Bachelor of Forensic Science

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Forensic Science at UTS is Australia's first forensic science degree, offering a comprehensive education in STEM, law, criminology, and social impact. Students specialize in one of four disciplines: biology, chemistry, crime scene investigation, or digital forensic science, and complete a research project in their final year. The program is taught by leading academics and practitioners in the UTS Centre for Forensic Science, and graduates are prepared for careers in forensic science, law enforcement, intelligence, cybersecurity, academia, and research.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Bachelor of Forensic Science is the first forensic science degree in Australia and is recognized for producing future leaders in this field. This course delivers a comprehensive learning experience at the intersection of STEM, information technology, law, criminology, and social impact, coupled with specialist expertise in four in-demand forensic science disciplines: biology, chemistry, crime scene investigation, and digital forensic science. In every major, students complete core forensic science subjects that prepare them to engage with crime scene, laboratory, courtroom, and intelligence processes. Students then build specialist skills with a major in one of the following four disciplines:

• Biology: The Biology major is focused on biological traces – blood, saliva, hair, bones, insects and animal/human remains – and what they reveal about the crime scenes at which they’re found.
They also learn a range of techniques and methodologies to analyze and process biological traces, preparing them to deliver meaningful insights within and beyond the criminal investigation process.
• Chemistry: This major combines scientific theory with hands-on forensic science application.
With subjects spanning organic and analytical chemistry, forensic toxicology, and chemical criminalistics, students learn to analyze and process chemical and non-biological traces found at crime scenes using a range of analytical and chemical techniques.
• Crime Scene Investigation: This major prepares students to access and examine crime scenes and collect, record, and analyze traces such as fingermarks, blood stain patterns, and shoe and tire impressions.
The curriculum combines specialist subjects in advanced forensic imaging and homicide/human remains investigation, among others, with theoretical learning in chemistry, microbiology, human anatomy, cell biology, and more. Students learn to use contemporary CSI technologies, apply theory to practice in UTS’s crime scene simulation facilities, and emerge ready to pursue a career in the criminal justice sector and beyond.
• Digital Forensic Science: As the world moves increasingly online, digital crimes like identity and financial theft, cyberattacks, fraud, and extortion are on the rise – which means that skilled digital forensic specialists are more in demand than ever.
The first of its kind in Australia, this major prepares students to collect, analyze, and report data and digital information related to cyber-crime. Learning combines the study of hands-on forensic science with specialist subjects in cryptography, programming, web systems, and data analytics, among others. Students learn to identify and make sense of digital traces in common online environments like social media and online banking and gain the skills to recover stolen or damaged data that could provide crucial insights into criminal activity. Students also complete a research subject in the final year of study, producing an original piece of research that responds to a real-world forensic science challenge. This subject equips students with practical research skills that are highly regarded by industry and can also provide a launching pad into an honours or master’s degree.

Outline:

First year

Third year

Students take courses in biological criminalistics, forensic intelligence, complex cases, forensic research project, forensic genotyping technologies, and forensic toxicology. Students also choose three elective courses.

Honours

Students in the honours program take courses in chemistry, principles of forensic science, cell biology and genetics, forensic imaging, and forensic statistics. They also take a forensic research project course and choose three elective courses.

Assessment:

Students are assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Exams
• Quizzes
• Assignments
• Presentations
• Research projects

Teaching:

The program is taught by leading academics and practitioners in the internationally acclaimed UTS Centre for Forensic Science. Students learn in world-class facilities, including the Hive Superlab and the UTS Science Superlab, and have access to the faculty’s high-tech Crime Scene Simulation Labs.

Careers:

Graduates of the program are prepared for careers in a variety of fields, including:

• Forensic science
• Law enforcement
• Intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• Academia
• Research