FSC-20033 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

In this module you will learn about the processes that a body goes through after death, and how your knowledge of these postmortem changes can be applied to casework to aid with search and recovery, time of death estimates and victim identification. You will develop your knowledge of skeletal and muscular anatomy, learning how variation between individuals can be used to build a biological profile of the victim, as well as gaining experience in the analysis and interpretation of skeletal trauma and pathologies.

This module will focus on the examination of the human skeleton in a forensic context. It aims to provide knowledge and understanding of how variation in the human skeleton can be used for identification purposes in criminal, disaster and accident scenarios. Students will also gain knowledge and understanding of the processes involved in decomposition, the variables that influence it, and how the postmortem interval can be determined. They will learn of the importance of insect evidence at a death scene, including how to collect, preserve and analyse it, as well as the skills needed to recover human remains out in the field.

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe and explain the postmortem process of human decomposition and calculate time of death for human remains based on its progression: 1,2,3
identify and describe modifications which are the result of human vs. non-human agents or environmental and intrinsic factors: 1,2
critically evaluate the current methods used to analyse decomposed remains and propose future research to further our knowledge: 2
identify species of insects most frequently found at crime scenes and explain how their behaviour and development can be used to reconstruct events postmortem and determine time of death: 1
identify side and name individual bones of the skeleton and the landmarks upon them: 3
evaluate and use a number of analytical techniques in order to accurately determine age, sex, stature and ancestry of the victim: 1,3
identify and examine signs of trauma, differentiating between antemortem, perimortem and postmortem modification to bone: 1,3
critically assess and successfully implement appropriate search and recovery methods for scattered and buried human remains: 1,2

Study hours

Lectures: 40 hours
Labs and workshops: 50 hours
Fieldwork: 6 hours
Assessment Q&A Sessions: 4 hours
Independent study and assessment completion: 200 hours

School Rules

Successful completion of FHEQ Level4 modules or equivalent

Description of Module Assessment