Forensic Science Subjects List – Year-wise Syllabus

With the growing interest of people in the field of Forensics, the popularity of Forensic Science courses is also increasing. It helps in solving crime mysteries faster than the traditional method. This is because it involves scientific techniques in the collection and analysis of evidence along with the investigation of the crime sites. Since it involves scientific expertise, the evidence collected can be presented as authentic proofs in the courts.

The curriculum includes digital forensic science, biology, chemistry, criminal science, forensic pathology, Psychology, Odontology, Psychiatry, etc. Going through the syllabus of Forensics gives a better understanding of the course to the students. The syllabus for all the degrees of Forensics like B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., M.Phil. Etc. varies from each other but the core subjects are somewhere common to all. Here in this blog, we have given a detailed Forensic Science subjects list, year-wise syllabus, semesters, specializations & books.

Forensic Science Subjects List:

As we have mentioned, the subjects for all the courses vary to some extent but they share some common subjects as well. Here we have given the list of subjects which are common to all the courses. The subjects are divided into two categories i.e. core subjects and elective subjects. The details of all the subjects are also given to facilitate you to get a better understanding of the curriculum.

List of Forensic Science Core Subjects:

The core Forensics subjects include those subjects which are mandatory and students don’t have the option of opting out. Hence they have to study all these subjects during their graduation years. The typical forensics core subjects list is given below:

• Introduction to Forensic Science: In this subject, how Forensic Science has developed in India is discussed both elaborately and comprehensively.
• Crime and Society: In this subject, the students learn about criminology, types of crime, and the system of criminal justice in India.
• Criminal Law: Indian Constitution Laws, IPC, and CrPC are explained in this subject.
• Forensic Psychology: This subject discusses how psychology affects crime and criminals.
• Forensic Dermatoglyphics: It deals with the evidence collected from external constituents of the body like fingerprints, sweat, hair, and skin.
• Technological Methods in Forensic Science: It discusses the advanced scientific techniques that can be used in Forensic laboratories.
• Criminalistics: This deals with the types of crime sites and types of evidence along with other different concepts related to crime investigation.
• Forensic Chemistry: The study of explosives and petrochemical products and their uses in a crime scene is done in this subject.
• Forensic Biology: It deals with the collection of biological evidence and the associated methods.
• Questioned Documents: The analysis of documents involved in a case to detect any kind of fraud and incompetency is discussed here.
• Forensic Ballistics: Under this subject, the candidates learn the techniques of detecting the involvement of firearms used in a crime.
• Forensic Toxicology: This subject deals with the detection of toxicants and other related psychoactive substances.
• Forensic Anthropology: The relevancy of anthropology in forensics, the technique of face reconstruction, etc are discussed in this subject.
• Forensic Medicine: This subject deals with investigations of death, autopsy, study of Forensic Odontology, etc.
• Environmental Studies: This subject discusses the Environmental Scope and its Nature, Types of Resources, Ecosystem and its types, Biodiversity, Pollution, etc.
• Law for Forensic Scientists: In this subject CrPC, the establishment of courts and its powers, the Indian Constitution, the Indian Evidence Act, the Indian Penal Code, the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, etc are discussed.
• Instrumentation & Investigation Techniques: Under this subject, the students will learn about the devices involved in crime detection like Microscopes, Chromatography, Ballistics, fingerprint examination, etc.
• Fundamentals of Computer Science: Under this subject, candidates learn about the development of computers, General awareness of hardware, operating system concepts, Cyber Crimes, etc.
• Physics: It includes Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Electromagnetism, Waves, and Oscillations
  Optics, Atomic Physics, etc.
• Chemistry: It is divided into three sections namely:
  • Inorganic Chemistry: Structure of Atoms, Hybridization, Chemical bonds, Block elements, etc.
  • Organic Chemistry: Purification Methods, Electronic Displacement, Isomerism, Chemical Formation of Pesticides & Insecticides.
  • Physical Chemistry: Acid and Bases, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, Adsorption and Catalysis, Thermodynamics, Colligative properties.
• Biology: Introduction and Characteristics of Bacteria, Angiosperms, Non-Chordates, Genetics Evolution, etc are discussed in this subject.

List of Forensic Science Elective Subjects:

Along with the core subjects, there are some elective subjects as well. Students have the opportunity to choose their favorite subjects from the list of elective subjects in their respective semesters and need to qualify for these subjects. The forensics elective subject list is given below:

• Digital Forensics: In this subject computer crimes and their types, applications of computers, and their implementation in detecting crime are discussed.
• Economic Offences: This subject deals with the Taxonomy of economic offenses and other fundamentals related to them.
• Forensic Serology: It discusses the significance of fluids present in human and animal bodies and their relevance in forensics.
• Accident Investigations: This subject deals with the investigation of accident sites and the concepts related to its findings.
• DNA Typing: In this subject, the importance of variations in DNA samples is covered.
• Dissertation: The dissertation is conducted on any specific topic of the candidate’s interest.

