C10391v1 Bachelor of Forensic Science Bachelor of Laws
Award(s): Bachelor of Forensic Science (BForSc)Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
UAC code: 609068 (Autumn session)
CRICOS code: 092384F
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 240
Course EFTSL: 5
Location: City campus
Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Assumed knowledge
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course diagram
Course program
Honours
Professional recognition
Other information
Overview
In this combined degree, students learn to use science as a tool to enforce the law or to prepare for professional and specialist work in the world of forensic science.
Majoring in biology, chemistry, crime scene investigation or digital forensics, students work in world-class forensic science facilities that have been modelled on operational labs. Simultaneously, they study the foundations of the law, including constitutional, civil, criminal, commercial, tort and ethics law, before choosing an elective path that complements their scientific interests.
Soft skills, including critical thinking and problem solving, are a key component of the degree. The Legal Futures and Technology major is also on offer in this course, offering students the chance to explore smart contracts, AI, blockchain and other technologies as they relate to future legal practice.
Graduates meet the academic requirements for admission to practise law in NSW and benefit from UTS's extensive partnerships with the federal and state police services, national and international forensic institutions, and government laboratories.
Career options
Career options include positions in the police service, state and federal law enforcement agencies, government and private forensic or drug detection laboratories, customs, quarantine services, environmental protection agencies, pharmaceutical, chemical and analytical industries, DNA testing laboratories, medical diagnostic laboratories, hospitals or corporate multinationals providing forensic, medical or research services, digital forensic laboratories, scene of crime officers.
Course intended learning outcomes
| LAW.1.1 | A coherent understanding of fundamental areas of legal knowledge, including: the Australian legal system, international and comparative contexts, theoretical and technical knowledge; the broader contexts within which legal issues arise and the law operates, including cultural awareness, social justice and policy; and the principles and values of justice and ethical practices in lawyers' roles |
| LAW.2.1 | A capacity to value and promote honesty, integrity, accountability, public service and ethical standards including: an understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making and professional responsibility; and an ability to recognise, reflect upon and respond to ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts in ways that evidence professional judgment, promote justice and serve the community |
| LAW.3.1 | A capacity to think critically, strategically and creatively, including the ability to: identify and articulate legal issues in context; apply reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses; engage in critical analysis and make a reasoned choice among alternatives; and think creatively in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses |
| LAW.4.1 | Well-developed cognitive and practical skills necessary to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues |
| LAW.5.1 | Effective and appropriate communication skills including: highly effective use of the English language to convey legal ideas and views to different audiences and environments; an ability to communicate to inform, analyse, report and persuade; an ability to strategically select an appropriate medium and message; an ability to assess how messages are received and alter communication strategies accordingly; an ability to be responsive and adaptive to the perspectives of collaborators, clients, counter parties and others; and an ability to generate a sustained and logical argument |
| LAW.6.1 | The ability to implement appropriate self-management and lifelong learning strategies, including: an ability to undertake and initiate self-directed work and learning; well-developed judgment and responsibility as a legal professional in a broader social context; the ability to support personal and professional development by reflecting on and assessing their own capabilities, wellbeing and performance, by making use of feedback as appropriate, by identifying and accessing appropriate resources and assistance, and by making use of resources and support in developing resilience; a capacity to adapt to and embrace change and a commitment to ongoing learning |
| SCI.1.1 | Apply: Demonstrate a command of forensic science practice, including the detection, collection, and analysis of traces using current, appropriate, and emerging processes and technologies. |
