A survey of the scientific principles employed by the forensic scientist in the evaluation of physical evidence associated with crime. This course is designed as an introduction to the crime laboratory and the techniques utilized by the forensic scientists in such areas as drug identification, forensic serology, hair and fiber identification, gunshot residues and other areas of forensic interest, as well as the principles involved in the collection and preservation of such evidence.

This course is an introductory laboratory course in the fundamentals of forensic science with a focus on a survey of scientific principles utilized in the evaluation of physical evidence associated with crime. Laboratory exercises focus on crime scene processing, evidence collection, photography, fingerprints, toolmarks, questioned documents, controlled dangerous substances (drugs), chain of command, and various types of trace evidence. Course meets for 30 hours per semester.