Criminalistics Laboratory

Phys 4000-004

Spring 2006

E. Roland Menzel
Director, Center for Forensic Studies (www.phys.ttu.edu/cfs)
PW Horn Professor of Physics, Engineering Physics and Chemistry
Sc Bldg, Rm 120. Tel: 742 3760, e-mail: Roland.Menzel@TTU.edu
Office hours: by appointment.

Course objective:
Phys 4000-004 is a three-hour laboratory course (students must explicitly sign up for 3 credits in the Physics Department office). The criminalistics laboratory provides hands-on exposure to spectroscopic methodologies involved in the examination of physical evidence. Prior enrollment in Phys 2351 is required and concurrent enrollment in Phys 3351 is strongly recommended.

Reference texts:
E. R. Menzel, Laser Spectroscopy, Techniques and Applications, Marcel Dekker, New York, 1995.
E. R. Menzel, Fingerprint Detection with Lasers, 2nd ed., Marcel Dekker, New York, 1999.

Grading:
Grades are based on laboratory reports, experimental skills displayed and grasp of involved principles. Laboratory reports are informal, but include description of the pertinent science. There will be one formal lab report on one of the experiments (assigned by instructor). Performance of experiments - 50%, informal reports - 25%, formal report - 25%. A: 80-100%, B: 65-79%, C: 50-64%, D: 35-49%.

Learning outcome:
Students are expected to acquire proficiency in the spectroscopic techniques and evidence examination methodologies listed below.

Learning outcome assessment:
The assessment is based on observation of experimental skills displayed in the laboratory, on the quality of the data obtained, and on laboratory reports.