infrared spectroscopy, liquid and thin-layer chromatography. Two lectures and two laboratory periods per week. Prerequisite: CH313 or consent of instructor |
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New Course Description: The applications of chemistry and biology to the analysis of physical evidence. Topics included will be serology, analysis of arson debris, drugs, explosive residues, gunshot residues, papers and inks, paint chips and DNA. Laboratory techniques will include gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, electrophoresis, infrared spectroscopy, liquid and thin-layer chromatography, Basic and Polarized Light Microscopy, PCR-multiplexing and DNA fingerprinting technologies. Technical writing skills pertinent to the presentation of physical evidence in a court of law will be addressed. Two lectures and two laboratory periods per week. Prerequisite: CH313 or consent of instructor. |
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Justification for changing the course (e.g. alignment with other institutions, program revision, etc.): The changing being made to this coursework are part of larger program changes that are currently being submitted to the curriculum committee regarding the Forensic emphasis program in the Department of Chemistry. We are seeking to broaden the applications taught in the current CH420 Forensic Chemistry course to include other biological applications in DNA and bodily fluid analysis, and geophysical methodologies in microscopy, including polarized light microscopy. Thus, we would like to broaden the course title to more inclusive of these other scientific disciplines and change the title of the course to: Forensic Laboratory Techniques and Documentation. We are also seeking to obtain writing intensive status for this course as well and focus on the technical writing aspects required to uphold the admissibility of physical evidence in a court of law. The appropriate WI documentation will be uploaded and submitted with this application. |
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Students/Program affected: The major program affected by these changes is the Chemistry major: Forensic Emphasis program and the Forensic Science Minor: Chemistry majors program. Since the credit load for this course is not being altered, we do not expect students to be negatively impacted in any way or delayed in their ability to graduate. |
| Step | Approver | Decision | Timestamp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Department | Arlene Courtney | Approved | April 29 2013 |
| 2 - Division | Steve Taylor | Approved | April 30 2013 |
| 3 - Division Curriculum | Michael Ward | Approved | October 23 2013 |
| 5 - Curriculum Committee | Thaddeus Shannon | Approved | April 09 2014 |
| 6 - Faculty Senate | Thaddeus Shannon | Approved | April 09 2014 |
| 7 - Dean | Susanne Monahan | Approved | April 09 2014 |
| 8 - Provost | Stephen Scheck | Approved | July 10 2014 |
| CH420 proposed syllabus.doc | Download | |
| wiform for CH420.doc | Download |