If you are fascinated with human biology and the scientific investigation of crime, our degree will enable you to learn all about human physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology/genetics, microbiology and the various disciplines within forensic science.
It aims to blend the study of human biology with the techniques used in forensic laboratories, including analysis of blood, fibres, particulates, fingerprints, drugs, documents, DNA, fire/explosives residue and other trace evidence.
In the human biology element of the course, a broad range of subjects are covered, including microbiology, molecular biology, medical genetics, cancer biology, physiology and cell biology. Throughout your degree, you will be taught the details of forensic science, the legal system and investigative practice, demonstrating a capability to maintain auditable records of your investigations.
We offer a range of practical classes, where you will have the opportunity to undertake measurements made on human subjects, such as electrocardiograph measurements on fellow students, identification of genetic markers for predisposition to smoking or sleep patterns and identification of your own DNA profile. These deliver a logical acquisition and development of laboratory skills.
Our experienced staff aim to adopt a ‘Crime Scene to Court’ approach to their teaching, which should help you to understand forensic science, in particular the need to methodically collect samples, analyse them and present the results to the standard required by the courts. You’ll be taught by our experienced staff, many of whom can bring professional or research expertise to their teaching.
You’ll be based in our state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building, which provides an outstanding learning and research environment, featuring a video-linked ‘crime scene’ house, analytical laboratory facilities and one of the largest Class II containment teaching laboratories in Europe, specifically designed to accommodate microbiology, cell culture, molecular biology/genetics, biochemistry and forensic science.
Laboratory sessions should help to develop the practical skills needed for a career in a variety of biology and forensic roles. You will be taught key experimental techniques and develop essential experimental, data handling, reporting and broader scientific skills, such as literature researching, information technology, bioinformatics, data processing and the use of statistics. You’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of a wide range of laboratory techniques.
What you'll study
Year one
The first-year modules will introduce you to basic scientific principles, such as hypotheses development and testing, laboratory procedures and protocols, health and safety and data presentation and analysis across the range of bioscience disciplines studied. The essential bioscience principles begin from the molecular level building up to cellular processes and extending to organism physiology systems. The first year will also include an introduction to crime scene investigation, evidence recovery and laboratory application.
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Human Physiology in Health and Disease (20 credits)
This module is about human physiology - the science that attempts to explain the structure and functions of the human body and the way it adapts to its environment. It places emphasis on the relationship between structure and function, and on cause-and-effect mechanisms, integrating comparisons between healthy and disease states. You will also be required to explore the concept of metabolic and development control. You will be introduced to laboratory-based techniques for the measurement of physiological variables (e.g. metabolic rate, heart rate, blood pressure and spirometry) and investigation of cellular physiology. The module aims to provide you with a sound foundation of human physiology relevant to biology-based courses.
Compulsory
Assessment: Test and presentation
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Biochemistry and Microbiology (20 credits)
This module aims to provides you with an introduction to the living world; the origins of life; the cellular basis of life and the diversity of living organisms from single celled prokaryotes to multicellular eukaryotes. You will consider the structure of biological molecules and their functional properties within the cell and discuss the action of enzymes including the basic principles of enzyme kinetics. The module also provides you with an introduction to microbiology, including aspects of bacterial cell structure and growth.
Compulsory
Assessment: Tests
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Cell and Molecular Biology (20 credits)
This module aims to achieve an understanding of the structure and functions of mammalian cells, and the metabolic processes that occur within them. The module covers cell division mechanisms, energy metabolism, and cell communication. There is an introduction to genetic inheritance patterns linked to understanding of DNA replication, transcription and translation, and a consideration of evolution and natural selection mechanisms.
Compulsory
Assessment: Coursework and test
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Essential Forensic Science (20 credits)
This module is designed to introduce you to specialist areas of forensic science including crime scene protocols, processing and management, quality assurance and control, plus forensic biology and chemistry based analytical techniques. During the module you will also discuss legal aspects of forensics, explore a range of forensic scenarios and conduct an investigation into a simulated crime scene.
Compulsory
Assessment: Coursework and test
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Skills for Forensic Sciences 1 (20 credits)
The aim of this module is to facilitate the development of key skills that are essential for successful undergraduate study and also future employability. As part of this module, you will be introduced to, and will be required to demonstrate, skills that are fundamental to your course. These include effective scientific communication in both written and oral formats, identifying, interpreting and utilising relevant scientific literature, quantitative skills, teamwork, experimental design and safe and appropriate laboratory practical work. The concepts of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and appropriate record keeping in the laboratory are considered.
Compulsory
Assessment: Test and portfolio
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Add+vantage (10 credits)
The focus on preparing students for successful futures helps to set Coventry apart as a university.
The Add+vantage modules teach a range of work experience and extra-curricular activities that are taken each year, and broaden students’ knowledge and skills within a work focused environment. There is a very wide range of Add+vantage free-choice subject areas, and they are arranged in themes.