| SCI.1.2 | Analyse: Evaluate the collection of traces and interpret the results of analyses through the use of propositions, hypotheses, and statistical methods. |
| SCI.1.3 | Synthesise: Integrate information from individual and collective forensic analyses into investigative, evaluative, or intelligence frameworks. |
| SCI.2.1 | Apply: Employ investigative and problem-solving skills to evaluate forensic science problems. |
| SCI.2.2 | Analyse: Critically analyse and evaluate data, experimental results, and academic literature. |
| SCI.2.3 | Synthesise: Formulate hypotheses and design experimental methods to test these hypotheses, and evaluate and communicate results in a scientific and impartial manner. |
| SCI.3.1 | Apply: Practice safe, responsible, and professional conduct in laboratory and practical settings. |
| SCI.3.2 | Apply: Practice safe, responsible, and professional conduct in laboratory and practical settings. |
| SCI.3.3 | Synthesise: Discuss the impact and role of forensic science in addressing current and future challenges faced by law enforcement, the legal system, security, and the wider community. |
| SCI.4.1 | Apply: Apply forensic science and professional skills with a high degree of personal autonomy and reflection. |
| SCI.4.2 | Analyse: Devise and implement a relevant examination strategy to locate and examine traces. |
| SCI.4.3 | Synthesise: Demonstrate initiative and innovative thinking through creative problem solving applied to new case scenarios, situations, or challenges in forensic science practice. |
| SCI.5.1 | Apply: Demonstrate skills in case documentation. |
| SCI.5.2 | Analyse: Combine various methods to record and communicate observations and evaluation of traces throughout all stages of an investigation. |
| SCI.5.3 | Synthesise: Explain experimental findings to communicate conclusions, expert opinion, and the justification of professional decisions effectively to expert, scientific, and non-expert audiences. |
| SCI.6.1 | Apply: Demonstrate an appreciation of historical and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges relevant to forensic science. |
| SCI.6.2 | Analyse: Develop cultural awareness for ethical and respectful practices, and when developing community relations. |
| SCI.6.3 | Synthesise: Integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, as both experience and analysis, into professional practice. |
Key
LAW = Law course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
SCI = Science course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64; or CAE: 176-184.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Assumed knowledge
English proficiency; Mathematics; and Science.
Course duration and attendance
The course duration is five years of full-time study.
The law component requires attendance of 10–15 hours of face-to-face classes a week; timetable constraints may require attendance at daytime and evening classes. The science component requires attendance of approximately 20–22 hours a week on campus.
Course structure
The course comprises a total of 240 credit points and allows students to graduate with the separate degrees of Bachelor of Forensic Science (BForSc) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB). The study components for course completion are as follows.
The law component of 144 credit points is made up of:
- 108 credit points of compulsory core law subjects
- 30 credit points of law options, including either:
- 30 credit points of law options, or
- 30 credit points of legal futures and technology options
- a 6-credit-point legal theory option.
The forensic science component comprises 42 credit points of core subjects and a 54-credit-point major choice taken from one of the four specified majors representing different forensic science disciplines.
Industrial training/professional practice
To practise as a lawyer in NSW, students need to successfully complete an accredited legal academic qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training (PLT), which UTS offers through its PLT program.
Students enrolled in this course may complete their practical legal training by undertaking a postgraduate course in PLT, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
Course completion requirements
| STM91181 Core subjects (Forensic Science Law) | 42cp | |
| CBK91230 Major choice (Forensic Science) | 54cp | |
| STM90691 Law stream | 144cp | |
| Total | 240cp |
Course diagram
Course program
The program shown is for a full-time student who has chosen one of the forensic science majors and law options.
All options shown are law options and are to be drawn from those on offer in CBK90922.
Students wishing to study the new major MAJ09443 Legal Futures and Technology need to study 76106 Technology Law, Policy and Ethics (Capstone 1) in the Autumn session of their final year and 76107 Applied Project in Law, Innovation and Technology (Capstone 2) in their final Spring session.
