Locations:

Berrien Springs High School
Buchanan High School
Eau Claire High School
Lakeshore High School
St. Joseph High School

Career Opportunities Include:

· Chemist
· Coroner
· Criminology
· Investigator
· Laboratory Technician
· Physicians Assistant

GRADES: 11-12

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Class Description

This course has been adapted from a national science curriculum model to provide students with an exciting application of scientific principles and concepts beyond the traditional textbook. Students will learn about the nature of forensic science, including the collecting, analyzing, and reporting of crime scene evidence. Students will gain insight into areas of crime investigations and realize how science has changed the approach and methods of solving crimes.

Content Areas

· The Key Elements of Investigative Methodology
· The Scientific Method of Testing a Hypothesis
· The Collection of Evidence
· Filing Proper Crime Scene Reports
· Preparing Briefs or Summaries
· Thinking Skills at "Higher-Ordered Levels"
· Laboratory Procedures

Career Outlook

Forensic science technicians investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. Often, they specialize in areas such as DNA analysis or firearm examination, performing tests on weapons or substances such as fiber, hair, tissue, or body fluids to determine significance to the investigation.

Median hourly earnings of science technicians were $19.73 in 2002.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2004-2005 Edition. http://bls.gov/oco/