Course Coordinator:Kelly Hine (khine@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Online |
Online | You can do this course without coming onto campus. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
Homicide is an extreme form of crime. This course analyses the nature of homicide and examines investigation processes including forensic science. You will learn trends of homicide types such as interpersonal, crime-related and socio-political homicide; forensic science techniques; and legal and ethical considerations when investigating homicide, gathering evidence, and interpreting forensic science. You will engage in case studies and practical exercises to develop your understanding of homicide, investigations and forensic science leading to effective prevention strategies.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Learning materials – Asynchronous online learning materials | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Face-to-face tutorials | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
Online | |||
Learning materials – Asynchronous online learning materials | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Live online tutorial | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
Example topics include
200 Level (Developing)
12 units
Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
1 | Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of homicide and the criminal justice responses to homicide |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Empowered |
2 | Explain and critique forensic science practices |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Empowered Ethical |
3 | Apply scholarly writing, research, and reference practice |
Knowledgeable Ethical |
4 | Develop and support their own arguments using evidence-based research and critical analysis |
Knowledgeable Empowered Ethical |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Tutorials/learning materials will include quizzes for early feedback
Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
All | 1 | Artefact - Creative | Individual | 35% | 1000 words |
Week 5 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All | 2 | Case Study | Individual | 40% | 2000 Words |
Week 10 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 25% | 1.5 hours |
Exam Period | Online Submission |
All - Assessment Task 1:Homicide Patterns | |
Goal: | The purpose of this task is for students to demonstrate their understanding of the nature of homicide. |
Product: | Artefact - Creative |
Format: | Creative format |
Criteria: |
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All - Assessment Task 2:Homicide Investigation Review | |
Goal: | The goal of this assessment task is for students to demonstrate their ability to explain and critique homicide investigations and forensic science practices. |
Product: | Case Study |
Format: | Written report |
Criteria: |
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All - Assessment Task 3:Final Exam | |
Goal: | The end-of-semester exam allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of course materials covered during the semester. |
Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled |
Format: | Exam format |
Criteria: |
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A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Not applicable
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
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For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
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