Forensic Engineering – (M.Sc.)

Contents

Core modules

Legal methodology

This module provides the necessary grounding to study law effectively. It teaches the core skills required with emphasis placed on research and legal reasoning. You examine the court system and legal professions and we introduce the Human Rights Act of 1998.

Criminal litigation

Criminal litigation is essentially the steps required to take a criminal case to trial. This module examines the initial stages of an investigation.

You examine

* police powers
* the processing of crime scenes
* the importance of continuity of evidence and establishing a chain of custody
* the general principles of criminal law required to ensure that charges are understood and correctly drafted
* the law on confessions and inferences from silence
* the law concerning taking samples from suspects
* the initial stages of a criminal prosecution with emphasis on how they are significant to expert witnesses

Law of evidence

This follows on from the criminal litigation module and progresses the investigative process from the initial court hearings through to the completion of the trial.

It addresses subjects including

* rules and principles on expert testimony
* the burden of proof
* the significance of disclosure and pre-trial hearings for expert witnesses
* the rules governing advocacy and trials
* salient rules of evidence, such as hearsay

You also examine recent miscarriages of justice involving expert witnesses to identify how error arose and how to eliminate repetition.

Fatigue and fracture mechanics

In this module you examine the effect of defects - cracks, notches and corrosion pits - on the safe working life of engineered components or structures. You review various theoretical approaches and practical tests that govern the initiation and fatigue growth of cracks in metallic alloys.

Advanced investigatory techniques for material engineers

You develop the ability of a graduate scientist, or mechanical or materials engineer, to apply advanced investigatory techniques to understand and interpret the structure, properties and behaviour of engineering materials.

These include

* environmental scanning electron microscopy
* X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy
* glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy
* atomic force microscopy

Fire, fire arms and explosives

You examine

* fire components, initiation, propagation and fire scene investigation
* types of firearms, ballistics, chemistry, investigation and analysis
* explosive components, energetics, initiation, effects, scene investigation and analytical methods

Research project

This module allows you to demonstrate researcher skills at masters level. You produce a persuasively argued piece of writing that demonstrates knowledge and skills, researcher competence and the ability to work independently.
Options

One from

* control systems failure
* durability of engineering materials