JS 650: Advanced Questioned Death Investigation

Taken: Fall 2008
Instructor: Jay Glass

The course is essentially an intro to forensic pathology for non-medical students. Course is taught through lectures with extensive slides to illustrate material visually. Assigned readings are copious but largely supplemental; no textbook material and only some article material appeared on exams, largely just lecture material. Overall, a good and highly interesting course - if absolutely nothing else students should come out with a few interesting facts to toss around!

JS504: Serial Killers

Taken: Spring 2009

Instructor: James Sparks

This class was fantastic. It counts for absolutely nothing and it's still totally worth it. I audited this class, which means you pay for it, but you don't take any of the tests/quizzes. The class was broken down into categories of serial killers including: male SKs, female SKs, African-American SKs, team SKs etc. Each lecture was about a different topic that was illustrated with videos, pictures and tons of great stories.

Sit in the front, bring snacks. Good times.

JS502: Intro to Computer Forensics

Taken: Fall 2008

Instructor: Gary Warner

This course was interesting, but perhaps a little more suited to criminal justice majors. It doesn't require really any sort of computer knowledge at all going into it. I actually wish it had been at much more of a technical level. I definitely zoned out when it went to things I'd already known for years. Some of the legal principles covered like the Frye and Daubert standards do extend well to forensic science as a whole, though. Overall, it's a good course to fill out a schedule, but for someone already technically inclined, you're not likely to learn much you didn't already know that wasn't pretty much common sense.

JS650: Advanced Questioned Death Investigation

Taken: Fall 2008

Instructor: Jay Glass

Advanced Questioned Death Investigation is a lecture course that goes a little into depth of death investigation. Topics ranging from sudden and unexpected death to toxicology are covered during the course. Numerous pictures are shown throughout the course to give a better understanding of what to look for and how to identify the injuries. Understanding the injuries and how the victim obtained them will help the student in determining cause and manner of death. There are a lot of reading assignments to supplement the class material; however, emphasis will be given to the most important assignments There are two tests throughout the course and a take home assignment. Both tests consist of multiple choice questions and the take-home assignment consists of two actual cases that you will determine manner of death on from what you learn throughout the course.

Personally, I believe this is a great course, but it is not for the squeamish. The pictures that are shown throughout the course are very graphic in nature. I also suggest that both Criminalistics courses be taken prior to taking this course. That will give you an advantage on most of the material that will be covered in AQD. Jay Glass was the instructor for the course when I took it and should be in the future unless the course catalog says otherwise. If you have Mr. Glass, he is going to talk a lot and write very few notes on the board. What he does write on the board is of importance, so take good notes. There are very few questions asked throughout the course when I took it, but Mr. Glass is more than happy to explain anything that you might not get. Overall, I give this course 4.5 bloody thumbprints out of 5.

JS650: Advanced Questioned Death Investigation

Taken: Fall 2008

Instructor: Jay Gass

Advanced Questioned Death Investigation is a great class. It consists of lectures combined with slideshows of pictures from actual cases. Most of the pictures are very graphic, so this class is not for the squeamish. Some of the topics include:

• Medical Examiner’s Office vs. the Coroner
• Jefferson County’s M.E./Coroner system and history
• Manner/Cause/Mechanism of death and other key terms
• Blunt force trauma/sharp force trauma
• Gun shot wounds (fire arms and products of combustion)
• Asphyxia (chemical/physical)
• Sexual assault
• Infant fatalities/child neglect
• Toxicology
• Odontology/anthropology
• Thermal/electrical/explosive injuries

There is a midterm exam and a final exam. The final is cumulative, but mostly covers the second half of the semester along with the most important (and most obvious) material from the first half. A paper is also required. Two real death cases are presented and students write a paper explaining their choice for manner of death (homicide, suicide, accidental, natural or undetermined) in each situation. It is not a difficult paper to write, though there is a minimum length requirement of 1500 words and some research is necessary. This class is not an ‘easy A,’ but it is possible to do well. Mr. Glass is a nice guy and is there to help if necessary.

