C10388v1 Bachelor of Forensic Science Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
Award(s): Bachelor of Forensic Science (BForSc)Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BA)
UAC code: 609252 (Autumn session)
CRICOS code: 092382G
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 240
Course EFTSL: 5
Location: City campus
Overview
Course aims
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Pathway course
Assumed knowledge
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course program
Honours
Other information
Overview
The Bachelor of Forensic Science Bachelor of Arts in International Studies prepares students for professional and specialist work in the discipline of forensic science. Students build a solid foundation of skills and knowledge in the enabling sciences, complemented by an in-depth understanding of forensic science in the context of their chosen discipline. Development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills is a focus of the degree, with graduates in high demand from a diverse range of industries and organisations.
Students also study a major in the language and culture of another country.
This course provides students with a thorough understanding of how forensic science can solve and prevent crime. This is a hands-on course using world-class facilities that are modelled on operational laboratories. The course is well regarded nationally and internationally, with strong links to industries such as the federal and state police services, national and international forensic institutions, and government laboratories.
With one year of international experience gained from studying and living overseas, graduates find it easier to adapt to and work in another country or Australia.
Course aims
This course aims to produce professional forensic scientists with highly adaptable scientific skills, accompanied by a thorough grounding in theory and practice.
Career options
Career options depend on the selected major but may include positions in the police service, state and federal law enforcement agencies, government and private forensic or drug detection laboratories, customs, quarantine services, environmental protection agencies, pharmaceutical, chemical and analytical industries, DNA testing laboratories, medical diagnostic laboratories, hospitals or corporate multinationals providing forensic, medical or research services, digital forensic laboratories, scene of crime officers.
Course intended learning outcomes
| 1.1 | Demonstrate knowledge of forensic science practice, collection of traces and integration of the derived information with the security and legal system, including the use of current and emerging techniques in forensic science. |
| 1.2 | Apply the forensic investigative process of crime scene investigation, imaging of traces, laboratory analysis, interpretation and presentation of evidence. |
| 1.3 | Apply the principles of forensic intelligence for the linking of forensic traces. |
| 1.4 | Demonstrate knowledge of core areas of biology (microbiology, molecular biology, next generation DNA sequencing, biochemistry), and how they relate to the analysis and interpretation of forensic science traces. |
| 2.1 | Apply the scientific method, formulate hypotheses from chemistry or forensic-based questions, and experimental methods to test these hypotheses and incorporate results in scientifically defensible arguments. |
| 2.2 | Develop investigative and problem-solving skills through realistic forensic case scenarios, case studies laboratory exercises. |
| 3.1 | Collect, analyse, interpret and report forensic science traces using scientific instrumentation and procedures that translate directly to professional practice, both individually and in teams. |
| 3.2 | Demonstrate time and project management skills through the investigation of forensic science scenarios and short research projects. |
| 3.3 | Apply your understanding of professional ethics, quality management and legal considerations to the handling of practical scenarios and classroom discussions. |
| 4.1 | Independently research, assess the reliability of, utilise and apply new information and techniques to solve problems related to forensic science. |
| 4.2 | Collaborate in peer learning through discussion, demonstration of laboratory techniques, reflection and implementation of feedback. |
| 5.1 | Understand role of forensic science within law enforcement, the legal system and the wider community. |
| 5.2 | Understanding of appropriate workplace health and safety practices, particularly in a laboratory setting. |
| 6.1 | Use various methods to document and communicate crime scene observations, experimental results, ideas and expert opinion. |
| 6.2 | Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills for expert, scientific and non-scientific audiences. |
| 7.1 | Apply theoretical knowledge and available resources to solve unfamiliar and complex case-based scenarios. |
| 7.2 | Proactively anticipate and apply creative solutions to problems. |
| 7.3 | Self-expression in a scientific context is developed throughout the course, as students develop their analytical skills culminating in research projects in the final stages of the degree. |
| INT.1.1 | Employ effective cultural strategies to operate within professional settings in Australia and internationally. |
| INT.2.1 | Conduct independent research into contemporary societies and cultures. |
| INT.2.2 | Evaluate research findings and creatively use research methods in International Studies. |
| INT.3.1 | Reflect on and use knowledge of contemporary societies to engage with diverse cultures. |
| INT.3.2 | Communicate effectively for everyday and/or professional purposes in an additional language. |
| INT.4.1 | Value Indigenous knowledges and sovereignty in Australian and international settings. |
| INT.5.1 | Develop capacity to engage with current issues and to act ethically in Australian and international settings. |
| INT.6.1 | Communicate clearly and effectively in written and spoken English. |
Key
INT = International Studies course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.
