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Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - ANG6770
Tracking Number - 5064

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Current Status: Approved by SCNS - 2015-02-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: For CSI Certificate - required. GC approved 12/12/14; Cleared USF Sys Conc 12/23; to SCNS 1/6/15. Nmbr 6516 Apprd as 6770. Effecive 2/1/15


Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2014-09-16
  2. Department: Anthropology
  3. College: AS
  4. Budget Account Number: N/A
  5. Contact Person: Erin Kimmerle
  6. Phone: 8139745139
  7. Email: kimmerle@usf.edu
  8. Prefix: ANG
  9. Number: 6770
  10. Full Title: Crime Scene Reconstruction
  11. Credit Hours: 3
  12. Section Type: O - Other
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: N
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: N
  16. Is this course repeatable?: N
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Crime Scene Reconstruction
  19. Course Online?: O - Online (100% online)
  20. Percentage Online: 0
  21. Grading Option: R - Regular
  22. Prerequisites: N/A
  23. Corequisites: N/A
  24. Course Description: Surveys theories and methods of crime scene management and administration for violent crimes. Specifically it is designed to explore the ways in which evidence is recognized, preserved, documented, and collected in cases of violent crimes.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed for new program/concentration/certificate
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? This course is part of a new USF graduate certificate program, Crime Scene Investigations for Violation Crimes. The program is designed for advanced professional and graduate student development in the areas of crime scene reconstructions, investigations, and applied science methods and tools for violent crimes including human trafficking, criminal homicide and cold case investigations, exploited children, and missing and unidentified persons.

    The new tools and technological advancements through modern forensic science are changing investigations in practice. There is a strong need for in-depth focused programs that offer professional development and advanced technical training for a wide range of jobs within the medico-legal and security sectors. Moreover, many agencies are adopting a promotional model based on advanced training and education and therefore there is an increased need for leadership and command training in these areas. The topics in the certificate draw on the strengths of our existing program and the technical training and services offered through the USF Forensics Anthropology Laboratory and the USF forensics network.

  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? No
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) A qualified instructor should have earned a doctorate or terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline, which for the forensic sciences is a M.A.; M.Sc.; J.D.; M.Pharm.; or M.B.A. Additionally, the ideal candidate will also have at least 5 years of experience with criminal investigations or violent crimes.
  29. Objectives: During the course of the semester, students will conduct an examination of the legal implications, methodologies, and theories applied to the reconstruction of violent crime scenes.
  30. Learning Outcomes: After successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1.identify the principles and procedures on how to reconstruct a crime scene event.

    2. use the 12-step procedure to reconstruct and analyze a crime scene event.

    3. apply the principles of safety, legal and ethical considerations when processing crime scenes and mass disasters.

    4. engage with various agencies, associations, and specialists when participating in a crime scene event.

    5. learn how to operate and engage in a group environment.

    6. value the impact of proper crime scene reconstruction on the criminal justice process and society.

  31. Major Topics: * Crime Scene Administration and Management

    * Legal Considerations

    * Forensic Specialists

    * Photography, Sketching, and Mapping

    * Recognition, Collection, and Preservation of Fingerprints, Trace

    Evidence, Impressions, Blood, Post Blast, Explosives, and Arson

    * Recovery of Human Remains

    * Evidence Collection Challenges in Mass Disasters

  32. Textbooks: Ogle R.R. 2012. Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction (3rd Edition). Prentice Hall.

    Waggoner K. 2007. Handbook of Forensic Science. U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division.

    Shelton D. 2010. Forensic Science in Court: Challenges in the Twenty First Century (Issues in Crime and Justice). United Kingdom, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: * Kelly S.F., Julian R., Robertson J. 2012. Professionalism in crime scene examination: The seven key attributes of top crime scene examiners. Forensic science policy and management: an international journal.

    *Simon A. Cole & Rachel Dioso-Villa. 2009. INVESTIGATING THE ‘CSI EFFECT’ EFFECT: MEDIA AND LITIGATION CRISIS IN CRIMINAL LAW. Stanford Law Review, Volume 61, Issue 6 Page 1335.

    * Federal Rules of Evidence. 2013. The committee on the judiciary house of representatives. U.S. government printing office, Washington.

    *Supreme Court Cases: 1978 Case Mincey V. Arizona 98 S CT 2408 and 1984 Case Thompson V Louisiana 105 S,CT 40

    * Thurman J.T. 2006. Practical Bomb Scene Investigation. Taylor and Francis Ch. 4.

    *Ballou et al. 2013. The Biological Evidence Preservation handbook. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology.

    *Maria Teresa A., Tersigni-Tarrant, Shirley NR. 2013. Forensic Anthropology an Introduction. Ch.6.

    * Houck M.M., Crispino F., McAdam T. 2012. The Science of Crime Scenes Ch.8. Academic Press.