Year-Wise Forensic Science Syllabus:

The subjects are different for all the years of the forensics course and vary from course to course as well. Here we have mentioned some of the most common year-wise subjects.

Year I: In the first year, the candidates will get to study Introduction to Forensic Science, Environmental Science, English Communication, Crime And It’s Relation With Society, Digital Forensics, Tools And Techniques Used, Chemistry, Laws To Deal With Crime, Physics, and Forensic Psychology.

Year II: During the second year, candidates will study Zoology, Botany, Criminalistics, Technological Methods In Forensic Science, Forensic Dermatoglyphics, Forensic Biology, Computer Science, Anthropology, Forensic Chemistry, and Questioned Documents.

Year III: In the final year the candidates will study Introduction to Biometry, Psychology, Economics, Ballistics In Forensics, Toxicology, Identification of Handwriting, Forensic Medicine, Forensic Science and Society, and Forensic Anthropology.

Forensic Science Specializations:

Forensics is a wide field and hence offers specializations in some of the important domains. Candidates can choose any of the specializations according to their interest in the respective field. The specializations in Forensics may vary from university to university but some common specializations are offered by most of them. The list of specializations in Forensics is as follows:

• Forensic Archeology,
• Digital Forensics or Forensic Computing,
• Forensic Serology,
• Forensic Engineering,
• Forensic Psychology,
• Forensic Biology,
• Forensic Economics,
• Forensic Science and Society,
• Forensic Linguistics,
• Forensic Epistemology,
• Forensic Entomology,
• Forensic Toxicology,
• Forensic Botany,
• Forensic Ballistics,
• Forensic Chemistry.

Books for Forensic Science:

There are so many books available to the candidates in the market. But while selecting the books the students should be aware of the books they should be getting, the topics they are looking for, the best publisher in the market, and the best author. Choosing the best book will help you gain in-depth knowledge of the subject and will help you fetch good marks in the examination. Being a forensic scientist you should be aware of all the possible dimensions of forensics so that you excel at your work and help in the investigation more efficiently.

Here we have mentioned some of the important books for your reference for both elective and core subjects.

• Forensic Science: Physical Evidence in Forensic Science by Henry C.
• Introduction to Forensic Science: Forensic Science in India: A vision for the 21st century by R. K. Tiwari and B. K. Nanda.
• Forensic Investigation: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques by J. J Nordby and S. H. James.
• Criminal Law: Law for the Expert Witness by D. A. Bronstein.
• Proteomics: Principles of Proteomics by Richard Thyman.
• Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry by Shriver and Atkins.
• Physical Chemistry: Physical Chemistry by P. Atkins and J. De Paula.
• Forensic Chemistry: Basic Principals of Forensic Chemistry by Javed I Khan.
• Biology: Environmental Biology by P.S Verma and V.K Agarwal.
• Microbiology: Mycobacteria Protocols by Tanya Parish and Amanda Claire or Molecular Diagnostics by George P. Patrinos.
• Forensic Biology: Forensic Biology by Jane Schober.
• Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science by Richard Saferstein, Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials by B R Sharma.
• Forensic Anthropology: Forensic Anthropology by Natalie R. Langley and Maria Teresa A.
• Forensic Psychology: Criminal Psychology Forensic Examination Protocols by Mexico Mares; Criminological and Forensic Psychology by Helen Gavin.
• Forensic Dermatoglyphics: The Mystery Behind Handprints by Dr Sonam Gupta.
• Forensic Ballistics: Fundamentals of Forensic Ballistics and Comprehensive by Dr Narayan Waghmare.
• Forensic Toxicology: Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Robert James McLean Buchanan.
• Forensic Medicine: Principles of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Rajesh Bardale.
• Digital Forensics: Digital Forensics and Incident Response by Gerard Johansen.
• Forensic Serology: Forensic Serology Blood Examination by A.K. Dwivedi Dr. Archana Tripathi.
• DNA Typing: Advanced Topics in Forensic DNA Typing by University of Virginia.

References:

• https://www.shiksha.com/science/forensic-science-subjects-chp
• https://collegedunia.com/courses/forensic-science/forensic-science-subjects
• https://collegedunia.com/courses/master-of-science-msc-forensic-science/syllabus
• https://www.careers360.com/courses/bsc-in-forensic-science
• https://www.collegedekho.com/courses/bsc-forensic-science-syllabus-subjects