Students are admitted to the international studies program with no guarantee of entry to a specific major, although every effort is made to meet students' preferences.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64; or CAE: 176-184.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Pathway course
Successful completion of the Insearch:
- Diploma of Science guarantees entry into the course (Chemistry, Biology and Crime Scene Investigation majors) with 48 credit points of recognition of prior learning
- Diploma of IT guarantees entry into the course (Digital Forensics major) with 42 credit points of recognition of prior learning.
Assumed knowledge
2-unit mathematics; any two units of English; and any two units of science. There are no prior language requirements for the international studies program.
HSC Mathematics Extension 1; Chemistry; Physics are recommended.
Course duration and attendance
This course is offered on a five-year, full-time basis.
Course structure
Students must complete 240 credit points of study made up of 48 credit points of core subjects, a 72-credit-point major choice, 24 credit points of electives and 96 credit points of country choice.
Overseas study
Students spend their fourth year at a university overseas.
Course completion requirements
| STM91180 Core subjects (Forensic Science) | 48cp | |
| CBK91225 Major choice | 72cp | |
| CBK90232 Electives (Science UG) | 24cp | |
| CBK90005 Country major choice | 96cp | |
| Total | 240cp |
Course program
Typical course programs are shown below.
| Chemistry major, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 33190 Mathematical Modelling for Science | 6cp | |
| 65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 65242 Principles of Forensic Science | 6cp | |
| 60001 Principles of Scientific Practice | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65212 Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
| 35255 Forensic Statistics | 6cp | |
| 65312 Forensic Imaging | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 97601 German Language and Culture 1 | 8cp | |
| 976001 Foundations in International Studies | 8cp | |
| 65202 Organic Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 65306 Analytical Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 97602 German Language and Culture 2 | 8cp | |
| 65409 Analytical Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| 65508 Organic Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 97603 German Language and Culture 3 | 8cp | |
| 65342 Crime Scene Investigation | 6cp | |
| 65316 Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 97604 German Language and Culture 4 | 8cp | |
| 976421 Contemporary Germany | 8cp | |
| 65544 Chemical Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 977420 In-country Study and Fieldwork Project 1: Germany | 24cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 978420 In-country Study and Fieldwork Project 2: Germany | 24cp | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 18 credit points of options | 18cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 65545 Forensic Toxicology | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65313 Forensic Intelligence | 6cp | |
| 65314 Complex Cases | 6cp | |
| 65315 Forensic Research Project | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 65643 Chemistry and Pharmacology of Recreational Drugs | 6cp | |
| 65644 Fire and Explosion Investigation | 6cp | |
| 65411 Inorganic Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 65001 Medicinal Chemistry | 6cp | |
| 68070 Introduction to Materials | 6cp | |
| 91400 Human Anatomy and Physiology | 6cp | |
| Biology major, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 33190 Mathematical Modelling for Science | 6cp | |
| 65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 65242 Principles of Forensic Science | 6cp | |
| 60001 Principles of Scientific Practice | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65212 Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
| 35255 Forensic Statistics | 6cp | |
| 65312 Forensic Imaging | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 97601 German Language and Culture 1 | 8cp | |
| 976001 Foundations in International Studies | 8cp | |
| 65342 Crime Scene Investigation | 6cp | |
| 91314 General Microbiology | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 97602 German Language and Culture 2 | 8cp | |
| 91132 Molecular Biology 1 | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 97603 German Language and Culture 3 | 8cp | |
| 65316 Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 97604 German Language and Culture 4 | 8cp | |
| 976421 Contemporary Germany | 8cp | |
| 91137 DNA Profiling | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 65320 Forensic Genetics | 6cp | |
| 91138 Investigation of Human Remains | 6cp | |
| 91140 Bionanotechnology | 6cp | |
