Forensic Science and Profiling

Overview

This course is designed for beginners to introduce them to the world of forensic science and profiling.  By using actual case studies we are able to explore the roles played by a variety of experts as they endeavour to achieve justice for the victims.  Please note the case studies used in this course are primarily those of violent crime and murder. 

This course offers the opportunity to discover how an entire investigation process is brought together to enable a prosecution to take place.  This is a thought-provoking course, which will enable the student to have insight into the criminal mind.

Modules

Lesson One

• Introduction to Forensic Science
• The History of Forensic Science-from 3rd Century BC
• Discoveries in the Field of Forensic Science

Lesson Two

• Forensics
• What is DNA?
• Mitochondrial DNA
• DNA and the Law
• Amplified DNA
• Operation Phoenix
• The Royal Family of Russia

Case Studies

• Robert Melias
• Colin Pitchfork
• The Murder of Helen McCourt
• The Murder of Leanne Tiernan
• Jules Mikus 2001- New Zealand
• The Murder of  Hyo Jung Jin

Lesson Three

• The History of Fingerprints
• Forensic Footwear
• Ear Prints
• Palm Prints

Lesson Four

• Forensic Odontology
• Hair
• Trace evidence-fibres

Case Studies

• The Salem Witch Trials
• Ted Bundy
• The Chi Omega Murders
• Napoleon Bonaparte - suspicious death?
• John Vollman
• The Murder of Ruby Annie Keen

Lesson Five

• Crime Scene – Murder
• Chemical Pollution at the Scene of a Crime
• The Autopsy
• Positional asphyxia/postural asphyxia
• Saponification/Adipocere
• Decomposition

Case Studies

• Patrick Higgins

Lesson Six

• Poisons
• Poisoners
• The Marsh Test
• Doctors who kill

Case Studies

• The Case of Charles LeFarge
• Dr. Pierre Marie Bougrat
• Dr Harold Shipman.
• Michael Swango

Lesson Seven

• Psychological Profiling Including a Brief History of Profiling
• Early Profilers- Kirk 1900
• 1950`s Ernst Kretschmer
• Dr James Brussel
• Serial Killers
• FBI Six Stages of Profiling
• Investigated Psychology Using Five Factors
• Behavioural Evidence Analysis

Case Studies

• New York Pipe Bomber
• Jack the Ripper

Lesson Eight

• A profile of the organized perpetrator /offender
• The Disorganized Asocial Offender
• Types of Rapists
• Profiling
• Victimology

Case Studies

• The Suffolk Strangler a.k.a. The Ipswich Ripper-disorganised serial killer
• David Berkowitz
• Robert Hanssen
• Jerome Brudos-lust killer
• Andrei Chikatilo

Requirements

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.