Maricopa Community Colleges  FPT200   20046-20086 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 07/22/08
FPT200 20046-20086 L+L 3 Credit(s) 4.50 Period(s)
Forensic Technology
Designed to give participants advanced knowledge and skills in the field of forensic medicine, including expertise and competence in determining deaths from natural causes and homicides. Provides a solid foundation in medical examiner investigations and forensic technology skills using academic, clinical, and fieldwork experience.
Prerequisites: (BIO160 or [BIO201 and BIO202]), proof of TB testing or chest x-ray with a negative result within 6 months prior to enrollment and immunity to rubella (German measles) and rubeola and permission of Instructor.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
FPT200   20046-20086 Forensic Technology
1. Review the history of forensics, including the coroners and medical examiner systems, important dates, and individuals. (I)
2. Identify the disciplines of forensics and circumstances that require forensic investigations. (I)
3. Classify and apply the principles for determining death from natural causes. (II)
4. Identify and apply the principles for the timing of death. (III)
5. Identify and apply the principles for the identification of human remains. (IV)
6. Explain the applications of forensic odontology. (IV)
7. Associate the types of blunt force trauma with forensic medicine. (V)
8. Define the principal components of blunt force trauma. (V)
9. Associate the types of sharp force trauma with forensic medicine. (VI)
10. Define the principal components of sharp force trauma. (VI)
11. Compare the kinetics of gunfire injury in relation to range, caliber, and entrance vs. exit wounds. (VII)
12. Define the terminology and types of handguns, rifles, and shotguns; their ammunition; and the gunfire injuries caused. (VII)
13. Associate the different types of bullets, loads, shells, jackets, gunpowder and their relation to gunfire injury in forensic investigation. (VII)
14. Compare the kinetics surrounding coup and contra-coup contusions. (VIII)
15. Differentiate the pathophysiology among epidural, subdural, and arachnoid hemorrhages. (VIII)
16. Differentiate among comminuted, depressed, linear, hinge and ring fractures. (VIII)
17. Review drugs used in drug abuse, including their medicinal uses, common and street names, methods of use for abuse, signs and symptoms of drug abuse, and means of detection. (IX)
18. Compare the uses, sources and characteristics of poisons, signs and symptoms of poisoning, and the means of detection. (IX)
19. Distinguish the basic investigative techniques in forensic medicine including crime scene investigation, autopsy findings, and laboratory investigations. (X)
20. Describe the components and proper reporting techniques for the various types of autopsy reports. (X)
21. Define the mechanics of strangulation. (XI)
22. Describe the difference between fresh and salt water drowning. (XI)
23. Describe autoerotic scene presentation. (XI)
24. Associate the principles of displacement of oxygen by fire. (XI)
25. Differentiate between alternate current, direct current, and arching. (XII)
26. Identify first-, second-, third-, and fourth-degree burns. (XII)
27. Explain pugilistic posturing. (XII)
28. Identify, compare, and contrast injuries seen in driver versus passenger accidents. (XIII)
29. Define the three types of definitions used in motor vehicular accidents. (XIII)
30. Define the difference between subdural and subarachnoid injuries due to shaken baby syndrome. (XIV)
31. Explain clinical presentation of child abuse. (XIV)
32. Define the injuries to children due to sexual assault. (XIV)
33. Define the injuries seen in child abuse to the musculoskeleton, chest, and abdomen. (XIV)
34. Complete a written evaluation with 75% proficiency. (XV)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
FPT200   20046-20086 Forensic Technology
    I. The History of Forensics
        A. Systems
        B. Disciplines
      II. Deaths from Natural Causes
          A. Cardiovascular and respiratory
          B. Genitourinary and gastrointestinal
          C. Neurological and neoplasms
          D. Inflammatory and infectious
        III. Timing of Death Principles
          IV. Identification of Human Remains
              A. Principles of identification of human remains
              B. Forensic odontology
            V. Blunt Force Trauma
                A. Types of blunt force
                B. Principal components of blunt force
              VI. Sharp Force Trauma
                  A. Types of sharp force
                  B. Principal components of sharp force
                VII. Gunfire Injury
                    A. Kinetics
                    B. Guns and ammunition
                      1. Terminology
                      2. Types
                    C. Ammunition types related to gunfire injury and forensic investigation
                  VIII. Head Injury
                      A. Kinetics surrounding coup and contra-coup contusions
                      B. Hemorrhage pathophysiologies
                        1. Epidural
                        2. Subdural
                        3. Arachnoid
                      C. Fractures
                        1. Comminuted
                        2. Depressed
                        3. Linear
                        4. Hinge
                        5. Ring
                    IX. Drug Abuse
                        A. Types
                          1. Stimulants
                          2. Phencyclidine (PCP)
                          3. Marijuana
                          4. Heroin
                          5. Poisons
                            a. Uses
                            b. Sources
                            c. Characteristics
                          6. Alcohol
                        B. Medicinal uses
                        C. Names
                          1. Common
                          2. Street
                        D. Methods of use
                        E. Signs and symptoms
                        F. Detection
                      X. Basic Investigation Techniques
                          A. Crime scene
                          B. Autopsy report components
                          C. Laboratory
                        XI. Asphyxia
                            A. Hanging and strangulation
                            B. Drowning
                              1. Fresh water
                              2. Salt water
                            C. Carbon monoxide and other gases
                            D. Sexual
                            E. Mechanical and positional
                          XII. Electrical, Lightning, and Thermal
                              A. Hypothermia versus hyperthermia
                              B. Electrical versus lightning strikes
                              C. Degrees of burns
                              D. Arborization
                            XIII. Motor Vehicle Accidents
                                A. Definitions
                                B. Pedestrian versus occupant injuries
                                C. Abrasions, contusions, and lacerations
                              XIV. Child Abuse
                                  A. Shaken baby syndrome
                                    1. Subdural injury
                                    2. Subarachnoid injury
                                  B. Clinical presentation
                                  C. Sexual abuse
                                  D. Injuries to the musculoskeleton, chest, and abdomen
                                  E. Failure to thrive versus neglect
                                XV. Evaluation
                                    A. Written multiple-choice final exam
                                    B. Course evaluation by students
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