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Courses

The UC Davis Master of Science in Forensic Science is rooted in scientific concepts and methodologies. Students may choose an area of emphasis for the degree: Forensic DNA or Forensic Criminalistics. These tracks incorporate a comprehensive knowledge of biology and chemistry and an abundance of hands-on training in our facilities and labs.

FOR201A – Forensic Science Fundamentals-A (Required)

Offered every fall quarter
3 units

Professional responsibilities and ethics, physical evidence concepts, drug chemistry and toxicology, controlled substances and analytical chemistry and instrumentation as practiced in the forensic sciences. First of three courses that, in part, covers the curriculum requirements of the Forensic Education Program Accreditation Committee (FEPAC).

FOR201B – Forensic Science Fundamentals-B (Required)

Offered every winter quarter
3 units

Forensic biology and DNA, microscopy and materials analysis and pattern evidence as practiced in the forensic sciences. Second in a series of three courses which covers the curriculum requirements of the Forensic Education Program Accreditation Committee (FEPAC).

FOR201C – Forensic Science Fundamentals-C (Required)

Offered every spring quarter
3 units

Arson and explosives, quality assurance and accreditation, the law and science interface and court testimony as practiced in the forensic sciences. This course is the third in a series of three courses that covers the curriculum requirements of the Forensic Education Program Accreditation Committee (FEPAC).

FOR207-Advanced Spectroscopy Methods in Forensic Science (Required Criminalistics Track)

Offered every fall quarter
3 units

Discuss, evaluate and interpret advanced molecular spectra/structure, Infrared Spectroscopy, such as chemical applications of spectroscopic methods, vibrational, rotational spectra; electronic spectra, photoelectron spectroscopy generated by various analytical instruments used in forensic science community.

FOR208 – Forensic Toxicology (Elective)

Offered every winter quarter
3 units

This class will focus on forensic toxicology as it relates to driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) investigations, and will provide students with an understanding of some of the analytical and interpretive considerations involved in the daily work of the forensic toxicologist. DUID detection and evaluation through the use of standardized field sobriety tests and drug recognition protocols will be covered, along with issues related to sample collection and drug stability. Typical scope of analysis and workflow will be covered, including presumptive immunoassay screening, sample extraction, confirmation using chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, data review, and reporting considerations. This information will give students a strong foundation for employment in a forensic toxicology laboratory.

FOR209 – Forensic Alcohol (Elective)

Offered every other spring quarter
3 units

An exploration of the analytical methods associated with the identification and quantification of ethanol in various matrices. Absorption, metabolism and elimination of ethanol in the body. Discussion of first order kinetics related to elimination for blood alcohol content extrapolation purposes. Common legal challenges associated with analytical results will be explored.

FOR218 – Forensic Case Reports (Required)

Offered every winter quarter
3 units

This course will instruct students on how to write clear, credible forensic reports and scientific articles, ones that (a) reflect well on them as professionals in the workplace, (b) meet their readers’ varying needs and interests, and (c) serve the ends of the justice system. Students will also learn the preparation and composition of scientific articles to be submitted for publication in forensic science journals.

FOR220 (ETX220) – Analysis of Toxicants (Required Criminalistics Track)

Offered every fall quarter
3 units

This course will present an introduction to the analysis of toxic chemicals, including the theoretical and practical considerations regarding the separation, detection and quantitative determination of toxicants by chemical and instrumental techniques.

FOR221L – Forensic Science Analytical Instrumentation (Required Criminalistics Track)

Offered every other fall quarter
2 units

This course will cover methodology and instruments used for the analysis of substances of interest in the discipline of forensic science. Students will gain practical experience with modern instrumental techniques and methodologies used in the advanced forensic science laboratory.

FOR240 – Homicide Crime Scene Investigation (Required)

Offered every fall quarter and spring quarter as needed
3 units

This course explores processing and evaluating complex homicide scenes. Functions and activities of police agencies are also covered, as well as recognition, documentation, identification, and collection of evidence; event sequence reconstruction; and evidence collection, preservation, report writing and courtroom presentation.

