Course

Bachelor of Science (Forensic Science)

Approved Abbreviation: BSc(ForSc)

Western Sydney University Course Code: 3589.1

CRICOS Code: 049084J

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year in this course was 2004, 2005.

This is a three-year program that produces scientists who have a good background in the biological and chemical sciences, coupled with specialised expertise in forensic science, including methods of forensic analysis, crime scene investigation, forensic photography, finger printing, forensic materials/drug investigations, crime and criminal justice, and complex case studies on terrorism, corporate crime, computer crime, money laundering and people smuggling. Students may specialise in forensic biology, chemistry or microbiology or combine the core units with additional forensic electives or studies in a related or unrelated discipline. Career opportunities include forensic scientists, crime scene investigators, private investigators and consultants, quality controllers, drug analysts, researchers and academics, document and fingerprint investigators. The main employers of forensic scientists are State and Federal police services, State and Commonwealth Government Health Departments and analytical chemical laboratories. Graduates will be versatile with a wide skills base with (depending on their choice of electives) potential for employment in analytical chemistry and microbiology, quality control and assurance, biochemistry and molecular biology, scientific research, education and the chemical industry.

Course Structure

For this degree, students need to obtain an aggregate of at least 240 credit points, with no more than 100 credit points at Level 1. In addition, 60 credit points must be at Level 3 or above.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

300221Biology 1
300224Chemistry 1
300375Digital Forensic Photography 1

And one elective

Spring session

300222Biology 2
300225Chemistry 2
SC103AForensic Science
HT102ASoils (V1)

Suggested forensic related electives for Autumn session:

300752Introduction to Anatomy and Histology
300050Physics 1

Year 2

Autumn session

300219Biochemistry 1
300374Crime Scene Investigation
400680Crime and Criminal Justice

(Note: or 400681 Crime & Criminology in Spring session)

And one elective

Spring session

300220Biochemistry 2
300297Analytical Chemistry 2
300377Forensic Analysis of Physical Evidence

And one elective

Suggested forensic-related electives:

Autumn session:

300378Forensic Archaeology
300328Botany
200189Concepts of Mathematics

Spring session:

300376Digital Forensic Photography 2
200033Applied Statistics
BI201AGenetics 2.2
300321Microbiology 2
300323Pathological Basis of Disease
300051Physics 2

Year 3

Autumn session

300234Molecular Biology
300298Analytical Chemistry 3

And two electives

Spring session

300373Complex Forensic Case Studies
200192Statistics for Science

Choose one of:

80802Environmental Toxicology
EH217AToxicology

And one elective

Note: 80802 Environmental Toxicology and EH217A Toxicology are offered in Autumn and Spring sessions, respectively.

Suggested forensic-related electives:

Autumn session:

300378Forensic Archaeology
300334Invertebrate Biology
EH301AAssessment of Occupational Environment

Spring session:

300376Digital Forensic Photography 2
SC301ALaboratory Quality Management

Other units from Anatomy, Criminology, Forensic Psychology, Law and other areas would also be suitable as electives.

Students may choose to: specialise in forensic biology, chemistry or microbiology; take one or more additional units in forensic science or take a major or sub-major from another discipline area which could include criminology, policing or law.

Forensic Specialisations

Any forensic specialisation undertaken during the course will not be noted on your testamur or academic transcript. The aim of these specialisations is to recommend some coherent patterns of study that would provide academic and practical strengths in these areas.

Specialisation in Forensic Biology

Year 1

Autumn session

300221Biology 1
300224Chemistry 1
300375Digital Forensic Photography 1
300752Introduction to Anatomy and Histology

Spring session

300222Biology 2
300225Chemistry 2
SC103AForensic Science
HT102ASoils (V1)

Year 2

Autumn session

300219Biochemistry 1
300374Crime Scene Investigation
400680Crime and Criminal Justice
300328Botany

Spring session

300220Biochemistry 2
300297Analytical Chemistry 2
300377Forensic Analysis of Physical Evidence
BI201AGenetics 2.2

Year 3

Autumn session

300234Molecular Biology
300298Analytical Chemistry 3
300334Invertebrate Biology

Choose one of:

EH217AToxicology
80802Environmental Toxicology

Note: 80802 Environmental Toxicology and EH217A Toxicology are offered in Autumn and Spring sessions, respectively.

Spring session

300373Complex Forensic Case Studies
200192Statistics for Science
300323Pathological Basis of Disease

Botany of Illegal Plants (under development only)

Specialisation in Chemistry

Year 1

Autumn session

300221Biology 1
300224Chemistry 1
300375Digital Forensic Photography 1
300050Physics 1

Spring session

300222Biology 2
300225Chemistry 2
SC103AForensic Science
200189Concepts of Mathematics

Year 2

Autumn session

300219Biochemistry 1
300374Crime Scene Investigation
300301Organic Chemistry 2
400680Crime and Criminal Justice

Spring session

300220Biochemistry 2
300297Analytical Chemistry 2
300377Forensic Analysis of Physical Evidence

Choose one of:

300230Inorganic Chemistry 2
300236Physical Chemistry 2

Year 3

Autumn session

300234Molecular Biology
300298Analytical Chemistry 3

Choose one of:

80802Environmental Toxicology
EH217AToxicology

Choose one of:

Chemistry alternate unit

One elective

Note: 80802 Environmental Toxicology and EH217A Toxicology are offered in Autumn and Spring sessions, respectively.

Spring session

300373Complex Forensic Case Studies
200192Statistics for Science
HT102ASoils (V1)

Chemistry alternate unit

Chemistry Alternate Units:

300299Chemistry Project 3
300230Inorganic Chemistry 2
300231Inorganic Chemistry 3
SC301ALaboratory Quality Management
300301Organic Chemistry 2
300235Organic Chemistry 3
300324Pharmacological Chemistry
300236Physical Chemistry 2
300303Physical Chemistry 3

Specialisation in Microbiology

Year 1

Autumn session

300221Biology 1
300224Chemistry 1
300375Digital Forensic Photography 1

And one elective

Spring session

300222Biology 2
300225Chemistry 2
SC103AForensic Science
HT102ASoils (V1)

Year 2

Autumn session

300219Biochemistry 1
300374Crime Scene Investigation
300300Microbiology 1
400680Crime and Criminal Justice

Spring session

300220Biochemistry 2
300297Analytical Chemistry 2
300377Forensic Analysis of Physical Evidence
300321Microbiology 2

Year 3

Autumn session

300234Molecular Biology
300298Analytical Chemistry 3
300307Analytical Microbiology

Choose one of:

EH217AToxicology
80802Environmental Toxicology

Note: 80802 Environmental Toxicology and EH217A Toxicology are offered in Autumn and Spring sessions, respectively.

Spring session

300373Complex Forensic Case Studies
200192Statistics for Science
300749Medical Microbiology

And one elective

Sub-major elective spaces

Elective units may be used toward obtaining an additional approved sub-major (40 credit points). Western Sydney University offers sub-majors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Indigenous Australian Studies Sub-major

Indigenous Australian Creative Expressions Sub-major

Indigenous Economics Sub-major

Business Sustainability Sub-major

Refer to the Unit Set Index.

Students can apply for an elective major or sub-major via MySR in the Unit Sets section under Enrolment.

Handbook Unit Set Index

MyStudentRecords (MySR)



Western Sydney University Copyright © 2004-2016 ABN 53 014 069 881 CRICOS Provider No: 00917K Contact Us | Disclaimer | Emergency Help |