| 91326 Analytical Biochemistry | 6cp | |
| 91330 Epidemiology and Public Health Microbiology | 6cp | |
| 91400 Human Anatomy and Physiology | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 977420 In-country Study and Fieldwork Project 1: Germany | 24cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 978420 In-country Study and Fieldwork Project 2: Germany | 24cp | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91320 Metabolic Biochemistry | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 65320 Forensic Genetics | 6cp | |
| 91138 Investigation of Human Remains | 6cp | |
| Select 12 credit points of options | 12cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65313 Forensic Intelligence | 6cp | |
| 65314 Complex Cases | 6cp | |
| 65315 Forensic Research Project | 6cp | |
| 65318 Forensic Genotyping Technologies | 6cp | |
| CSI major, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 33190 Mathematical Modelling for Science | 6cp | |
| 65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 65242 Principles of Forensic Science | 6cp | |
| 60001 Principles of Scientific Practice | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65212 Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
| 35255 Forensic Statistics | 6cp | |
| 65312 Forensic Imaging | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 97601 German Language and Culture 1 | 8cp | |
| 976001 Foundations in International Studies | 8cp | |
| 68101 Foundations of Physics | 6cp | |
| 65342 Crime Scene Investigation | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 97602 German Language and Culture 2 | 8cp | |
| 91138 Investigation of Human Remains | 6cp | |
| 65321 Homicide Investigation | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 97603 German Language and Culture 3 | 8cp | |
| 65202 Organic Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 65316 Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 976421 Contemporary Germany | 8cp | |
| 97604 German Language and Culture 4 | 8cp | |
| 65322 Major Scene Investigation | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 977420 In-country Study and Fieldwork Project 1: Germany | 24cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 978420 In-country Study and Fieldwork Project 2: Germany | 24cp | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 18 credit points of options | 18cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 65317 Document Examination and Counterfeiting | 6cp | |
| 65306 Analytical Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65313 Forensic Intelligence | 6cp | |
| 65314 Complex Cases | 6cp | |
| 65315 Forensic Research Project | 6cp | |
| 65323 Advanced Imaging and Specialist Recovery | 6cp | |
| Digital Forensics major, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 33190 Mathematical Modelling for Science | 6cp | |
| 31268 Web Systems | 6cp | |
| 48023 Programming Fundamentals | 6cp | |
| 65242 Principles of Forensic Science | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 41092 Network Fundamentals | 6cp | |
| 48730 Cybersecurity | 6cp | |
| 35255 Forensic Statistics | 6cp | |
| 65312 Forensic Imaging | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 97601 German Language and Culture 1 | 8cp | |
| 976001 Foundations in International Studies | 8cp | |
| 65342 Crime Scene Investigation | 6cp | |
| 41900 Cryptography | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 97602 German Language and Culture 2 | 8cp | |
| 48436 Digital Forensics | 6cp | |
| 31275 Mobile Networking | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 97603 German Language and Culture 3 | 8cp | |
| 65316 Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| 65325 Digital Trace and Identity | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 97604 German Language and Culture 4 | 8cp | |
| 976421 Contemporary Germany | 8cp | |
| 65326 Digital and Cyber Crime | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 977420 In-country Study and Fieldwork Project 1: Germany | 24cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 978420 In-country Study and Fieldwork Project 2: Germany | 24cp | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 18 credit points of options | 18cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 31338 Network Servers | 6cp | |
| 41891 Cloud Computing Infrastructure | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65313 Forensic Intelligence | 6cp | |
| 65314 Complex Cases | 6cp | |
| 65315 Forensic Research Project | 6cp | |
| 65327 Web Monitoring and Investigations | 6cp | |
Honours
The Bachelor of Forensic Science (Honours) (C09100) is available to eligible students from 2020 with an additional one year of full-time study.
Other information
Further information is available from:
UTS Student Centre
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS