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CMRJ402 - The Pathology of Death Investigations
Course Details
Course Code: CMRJ402 Course ID: 2536 Credit Hours: 3 Level: Undergraduate
This course will examine contemporary practices for investigating sudden, unexpected and violent death. Two major topics will be explored: the first focusing on the manner of death (the social circumstances under which the death occurs), the second focusing on the cause of death (the particular material actions which result in death).The following types of deaths will be considered: asphyxial, blunt and sharp force, firearms, natural causes, mass disaster, child abuse, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and suicide. Estimating the postmortem interval and identification of human remains will also be considered. It is recommended that students take CMRJ306 before enrolling in this course.
Prerequisites
Course Schedule
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06/24/19 - 11/29/19 | 12/02/19 - 01/26/20 | Fall 2019 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 08/26/19 - 01/31/20 | 02/03/20 - 03/29/20 | Winter 2020 Session I | 8 Week session |
Current Syllabi
At the conclusion of the course students will be able to:
CO1: Explain the documentation and procedural aspects of an autopsy.
CO2: Assess the purpose and limitations of postmortem interval.
CO3: Differentiate the manner, cause, and mechanism of death.
CO4: Describe the challenges associated with blunt force trauma injuries.
CO5: Illustrate the significant factors involved in identifying firearm and sharp force injuries.
CO6: Validate critical thinking and problem solving skills in the death investigation process.
CO7: Explain the injuries characteristic of a traffic fatality.
CO8: Interpret present and past medicolegal indications of child abuse.
CO9: Summarize the relevance of forensic anthropology in death investigations.
Forums
Instructions and grading expectations for all forums will appear in the Forums section of the course site.
Assignment(s)
Instructions and grading expectations for all assignments will appear in the Assignments section of the course site.
Exam(s)
Instructions and grading expectations for all exams will appear in the Tests & Quizzes section of the course site.
| Name | Grade % |
|---|---|
| Intro | 1.00 % |
| Introduction | 1.00 % |
| Forums | 29.00 % |
| Week 1 Forum | 4.83 % |
| Week 2 Forum | 4.83 % |
| Week 3 Forum | 4.83 % |
| Week 5 Forum | 4.83 % |
| Week 6 Forum | 4.83 % |
| Week 7 Forum | 4.83 % |
| Assignments | 20.00 % |
| Assignment 1 | 6.67 % |
| Assignment 2 | 6.67 % |
| Assignment 3 | 6.67 % |
| Research Paper | 15.00 % |
| Research Paper | 15.00 % |
| Exams | 35.00 % |
| H: Final Examination | 17.50 % |
| D: Midterm Exam | 17.50 % |
Weekly lessons and assigned readings are available in the course site.
| Book Title: | Forensic Medicolegal Injury and Death Investigation - e-book available in the APUS Online Library; link also provided in the classroom Lessons section |
| ISBN: | 9781498734882 |
| Publication Info: | CRC Press |
| Author: | No Author Specified |
| Unit Cost: | $74.63 |
Previous Syllabi
Not current for future courses.