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FSC-40057 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

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

FSC-40057 - Advanced Topics in Forensic Biology
Coordinator: Christopher Aris
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
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

FSC-30031
FSC-30061

Description for 2025/26

This module will allow you to build advanced skills in collecting and interpreting forensic biological data. This will involve expanding your abilities in working with soft tissue, in forensic medicine and pathology environment, DNA analysis, teeth and entomology. This will involve learning in the lab to grow practical skills in both collecting and analysing forensic biological evidence.
Assessment is aimed at assessing your abilities in a practical sense through forensic reports. This module aims to provide career prospects in forensic biology at the forefront of the discipline, and is ideal if you have an academic interest in biology and/or aspirations to work within forensic biology in the future.

Aims
This module aims to build on previous knowledge to identify and evaluate advanced topics in forensic biology. This will include practical experience of handling soft tissue remains, and forensic medicine and pathology practice. This will also include an appreciation for professional and ethical requirements and an understanding of the areas of both forensic odontology and dental anthropology. Forensic entomology concepts and advanced DNA applications will also be explored and evaluated.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/fsc-40057/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Analyse and critically review current concepts in forensic entomology: 3
Identify and utilise dental remains in forensic settings and critically analyse the role of forensic odontology and the dental
anthropologist: 1
Appropriately handle and analyse soft tissue remains in a medico-legal setting in accordance with professional and ethical requirements: 1
Evaluate advanced forensic DNA applications: 3
Critically evaluate modern methods and research in forensic biology: 2

Study hours

Active learning hours:
14h lectures
21h laboratory/data analysis sessions
Independent study hours:
115h to include private learning (50h), assigned reading (15h), and assessments (50h).

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Portfolio weighted 40%
Forensic Medicine and Pathology Portfolio
Assessment consisting of short questions and result analysis of selected forensic science practicals from the forensic medicine and histology content. Equivalent to 2000 words in total and covering the topics of forensic medicine, soft and hard tissue analysis, and histopathology.

2: Review weighted 20%
Critical Review of Forensic Biology Research Area
End of semester critical review of a chosen topic in advanced forensic biology, relating to either a topic covered or one independently researched. The review should cover the topic and associated methods and its importance to forensic biology, and discuss its limitation, applications, and most novel contributions in more research and practice. The review will be equivalent to 1000 words

3: Report weighted 40%
Entomology and DNA Report
Assessment consisting of short questions and result analysis of selected forensic science practicals from the advanced DNA and entomology content. Equivalent to 2000 words in total and covering forensic entomology concepts and advanced DNA applications.

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