Biology: Intro to Forensic Biology

Covers crime scene investigation, methods of evidence collection and analysis, cause of death, and DNA identification in the context of biases that can influence the processing, interpretation, and use of evidence in the US court system.

Open to degree and PACE students

Introduction to Forensic Biology is a lower division biology course introducing topics related to evidence handling from crime scene investigation to the court room. We will use a case study approach to evaluate the impact that bias may have in the investigation of a crime scene, identification of potential suspects and their pursuit, forensic laboratory management/mismanagement, evidence interpretation, and evidence admissibility in court.

At the end of this course students will be able to: 1. Critically analyze and interpret different forms of crime scene evidence. 2. Examine reports of criminal investigations and court room proceedings for biases. 3. Examine the intersection of common legal biases with systemic racism.

Quizzes, clicker participation points, graded group case studies, group capstone project.