FOR268 – Forensic Statistics (Required Criminalistics Track)

Offered every winter quarter
3 units

Introduction to basic statistical analysis, sampling and measurement uncertainty in forensic disciplines other than DNA. Students will use Ishikawa diagrams, calibration certificates, quality control data, descriptive statistics and confidence intervals for estimation of overall measurement uncertainty. This course will also include discussion of the most common analytical sampling plans as well as review of less common Bayesian methods.

FOR276 – Population Genetics (Required DNA Track)

Offered every other winter quarter
3 units

This course provides an overview of the principles of population genetics as they apply to forensic science. A strong emphasis will be placed on the theories and models of population genetics. Prerequisite: FOR 280 or permission of instructor.

FOR278 (ETX278) – Molecular Techniques (Required DNA Track)

Offered every winter
3 units

Directed toward those graduate students (and advanced undergraduates) who have some background in biochemistry, this course will familiarize students with a variety of basic molecular biological techniques/approaches, including how these techniques are used and what information they can provide. Examples of the application of these techniques will be taken from current scientific literature.

FOR280 (ETX 280) – DNA Analysis (Required DNA Track)

Offered every fall quarter
3 units

This course provides a foundation in theory and practice of forensic DNA analysis; past, present and emerging technologies; legal and quality assurance issues. DNA extraction, DNA quantitation, multiplex amplification of STR loci, capillary electrophoresis of amplified products, and analysis of STR typing data are also covered.

FOR281 (ETX 281) – Principles and Practice of Forensic DNA Analysis (Required DNA Track)

Offered every spring quarter
3 units

Lecture—2 hours; laboratory—3 hours. Prerequisite: FOR280. This course is designed to provide an overview of the principles underlying forensic DNA typing and will allow students to apply this knowledge in a laboratory setting using techniques to extract, quantify and type human DNA.

FOR290 – Seminar Series (Mandatory for new students in the fall quarter)

Offered fall and spring quarters
1 unit

The seminar series brings in renowned speakers in forensic science who will present subject matter important to all students. This is also the forum in which students are required to present the results of their thesis research.

FOR293 – Research Methods in Forensic Science (Elective)

Offered every spring quarter
2 units

This course introduces identification, formulation and solution of meaningful scientific problems encountered in forensic science including experimental design and/or theoretical analysis of new and prevailing techniques, theories and hypotheses. Students will present their thesis research.

FOR 299 – Research in Forensic Science (Required)

Offered each quarter
variable units

Students are expected to complete 18 research units in their desired area of specialization. A thesis committee chair will guide students in shaping their thesis research plan. Current students: 299 units are to be used for your research only. If you plan to take research units in your first year, they should be under your graduate adviser’s name. As soon as you have selected a thesis chair, your remaining units should be under their name. Contact the staff advisor for your course registration number (CRN) for 299 units after you have received email approval from the faculty member from whom you will be taking the units.

The following are examples of some of the courses available as electives.

ANG111 – Molecular Biology Laboratory Techniques

ANG212 – Sequence Analysis in Molecular Genetics

CHE219 – Spectroscopy of Organic Compounds (Elective)

Offered every fall quarter
4 units

Lecture—3 hours; laboratory—2.5 hours. Prerequisite: 128C or the equivalent. This course provides an identification of organic compounds and the investigation of stereochemical and reaction mechanism phenomena using spectroscopic methods—principally NMR, IR and MS.

CHE240 – Advanced Analytical Chemistry (Elective)

Offered every fall quarter
3 units

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: 110A and 115 or the equivalent. Course topics include numerical treatment of experimental data; thermodynamics of electrolyte and non-electrolyte solutions; complex equilibria in aqueous and nonaqueous solutions; potentiometry and specific ion electrodes; mass transfer in liquid solutions; and fundamentals of separation science, including column, gas and liquid chromatography.

EMS182 – Failure Analysis (Elective)

Offered every winter quarter
4 units

Analysis of the way materials fail. This course examines the effects of temperature, mechanical deformation and corrosion on the properties of materials. Forensics and methodologies for investigating failures of materials including optical microscopy, x-ray analysis and scanning electron microscopy, and investigation of practical problems are also covered.

