Forensic and Analytical Science

To be read in conjunction with the program of study requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Specialisations).The Forensic and Analytical Science Specialisation requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time).

The Specialisation is offered by the College of Science and Engineering.

To qualify for the Bachelor of Science (Forensic and Analytical Science) specialisation a student must complete 108 units, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

No more than 45 units of First Year level topics may be included in the 108 units for the degree. Topics designated 'any year' or with no year level specified are regarded as First Year level topics. A topic cannot be counted twice.

Elective topics to complete 108 units may be selected from any offered within the University or, with approval from the College of Science and Engineering, from outside the University, provided any course and prerequisite requirements are met.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Students choose from one of two streams in the Forensic and Analytical Science Specialisation:

• Forensic Biology
• Forensic and Analytical Chemistry

Stream - Forensic Biology - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 1 topics

BIOL1101 Evolution of Biological Diversity (4.5 units) BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units) CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units) CHEM1102 Modern Chemistry (4.5 units) FACH1701 Introduction to Forensic Science (4.5 units) STEM1001 Nature of STEM (4.5 units) STAT1122 Biostatistics (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 1 topics

A 4.5 unit elective topic from across the University where entry requirements are met.*

Stream - Forensic Biology - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 2 topics

BIOL2702 Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity (4.5 units) BIOL2771 Biochemistry (4.5 units) BIOL2772 Molecular Biology (4.5 units)

Option - Year 2 topics

Plus 9 units selected from:

BIOL2701 Experimental Design and Statistics for Biology (4.5 units) BIOL2706 Vertebrate Anatomy and Evolution (4.5 units) BIOL2722 Disease and Immunology (4.5 units) BIOL2761 Virology (4.5 units) CHEM2711 Spectroscopy and Data Analysis (4.5 units) CHEM2712 Analytical Separations (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 2 topics

Plus 13.5 units of elective topics from across the University where entry requirements are met.*

Stream - Forensic Biology - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 3 topics

BIOL3762 Protein to Proteome (4.5 units) BIOL3771 DNA to Genome (4.5 units) BIOL3792 Forensic Biology (4.5 units) BIOL3793 Biological Criminalistics (4.5 units)

Option - Year 3 topics

Plus 9 units selected from:

BIOL3772 Integrating Molecular Biosciences (4.5 units) CHEM3701 Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry (4.5 units) FACH3701 Chemical Criminalistics (4.5 units)** FACH3702 Drug Action, Metabolism, Toxicology and Analysis ** (4.5 units) MMED3935 Human Molecular Genetics (4.5 units) BIOL3761 Foundations in Microbiology (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 3 topics

Plus 9 units of elective topics from across the University where entry requirements are met.#*

*While students are able to select elective topics from anywhere across the University, the below are Recommended Electives.

FACH3701 Chemical Criminalistics (4.5 units)** FACH3702 Drug Action, Metabolism, Toxicology and Analysis ** (4.5 units) CHEM3701 Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry (4.5 units)**

** This topic can be taken if pre-requisites are met. The pre-requisite topics must be taken as electives as they are not core topics within this program

# Students are encouraged to enrol in STEM3001 Science Connect (4.5 units) as a third-year elective.

Stream - Forensic and Analytical Chemistry - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 1 topics

BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units) CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units) CHEM1102 Modern Chemistry (4.5 units) FACH1701 Introduction to Forensic Science (4.5 units) STEM1001 Nature of STEM (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

Plus 4.5 units selected from:

STAT1121 Data Science (4.5 units) STAT1122 Biostatistics (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 1 topics

Plus 9 units of elective topics from across the University where entry requirements are met.***

Stream - Forensic and Analytical Chemistry - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 2 topics

BIOL2772 Molecular Biology (4.5 units) CHEM2701 Chemical Reactivity (4.5 units) CHEM2702 Organic Reactions (4.5 units) CHEM2711 Spectroscopy and Data Analysis (4.5 units) CHEM2712 Analytical Separations (4.5 units) NANO2701 Structure and Characterisation (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 2 topics

Plus 9 units of elective topics from across the University where entry requirements are met.***

Stream - Forensic and Analytical Chemistry - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 3 topics

CHEM3701 Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry (4.5 units) CHEM3702 Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry (4.5 units) CHEM3711 Organic Synthesis and Mechanism (4.5 units) CHEM3712 Introduction to Polymer Science (4.5 units) FACH3701 Chemical Criminalistics (4.5 units) FACH3702 Drug Action, Metabolism, Toxicology and Analysis (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 3 topics

Plus 9 units of elective topics from across the University where entry requirements are met.#***

#Students are encouraged to enrol in STEM3001 Science Connect (4.5 units) as a third-year elective.

***While students are able to select elective topics from anywhere across the University, the below are Recommended Electives.

BIOL3792 Forensic Biology (4.5 units) BIOL3793 Biological Criminalistics (4.5 units) NANO1101 Fundamentals of Nanatechnology (4.5 units)

Honours

Admission to an honours program may be offered to a student who meets certain academic criteria and subject to the College being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study. Refer to Bachelor of Science (Honours).

Combined degrees

The Bachelor of Science (Forensic and Analytical Science) may also be studied in a combined degree program with:

• another Bachelor degree in the College of Science and Engineering where the combination meets the requirements of the credit transfer policy
• Bachelor of Archaeology
• Bachelor of Criminology
• Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
• Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice - from 1 January 2020
• Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice - prior to 31 December 2019
• Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (Honours) - from 1 January 2020
• Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (Honours) - prior to 31 December 2019

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Successful completion of SACE Stage 2 Chemistry or the equivalent is required for entry to the Specialisation in Forensic and Analytical Science.

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of and critically apply the theories, subject content, professional methodologies and research procedures relevant to the discipline of forensic and analytical science
• work independently in a chemistry or molecular biology laboratory using appropriate techniques and instrumentation
• critically evaluate experimental data with the appropriate statistical methods
• analyse and critically evaluate ideas/information/data and apply relevant scientific principles to solve problems by, for example, creating hypotheses, testing theories and predictions, designing and carrying out experiments and analysing reported data
• design and carry our experiments using both established and novel techniques and protocols
• communicate scientific information to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
• appreciate the relationships and connections between forensic and analytical science and other science and non-science disciplines
• work and learn independently and appreciate the need for continuing professional development
• work effectively within the regulatory framework surrounding forensic and analytical science, for example Occupational Health and Safety, ethics, data storage and Intellectual Property
• understand the ethical issues in science with specific reference to legal and forensic issues
• work productively as part of a team in order to achieve common goals.