GRD 708: Writing Successfully

Spring 2009
Instructor: There was not one specific individual for this course

This course was more of a workshop, rather than a course. The class required only one weekend of your time. In the end, it was only worth one credit hour. I ended up taking this course as a way to stay on track with my hours, in the Spring of '09 there were not a lot of choices being offered for electives, so I chose to take this class to soften the blow in the following semesters. I actually enjoyed this course, it was VERY easy but I did learn a little more about writing. Don't expect to walk away from this course knowing a tremendous amount about writing successfully, but do know that you will have to work in groups, come up with a little "story," and present in front of others. I would recommend these kind of classes for anyone interested in making sure they meet their credit hour quota and also for anyone interested in developing their collegiate talents in multiple subjects. The main part: no tests, no quizes, no assignments. All you have to do is show up, participate, and stay through lunch (oh and lunch is provided for you!). Enjoy it!

Tox 711:

Taken Summer 2009
Instructor: Coral Lamartiniere ‎

This course was actually taught by several guest speakers rather than one professor. Topics include poison control information, ethics of animal care, toxicology in the emergency room, regulatory toxicology and cytochrome P450 information. Some weeks and lectures were more interesting than others.

The summer course consisted of only two exams, which were comprised of essay and short answer questions. There was an abundance of material to study for exam one, but questions only covered about 8 topics (20 pts/?). This was a problem because you are not told what specifically to study or that there are so few questions worth so much; however, partial credit is given.

Most people taking the course are IBS or tox grad students so without a tox background, material can be confusing at times. Despite this, the course is not difficult if you just study.

No books are needed for this course, all lectures were provided on powerpoint.

JS 504: Serial Killers

Taken Spring 2009
Instructor: James Sparks

This class was awesome!! The course begins with an overview of the various types of serial murderers, which acts as a foundation for the rest of the course. Each week a different serial killer is covered. Information covered in each case includes background of the serial killer, victimology, timeline of the crimes, evidence obtained, trial highlights, and sentencing of the offender. The instructor also uses lots of visual aides such as interviews, TV footage, documentaries, crime scene photos, and other photographs.

There are a couple of drawbacks to this course. Students taking the course for graduate credit are required to write a 20 page paper on a US serial killer. Grading is also based on weekly 10-point quizzes and attendance. Sparks is very strict on attendance (but why would you want to miss a class? I mean come on). I can't comment on the difficulty of the quizzes since I audited the course and didn't have to take them.

Now, for the primary drawback of this course... As it currently stands, this course will not count towards the credits required for completion of the MSFS Program. However, I personally think a case can be made to the Program Director (in conjunction with Mr. Sparks) that if the research paper focused on the forensic evidence that was used to find and convict the serial killer, then the course could potentially count for credit. Admittedly, my co-auditor and I made this pitch to Dr. Linvillain, who promptly shot us down. But, never hurts to ask.

Overall, I found the course to be fascinating and very enjoyable and the instructor to be extremely knowledgeable about all facets of each of the serial killers covered. I highly recommend it.

BY 531: Advanced Recombinant DNA Technology

Taken Spring 2009. Instructor. Dr. A. Bej. This class can be taken as an elective or if schedule conflicts prevent you from taking the Forensic DNA course. Overall, this class is very informative especially if you plan on going into DNA. It is also an excellent companion class to take along with Bio Methods in Forensic Science. The key to doing well in this class is to attend. The tests are comprehensive and mostly note based. There is a required text, that is helpful to understanding the material but not necessary if you take good notes. Graduate students are also required to write a 8-10 page paper from a list of related topics as well as an additional homework assignment. The class has a standard grading scale, and Dr. Bej is excellent at returning grades on time. Dr. Bej is also very willing to meet with you outside of class if you have any questions.

