Bachelor of Forensic Science
2020 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2020 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Forensic Science |
| Course Map | If you started your course before 2020, please refer to the plan your study page or contact a Student Adviser |
| Campus | Offered at Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Cloud Campus | No |
| Duration | 3 years full time or part time equivalent |
| CRICOS course code | 073106G Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Deakin course code | S324 |
| Approval status | This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7. |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Major sequences
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Details of major sequences
- Other learning experiences
Course overview
Deakin’s Bachelor of Forensic Science exposes you to the full scope of modern forensic science, from simulated crime scenes to courtroom presentations. With a strong focus on practical training, you’ll graduate with the skills needed to use scientific evidence to solve crimes.
Want to study at the only university in Australia to offer a professionally accredited forensic science course?
Learn to confidently examine, interpret and present forensic evidence, by building foundational knowledge of the science behind forensics. You can customise your degree to your interests by selecting a major in forensic biology or forensic chemistry. You’ll then learn how to apply modern forensic analysis in authentic environments like Deakin’s purpose-built crime scene training facility. With a kitchen, lounge room and bedroom set, this flexible facility lets you simulate almost any type of scenario.
Put yourself in the shoes of a forensic scientist and get hands-on experience taking your investigation from the crime scene to the courtroom. You’ll go from evidence collection to laboratory analysis, interpretation of results, communication of your findings, and culminate in presentation of your evidence in a ‘moot court’.
Explore a range of disciplines throughout your course, including:
- decomposition
- toxicology
- arson and explosives investigations
- analysis of illicit drugs
- DNA analysis
- bloodstain pattern analysis
- entomology
- criminology.
Complement your technical knowledge and be better prepared to present in court by developing a strong understanding of the Australian legal system, including how law is developed, criminal and civil law, and the laws of evidence.
This course has extensive industry links with local and Australian forensic organisations, and features guest speakers from leaders in the field. Industry connections are leveraged to put you right in the middle of real-world forensic science environments.
Enhance your employment opportunities further by applying for membership of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS).
Indicative student workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Forensic Science has been professionally accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. Graduates of this course are encouraged to apply for membership of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS).
Career opportunities
Through your extensive practical training, you’ll graduate with the technical and soft skills needed to thrive in a range of areas including:
- forensic laboratories
- insurance investigations
- risk analysis
- research science
- policing
- government institutions
- chemical, biological, food and pharmaceutical industries.
Participation requirements
You may be required to complete units in Trimester 3 depending on your chosen major. Please refer to the Handbook for unit offering patterns.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Demonstrate broad and coherent knowledge of forensic disciplines including forensic chemistry, forensic biology and the science in the crime scene to the courtroom. Apply analysis and interpretation techniques in order to deduce and test hypothesis in a variety of professional contexts. Explain and present the strengths of scientific results and associated limitations in professional environments. |
| Communication | Use appropriate terminology and standard operating procedures to note take, document and present a variety of accumulated information. Judge how well to present essential details of scientific procedures, key observations, results and conclusions in a professional manner using appropriate style, language and references including local, national, international contributions and contexts. Converse with scientific and non-scientific audiences using appropriate language and methods of communication to clearly articulate scientific procedures and outcomes. |
| Digital literacy | Apply well-developed technical skills, judgement and responsibility to independently locate, analyse, evaluate the merits of, synthesise and disseminate scientific literature, information, data and results. |
| Critical thinking | Interpret and evaluate information from a number of areas including a body of knowledge from the scholarly literature, laboratory data and other individuals to place the information in a scientific context. Use critical and analytical thinking and judgement to analyse, synthesise and generate an integrated knowledge, and to formulate hypotheses and test them against evidence-based scientific concepts and principles. |
| Problem solving | Take into account relevant contextual factors to approach problems and make informed decisions that will assist in finding appropriate solutions to problems in forensic science. Advocate scientific methodologies, hypotheses, laws, facts and principles to create solutions to real world problems and forensic scenarios. |
| Self-management | Take personal, professional and social responsibility within changing professional science contexts to develop autonomy as learners and evaluate own performance. Work autonomously, responsibly and safely to solve unstructured problems and actively apply knowledge of regulatory frameworks and scientific methodologies to make informed choices. |
| Teamwork | Work independently and collaboratively in diverse roles as members of multidisciplinary teams to contribute towards achieving team goals and thereby demonstrate interpersonal skills including the ability to brainstorm, negotiate, resolve conflicts, managing difficult and awkward conversations, provide constructive feedback and work in professional, social and cultural contexts. |
| Global citizenship | Adopt and value multidisciplinary knowledge and perspectives for evaluating, integrating and incorporating strategies and solutions in scoping, planning and managing alternative solutions from local to global forensic problems. |
Approved by Faculty Board 27 June 2019
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Forensic Science, students must attain 24 credit points. Most units (think of units as ‘subjects’) are equal to 1 credit point. So that means in order to gain 24 credit points, you’ll need to study 24 units (AKA ‘subjects’) over your entire degree. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake two trimesters each year.
