Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be in molecular biology, biomedicine, chemistry, biology, or a similar field of study that includes at least 15 credits in chemistry and/or biochemistry as well as 15 credits in cell biology, molecular biology and/or genetics. Also required is knowledge and practical experience of laboratory experiments in life sciences. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

After examination, the student should be able to:

• account for how the law enforcement and judicial system functions and related legislation
• describe how a crime scene investigation is carried out and explain the importance of technical evidence in criminal cases
• account for different forensic methods and their use in criminal investigations
• describe sampling techniques and quality assurance procedures
• account for traceability and "chain of custody"
• account for how different types of forensic methods are evaluated
• apply and critically evaluate methods and issues within forensic science
• identify different issues and ethical considerations regarding forensic genetic analyses
• work according to scientific standards
• communicate scientific information orally and in writing.

Content

The course gives you an introduction to the subject forensic science and legal proceedings. It covers specimen collection and quality assurance at crime scene investigations as well as criminal investigations and legal proceedings. Various forensic analyses for identification such as fingerprints, fire arms, shoeprints, and tool marks are covered through laboratory practicals and lectures. Lectures and laboratory practicals are given by professionals within the field, such as forensic technicians, investigators and other experts.

During a series of lectures (given jointly with other medical Master's programmes) you will get an insight in a number of general science-related topics.

Instruction

The teaching is given as lectures, seminars, demonstrations and laboratory exercises. Special focus is directed to stimulate the students to independently solve problems.

Compulsory parts of the course: Course introduction. All parts in connection with laboratory sessions, demonstrations and advanced assignments including group meetings, briefings and presentation. Joint seminars for Master's programmes.

Assessment

Written examinations (on campus or remotely), advanced assignment (oral and written presentation), laboratory report (oral and written presentation) and additional exercises (oral and written presentation). For a pass on the course, passed examination, passed laboratory course, passed written assignments and presentations are required.

Students who have failed the examination have the right to go through examination further 4 times (= total 5 examinations). If special circumstances apply, the programme committee can admit to additional examinations. Each occasion the student participates in an examination is regarded as an examination attempt. Submission of so-called blank exam is counted as examination.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.