CHEM 130 Instrumental Forensics
Instrumental Forensics is a three credit hour exploratory course that will involve students using state of the art scientific instrumentation to resolve an assigned puzzle, mystery or hypothetical crime. Groups of students will be assigned a specific "mystery" or crime scene for which they will be required to collect and analyze clues or evidence using six different instrumental techniques. Based upon their analyses the students will propose a solution to their assigned problem. The course will involve just enough theoretical background for the students to understand the basic function and operational features of each instrument. It is a hands-on course designed to give non-science majors the rare opportunity to use and understand the kinds of scientific instrumentation that are central to forensics analyses as well as science in general. Meets the general education lab science requirement. (Offered Interterm.)