Forensic Science examines physical evidence in relation to the law. There are a number of scientific techniques used to characterize physical evidence, but perhaps the most utilized technique is microscopy. In this course, students will practice how to process and characterize trace evidence using a number of different microscopy techniques, such as stereomicroscope, polarized light microscope (PLM), comparison microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and confocal microscope. The theory and operation behind each microscopy technique will be discussed during lecture, while students will have the opportunity to operate the different microscopes during laboratory sessions.

This course provides an introductory overview of the many ways psychological research and theories (i.e. behavioural science) can deliver useful information in collecting and assessing evidence for criminal investigation, trial, and prevention. Topics may include: eyewitness testimony, deception, criminal profiling, false confession, mental illness, victim trauma, criminal responsibility, risk assessment, serial killing, hate crimes, sexual offending, prejudiced policing, and jury decision-making. The aim of this course is to give students general insight into the various applied specializations of forensic psychologists.

Forensic science is the application of any scientific inquiry into criminal investigation. The results of such inquiry are ultimately for presentation in courts of law. Specialists in forensic science will lecture on a variety of topics that will include crime scene investigation, the role of the coroner, forensic pathology, forensic chemistry, forensic botany, forensic entomology, forensic anthropology, forensic dentistry, psychology and toxicology. Case studies will be reviewed, and the role of the expert witness will be examined.

This course covers the importance of professionalism and ethical behaviour for Forensic Scientists. It looks at the role of the Forensic Scientist and the expert witness and the consequences when ethical guidelines are not followed.

Focusing on the scene of the crime and evidence found there, this course is an introduction to the field of forensic identification. Topics include: crime scene protocols, management and reconstruction; image collection, storage and enhancement; recognition collection; and chain of custody and preservation of evidence.

Continuing from FSC300H5, this course focuses on advanced crime scene examination and the use of evidence detection techniques. Topics include: advanced fingerprint development techniques, footwear collection and identification, analysis report writing, bloodstain pattern interpretation and crime scene plan drawing. Additional topics discuss biometrics, examiner bias, the expert witness, crime scene examination protocols and courtroom testimony.

This course will provide students with an introduction to forensic photography, crime scene processing, and forensic identification. Topics include, but are not limited to: fingerprint identification, chance impression evidence, physical evidence, crime scene and victim photography, and proper documentation of a crime scene. Students will gain an understanding of the basic "toolkit" required for crime scene processing, and learn the fundamentals of proper collection and analysis of physical evidence.

As an alternative to ( FSC300H5, FSC302H5), this course satisfies the third year IDENT requirement needed for non-IDENT capstone enrolment.

Note: This course does not satisfy the IDENT requirement for an IDENT placement. Students seeking a placement in police services MUST complete FSC302H5. Similarly, this course does not satisfy the IDENT requirement for FSC407H5.

The goal of this course is to gain a basic understanding of the case management involved in missing persons, disaster victim identification, and unidentified human remains cases. Topics covered will include the interdisciplinary interactions between anthropology, odontology, fingerprinting and forensic genetics in the identification and databasing of both missing persons and recovered unidentified human remains.

Embark on a captivating exploration of Chemical Forensics in Historical Investigations. This course equips students with the expertise to apply non-invasive, non-destructive analytical chemistry methods to investigate historical evidence, such as archaeological artifacts and historical documents. Students will engage in the meticulous practice of careful examination, where each artifact may reveal meaningful insights from the past or expose long-concealed forgeries. Topics covered include microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis methods. Beyond technical mastery, students will refine collaborative skills with non-technical stakeholders and develop proficiency in interpreting, acknowledging limitations, and discerning the implications of analytical results vital for unraveling the tapestry of the past.

By the end of this course, students will not only possess a profound understanding of non-destructive chemical analysis but also exhibit the finesse required to apply this knowledge in real-world scenarios and communicate their findings with precision and authority.

This course focuses on the analysis of physical evidence based on the principles of analytical chemistry. Students will gain knowledge in the theory and operation of forensically relevant chemical and instrumental techniques used for the analysis of evidentiary items, including drug/alcohol analysis, gunshot residue, explosives, paint analysis, etc. Students will also develop skills relating to the interpretation, limitation, and implications of analytical results in a forensic context. (Priority given first to Forensic Science Specialists and Majors; then Minors.)

This course will introduce core concepts, practices and research topics including DNA sequence alignment, DNA sequence analysis, interacting with scientific databases, and genome sequencing technologies within a forensic biological context. This course includes computer-based practical exercises using freely available software (i.e., R Studio, the command line, etc.) wherein students will apply bioinformatics tools and be introduced to basic computer programming within a forensic and investigative genetic lens.

A lecture-based course examining contemporary topics in forensic science. The course will emphasize group discussion where students will examine, review, criticize, and present on current trends and fundamental topics within forensic science, which could include evidence screening, methodology, forensic technological developments/enhancements as well as current ethical and/or political changes in the field. The implications and applications of forensic science research advances will also be explored. The theme of the course is expected to be topical and current, and to vary from year to year to accommodate the interests of both the students enrolled in the course and the faculty member(s) teaching the course.

This course focuses on the analysis and interpretation of biological evidence in a forensic context. Students will gain knowledge in the theory and operation of forensically relevant biological and instrumental techniques used for the analysis of evidentiary items, including DNA, bodily fluids, hair, etc. Students will also develop skills relating to the interpretation, limitation, and implications of analytical results in a forensic context. (Priority given first to Forensic Science Specialists and Majors; then Minors.)

This course examines the body as forensic evidence. Human gross anatomy and histology will be examined from the perspective of forensic pathology, students will learn about the role of the body in crime scene analysis, autopsy procedures such as fingerprinting and forensic imaging of the deceased, and address anatomical anomalies useful for forensic purposes such as identification. Other topics include bodily decomposition, disease, and injuries.

