LINKS	VICTOR VALLEY COLLEGE SYLLABUS
Biology Dept. Home	SPRING 2006
VVC Home	FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
Biology Dept. Faculty	Course No.:  Biol 54/ADMJUS 54	Course Title:  Forensic Pathology	Units:  3
	Section No.:  5225/5226	Class Hours:  11:20 – 12:45 pm	Days:  M/W, Room No.:   31-11
	Instructor Name: Dr. Harvey, Ph.D.	Office No.:SL6	Telephone Ext.:  2658
	e-mail:  harveyl@vvc.edu	VVC online at www.vvc.edu
	SPRING CALENDAR
	Spring Semester Begins    February 13
	Lincoln’s Day Holiday    February 17
	Washington’s Day Holiday  February 20
	Spring Break (no classes)   April 10 – 13
	Memorial Day    May 29
	Final Exams    June 5-9
	Spring Semester Ends   June 10
	NOTE – CLASSES WILL NOT BE HELD ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: Monday February 17; Monday February 20; Monday thru Sunday, April 10 - 16; Monday May 29.
	WITHDRAWAL POLICY:  Last day to withdraw from a semester length class and receive a “W” is April 8, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Overview

This course examines the medico-legal investigation of death from unexplained or accidental causes, homicides, suicides, blunt force/sharp force injuries, gunshot wounds, asphyxia, drowning, thermal, and electrical injuries.  The course discusses the identification of individuals through dental remains and records, as well as age, sex and race determinations.

Disclaimer

This course will introduce the student to very graphic, and at times, extremely violent material regarding death.  If you have emotional or psychological problems with respect to seeing such material, it is advised that you withdraw your enrollment from this course now, before it starts, or see the instructor first, for additional course details (content).

Prerequisites:  None 

Textbook(s)

Text:  Forensic Pathology, DiMaio & DiMaio, 2^nd Edition.

Optional text:  Gunshot Wounds.

Attendance

Attendance is required and is the responsibility of the student.  If you do not attend the first class session you will be dropped by the instructor.  If you do not plan to continue to attend class you must drop the course to avoid receiving an “F” grade.  PLEASE NOTE:  After two absences dismissal from the class will result. 
 

Attendance Policy: (Class attendance is not a measure of performance or proficiency.  Whether a student is just physically present in the class is not a valid basis for grading.  Reference Title 5 Section 55002 of the California Code of Regulations: (A) Grading Policy.  The course provides for measurement of student performance in terms of stated course objectives and culminates in a formal, permanently recorded grade based upon uniform standards in accordance with section 55758 of this Division. The grade is based on demonstrated proficiency in the subject matter and the ability to demonstrate that proficiency, at least in part, by means of written expression that may include essays, or, in courses where the curriculum committee deems them to be appropriate, by problem solving exercises or skills demonstrations by students.)

Withdrawal Policy

It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdrawal from this class.  DO NOT simply stop coming to class and expect the professor to drop you.  Not withdrawing from class may result in an “F” grade for the class.  If you take a “W” for the course, no assignments are carried into the next semester.  You must repeat the class!  Last date to drop the class and not receive a “W” is XXX, 2006 and the last day to drop the class and receive a “W” is XXX, 2006.

Incomplete

If a student has completed most of the course (75% or more) with a “C” or better average, but is unable to complete the remainder of the semester due to extenuating circumstances (see student handbook), they may elect to take an incomplete (INC) for the course.  You are allowed to make up all missing assignments.  An incomplete does NOT allow you to repeat completed assignments.   All missed assignments and exams must be completed by the following semester or the grade will revert back to the one they would have earned at the end of this semester.  It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the request for an incomplete.  This must be completed in writing on a special school form and signed by both the instructor and the student before the end of the semester.

Final Grade

You may determine your grade at any time during the course by totaling the points you have accumulated and dividing that total by the number of total points possible.  There will be 3 lecture exams worth 150 points each and one final exam also worth 150 points.  Exam topics will be announced several days in advance.  Lecture quizzes will not be announced.  There is NEVER any extra credit given in this class.  Make-up exams will ONLY be given on June 2 at 10:00 am.  So if you miss an exam it is your responsibility to attend this one make-up day, so I suggest not missing an exam date.  Missed quizzes or homework cannot be made up.  In order to qualify for a make-up exam, students must inform the instructor prior to the exam that they will not be present for the exam.  The absence must be one approved by Victor Valley College in order to apply to a make-up exam. 

There will be 10 journal articles due on May 31, 2006 at the beginning of the lecture.  Each article will be worth 10 points each late articles will not be accepted.  There will also be homework questions handed out during class along with case studies.  The homework and case studies cannot be made up if you are absent and will not be accepted late. 

All grades will be posted on the internet, and the instructor will e-mail you with the address, your password and ID number.  If you have any questions about your grade you must inform the instructor within five days of the grade posting.  There will be no change in grades after the five days.  This includes the final grade.  So make sure you check your grades frequently to make sure everything is all right.  