JS677:Topics in Forensic Science: Forensic Toxicology

Taken Spring 2009
Instructor:Elizabeth Gardner

This course was taken in the Spring of 2009 under the instruction of Dr. Elizabeth Gardner. The objective of the course was to discuss and analyze drugs and poisons as they relate to forensic science. There were no written exams in this class, however, there were assignments throughout the semester. The main assignment was a final project that consisted of using techniques used in labs to analyze a known drug. There were also smaller assigments which required using various instruments within the lab. There was a required text for the course and was used for a few of the assignments but not for any lecture material that was presented. This course was time consuming because the lab assignments were mostly performed outside of class time. I would recommend taking JS 673:Forensic Drug Analysis before taking this course because a lot of the instruments used in JS 677 were explained in more detail in Drug Chem.

JS677: Special Topics in Forensic Toxicology

Taken Spring 2009
Instructor: Elizabeth Gardner

This course served as an introductory class to the area of Forensic Toxicology. Spring 2009 was the first semester the class had been offered and the instructor's first time teaching a course in Toxicology. Overall, it was an informative course if the student took the personal initiative to do more on your own. First half of the semester consisted of powerpoint lectures and a few individual lab assignments. The most informative portion of the course involved a hands-on two day training session using the Toxi-lab kit. Other lab assignments included using the GC/MS on both known and unknown samples. The most tedious and somewhat unnecessary portion of the course included creating chapter outlines of each major class of drugs.

There were no tests so the majority of your grade comes from individual chapter assignments and the final project. Overall, if you are interested in merely scratching the surface of the area of toxicology and learning the basics this course would be a good idea. If you are interested in working in the area of Forensic Toxicology I would recommend taking a more advanced course in the actual Toxicology department.

JS650: Advanced Questioned Death

Taken Fall 2008
Instructor: Glass

I thoroughly enjoyed this course. There was not an exorbitant amount of work to do. Mr. Glass requires quite a bit of reading, but as long as you attend every class and take good notes, the reading really just serves to provide extra information. The book that is required for the class wasn’t really necessary to do well on tests, but it is very interesting to read and the illustrations really drive the topics home. I tend to hate buying books, but this is definitely one I will keep for a long time simply because of the photos.

CH561: Biochemistry I

Taken Fall 2008
Instructor: Donald Muccio

Going into this course, it is required to have taken General Chemistry as well as Organic. Knowledge from these courses will be beneficial to doing well in this course. Attendance is important to learning the course material and passing exams. Dr. Muccio has offered a bonus for those who attend class regularly. Principles of Biochemistry is required for the course and used frequently as a supplement to lecture notes. Some material from book may appear on test without being covered in class. Grading is based on four tests (multiple choice, short answer and drawings) and final; lowest test grade may be dropped or final omitted. Grading scale is the traditional 100-90=A, 89-80=B etc.

JS572: Molecular Biology for Forensic Scientists

Taken Fall 2008
Instructor: Jason Linville

This course is essential if you have never taken a molecular biology course or if you need a refresher on the subject. The class covers a lot of material, so it is beneficial to stay on top of the readings. Outside of tests, there are only a few assignments, which are not difficult and better your understanding of the material. The tests, on the other hand, can be an exercise in endurance. Know everything, seriously. And console yourself with the knowledge that your test will be graded fairly.

As for the instructor, Dr. Linville was extremely helpful and made the course enjoyable. He clearly knows the material and does an excellent job of teaching it. He is also very entertaining, which never hurts. I highly recommend this course and instructor.

CH550: Analytical Chemistry I Grad Study

Taken Fall 2008
Instructor: Sergey Vyazovkin

The official title for this course is listed above but according to the professor the course is entitled Instrumental Analysis. Having received my undergraduate degree in Biology I would have to say most if not all of the material in this course was either vaguely familiar or totally unfamiliar. Most of the semester focused on the different forms of Spectrometry and Chromatography. The very basics of such are taught in organic and somewhat in general chemistry but this course requires that you look deeper into the apparatus as oppose to simply analyzing the end result.

