Introduction to Forensic Science (FRSC 2007-91)

Department/ AAU: Faculty of Science: Forensics

Semester : Winter 2021
Course Instructor: Dr. Pardeep K. Jasra
Email: pardeepj@uwindsor.ca 
Office: Room#218 Essex Hall
Website: uwindsor.ca/blackboard

Course Material: Every Monday Mornings

Virtual Office Hours: Tuesday 2:00-4:00 PM Or by appointment

through BB collaborate

Course Text Book :

Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques Edited by James,
Stuart H. and Nordby Jon J. Fourth Edition, 2014, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group
Note: Please note that a few of the lectures/course material may have human body parts
dissections or other pictures /videos of Forensic relevance.

Course Description :
This course will survey the many specialties of Forensic Sciences, including forensic pathology,
entomology, anthropology, biology, toxicology, etc. Special guest lectures by practicing forensic
scientists will give students direct contact with the role they play in the extraction, meaning and
analysis of evidence

Learning Outcomes :
At the end of this course the students will know and be able to:
 Appreciate the diversity of forensic sciences
 Comprehend the techniques of criminal investigations
 Evaluate all aspects of crime scene in different situations
 Apply the knowledge of sciences and social sciences to forensic investigations
 Identify various types of forensic evidence
 Determine appropriate analytical techniques suitable analysing specific forensic
evidence
 Understand analytical techniques applied to forensic evidence
 Integrate available information to evaluate the limitations and success
of specific forensic investigative methods.
 Extend the knowledge and principles of forensics to evidence-based problem solving
 Apply the knowledge of diverse fields of forensics to align the career goals

 COURSE GRADE BREAKDOWN/DUE DATES:

Item Date Percentage of

Final Grade
Quiz 1 online Jan.22,2021 6
Online cumulative open from
12:00PM-23:59PM. Closed book One
minute per question No backtracking
allowed
Quiz 2 online March 05,2021 6
Online cumulative closed book; open
from 12:00PM-23:59PM. One minute
per question No backtracking allowed
Activity Feb 12.2021 6

Assignment March 12 (Early submission is 6

allowed)

Mid-Term (cumulative) Feb.26,2021 20

online
Online cumulative open from
12:00PM-23:59PM. Closed book. One
minute per question No backtracking
allowed
Quiz 3 online March 26,2021 6
Online cumulative open from
12:00PM-23:59PM. One minute per
question No backtracking allowed.
Closed book
Participation in online Discussions: Every Week forum will 6
discussion threads open on Monday and close on
Sunday at 23:59PM.

Participation in online TBA 4

Surveys

Synchronous Discussions TBA Optional

Online through BB

Final Exam: Cumulative Cumulative online Closed book 40

 STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES
Students with various documented special needs attend University with success. Student
accessibility Services provides a variety of services and supports to students with documented
disabilities (including learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, acquired brain
injuries, vision, hearing and mobility impairments, chronic medical conditions and psychiatric
issues), who have registered with SAS.
“Students with disabilities who require academic accommodations in this course must contact
an Advisor in Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to complete SAS Registration and receive
the necessary Letters of Accommodation. After registering with Student Accessibility Services,
you must present your Letter of Accommodation and discuss your needs with me as early in the
term as possible. Please note that deadlines for the submission of documentation and
completed forms to Student Accessibility Services are available on their
website: www.uwindsor.ca/studentaccessibility.” The SAS office is located in Room 117,
Dillon Hall, (519) 253-3000 ext. 3288

UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR OFFICIAL GRADING POLICY

The University of Windsor uses a percentage marking and grading scale. Course instructors are
to assign and record integer-valued grades, and these grades are to be considered the exact
assigned grades earned by the students. For more details on the grading policies, see this link.
www.uwindsor.ca/secretariat/sites/uwindsor.ca.secretariat/files/grading_and_averages.pdf 

 
 ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT, PLAGIARISM & EXAMINATION MAKE UP POLICIES
“Students at the University of Windsor consistently strive to attain the highest standards of
academic performance.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a very serious academic offense. Students who plagiarize are dishonestly and
fraudulently using someone else’s work as their own. In the preparation of essays, papers,
reports, and any other types of assignments, students must necessarily rely on the work of
others. However, the source of any ideas, wording, or data obtained from others must be
disclosed and properly acknowledged by citations, quotation marks, and bibliographic
references in the proper format. Using the work of others without acknowledgement is
plagiarism.
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
a) Copying material, for example, from the Internet, or purchasing material and submitting it as
one’s own;
b) Paraphrasing (changing some of the words) the ideas and concepts of others (whether
published or unpublished) without proper referencing;
c) Using a passage or passages of any length from published or unpublished work of others
without placing the passage(s) in quotation marks (or using indentation for long quotation(s))
and acknowledging the source(s).
 
