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FSC-30049 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 16 September 2026

FSC-30049 - Crime Scene to Court
Coordinator: Georgina Handley Room: LJ0.17B Tel: +44 1782 7 33581
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 6
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module builds on your forensic examination skills from all Level 4 and 5 core modules. You will continue to develop your ability to professionally examine and report evidence, building on skills that will be vital for work in a professional context. You will attend a simulated crime scene as a crime scene examiner; investigate the evidence as a forensic scientist and finally report your findings as an expert witness in our simulated courtroom.

Aims
This synoptic module will develop each student's ability to carry out the forensic examination of a crime scene then analyse and report on the evidence within the professional context. The fundamental role of the crime scene examination within the broader forensic and legal process will be stressed throughout this module. Particular attention will be paid to control, continuity and quality assurance, experimental design, interpretation using statistical tools, databases and likelihood ratios, professional report writing and oral presentation. Expert witness training and the development of skills in explaining and defending scientific work to a lay audience are integrated into the reporting aspects of this module through both written and oral communication.

Intended Learning Outcomes

explain and critically review the fundamental importance of crime scene examination to the broader forensic investigation and the subsequent legal process: 1
describe and critically assess the issues around the acquisition of forensic evidence at a crime scene with particular attention to control, continuity, contamination, quality assurance and record-keeping: 1
devise and execute appropriate analytical and other methods for the examination of forensic materials, including setting up casework experiments: 2,3
interpret and critically evaluate data from forensic analysis in a meaningful and structured manner, including the use of statistical tests, databases and likelihood ratios where appropriate: 2,3,4
report the results of forensic analysis both as a written report and orally in a form appropriate to a court of law and defend the conclusions under cross-examination: 3,4

Study hours

Taught sessions (Lectures, Laboratory work and crime scene examinations, problem classes) (72h)
Mock court including practice session (2h)
Directed study and self-managed learning, including project work, data analysis and report writing (226h)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 25%
CSI Report
A report, equivalent to 2,000 words, based on the examination and interpretation of the mock criminal investigation scenario and related crime scenes from the semester 1 content.

2: Laboratory Report weighted 10%
Analytical Lab Report
A laboratory report equivalent to 500 words based on the practical work completed during the analytical lab session.

3: Report weighted 40%
Expert Witness Report
An expert witness report, equivalent to 3,200 words based on the practical work undertaken throughout semester 2. This will be based on the analysis and interpretation of the evidence collected from the mock crime scene, based on a mock crime scene scenario.

4: Viva weighted 25%
Cross-Examination
A moot court oral assessment of 15 minutes where you will present your evidence to the court and undertake cross-examination, based on your expert witness report produced for assessment 3. Tutors will fill the roles for Judge, Prosecutor and Defence in the court room. 5 minutes of the assessment will be for you to present your evidence through Prosecution questions, and 10 minutes will be allocated for cross-examination to test the strength of your evidence through Defence questions.

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: 16 September 2026