Grading:

The percentage scale is as follows:

PLEASE TAKE CAREFUL NOTE:  During an exam there will be no leaving the classroom for any reason, except with a written Doctor’s excuse.  If you leave the classroom your exam is over.   

Classroom Policies:

Etiquette and Ethics

Although extenuating circumstances occur and you must be late to class, do your best to arrive on time to class.  If for some reason you cannot arrive at the assigned time, then please enter the classroom quietly and have consideration for other students and the instructor.  Because we are also in an intimate classroom setting any extraneous talking is not appreciated during lecture because it is very distracting to your fellow students and even the instructor.

Please read the college policy on cheating and plagiarism.  Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated, and may result in failure of an exam/assignment, failure of the course or potential expulsion from the college.  If you have any questions regarding dishonesty or are in anyway unclear about the meaning of the college policy, please see me immediately.  If Academic Dishonesty is observed in the classroom, the assignment will be given a grade of “F”.  If Academic Dishonesty is observed for the second time, the student will be given an overall final grade of “F”.

Children

It is school policy that children are NOT allowed to attend class with their parents nor should they be left unattended on campus while parents attend class.  If you qualify there is a day-care center on campus, if not please make arrangements for a babysitter.

No food or drinks

It is school policy that NO food or drink be allowed in the classroom.  Please note that the small sinks and drawers are not trash receptacles.  It is also important to leave all open foodstuff outside of the classroom, we have a tendency to collect a large herd of ants after awhile.  It is not pleasant having them crawl up your pant leg!!!  PLEASE NOTE:  It is the responsibility of every person at each table to make sure the tabletop is clean after the class session is over.  It is also the responsibility of every person at the table to check the sink and drawers to make sure there is not trash in either.  After a laboratory procedure it is also the responsibility of everyone at the table to make sure the floors are swept and mopped.  If you do not make sure your table and the area around your table is clean there will be a 10 point deduction from every person sitting at that table after any or all class sessions.

Lecture Schedule

The lecture schedule is tentative with approximate dates for lecture topics and examinations.  Materials may be covered at a faster or slower pace, depending upon the circumstances.  It is the responsibility of the student to note any and all changes.  The chapters indicated for exams should be read by the day of the exam 
 

Lecture Schedule
Title	Chapter
Introduction
Medico-legal Investigations	1
Time of Death	2
Forensic Entomology	Handouts
Forensic Odontology	Handouts
Autopsy Videos	Take Notes; questions from video will be on exam
EXAM 1 - March 8	4, 5, 6
Blunt Force Trauma	7
Blunt Force Trauma Lab
Sharp Force Trauma
Death by Motor Vehicles	9
EXAM 2 -  April 5
Firearms	Handouts
Ammunition and Ballistics	Handouts
Gunshot Wounds	Handouts
EXAM 3 - May 8	8
Asphyxia
SIDS & Neonaticide, Infanticide, Child Homicide	11 & 12
Fire Deaths	13 & 14
Deaths by Drowning	15
Electrocution	16
Rape/ DNA	18
FINAL EXAM  -  June 8
JOURNAL SUMMARIES
*You will compile a notebook of articles from professional journals relating to 10 different topics as presented in the table of contents of your Forensic Pathology text book.  These should include ten different chapters we are covering in class.
*There also must be a table of contents page specifying which chapter is related to which article
*Each article is to be followed by a two page typed summary/analysis of the article.
*The summary should include an analysis of each section of the paper, including an overall meaning to the paper.  What was the question the authors were asking?  What did the authors hypothesize?  What were their results and what conclusion did they draw from these results?  How does this information compare to information found in the corresponding chapter in your text book?  Hint:  I am looking to see that you read your chapter, as well as the paper!!!!
*Your summary should be written as a comprehensive, objective summary of the scientific study; including who did the study, the purpose of the study, the method of the study, details about the subject population, statistical results, and researcher’s conclusions.  The summary should also compare and contrast the materials found in the article with the materials found in the coinciding chapter in the book.
*The summary should be written in the past tense using the third person (don’t use “I” or make references to yourself or your beliefs).
*Quotations should be limited and even avoided.  DO NOT copy from the book and/or your article.
*All summaries will not be accepted if any portion of the content is plagiarized.
*Use careful attention to keep mechanical errors (spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors) to a minimum as they will be considered in the overall grade in addition to the actual content of the summary.
*A photocopy of the entire original article must be placed along side the summary in your notebook.
*Each summary must be presented separately, each on an 8.5” X 11” sheet of paper with normal margin and a font of 12.
Each summary is limited to one side of two pages.  Each summary must be typed.  (Use of the computer is encouraged).
*Please present all summaries and articles in one three ring binder.  Include in your binder a Table of Contents, as well as dividers for each chapter you reviewed.
*The entire binder is due at the beginning of lecture on May 31, 2006