Overview

Forensic science is the application of scientific principles and procedures to the law. Laurentian offers the only FEPAC (Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission) accredited programs in forensic science in Canada,dealing with a variety of applications in the legal system including DNA, fingerprints, forensic anthropology, botany, entomology, hair and fibre analysis, toxicology and serology. The Department of Forensic Science provides hands-on training in various scientific disciplines within the context of forensic applications. Faculty and staff of the program are practicing forensic scientists. In addition to their regular academic duties, they also consult in a variety of legal cases for police services, the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, and even internationally. The department offers two programs of study, all leading to an Honours Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science:

• Forensic Science Single Specialization (FEPAC accredited)

• Forensic Science and Chemistry Combined Specialization (FEPAC accredited)

No matter which field pursued, the programs are designed to provide a solid scientific education, while placing these studies in a forensic context. To that end, each year of the program includes required courses designed specifically to provide the  legal background necessary to understand the place of science in the legal system. This is a feature unique to the programs at Laurentian.

Campus resources include: forensic casework reference collection, forensic entomology reference collection, forensic osteology laboratory, documented human dental collection, forensic toxicology laboratory.

• Fourth-year thesis or internship; internships have been conducted with the Greater Sudbury Police Service, detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police and the Northern Regional Laboratory of the Centre of Forensic Sciences

• Students of the program have their own club known as the Laurentian Association of Forensic Scientists

• Small class sizes (the largest forensic class is usually around 25 students).

• We offer a curriculum that has been accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). We are the only ones in Canada to offer FEPAC accredited degrees. Employers of forensic labs now look for job candidates who have come out of FEPAC accredited programs prior to looking at other candidates. This gives our students a competitive advantage over other students.

• Our students come out of secondary school with high academic standing (at least an 80% average; often with an 85% average). They have to be able to work well as part of a team, just like in forensic work.

• Forensic science draws on many scientific disciplines in order to answer real world questions. We participate in making society a safer place for us all.

• Student Manual

First-year course overview

Single specialization in Forensic Science

FORS 1006 – Canadian Constitutional Doctrine for Forensic Science

BIOL 1506 – Biology I + lab

BIOL 1507 – Biology II + lab

CHMI 1006 – Chemistry I + lab*

CHMI 1007 – Chemistry II + lab*

MATH 1036 – Calculus I**

MATH 1057 – Linear Algebra I

PHYS 1006 – Introductory Physics I + lab

PHYS 1007 – Introductory Physics II + lab

+ electives (3 cr) in humanities or social sciences 

Double specialization in Forensic Science and Chemistry

FORS 1006 – Canadian Constitutional Doctrine for Forensic Science

BIOL 1506 – Biology I + lab

BIOL 1507 – Biology II + lab

CHMI 1006 – Chemistry I + lab*

CHMI 1007 – Chemistry II + lab*

MATH 1036 – Calculus I**

MATH 1037 – Calculus II

PHYS 1006 – Introductory Physics I + lab

PHYS 1007 – Introductory Physics II + lab

+ electives (3 cr) in humanities or social sciences

* Students without Grade 12 U-level chemistry or the equivalent must take CHMI 1041 – Chemical Concepts prior to CHMI 1006 – Chemistry I

** Students with a grade of 60% or less in Grade 12 U-level calculus or the equivalent must take MATH 1912 – Elementary Calculus prior to MATH 1036 – Calculus I

Mission Statement, Goals and Objectives

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Forensic Science at Laurentian University is to provide our students with an excellent scientific education within a legal context from forensic faculty who are practitioners and researchers in their respective areas of expertise and to prepare our students for careers either in forensic science or enable them to go on to further education in other scientific specialties or the law.

Program Goals

A)    Provide students with a science education that will enable them to pursue careers in forensic science or other related disciplines.

B)    Provide students with the intellectual and critical evaluation skills to successfully work as forensic scientists or as professionals in a related discipline.

C)    Provide students with a legal and ethical grounding that is appropriate for careers in forensic science or other related disciplines.

Program Objectives

Objectives for Goal A:

Provide students with a coherent curriculum of study that gives them a foundation in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, forensic science and Canadian criminal law. Require students to have the ability to understand how scientific data are generated, analyzed, and interpreted. Develop each student’s ability to recognize the limitations of scientific testing in order to interpret scientific data in an unbiased fashion.

Objectives for Goal B: Students in the Forensic Science Program must demonstrate the following: The skills to research, organize and interpret the current primary scientific literature as it pertains to forensic science. Written and oral presentation skills to convey scientific principles in forensic science. Understanding of the dynamics of crime scene processing. The protocols for handling physical evidence from discovery at the crime scene through to the analysis at the forensic laboratory.

Objectives for Goal C:  Students must demonstrate the following:
An understanding of the basic principles of Canadian criminal law with respect to police powers, constitutional rights and the evidentiary role of the expert witness. An understanding of the ethical responsibilities of the forensic scientist in the Canadian system of criminal justice. The ability to work with their peers in a collegial manner with honesty, integrity, reliability and the initiative to complete tasks in a timely fashion. The ability to present in a courtroom the results and analysis contained in a forensic report in their area of specialization.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements based on Grade 12 4U/M courses:

• 1 English

• 1 biology

• 1 advanced functions

• 1 chemistry

• 2 other courses (calculus and vectors,and physics are strongly advised)

• Minimum average of 80%

Employment Prospects

Forensic identification officer, forensic pathologist, forensic anthropologist, DNA scientist, police officer, forensic chemist, forensic odontologist, forensic psychologist, forensic scientist,laboratory technologist, forensic nursing, teacher, graduate studies, medicine, law...

Credit Transfer

Credit transfer opportunities are available from other recognized postsecondary institutions and are typically evaluated on an individual basis, at the discretion of the department.

What have LU Forensic Science Students Achieved?

  A degree in forensic science may be best thought of as a degree in basic science with a forensic theme. Students generally focus on aspects of chemical or biological science, and are introduced to the application of these principles to forensic casework. The core science curriculum in the Laurentian University forensic science programs is complemented by
comprehensive course work in law and ethics, as they pertain to the forensic scientist. Finally, students take part in research-intensive courses, where they present their work to their peers, thus establishing some experience with public speaking and presentation.

The curricula in our FEPAC-accredited programs are suitable for continuation in a variety of fields. The most common fields that students pursue after graduation from our programs are:
• Graduate Study/Research – Biology, Chemistry, Anthropology, Forensic Science
• Medicine/Nursing
• Dentistry
• Education
• Law
• Policing

In recent years, some of our graduates have won international research awards for their work, and we are now beginning to see other graduates complete post-graduate degrees in medicine, law and education.

An important accomplishment of our students is the high success rate in publishing or presenting their senior research at international forensic conferences, or in the leading forensic science journals. Since the inception of the department, over 90% of our undergraduate research students have been successful in this regard. Together, these achievements prove that the BSc in Forensic Science is a strong, fundamental science degree that does not limit its graduates to careers in forensic science, but provides a foundation for future success.