Other Forms of Academic Misconduct include, but are not limited to:
a) Submitting work to more than one course, unless prior permission to do so has been given in
writing;
b) Submitting work completely or largely identical to that of other students, unless group work
and joint submissions are explicitly permitted by the instructor.
 
For additional Examples of Academic Misconduct and more on the definition of
plagiarism, please refer to Senate By-law 31, Appendix A at www.uwindsor.ca/senate and
click on bylaws and policies.
Consequences:
If the instructor believes that plagiarism has occurred, s/he assigns a grade of IN (incomplete) to
the work in question and with agreement of the Department Head, reports the case to the
Associate Dean of the Faculty, and to the student(s) involved. Disciplinary proceedings may
be initiated pursuant to Senate Bylaw 31, which could result in suspension or expulsion from the
University in cases of repeated plagiarism. Normally, students will not be allowed to re-write or
re-submit work to compensate for grades assigned as a result of plagiarism. Students will be
given the opportunity to address the matter of plagiarism to the Department Head and/or to the
Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and
ultimately to a Judicial Panel at the University. Students can appeal a finding of plagiarism or a
sanction decision to the Discipline Appeal Committee of the University. (See Bylaw 31 for
complete details.)
All the students will sign pledge as given below, before their tests and other assessments
Pledge: “As a student of the University of Windsor, I pledge to pursue all endeavours
with honour and integrity, and will not tolerate or engage in academic or personal dishonesty”
Description: As defined in the Windsor Student Code of Conduct and Senate Bylaw 31 on
Academic Integrity, this pledge covers but is not limited to cheating, plagiarizing or
misrepresenting the ideas of someone else, unauthorized assistance/collaboration, and
falsifying data.
The University of Windsor student code of conduct can be found here:
www.uwindsor.ca/secretariat/sites/uwindsor.ca.secretariat/files/student_code_of_conduct_marc
h_13_2015_0.pdf 

Exam Makeup/Late Submission/Aegrotat/Incomplete Policy

The faculty requires students to provide acceptable and documented medical (or equivalent
compassionate) reasons to allow make-ups for scheduled tests, midterms, and final exams; the
submission of late assignments; or grades of Incomplete or Aegrotat.
Acceptable reasons include hospital stays, serious illness, family emergencies (such as serious
accidents or illnesses, death) or similar circumstances outside the student’s control. Normally,
written documentation is required stating specific reasons and dates. Arrangements for make-up
exams must be made as soon as possible. The instructor sets the date and format for make-up
exams. The make-up exam will usually be different than the original exam, but will be equivalent
in terms of testing objectives, format, level of difficulty, material covered, length of examination,
etc., (in accordance with Bylaw 51).
HELPFUL RESOURCES
“Feeling Overwhelmed?
From time to time, students face obstacles that can affect academic performance. If you
experience difficulties and need help, it is important to reach out to someone.

For help addressing mental or physical health concerns on campus, contact (519) 253-3000: 
- Student Health Services at ext. 7002 (http://www.uwindsor.ca/studenthealthservices/)
- Student Counselling Centre at ext. 4616 (http://www.uwindsor.ca/studentcounselling/)
- Peer Support Centre at ext. 4551
24 Hour Support is Available
- My Student Support Program (MySSP) is an immediate and fully confidential 24/7 mental
health support that can be accessed for free through chat, online, and telephone. This service is
available to all University of Windsor students and offered in over 30 languages. Call: 1-844-
451-9700, visit https://keepmesafe.myissp.com/  or download the My SSP app: Apple App
Store/Google Play.
A full list of on- and off-campus resources is available at  http://www.uwindsor.ca/wellness.

Should you need to request alternative accommodation contact your instructor, head or
associate dean.”

 
 

 
COURSE SCHEDULE 
 
The tentative topics per week are listed below.

Date  Topic Chapter

Week1 Overview of Forensic Science. Chapter 1-2

Jan7-Jan10 Reading Resources

Week2 Death Investigation & Role of Coroner Chapter 5

Jan 11- 17

Week3 Introductory Forensic Pathology Chapter 5

Jan 18- 24 Quiz 1
Week 4 Forensic Anthropology Chapter 6
Jan25-31
Week 5 Fingerprints Analysis in Forensics Chapter 13;
Feb.01- .07 Reading Resources
Week 6 Activity Chapter 4
Feb 8-12 Recognition of Blood Stain Patterns
Week 7 Reading Week
Feb 13-21
Week 8 Forensic Chemistry Chapter 10 & 11
Feb 22-28 Midterm
Week 9 Forensic Entomology Chapter 7
March 1-7 Quiz 2 Reading Resource
Week 10 Forensic DNA Analysis Chapter 9
March 8-14
Week 11 Reading Resource;
March 15-21 Introductory Digital Forensics  Chapter 19
Week 12 Final Review
March 22-28 Quiz 3