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FSC-30043 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

FSC-30043 - Explosives, Arson and Evidence
Coordinator: Cheryl Scully Room: LJ 1.37
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

In this module you build on your forensic chemistry knowledge from Level 4 and 5 and apply these skills to the investigation of explosives and arson. This is combined with an introduction to the key skill of communicating your scientific findings in a court context. You will develop the ability to express your scientific findings and their interpretation to a variety of audiences, which will prepare you for giving evidence in court.

Aims
Module aims to provide an insight into the forensic examination of explosives and fires through an understanding of the fundamental chemical and physical properties as well as an appreciation for the logical interpretation and expression of scientific evidence.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/fsc-30043/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

discuss the decomposition products of explosions and classify explosives by type, functional group and class: 2
discuss the analysis of explosives and explosive residues as well as calculate the physical and thermochemical processes occurring in an explosion, combustion and in fires: 2
describe the processes of fire scene investigation and the forensic analysis of fire scene evidence: 2
describe and explain the principles of and be able to critically select and apply appropriate statistical approaches to the logical interpretation of evidence: 1,2
communicate the interpretation of scientific evidence in a manner comprehensible to the intended recipient: 1,2
record, interpret and evaluate the significance of evidence relating to the investigation of explosives and/or arson scenes: 2

Study hours

Active learning hours (28hours)
Interactive lectures: 23 hrs
Practical/tutorial classes: 5 hrs
Independent Learning hours (122 hours)
Directed and not directed reading (32 hours)
Content study and Preparation of assessments (90 hours)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 50%
Information leaflet
The production of a short leaflet (approximately 2000 words) intended for lawyers on the issues related the evaluation and presentation of a specific form of scientific evidence to the court.

2: Portfolio weighted 50%
Problem based portfolio
A portfolio made of a mix of scenario and/or lab based problems and calculations with a single submission date. Equivalent to approx. 3000 words

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025