Compulsory
Year two
In year 2 you will be required to continue building upon the core biology relating to Forensic Science (Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology) as well as studying key forensic science methodologies and techniques. You also have the option of either following a Physiology or Microbiology theme as appropriate for your intended career destination. The associated practical skills programme delivers a logical acquisition and development of laboratory skills.
Modules
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Molecular Genetics (20 credits)
This module aims to extends the study of both the DNA based biochemistry and the basic understanding of genetics you should have developed in Year 1 to the study of human genetic disorders (chromosomal and molecular abnormalities) and the techniques and theoretical knowledge which has made the recent great strides forward in our understanding of our genes and genome. You will also have the opportunity to explore the applications and implications of such knowledge. This module provides an integrated programme of laboratory work that continues and expands upon the first year programme in covering the principles, practice and applications of a variety of techniques. The aim of this part of the module is to provide you with appropriate experimental support and to continue the laboratory training initiated in Year 1, so that you are adequately prepared for further experimental study including the Professional Training Year and final year project.
Compulsory
Assessment: Tests and coursework
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Cell Biology (20 credits)
This module aims to focus on fundamental features and activities of eukaryotic cells such as control of cell division and differentiation, cell communication and interaction with other cells and with the external environment. The module also investigates cellular organisation from cells to tissues to organs from the early stages of development to the whole body system. Much of our current knowledge of normal cellular processes has come from detailed study of disease states, and this is integrated throughout this module. Modern advances in cell biology and genetics which aim to aid diagnosis or therapy are also discussed, with consideration of the uses of adult and embryonic stem cells. The importance of cell signalling pathways is covered with their involvement in a number of diseases and their therapeutic applications and potential. This module will also cover areas such as tissue remodelling, regeneration, ageing and the role of cell death in body patterning.
Compulsory
Assessment: Tests and coursework
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Principles of Forensic Science (20 credits)
The aim of this module is to expand your knowledge and skills in different aspects of forensic science. It is designed to enable you to learn in detail about forensic laboratory protocols and the techniques used to analyse evidence. Analytical techniques for the examination of biological and chemical evidence will be studied, including their application and interpretation within forensic scenarios. You will also be introduced to the detection of drugs and poisons.
Compulsory
Assessment: Tests and coursework
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Contemporary Skills for Forensic Sciences (20 credits)
On successful completion of this module, you will have advanced your understanding and practise of biomolecular and forensic science research and data analysis including using SPSS for statistical evaluation. The value and use of biological databases (bioinformatics) and the importance and application of this discipline in genomics as applied to course specific topics will be explored. You will continue to review and extend your skills in scientific literature review and written presentation, plus reference management systems. The module also further explores careers opportunities, professional training placement and/or employment preparation. This will include consideration of employment selection practices and professional skills, knowledge and attributes that will contribute to successful employment, both in forensic industries or in wider career fields, including entrepreneurial activities and self-employment.
Compulsory
Assessment: Tests and coursework
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Research Skills for Forensic Sciences (10 credits)
On this module you will practise and develop your research skills through the planning, execution, analysis and reporting of a group based mini project. You will utilise and extend your understanding of quantitative and qualitative experimental design, research ethics and risk assessment, and data analysis and presentation. These skills will prepare you for your final year individual research project.
Compulsory
Assessment: Coursework and portfolio
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Add+vantage (10 credits)
The focus on preparing students for successful futures helps to set Coventry apart as a university.
The Add+vantage modules teach a range of work experience and extra-curricular activities that are taken each year, and broaden students’ knowledge and skills within a work focused environment. There is a very wide range of Add+vantage free-choice subject areas, and they are arranged in themes.
Compulsory
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Optional Modules (1 of the following):
Systemic Physiology (20 credits)
This module is about systemic human physiology and associated disorders affecting specific systems (e.g. nervous, respiratory, and cardiovascular) - the science that attempts to explain the structure and functions of the human body and the way it adapts to its environment and disease. Within this module the laboratory skills you obtained in Year 1 will be further enhanced in the measurement of physiological variables (e.g. heart rate, blood pressure and spirometry). It aims to further the study of physiology and pharmacology and enable you to discuss and analyse the area of systemic physiology.
Assessment: coursework and test
Infection and Immunity (20 credits)
The aims of this module are to focus on the biology of medically important micro-organisms and the role they play in health and disease and to explore the structure and function of the defence mechanisms of hosts, specifically the immune responses that are targeted against pathogens. The micro-organisms you will be asked to study include bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, and in this module you will investigate their structure, replication, their diagnosis and associated clinical disease. Prevention and control of disease is explored and starts with physical and chemical host barriers, complement, inflammation and with innate and adaptive immunity. The development of the cells involved in immune responses is explained along with antigen processing and presentation as well as the effector mechanisms. You will also discuss treatment of clinical infections using drugs. Finally, how we can prevent infection through development of effective vaccines and appropriate immunisation strategies, based on epidemiological understanding, is considered. You will be required to undertake a programme of laboratory work covering the principles, practice and applications of a variety of techniques in microbiology, diagnosis of microbial infection and immunology.
