If you want an exciting career that stimulates you, challenges you, and rewards you, then a postgraduate degree in science sets you on the right path.

This Graduate Diploma provides an avenue for further study under certain circumstances, if:

• you are ineligible for entry to Honours at UWA
• you want proceed to Master's candidature
• you want an advanced qualification in a specific area of expertise.

1. Course outline
2. Admission requirements
3. Course enquiries

Course outline

The program consists of both coursework and research components and exposes students to a broad range of disciplines that carry the potential for significant practical application.

You will gain hands-on experience in the analysis of material associated with a crime scene, use techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, experience chemical analytical techniques including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and learn how to employ DNA sequencing using specific genomic markers. In addition you will conduct field experiments with animal carcasses as human models.

From these experiences you will not only learn basic human anatomy but also aspects of pathology and decompositional processes associated with estimating the time of death, all of which may be relevant to violent crime.

As part of the Expert Testimony unit, you will be required to attend workshops in the areas of criminal justice and expert evidence. This independent research project is specifically designed to enable students to understand both the criminal justice system and the process of presenting evidence as an expert witness within a courtroom.

The lectures for this course are primarily held in the evenings to accommodate students in the workforce. Please contact us for more information.

All units have a value of 6 points unless otherwise indicated.

General stream

Students complete the following core units:

• FNSC5611 Ethics and Research Methods in Forensic Science
• FNSC5612 Forensic Anthropology I - Introductory Theory and Method
• FNSC5613 Introduction to Forensic Chemistry
• FNSC5619 Forensic DNA Analysis
• FNSC5620 Expert Testimony Part 1 (3 points)
• FNSC5630 Expert Testimony Part 2 (3 points)

plus units to the value of 18 points from the following list (subject to availability each year):

• FNSC5614 Forensic Archaeology - Theory and Method
• FNSC5615 Death Investigations
• FNSC5616 Digital Imaging in Forensic Science
• FNSC5617 Forensics and Information Technology
• FNSC5518 Forensic Science and Policing
• FNSC5520 Criminal Behaviour
• FNSC5626 Forensic Anthropology II - Advanced Theory and Method

Odontology program

Students who have a Bachelor of Dental Science or equivalent and who are admitted to the Odontology program complete the same units as students in the general stream, except:

• FNSC5621 Expert Testimony (Odontology) Part 1 (3 points)
• FNSC5631 Expert Testimony (Odontology) Part 2 (3 points)

Students in this stream are also encourgaed to choose an odontology-based topic (in consultation with the Director) for their Ethics and Research Methods critical report.

Anthropology program

Students who have a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology, Human Anatomy or another relevant subject and who are admitted to the Anthropology program complete the following core units:

• FNSC5611 Ethics and Research Methods in Forensic Science
• FNSC5612 Forensic Anthropology I - Introductory Theory and Method
• FNSC5613 Introduction to Forensic Chemistry
• FNSC5619 Forensic DNA Analysis
• FNSC5622 Expert Testimony (Anthropology) Part 1 (3 points)
• FNSC5632 Expert Testimony (Anthropology) Part 2 (3 points)
• FNSC5614 Forensic Archaeology - Theory and Method
• FNSC5626 Forensic Anthropology II - Advanced Theory and Method

plus units to the value of 6 points from the following list (subject to availability each year):

• FNSC5615 Death Investigations
• FNSC5616 Digital Imaging in Forensic Science
• FNSC5617 Forensics and Information Technology
• FNSC5518 Forensic Science and Policing
• FNSC5520 Criminal Behaviour

Progression

Students who achieve a weighted average of 70 percent or more across all units undertaken in the Graduate Diploma may be eligible to proceed to the Master of Forensic Science by Research. Students who obtain a weighted average of 60-69 percent may apply for the Master of Forensic Science by dissertation and coursework.

Credit for prior learning

If you have completed a similar subject, for example Forensic DNA Analysis, at another university, providing it was passed as part of an equivalent postgraduate course, you may apply for a credit for that unit. If you completed a similar unit as part of an undergraduate degree, you will not be granted an exemption.

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Admission requirements

You will need to have either a recognised bachelors degree in a relevant discipline or qualifications and experience in a relevant field that are considered to be equivalent to the degree specified above.

Applicants for the odontology stream must have a bachelors degree in dental science or equivalent.

Applicants for the anthropology stream must have a bachelors degree in anthropology, human anatomy, or another relevant subject.

All applicants are also required to produce National Criminal Record History Check (no more than 12 months old) and proof of current tetanus protection.

You can also enter the Graduate Diploma as a mature age student through UWA ACCESS. This involves enrolling in two units initially; if you average 70 per cent over the two units, you may then enrol in the full course in the following semester

English Language Competence

All applicants for UWA coursework programs must demonstrate a minimum level of English Language Competence.

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Course enquiries

Centre for Forensic Science
Telephone: +(61 8) 6488 7286

Email: enq-cfs@uwa.edu.au

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