Forensic Science Seminars
Nebraska Wesleyan University offers the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in forensic science conveniently and affordably.
The Forensic Science Seminars help prepare students to be leaders in the field of forensic science as law enforcement professionals, crime scene investigators, or forensic laboratory specialists. Courses provide college credit, as well as law enforcement continuing education credits.
Recent seminars have covered:
- Firearm evidence analysis
- Interviewing
- Fire scene investigations
- Crime scene imaging
- Expert witness testimony
- Forensic linguistics
Registration
Contact Denise Waller at dwaller@nebrwesleyan.edu or (402) 465-2329 for information about registering for the Forensic Science Seminars. 2012-2013 seminars begin August 19.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for the 2012–2013 school year is:
- $355 per graduate credit hour (500-level course number)
- $255* for undergraduate credit hour (200-level course number)
- $170 for law enforcement personnel enrolling in undergraduate credit only. Please note your law-enforcement employment on your registration so discount will apply.
Mail registration and payment to:
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Forensic Science Program
c/o Denise Waller
5000 St. Paul Ave.
Lincoln, NE 68504-2794
| FORSC 290/590-01 Ballistics: Trajectory Analysis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor | Dates and Location | Credit | |
| Josh Connelly, MFS Christine Gabig, MFS |
August 19, 6pm to 10pm August 20, 8am to 5pm Location:Burt Hall-South ,LL 2-NWU |
1 hour | |
| This class will teach students the basic principles of ballistics trajectory analysis used to reconstruct a shooting incident using basic trigonometric skills as well as current technology. Technology will include the use of trajectory rods, lasers, string and computers. The students will be presented with a mock shooting scene and will be responsible for collecting the shooting scene evidence correctly as well as performing a trajectory analysis. | |||
| FORSC 290/590-02 Statement Analysis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor | Dates and Location | Credit | |
| Gary Plank, M. A. |
Sept 30, 6pm to 10pm Limit 16 seats |
1 hour | |
| Students will learn to understand how people use speech and how deception or failure to divulge fully can be detected in speech patterns and word usage. Statement structure will also be explored to bring greater understanding to the editing process and information concealment. | |||
| FORSC 578 Forensic Linguistics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor | Dates and Location | Credit | |
| Prof. John Olsson MA MPhil | Taught all quarters via distance learning. |
1 hour | |
| Forensic Linguistics deals with the interface of language, crime, and the law. It deals with linguistic methods to determine authorship attribution and whether the subject is describing the truth. This is a distance learning course taught on-line by John Olsson, a practicing forensic linguist. The course covers a description of different kinds of forensic text, including ransom demands, suicide letters and a suspect interview excerpt. The course requires the completion of five assignments from a choice of fifteen. Introductory course information is at www.thetext.co.uk/courses.html. Students pay NWU a fee for the credit hour, and Prof. Olsson’s Forensic Linguistics Institute an additional fee. |
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| FORSC 274/574 Threat Assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor | Dates and Location | Credit | |
| Gary Plank, M. A. |
Oct 14, 6pm to 10pm |
1 hour | |
| We base many decisions on our determinations of possible threats to ourselves and those around us. This course will briefly examine the information we use to process these risk determinations and provide explanations for our decisions. The course will examine the way we view and perceive threat cases involving stalking, workplace, and school violence. | |||
| FORSC 290/590-01Trace & DNA Evidence: Recognition, Collection & Analysis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor | Dates and Location | Credit | |
| Christine Gabig, MFS with Tracey Ray B.S. |
January 13, 6pm to 10pm January 14, 6pm to 10pm Location: Olin 219 - NWU |
1 hour | |
| This class will cover topics related to a wide range of critical evidence types that are often overlooked, including trace evidence and sources of DNA evidence. The student will learn hands-on how to recognize and properly collect these types of evidence, how to perform preliminary examinations, and how to deal with contamination issues. This course will also provide students with the information needed to recognize and assess the need for a forensic expert in this field. | |||
| FORSC 290/590-04 Interviewing Child Victims and Witnesses |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor | Dates and Location | Credit | |
| Kirk Newring, Ph.D | February 10, 6pm to 10pm February 11, 8am to 5pm Location: Burt Hall LL-1 |
1 hour | |
| This course provides an overview of research on child memory and verbal behavior related to children's testimony. Developmental aspects of language and memory specific to children will be discussed. Recommendations and protocols for interviewing children will be presented and reviewed. Potential areas of concern in child victim and witness interviews will be reviewed and discussed. | |||
| FORSC 290/590-2 Specialized Photography: The Documentation of Excited and Glowing Molecules | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor | Dates and Location | Credit | |
| CL Retelsdorf, MFS Josh Connelly, MFS |
February 24, 6pm to 10pm Limit: 30 seats |
1 hour | |
| Under certain circumstances at crime scenes, specialized photography is necessary to capture important biological evidence. The same type of photography is also imperative when documenting many types of latent print evidence. This class will teach students the underlying principles of specialized photography utilizing an alternate light source (ALS) and a series of filters as a means to capture digital evidence of a crime. Students will learn how to set up a digital SLR camera with an ALS and filters, along with timed exposure photography, to capture digital evidence that could otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. A series of practical exercises along with an exam will make up the graded portion of the class. | |||
| FORSC 277/577 Expert Witness Testimony | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor | Dates and Location | Credit | |
| Sandi Denton, JD |
March 23, 6pm to 10pm |
1 hour | |
| Expert witnesses are called to testify due to their expertise and experience in a specific subject, such as DNA analysis, scene investigation, psychology or many other fields. Many of these subjects can be difficult to present to a lay audience, such as a jury in a limited amount of time. This course will show students how best to prepare in order to present themselves, their credentials, and their testimony in a professional manner and how to anticipate questions from opposing counsel. The students will be given preparation techniques and become familiar with trial procedures. They will have to prepare a court C.V., and participate in a mock trial exercise. | |||
| FORSC 290/590-3 Toolmark Evidence Recognition, Recovery, Examination |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor | Dates and Location | Credit | |
| Kent Weber, MFS Amy Weber, Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) |
February 25, 2012, 9am to 4pm March 10, 2012, 9am to 4pm Burt Hall LL1- Nebraska Wesleyan University |
1 hour | |
| Tools and toolmark evidence are often encountered at crime scenes, and yet are easily overlooked or misunderstood if the scene investigator is not accustomed to handling such evidence. Students will become familiar with the variables that matter most in toolmark recognition and recovery, and will learn how to critically evaluate potential “suspect tools” encountered at the scene or through investigative efforts. This course will require the student to utilize observation and classification skills, participate in hands-on exercises, and complete assignments that emphasize both the mechanics and patterns involved in the analysis of tools and toolmark evidence. | |||