Assessment: coursework and test
Optional
Final year
The final stage of the course introduces an ‘applied biology’ focus. The investigative project is applied in nature and you have the opportunity to apply your learning to a simulated case. You can also study a genetic identification module that applies molecular biology techniques previously encountered, to the identification of people (or other species in the case of wildlife crime). Depending upon your year 2 module choice, you will continue to study either Physiology or Microbiology as well as having the flexibility to enhance your portfolio of understanding by choosing to study either Cancer Biology or Applied Human Genetics.
You will have the opportunity to build on the professional skills developed including scientific communication (written and oral), study skills, research methods, information retrieval, IT, data processing and presentation and career development. You are also encouraged to consider your employability and/or entrepreneurial development using these skills and knowledge. As well as enhancing employability, the transferable skills programme is intended to prepare you for the development and delivery of your final year investigative project.
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Research Design for Biological and Forensic Sciences (10 credits)
This module aims to equip you with the skills necessary to design a piece of research in a specific area of Biological and Forensic Sciences. You will consider ethical issues associated with your research design and any health and safety implications. Through a series of lectures, workshops, group and individual meetings, you will design a hypothesis driven research project considering current literature, appropriate methodology and data analysis. After successful completion of this module you will progress on to conduct the designed research project.
Compulsory
Assessment: coursework
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Independent Project in Biological and Forensic Sciences (20 credits)
The aim of this module is to enable you to conduct a piece of investigative research, which may be laboratory or non-laboratory based, in a specialised area of Biological and Forensic Sciences. This module follows from Research Design and you implement your research proposals in this module. You are expected to demonstrate increasing independence, organisational and time management skills, technical skills and awareness of ethical and health and safety issues, all of which are required when working in the area.
Compulsory
Assessment: coursework
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Advanced Forensic Science (20 credits)
This module is designed to enable you, with the aid of specific case studies, to critically analyse and evaluate forensic evidence obtained from a range of sources. The module builds upon the forensic analysis techniques previously learned and concentrates on the appropriate application of these techniques to a range of offence types including homicides, sexual offences, other violent crimes (such as assaults and woundings), volume crimes (such as burglary, car crime and fraud) and drugs offences. The module also addresses the principles of forensic quality and statistical (probabilistic) evaluation of evidence and the presentation of evidence to a criminal court.
Compulsory
Assessment: Coursework and oral presentation
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Forensic Identification (20 credits)
This module extends the discussion of forensic DNA analysis to consider the analysis and interpretation of more challenging samples such as low copy number and mixed samples, as well as modern advances in forensic analysis. These include novel multiplex PCRs for STRs, SNP analysis and prediction of phenotype, and mitochondrial DNA analysis. The application of RNA analysis in the determination of body fluid identity and in estimation of postmortem interval is also covered. You will also have the opportunity to review other forensic identification applications such as foot-in-shoe, facial recognition and gait analysis, and considers their use in both suspect identification and crime prevention.
Compulsory
Assessment: coursework
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Add+vantage (10 credits)
The focus on preparing students for successful futures helps to set Coventry apart as a university.
The Add+vantage modules teach a range of work experience and extra-curricular activities that are taken each year, and broaden students’ knowledge and skills within a work focused environment. There is a very wide range of Add+vantage free-choice subject areas, and they are arranged in themes.
Compulsory
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Optional modules
Clinical Physiology (20 credits)
Clinical Physiology is concerned with the application of physiological principles to explain the body's reaction and adaptation to disease, injury and stress. This module aims to enable you to critically analyse the diagnosis, management, and treatment of disorders affecting primary systems e.g. cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous. You will use a problem-based learning approach to research and reorganise information relating to the pathophysiology of selected disorders, and present this in an informed manner.
Assessment: presentation and coursework
Medical Microbiology (20 credits)
This Medical Microbiology module involves the study of interactions between microbes and hosts or communities during the course of human disease. You can consider the pathogenic mechanisms, related host responses, consequent stages in progression and human epidemiology of microbial infection.
Assessment: coursework
Choose one from the following:
Cancer Biology (20 credits)
This module enables you to explore cancer from a clinical, biological and epidemiological perspective, examining the cellular and genetic changes that occur during transformation and discussing how inherited susceptibilities can predispose individuals to develop certain cancers. It aims to investigate molecular methods for the early detection, monitoring and treatment of various cancers as well as preventative measures.
Assessment: case study and coursework
Applied Human Genetics (20 credits)
In this module you can investigate human heredity, exploring both monogenetic and complex, multifactorial genetic conditions and their effect on human health, development and reproduction. It aims to demonstrate the genetic diversity that exists within human populations, the effects of such variation on susceptibility to both infectious and non-infectious diseases and how this information can be exploited in genetic screening, in diagnosis of disease and in therapeutic interventions. You will investigate the mathematical analysis of human populations and discuss the social and ethical implications of emerging genetic knowledge and its use in the medical arena.
Assessment: coursework and case study
Optional
