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Forensic Science & the Law: A Case Study (HPSC30036)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
July
Email: jbradley@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | July |
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Fees | Look up fees |
In England, between 1750 and 1914, scientific testimony increasingly became a feature of the law. In particular, the scope given to the expert witness shaped the development of the common law. The forensic sciences, in general, became a tool for identifying the criminal, while forensic psychiatry, in particular, was integral to developing new notions of criminal culpability and responsibility. In the process, society's understanding of both crime and the criminal was significantly modified by the emergence of these new sciences.
This subject will focus on the remarkable record-set that has been provided by the digitisation of the Old Bailey Session Papers (OBSP). As London's Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey was the predominant theatre of crime and punishment in the largest city in the world. The OBSP provides transcripts of the trials which offer extraordinary insights into the workings of the law and the past lives of the long dead historical actors. At the same time, they allow us to chart the transformations wrought upon law and society by the emergence of the forensic sciences.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject will:
- understand the emergence of forensic science, especially forensic psychiatry, in the context of the development of common law, policing, medical jurisprudence and psychiatry;
- synthesise, analyse and assess arguments about the history of the forensic sciences, contextualising these arguments within the broader domains of medicine, history, philosophy;
- create effective arguments, backed up by convincing evidence, about the development of the forensic science, and be able to express these to experts and interested non-experts;
- develop high-level research skills, including the ability to extend your knowledge-base beyond subject materials, combining traditional library- and archive-based research;
- develop effective communication and presentation skills (written and oral), and the ability to collaborate constructively within the classroom;
- demonstrate ethical integrity in written work and classroom activities, including a deep ethical engagement with issues around the law and the mind.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Assessment
Additional details
- A 1200 word presentation of 5 cases from the OBSP, due 2 weeks after the end of teaching (30%)
- A group collaboration, equivalent to 800 words, due in the final workshop (20%)
- A 2000 word critical essay, due 5 weeks after the end of teaching (50%)
Hurdle Requirements:
- Students must attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to pass this subject.
- All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After five working days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Dates & times
- July
Principal coordinator James Bradley Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 30 hours - a 1 hour lecture and a 2 hour workshop each day for 10 days Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 9 July 2018 to 20 July 2018 Last self-enrol date 11 July 2018 Census date 20 July 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 10 August 2018 Assessment period ends 24 August 2018 July contact information
Email: jbradley@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject readings will be available online.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major History and Philosophy of Science - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 27 April 2024