The course comprises a total of 24 credit points, which must include the following:
- 11 core units
- Completion of STP050 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- Completion of SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit point compulsory unit)
- Completion of STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point compulsory unit)
- no more than 10 credit points at level 1
- at least 6 credit points at level 3 (at least 4 must be SLE coded units)
- Completion of a major sequence in either: Forensic Chemistry or Forensic Biology.
With careful planning, students may use up to eight of their remaining electives on units offered outside the Faculty such as units in Criminology, for example.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. Click here for more information.
Major sequences
Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability.
Course structure
Electives
Select from a range of electives offered across many courses. In some cases you may even be able to choose elective units from a completely different discipline area (subject to meeting unit requirements).
It is important to note that some elective units may include compulsory placement, study tours, work-based training or collaborative research training arrangements.
Course structure
Core
Level 1 - Trimester 1
| STP050 | Academic Integrity (0 credit points) |
| SLE010 | Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit point) |
| SLE111 | Cells and Genes |
| SLE133 | Chemistry in Our World |
| SIT191 | Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis |
Plus one elective
Level 1 - Trimester 2
| SLE132 | Biology: Form and Function |
| SLE155 | Chemistry for the Professional Sciences |
| SLE112 | Fundamentals of Forensic Science |
| ACR102 | Introducing Crime and Criminal Justice |
| STP010 | Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point) |
Level 2 - Trimester 1
| SLE212 | Biochemistry |
| SLE213 | Introduction to Spectroscopic Principles |
Plus two elective/major units
Level 2 - Trimester 2
| SLE208 | Forensic Biology # |
Plus three elective/major units
Level 3 - Trimester 1
Four elective/major units
Level 3 - Trimester 2
| SLE313 | Forensic Analysis and Interpretation |
Plus three elective/major units
# Must have successfully completed STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point unit)
Work experience
This course aims to provide students with a holistic experience of their role as forensic analysts. You will have the opportunity to visit a court, a crime scene and participate in a ‘moot court’ which allows students to experience a simulated courtroom environment.
Details of major sequences
Forensic Biology
Campuses
Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Unit set code
MJ-S000049
Overview
The forensic biology major aims to provide you with the specific biological skills that are very important in the forensic science workplace. These biological-based skills complement the generic forensic science attributes developed in the core units of the course. Study in this area may lead to a career in forensic laboratories, entomology, human anatomy, research science, policing, and biological and food industries.
Students must complete a major sequence in either Forensic Biology or Forensic Chemistry in addition to the core unit requirements.
Units
| SLE211 | Principles of Physiology |
| SLE212 | Biochemistry * |
| SLE228 | Forensic Genomics |
| SLE254 | Genetics and Genomics |
| SLE356 | Advanced Topics in Forensic Biology (Tri-3) |
| SLE340 | Genomes and Bioinformatics |
* Already core units in the degree.
Details of major sequences
Forensic Chemistry
Campuses
Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Unit set code
MJ-SU00015
Overview
The forensic chemistry major aims to provide you with the specific chemistry skills that are very important in the forensic science workplace. These chemically-based skills complement the generic forensic science attributes developed in the core units of the course. Study in this area may lead to a career in forensic laboratories, toxicology, drug detection, chemical detection, research science, policing, and chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries.
Students must complete a major sequence in either Forensic Biology or Forensic Chemistry in addition to the core unit requirements.
Units
| SLE210 | Chemistry the Enabling Science |
| SLE214 | Organic Chemistry |
| SLE229 | Introduction to Separation Science * |
| SLE316 | Analytical Chemistry |
| SLE318 | Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry |
| SLE312 | Toxicology |
*SLE229 Introduction to Separation Science will not be available from 2021 and has been replaced with SLE361 Inorganic Chemistry
Other course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Other learning experiences
To broaden your experience of the world, you will have an opportunity to participate in overseas placements and study tours as an elective option in your course.