  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: There will be a possible 500 points that you can earn during the course of the semester. Final grades are based on the following:

    Written assignment 1 100 points 20%

    Written Assignment 2 100 points 20%

    Mid Term 100 points 20%

    Final Exam 100 points 20%

    5 Weekly Assignments 50 points 10%

    5 Discussion Questions 50 points 10%

    Total 500 points 100%

    Final grades can be calculated by dividing total points accumulated by total points available. The letter grades are assigned based on the scale below:

    A+ (100%), A (99-95%), A- (90-94%), B+ (86-89%), B (85%), B- (80-84%), C+ (76-79%), C (75%), C- (70-74%), D+ (66-69%), D (65%), D- (60-64%), F (< 60%)

  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests: TESTING POLICY:

    There will be two (2) exams based upon topics covered in class from lectures, videos, and assigned readings. The exams will include short answer, multiple choice, and true-false style questions that are graded as correct or incorrect. Make-up exams will only be given for serious extenuating circumstances (e.g. illness or injury, death in family). Proper documentation is required. You must contact the instructor before the exam.

    ASSIGNMENTS:

    Discussion Questions:

    Five discussion questions will be distributed throughout the course. Discussion questions will require students to respond in at least 500 words, and also provide a follow up response to another student in at least 300 words.

    Module Assignments:

    There will be five additional assignments opened to students during their designated modules. These will be in the form of written papers and hands on labs.

    Writing Assignments:

    During the course, there will be two writing assignments that will be given to students at the beginning of the course.

    Written Assignment 1: Case study research

    Students are to identify and analyze a criminal case study wherein a forensic evidence discipline, i.e. (fingerprints, DNA, Impression evidence, explosives, or trace evidence) was utilized in the investigation and presented in a court of law.

    After reviewing articles from scholarly journals, the student will:

    1. Identify the case and provide a summary.

    2. Identify the forensics techniques utilized and how the forensic evidence assisted in the case investigation.

    3. Discuss forensics evidence as it related to the case outcome.

    4. Identify and review legal challenges to the forensics evidence presented during legal proceedings.

    Research paper will be:

    1. Minimum of 5 pages with 12 pt. font.

    2. Follow APA style formatting or MLA Formatting (consult your APA or MLA manual if you are unsure of APA/MLA formatting).

    3. Be thorough and write in complete sentences.

    4. Use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

    5. Paper must have at least five (5) cited references from scholarly articles or journals.

    *Paper will be due end of week 3

    Written Assignment 2: Forensics Related Discipline Research

    Students will choose a forensic related discipline from the list below, and complete an article review. After reviewing articles from scholarly journals, the student will describe the discipline chosen and offer their opinion as to how the discipline could apply to evidence found at a crime scene.

    Forensic Related Disciplines List:

    Forensic Pathologist, Forensic Toxicology, Forensic Odontology, Forensic Anthropology, 
Forensic Entomology, and Forensic Botany.

    While the reviews may vary in their format, they should usually include the following:

    1. Why you chose the specific forensic discipline

    2. Background information on the forensic discipline, which includes: degree/training requirements, what they do, who do they work with, areas of specialization, techniques utilized etc.

    3. Examples of cases where the forensic discipline has been utilized.

    4. How does this discipline contribute to crime scene reconstruction?

    Review will be:

    1. Minimum of 5 pages with 12 pt. font.

    2. Follow APA or MLA style formatting (consult your APA/MLA manual if you are unsure of APA/MLA formatting).

    3. Be thorough and write in complete sentences.

    4. Usage of proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

    5. Paper must have at least five (5) cited references from scholarly articles or

    journals.

    *Paper will be due end of week # 7

  36. Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,

    http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)

    Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)

    In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.

    Attendance and participation will be evaluated by discussion forums and assignments posted on Canvas. Assignments and projects are given on a weekly basis and as the schedule dictates. Assignments will be posted by Monday of each week.

  37. Policy on Make-up Work: All due dates are identified in each individual assignment. Late work (without an approved extension and/or a documented emergency) will receive zero points.

    The two exceptions to “no late work” are 1) a documented emergency wherein it was impossible to make contact beforehand, and 2) documented arrangements made in advance.

    ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

    Penalties for academic dishonesty (including cheating and plagiarism) may include: assignment of an “F” or a numerical value of zero on the assignment, quiz, exam, etc.; assignment of an “F” or an “FF” grade (the latter indicating academic dishonesty) in the course; and/or suspension or expulsion from the University.

    The University of South Florida has an account with an automated plagiarism detection service which allows instructors and students to submit student assignments to be checked for plagiarism. The instructor reserves the right to: 1) request that assignments be submitted as electronic files; 2) electronically submit assignments to SafeAssignment, 3) ask students to submit their assignments to SafeAssignment through myUSF. Assignments are compared automatically with a database of journal articles, web articles, and previously submitted papers. The instructor receives a report showing exactly how a student’s paper was plagiarized.

  38. Program This Course Supports: Crime Scene Investigations for Violent Crimes Graduate Certificate
  39. Course Concurrence Information: N/A


- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.