Pathology is the study of disease and psychopathology is the study of mental illness. In Forensic Psychopathology, then, we make inquiries about mental illness in the context of forensic practices. In this course, we will explore multiple topics in the field providing the student with a general insight into its history, scientific merits, and practical relevance. We will survey prevailing theories on mental health, illness, and treatment. Investigate psychiatric diagnoses such as (juvenile) Conduct Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, and Psychopathy, hereunder their application and relevance in risk assessment, behavior prediction, and offender rehabilitation. We will also discuss methodological, ethical, and legal issues in the field, for example, the scientific validity of psychiatric diagnostics, the ethical implications of using psychiatric assessments in forensic institutions, and the legal responsibility of mentally ill offenders.

This course will guide students through the common fundamentals of quality assurance, health & safety, resiliency and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) training and report writing in forensic science professions.

Epistemology is the study of the nature and limitations of human knowledge, exploring challenging questions such as: What makes some beliefs more justified than others? Why are we so compelled by the insights of modern science? Are there practical limitations to what we can know?

In Forensic Epistemology, we examine how such questions apply to practices within the legal system, from criminal investigations to sentencing and correctional management. The course focuses on how scientific knowledge can be used to improve decision-making around legal issues, while identifying the limitations of forensic science more broadly. Through discussions and case studies, we cover a wide range of topics: the validity and reliability of forensic identification techniques; the demarcation of science from non-science; the influence of cognitive biases in scientific research and criminal investigations; methods in critical and statistical inferential thinking; and standards in research methods and communication.

This course introduces students to common methods of research design and the nature of data collection. Students will learn how to pose a meaningful research questions, to select appropriate data types, to define variables, examine bias, confounding factors, and select appropriate statistics that address their purpose.

Designed as a companion course to FSC340H5, Forensic Statistics will introduce students to basic analytic methods necessary to evaluate quantitative data in forensic science. Students will learn methods of visualizing and analyzing univariate, bivariate, and multivariate data in forensic science, with emphasis on practical applications of statistics in various forensic sub-disciplines. No prior knowledge of statistics and mathematics is required.

A survey of recent developments in theory and applications of forensic science with particular attention to case studies in a particular branch of forensic science. The contact hours for this course may vary in terms of contact type (L,S,T,P) from year to year, but will be between 24-36 contact hours in total. See the UTM Timetable.

A survey of recent developments in theory and applications of forensic science with particular attention to case studies in a particular branch of forensic science. The contact hours for this course may vary in terms of contact type (L,S,T,P) from year to year, but will be between 24-36 contact hours in total. See the UTM Timetable.

This course will explore the position of forensic science within the law in Canada. The focus will be on the evolution of the acceptance of forensic science in Canadian criminal law and its current position within the legal system. Topics include: Evidence law, expert evidence law, defining the expert, differing standards of legal acceptance for police sciences and others. Important historical documents and legal advancements will be surveyed.

This course will develop students’ knowledge of forensic mental health issues throughout the criminal justice system, including the nature and extent of mental illness in our society and the various legal, social and ethical issues that arise when a mentally disordered individual comes into contact with the criminal justice system. Topics to be explored include: the medical and legal definitions of mental disorder and their relationship to each other; the criteria for state-compelled treatment and how it impinges upon individual autonomy; the changing views of the justice system’s duty to accommodate victims and witnesses with mental health issues; fitness to stand trial and the defense of not criminally responsible; and the Review Board process.

This course introduces students to the area of psychopharmacology (drug induced changes in mood, thinking and behaviour). The mechanisms of action of drugs in the nervous system and their effects on the brain and on behaviour will be explored and the significance of psychopharmacology in criminal investigations and trials will be discussed.

This course is recommended as preparation for FSC371H5.

This course introduces students to the science of cannabis. Students will learn about the constituents of cannabis, methods of analysis and the pharmacology of cannabinoids. In addition, the role of cannabis in forensic case work will be explored.

This course provides senior undergraduate students who have developed some knowledge of a discipline and its research methods an opportunity to work in a research project. Students enrolled have an opportunity to become involved in original research, develop their research skills and share in the excitement and discovery of acquiring new knowledge.

This course can be used to satisfy the specialist capstone option (with permission of the Institute Director). Students enrolling in FSC399Y5 as their capstone option do not need to enroll in FSC482H5, but may do so of their own choice if they are seeking the additional content.

This is a general introduction of the scientific and medical basis of forensic pathology. The scientific aspects of death investigation will be emphasized including cause, manner, and time of death. Emphasis will be placed in developing skills to critically examine the published forensic scientific and medical literature. Also included are human rights death investigation, and custodial death.

Forensic toxicology involves the study of the adverse effects of drugs, alcohol and poisons on biological systems in a medicolegal context. This course will include a review of pharmacokinetics, analytical techniques and quality assurance measures used in forensic toxicology, the effects of drugs on human performance and post-mortem toxicology of illicit drugs, pharmaceutical drugs and other poisons. The major focus of this course will be the role that a forensic toxicologist plays in criminal and death investigations.

Analytical toxicology is the isolation, detection, identification, and quantitation of foreign compounds (xenobiotics) in biological and other specimens. This course integrates theoretical and practical aspects of analytical chemistry with forensic toxicology. General aspects of method development, implementation, validation, and laboratory operation will be explored.

This course introduces students to both standard and innovative methods of documenting, mapping, analyzing, and visualizing/reconstructing a crime scene for investigative purposes, including: total stations; laser scanners; panoramic images; and photogrammetry. Course topics range from basic measurement theory and statistics, to legal considerations such as admissibility and preparing courtroom-ready visualizations. Students will learn to use forensic mapping software to create courtroom-ready graphics.