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)
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 | Apply: Demonstrate a command of forensic science practice, including the detection, collection, and analysis of traces using current, appropriate, and emerging processes and technologies. |
| 1.2 | Analyse: Evaluate the collection of traces and interpret the results of analyses through the use of propositions, hypotheses, and statistical methods. |
| 1.3 | Synthesise: Integrate information from individual and collective forensic analyses into investigative, evaluative, or intelligence frameworks. |
| 2.1 | Apply: Employ investigative and problem-solving skills to evaluate forensic science problems. |
| 2.2 | Analyse: Critically analyse and evaluate data, experimental results, and academic literature. |
| 2.3 | Synthesise: Formulate hypotheses and design experimental methods to test these hypotheses, and evaluate and communicate results in a scientific and impartial manner. |
| 3.1 | Apply: Practise safe, responsible, and professional conduct in laboratory and practical settings. |
| 3.2 | Analyse: Practise professional ethical conduct through work-integrated learning. |
| 3.3 | Synthesise: Discuss the impact and role of forensic science in addressing current and future challenges faced by law enforcement, the legal system, security, and the wider community. |
| 4.1 | Apply: Apply forensic science and professional skills with a high degree of personal autonomy and reflection. |
| 4.2 | Analyse: Devise and implement a relevant examination strategy to locate and examine traces. |
| 4.3 | Synthesise: Demonstrate initiative and innovative thinking through creative problem solving applied to new case scenarios, situations, or challenges in forensic science practice. |
| 5.1 | Apply: Demonstrate skills in case documentation. |
| 5.2 | Analyse: Combine various methods to record and communicate observations and evaluation of traces throughout all stages of an investigation. |
| 5.3 | Synthesise: Explain experimental findings to communicate conclusions, expert opinion, and the justification of professional decisions effectively to expert, scientific, and non-expert audiences. |
| 6.1 | Apply: Demonstrate an appreciation of historical and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges relevant to forensic science. |
| 6.2 | Analyse: Develop cultural awareness for ethical and respectful practices, and when developing community relations. |
| 6.3 | Synthesise: Engage and connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges, as both experience and analysis, to inform professional practice. |
| 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 UTS College:
- 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.
Industrial training/professional practice
Students studying this course have an opportunity to undertake an internship subject and receive academic credit for their placement off campus (an external business or research institute) or on campus (UTS research institutes or departments), in a capacity relevant to their academic studies.
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 | ||
| 33116 Design, Data, and Decisions | 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 | |
| 65606 Analytical Chemistry 3 | 6cp | |
| 65410 Skills for the Professional Chemist | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65313 Forensic Intelligence | 6cp | |
| 65314 Complex Cases | 6cp | |
| 65315 Forensic Research Project | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 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 | ||
| 33116 Design, Data, and Decisions | 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 | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 65319 Biological Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| 91500 Histology | 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 | ||
| 33116 Design, Data, and Decisions | 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 | |
| 68041 Physical Aspects of Nature | 6cp | |
| 65342 Crime Scene Investigation | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 97602 German Language and Culture 2 | 8cp | |
| 65321 Homicide and Human Remains 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 | |
| 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 | ||
| 33116 Design, Data, and Decisions | 6cp | |
| 31268 Web Systems | 6cp | |
| 41092 Network Fundamentals | 6cp | |
| 65242 Principles of Forensic Science | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 48023 Programming Fundamentals | 6cp | |
| 31250 Introduction to Data Analytics | 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 | |
| 48730 Cybersecurity | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 97602 German Language and Culture 2 | 8cp | |
| 48436 Digital Forensics | 6cp | |
| 41181 Information Security and Management | 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 | |
| 41900 Cryptography | 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 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