Forensic science: poisoning

Aims of the course: 

1. To introduce participants to forensic science.
2. To show how crime scenes are examined and evidence collected.
3. To present crime scene evidence online for participants to evaluate, enabling students to identify the perpetrator of the crime.
4. To provide an understanding of poisons, toxins and venoms. From selected examples participants should be able to identify which poison, toxin or venom caused the death, from looking at the crime scene and symptoms prior to death.
5. To illustrate how poisons, toxins and venoms are analysed in a forensic investigation.

Course content:

This course will begin with an introduction to forensic science and the examination of a crime scene. Participants will be introduced to a crime scene in the first teaching week and will collect evidence from the scene which they will then examine in the following weeks. Participants will learn about the science behind the technology which is used to analyse evidence. Participants will receive results from the evidence which has been analysed and will have to figure out which of the suspects committed the crime.

Schedule (this course is completed entirely online):

Orientation Week : 11 - 17 September 2017

Teaching Weeks: 18 September - 22 October 2017

Feedback Week: 23 - 29 October 2017

Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours reading material, etc., although this will vary from person to person.

While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material).

Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (discussion boards,etc).

A Certificate of Participation will be awarded to participants who contribute constructively to weekly discussions and exercises/assignments for the duration of the course.

What our students say - June 2014

"Exceptionally good"

"The tutor is totally engaged with the students, helpful and knew her subject"

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This course is open to everyone, and you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject to attend.

Our short courses are designed especially for adult learners who want to advance their personal or professional development. They are taught by tutors who are expert in both their subjects and in teaching students of all ages and experiences.

Please note that all teaching is in English. You should have near-native command of the English language in order to get the maximum benefit from the course.