| Digital Forensics major, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70102 Foundations of Law | 8cp | |
| 70103 Ethics Law and Justice | 6cp | |
| 65242 Principles of Forensic Science | 6cp | |
| 33116 Statistical Design and Analysis | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 35255 Forensic Statistics | 6cp | |
| 70311 Torts | 8cp | |
| 70114 Criminal Law and Procedure | 8cp | |
| 65312 Forensic Imaging | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70211 Contracts | 8cp | |
| 65316 Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| 65325 Digital Trace and Identity | 6cp | |
| 41092 Network Fundamentals | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70616 Australian Constitutional Law | 8cp | |
| 70104 Civil Practice | 6cp | |
| 48023 Programming Fundamentals | 6cp | |
| 70109 Evidence | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law | 6cp | |
| 48730 Cybersecurity | 6cp | |
| 65342 Crime Scene Investigation | 6cp | |
| 70617 Administrative Law | 8cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70317 Real Property | 8cp | |
| 70517 Equity and Trusts | 8cp | |
| 65326 Digital and Cyber Crime | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 71116 Remedies | 6cp | |
| 70417 Corporate Law | 8cp | |
| 41900 Cryptography | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 48436 Digital Forensics | 6cp | |
| 70108 Public International Law | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 76081 Gender and Law | 6cp | |
| 76057 Judgment and the Rule of Law | 6cp | |
| 76033 Animal Law and Policy in Australia | 6cp | |
| 76008 Jurisprudence | 6cp | |
| 78039 Wickedness and Vice | 6cp | |
| 76902 Law and Literature | 6cp | |
| 76012 Criminology | 6cp | |
| 76068 Indigenous Peoples and the Law | 6cp | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 24 credit points of options | 24cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65313 Forensic Intelligence | 6cp | |
| 65314 Complex Cases | 6cp | |
| 65327 Web Monitoring and Investigations | 6cp | |
| CSI major, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70102 Foundations of Law | 8cp | |
| 70103 Ethics Law and Justice | 6cp | |
| 65242 Principles of Forensic Science | 6cp | |
| 65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65212 Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| 70311 Torts | 8cp | |
| 70114 Criminal Law and Procedure | 8cp | |
| 65312 Forensic Imaging | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70211 Contracts | 8cp | |
| 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
| 33116 Statistical Design and Analysis | 6cp | |
| 68041 Physical Aspects of Nature | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70616 Australian Constitutional Law | 8cp | |
| 70104 Civil Practice | 6cp | |
| 35255 Forensic Statistics | 6cp | |
| 70109 Evidence | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law | 6cp | |
| 65202 Organic Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 65316 Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| 70617 Administrative Law | 8cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70317 Real Property | 8cp | |
| 70517 Equity and Trusts | 8cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 71116 Remedies | 6cp | |
| 70417 Corporate Law | 8cp | |
| 65342 Crime Scene Investigation | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91138 Investigation of Human Remains | 6cp | |
| 70108 Public International Law | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 65544 Chemical Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| 65644 Fire and Explosion Investigation | 6cp | |
| 65321 Homicide Investigation | 6cp | |
| 65322 Major Scene Investigation | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 76081 Gender and Law | 6cp | |
| 76057 Judgment and the Rule of Law | 6cp | |
| 76033 Animal Law and Policy in Australia | 6cp | |
| 76008 Jurisprudence | 6cp | |
| 78039 Wickedness and Vice | 6cp | |
| 76902 Law and Literature | 6cp | |
| 76012 Criminology | 6cp | |
| 76068 Indigenous Peoples and the Law | 6cp | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 24 credit points of options | 24cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65313 Forensic Intelligence | 6cp | |
| 65314 Complex Cases | 6cp | |
| 65323 Advanced Imaging and Specialist Recovery | 6cp | |
| Biology major, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70102 Foundations of Law | 8cp | |
| 70103 Ethics Law and Justice | 6cp | |
| 65242 Principles of Forensic Science | 6cp | |
| 65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65312 Forensic Imaging | 6cp | |
| 70311 Torts | 8cp | |
| 70114 Criminal Law and Procedure | 8cp | |
| Summer session | ||
| 65212 Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70211 Contracts | 8cp | |
| 65342 Crime Scene Investigation | 6cp | |
| 33116 Statistical Design and Analysis | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70616 Australian Constitutional Law | 8cp | |
| 70104 Civil Practice | 6cp | |
| 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
| 70109 Evidence | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law | 6cp | |
| 91314 General Microbiology | 6cp | |
