This guide is intended to provide information for prospective students. Enrolled students will find the necessary course information and resources on the appropriate Blackboard site

This module guide is intended to provide an introduction to this module. In it you will find the aims and objectives of the module, a detailed syllabus, information on when and where the class will meet, details of how your performance in the module will be assessed and the assignments which form part of the module.

• Staff
• Introduction to Module
• Aims & objectives
• Teaching Arrangements
• Attendance Policy & Non-attendance Penalties
• Assessment
• Reading
• Difficulties & Feedback
• Viewing Forensic Autopsies
• Sample Timetable (PDF Format) (Subject to change)

STAFF

Course organiser: Professor Derrick Pounder, whose offices are located in
the Centre for Forensic and Legal Medicine, Small's Wynd, University of Dundee,
telephone (01382) 348020.
A secretary is always available to take a message or arrange an appointment.
There is an answerphone outside normal office hours so that a message may be left.
Contact by e-mail:d.j.pounder@dundee.ac.uk

Lecturer: Dr David Sadler, whose offices are located in
the Centre for Forensic and Legal Medicine, Small's Wynd, University of Dundee,
telephone (01382) 348020.
A secretary is always available to take a message or arrange an appointment.
There is an answerphone outside normal office hours so that a message may be left.
Contact by e-mail:d.w.sadler@dundee.ac.uk

INTRODUCTION

An optional phase 2 SSC intended to teach forensic medicine, basic forensic science and criminal psychology to students with no previous knowledge of these subjects.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Module Aims

This is an optional student selected component for phase 2 of the medical course. The intention is to teach clinical forensic medicine, forensic science and criminal psychology to students with no previous knowledge of these subjects.

Learning Objectives

• a) To have a knowledge of the social impact of criminal violence
• b) To have a knowledge of the clinical interpretation of injury patterns.
• c) To have a knowledge of the importance of forensic scientific trace evidence and the basic principles of criminal profiling
• d) To develop the capability to communicate scientific ideas through written word
• e) To develop an attitude which values balanced and reasoned interpretation of forensic evidence based on sound scientific principles

TEACHING ARRANGEMENTS

Lectures

The module will comprise approximately 26 hours of lectures, spread throughout the 4 week period. Lectures will be interspersed with private research sessions, for background reading and to prepare the written assignments which form the basis of assessment.
The teaching sessions will commence at 9.30 on Monday, 8 May 2006 in Lecture Theatre 5018, Mathew Building, University Main Campus (Building Number 36 on the Campus Map ).
There are no timetabled sessions for the afternoons but tuition will be available for individuals who require additional assistance.

ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION

Attendance at the taught sessions of this module are compulsory.
Students will be required to both sign in and sign out of each morning teaching session. Failure to both sign in and sign out will be regarded as non-attendance and will be penalised accordingly.
There are thirteen teaching sessions. The three sessions for discussion of the assignments are regarded as teaching sessions.
Failure of attendance at any one session, without good cause, will be penalised by a loss of ten marks from the overall potential course mark of 100. Failure of attendance at four or more of the taught sessions will result in a fail mark for the module.
Falsification of the class attendance record will be viewed as a serious act of dishonesty, the penalty for which may include not only failure of this special study module but further disciplinary proceedings.
With respect to the written assignments, the attention of students is drawn to the University policy on plagiarism. Plagiarism is not acceptable, and may result in a student failing to achieve any marks for that work as well as activation of the University disciplinary procedures.

ASSESSMENT

Attendance at teaching sessions is compulsory. Registers will be taken at each session. Non-attendance will be penalised as described above.
There will be three open-book case-problem based written assignments, corresponding to the module content of each one week segment. There will be open discussion of the material in class.

READING

Appropriate lectures notes will be accessible via Blackboard. Any additional reference material will be supplied during the lectures. There is no requirement for the purchase of any other additional reference material.

DIFFICULTIES AND FEEDBACK

If you have any difficulties with the course there are a number of ways in which you can get help. If you are having problems with understanding material you should be able to get help at the teaching sessions. In addition, tutors are available most afternoons.
Questions about the organisation of the course or the assessment arrangements should be taken up with the Course Organiser.
In order to improve and develop this course we will be seeking your help by asking you to fill in a feedback questionnaire.

VIEWING FORENSIC AUTOPSIES

These do not run to a regular schedule as you might have anticipated and so organising attendance in small groups for those who wish to do so (it's not compulsory) is necessarily ad hoc. Those students wishing to attend one or more autopsies will need to declare that fact on the class register on the first day. Students will be allocated groups for attendance and notified in subsequent classes of opportunities to attend. The autopsies are performed in a police-controlled secured building and consequently no student under any circumstances should attempt an entry without a specific named invitation for that day (in other words there must be no turning up on the off chance or instead of someone else). These autopsy viewings will be arranged during the times scheduled for 'private study'.