Dr. Vyazovkin was the type of instructor that expected you to know a lot about analytical techniques in general before taking his course. His style of teaching involved mostly lecture and little class interaction. Homework problems were assigned but left up to the student to complete and check on your own. There was also heavy abbreviation of important terms throughout the semester so it would help to read before class so one is familiar with the material. It is also imperative that you complete most if not all of the assigned problems as one or two appeared on almost every exam. As a graduate student in the course you are required to write a paper on a particular subject and technique and it counts as a test grade, so it’s also a good idea to begin working on it early in the semester.

Personally, the lab component was the best part of this course as it allowed you to actually work with the instruments you were learning about. As we all know application is important to the successful mastering of any subject so take advantage of the lab portion. Also, use the TA as much as possible to answer questions to fill in the blanks when applying what you’ve learned in class or to clear up concepts you aren’t confident on. Dr. Vyazovkin is also a good source of help if used correctly, meaning be sure to have read the material before going to office hours and have a specific question formulated in order to make efficient use of one’s time. Overall, I feel this is a good course for Forensic Science students as the instruments and techniques are critical to our future line of work. I also think it might be in students best interest to take CH555 first, which is the quantitative portion of the course. It was listed as a prerequisite on the syllabus but I personally cannot say what benefits such presents, as I did not take the courses in that order.

TOX711: Principles of Toxicology

Taken Summer 2009
Instructor: Coral Lamartinere

This course covers many areas of toxicology such as mechanisms of toxicity, toxic responses of the reproductive system, poison control, lab procedures and animal testing, regulatory toxicology, and medical toxicology. This class was taught by a different guest speaker each week and they each contributed questions to the exams. There were two exams that were mostly essay and short answer questions. Most of the material covered was geared toward students in the medical and toxicology field who have had lab experience and other courses so a lot of it was over my head. I had to study a lot to keep up and for tests.
The course didn't cover any forensic toxicology or organ systems which is what I was expecting. TOX 712 focuses on what toxins do once in the body. I would recommend this course if you are interested in toxicology because it does give an overview of the many areas of toxicology, but it's difficult. I

JS572: Molecular Biology for Forensic Scientists

Taken Fall 2008
Instructor: Jason Linville

JS 572 is a general overview of genetics and recombinant DNA. The course emphasizes the necessary fundamentals of DNA composition and DNA function as it is needed to succeed as a forensic scientist. This holds especially true for forensic DNA analysis. JS 572 serves as a broad review for students possessing a rich biology background. It also serves as a great introductory course for students with a more chemistry based background.

The course was instructed in Fall 2008 by Dr. Jason Linville. The course content was divided between two textbooks, one of which is not available in any nearby book stores. However, it was not required. Attendance is vital to being successful in this course. It is very possible to pass this course without purchasing a textbook if the pupil has perfect attendance and has great note taking skills. The information is provided in lecture format and presented in a manner that covers every aspect to be covered on the examination. A voice recorder is strongly recommended. The examinations are rather lengthy but are a fair representation of all materials covered. The work load consists of studying and a few assignments that require some attention and understanding of information covered during lecture. However, the work load is not smothering and does not outweigh the magnitude of the course. Overall this is an excellent elective to take during the first Fall semester because it is an great review of genetics and it is not extremely demanding which allows students to enroll in other electives in an attempt to not become overwhelmed with electives during their second Spring semester. I would strongly recommend this course.

JS672: Conventional Criminalistics II

Taken Spring 2009
Instructor: Mitch Rector

Crim II was a continuation of Crim I. It picked up where Crim I left off focusing on toolmarks and firearms. The labs were time consuming, but a lot of fun. They were outside of class and you could work individually or as a gruoup, but had to turn in all your own work if you did work as a group. The test (midterm and final) were structured much like Crim I. There was an additional paper at the end of the course.

I loved this course!