ETX102B – Quantitative Analysis of Environmental Toxicants (Elective)

Offered every spring quarter
5 units

This course examines toxic chemicals, primarily pollutants, in the environment; concepts and techniques of sampling, detecting and quantifying toxicants; collection, interpretation and use of analytical data. This course has been approved by the California Department of Health as meeting the quantitative analysis requirement.

FPS161 – Structure and Properties of Fibers (Elective)

Offered every fall quarter
3 units

Prerequisite: Textiles and Clothing 6 and Chemistry 8B. This course covers the structure, properties and reactions of natural- and man-made fibers; the relations between molecular structure of fibers and their physical properties; and interactions of fibers and detergents.

FPS161L – Textile Chemical Analysis Laboratory (Elective)

Offered every fall quarter
1 unit

Prerequisite: FPS161 (may be taken concurrently). This course teaches laboratory methods and procedures employed in qualitative and quantitative analysis of textile fibers and auxiliaries.

ETX220L – Analysis of Toxicants Laboratory (Elective)

Offered every fall quarter
2 units

Prerequisite: ETX220 (may be taken concurrently). This course teaches laboratory methods and procedures for the microanalysis of toxicants. Students learn to use chemical and instrumental techniques for separation, detection and quantitative determination of toxicants.

GGG201A – Transmission Genetics (Elective)

Offered every fall quarter
3 units

Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 101, introductory statistics and calculus. This course covers segregation, linkage, and the mapping and the modifications of Mendel’s original genetic model.

GGG201D – Quantitative and Population Genetics (Elective)

Offered every winter quarter
3 units

Prerequisite: GGG 201A or consent of instructor. Study the basic concepts of quantitative and population genetics including gene and genotypic frequencies, multiple factor hypothesis, phenotypic and genotypic values, heritability, selection, genetic variation, the detection of quantitative trait loci and evolution in populations. Experimental and analytical methods are also explored.

GGG211 – Concepts in Human Genetics and Genomics (Elective)

Offered every other winter quarter
3 units

Prerequisite: GGG 201A or equivalent (201B and 201C are recommended). Topics include: human genomic organization; genetic structure of human populations; positional cloning of genes for human disease, application of linkage, association, and haplotypes for human studies; quantitative trait loci analyses; integrative genetic studies of gene expression; DNA repair mechanisms in genetic disease; mutation analyses; epigentics in human disease; human mitochondrial DNA disease; gene manipulation and gene therapy.

GGG294 – Seminar in Human Genetics (Elective)

Offered every quarter
2 units

Seminar- 2 hours. Prerequisite: GGG 201A and consent of instructor. Topics of current interest in human genetics and genomics are discussed.

LAW229 – Scientific Evidence (Elective)

Taken concurrently as a FOR298 Group Study Course
Law School—semester schedule varies
3 units

Prerequisite: 219. This course examines evidence law governing the admission of scientific testimony and considers trial advocacy in presenting and attacking such testimony. Each student is required to make an oral class presentation and prepare a research paper dealing with a particular forensic technique. Limited enrollment.

MCB162 – Human Genetics (Elective)

Offered every fall quarter
3 units

The goals of this course are to 1) explain central concepts of current human genetics; 2) illustrate how molecular and genomic approaches have revolutionized the practice of human genetics; 3) discuss the professional practice of human genetics and; 4) develop proficiency in reading primary literature and querying databases in human genetics.

MAE217 – Combustion (Elective)

Offered every other winter quarter
4 units

Prerequisite: Engineering 103 and 105. This course reviews chemical thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. Discussions include reacting flows, their governing equations and transport phenomena; detonations; laminar flame structure and turbulent combustion.

MIC215 – Recombinant DNA Technology (Elective)

Offered every fall quarter
3 units

This courses covers application of recombinant DNA technology to modern problems in biological, biochemistry and genetics, emphasizing molecular cloning strategies, choice of vectors, preparation of insert DNA and selection procedures.