What a law student learned from a forensic science course at CityU
Taking a course from another discipline rather than your own can broaden your horizons
Knowledge about crime scene investigation can be useful for an aspiring lawyer.Undergraduate students at City University (CityU) are required to complete at least one science and technology course as part of Gateway Education (GE).
GE hopes to provide cross-disciplinary experience and are helpful in extending your knowledge and interest in various fields.
I am a law student who registered on the Forensics and Modern Society course. It gave me insight into different aspects of the subject.
Digital forensics taught me about the retrieval of online browsing history and the recovery of deleted files. A glimpse of such basic data-recovery techniques makes you appreciate how computers can be used to commit crimes by hacking into other people’s accounts.
A forensic engineering case focused on day-to-day accidents such as vehicles catching fire and lift malfunctions. Different techniques were used to analyse the cause of accidents as well as to facilitate product improvement and apportion responsibility.
Crime scene investigations are particularly engaging. I enjoyed lifting my own fingerprints and classifying individuals simply by their patterns of arches, loops or whorls.
We conducted a mock crime scene investigation. For this simulation, the scene was isolated from public access and we wore proper protective clothing. Completing the task as a group, we performed an initial walk-through and obtained evidence through examination and documentation, including sketching the scene and taking photos.
The best part of the course is playing the role of a forensic expert in court. Such an expert helps to resolve disputes using his or her knowledge and experience.
These practical simulations enhanced my scientific knowledge and understanding of the role played by forensic evidence in the practice of law.
Do not worry if you are not a science student. Forensic science matters to everyone! It is closely related to other sectors ranging from engineering and manufacturing to insurance and law.
This course, like all other GE courses at CityU, is cross-disciplinary. This means you are strongly encouraged to discover and innovate beyond your core major programme together with CityU’s highly experienced instructors.
Edited by M. J. Premaratne