BST611:Intermediate Statistical Analysis I

Taken Fall 2008
Instructor: Stacy Cofield

I took BST 611 because I had never taken a statistics class and Dr. Linville advised me that many employers look to see if you have taken a stats clas on your resume. I took the class in the fall of 2008 with Stacy Cofield. I enjoyed the class as much as you can with a stats class. I had never taken a stats class and ended up with an A. There were six required homeworks and you were allowed one week to complete each homework. It took about 2 houts to complete each one. The homework was not difficult it just took a little time geting used to what the teacher wanted and how she wanted you to organize it. Stacy Cofield was very nice and always wiling to answer questions. She always answered her email right away which I loved. I would recommend this class to someone who wants to get more familiar with the statistical tests used in many forensic journal articles, and how these tests claify the information gained from research.

BST611: Intermediate Statistical Analysis I

Instructor: Dr. Cofield

This is a simple, informative course perfect for an elective outside the department. No prior knowledge of statistics is needed. This course starts as if the student knows nothing about statistics. The professor’s notes are easy to follow and comprehensive. Her lecture follows with the notes very well. In addition, all notes are posted online. Your grade will come from homework assignments, a mid-term, and a final. The mid-tem and final are essentially loner versions of the homework. Both are comprehensive. The homework and tests are not at all too difficult, but they are very time-consuming. Each of them could take up to four or five hours. While this may seem like a lot of time (especially for a test) this also means there is not a whole lot of studying needed outside of class. You learn by doing.

It should be noted that you will most likely need to purchase a software license for this class ($25). Most of the more advanced stuff must be done by a program and the professor instructs on the use of JMP. Other programs are permitted (except Excel) but this is the simplest option.

In terms of content, this course will be very useful for your research. It will show you what to do and what not to do when analyzing your data and writing it up. The examples in class are often taken from research papers and you’d be surprised how often people get their stats wrong. This class will help you avoid those common mistakes. I highly recommend this class due to the facts that it is not too difficult, the instructor is excellent, and it is actually useful.

GRD706: Grants and Fellowships

Taken Fall 2008

The elective JS course is offered by Graduate School at UAB in fall semester. This one day (Saturday) workshop provides an introduction to writing grant proposals and fellowship applications. Topics include funding sources, electronic databases, organization and format of proposals and applications, submission and review processes, use of secondary sources, and guidelines for effective proposal writing. I attended this workshop in Fall 2008 and I enjoyed the topics very much and learned some important things that I could not learn from the more science based courses. If someone happens to need one more credit hour to meet the hours requirement, I strongly recommend this one.

JS650: Advanced Questioned Death

Taken Fall 2008
Instructor: Jay Glass

Overall taking Advanced Questioned Death as an elective was interesting. It gave more incite to te how the medical examiner office works. The first couple of lectures are boring background information about how the medical examiner’s office was established, but if you can make it past those the rest of the class is very interesting. Jay Glass was the instructor when I took the class and he used a lot of pictures so it was easy to understand many of the concepts. (The pictures are graphic so if you have a weak stomach, skip the class and possibly start looking for a major). The majority of the class material is from his class notes, so it is helpful to go to as many classes as possible. If you are strapped for cash, you can go without buying the book (the big blue thick one), as it is more geared towards forensic pathologists. However, if you have the money, the book has a lot of interesting pictures. Overall I think it is a good elective to consider taking.

JS650: Advanced Questioned Death

Taken Fall 2008
Instructor: Jay Glass

This class is an elective offered by the MSFS program and is usually offered once every other fall semester. Since it is only likely to be offered once during the two year program, the class should be taken when it is offered if the student is interested in taking the class. This course gives a basic overview of forensic pathology. This class requires a lot of outside reading, at least 50-100 pages a weeks, sometimes much more. Due to the nature of the course, the reading can sometimes be difficult due to the medical terminology used. The essential material from the readings is covered in detail in class and exam material is clearly pointed out. The more difficult terminology and concepts in the readings aren’t what the forensic science student needs to know and aren’t covered on exams. This class is an excellent class to take if forensic pathology is what a student is considering or if the student wants to be a crime scene investigator. By knowing the basic concepts learned here, it can help the student understand and document a crime scene.

JS679: Seminar in Forensic Science

Taken Fall 2009
Instructor: Linville

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