Catching Criminals with Chemistry

Investigation of how chemistry can be applied to solving crimes. The nature of physical evidence will be discussed, along with the chemical techniques used to gather and analyze that evidence. The course will also introduce students to the legal aspects surrounding the introduction of evidence into a court of law, thus providing an interdisciplinary focus for those interested in science and law. By combining case studies with applicable technology, students will gain a heightened understanding of the important roles that chemistry plays in forensic science. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. This course does not count towards the chem major or minor.