| 70617 Administrative Law | 8cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70317 Real Property | 8cp | |
| 35255 Forensic Statistics | 6cp | |
| 70517 Equity and Trusts | 8cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 71116 Remedies | 6cp | |
| 70417 Corporate Law | 8cp | |
| 65316 Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70108 Public International Law | 6cp | |
| 91132 Molecular Biology 1 | 6cp | |
| 91137 DNA Profiling | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 76081 Gender and Law | 6cp | |
| 76057 Judgment and the Rule of Law | 6cp | |
| 76033 Animal Law and Policy in Australia | 6cp | |
| 76008 Jurisprudence | 6cp | |
| 78039 Wickedness and Vice | 6cp | |
| 76902 Law and Literature | 6cp | |
| 76012 Criminology | 6cp | |
| 76068 Indigenous Peoples and the Law | 6cp | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 24 credit points of options | 24cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65313 Forensic Intelligence | 6cp | |
| 65314 Complex Cases | 6cp | |
| 65318 Forensic Genotyping Technologies | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 91138 Investigation of Human Remains | 6cp | |
| 65320 Forensic Genetics | 6cp | |
| 91140 Bionanotechnology | 6cp | |
| 91330 Epidemiology and Public Health Microbiology | 6cp | |
| 91400 Human Anatomy and Physiology | 6cp | |
| Chemistry major, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70102 Foundations of Law | 8cp | |
| 70103 Ethics Law and Justice | 6cp | |
| 65242 Principles of Forensic Science | 6cp | |
| 65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65312 Forensic Imaging | 6cp | |
| 70311 Torts | 8cp | |
| 70114 Criminal Law and Procedure | 8cp | |
| 65212 Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70211 Contracts | 8cp | |
| 65342 Crime Scene Investigation | 6cp | |
| 65202 Organic Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 33116 Statistical Design and Analysis | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70616 Australian Constitutional Law | 8cp | |
| 70104 Civil Practice | 6cp | |
| 35255 Forensic Statistics | 6cp | |
| 70109 Evidence | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law | 6cp | |
| 65316 Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| 65306 Analytical Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 70617 Administrative Law | 8cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70317 Real Property | 8cp | |
| 70517 Equity and Trusts | 8cp | |
| 65508 Organic Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 71116 Remedies | 6cp | |
| 70417 Corporate Law | 8cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65409 Analytical Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| 65544 Chemical Criminalistics | 6cp | |
| 70108 Public International Law | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 76081 Gender and Law | 6cp | |
| 76057 Judgment and the Rule of Law | 6cp | |
| 76033 Animal Law and Policy in Australia | 6cp | |
| 76008 Jurisprudence | 6cp | |
| 78039 Wickedness and Vice | 6cp | |
| 76902 Law and Literature | 6cp | |
| 76012 Criminology | 6cp | |
| 76068 Indigenous Peoples and the Law | 6cp | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 24 credit points of options | 24cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65313 Forensic Intelligence | 6cp | |
| 65314 Complex Cases | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 65643 Chemistry and Pharmacology of Recreational Drugs | 6cp | |
| 65644 Fire and Explosion Investigation | 6cp | |
| 65411 Inorganic Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 65001 Medicinal Chemistry | 6cp | |
| 68070 Introduction to Materials | 6cp | |
| 91400 Human Anatomy and Physiology | 6cp | |
Honours
Students can graduate with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) if they complete subjects 76090 Research Methodology and 76040 Research Thesis within the course. The degree may be awarded with first or second class honours, which does not require an additional honours year. The rules concerning the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) can be found in undergraduate course information.
Students who meet these criteria for honours are eligible for transfer into the appropriate undergraduate honours exit course on completion of all coursework. This transfer is managed by the Haymarket Student Centre and occurs just prior to graduation.
Students who undertake the Legal Futures and Technology major and who meet the criteria for honours can choose to undertake honours as part of their degree.
The Bachelor of Forensic Science (Honours) (C09100) is available to eligible students from 2020 with an additional one year of full-time study.
Professional recognition
This course satisfies the requirements for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a lawyer, provided students complete a practical legal training (PLT) program, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
Graduates of the Bachelor of Forensic Science are eligible for membership of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society.
Other information
Further information is available from:
UTS Student Centre
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS