Course Descriptions

College Catalog

Forensic Studies Courses

Students who pursue a Forensic Studies degree at Stevenson University can choose several tracks depending upon their interests. Each track is listed individually below. In addition, there is an Interdisciplinary track available which allows a student to select multiple courses from two or more tracks.

Core Courses

FSCOR 601
Criminal Justice
Provides students with the opportunity to examine the history, philosophy, and social development of investigators, courts, and correction institutions in a democratic society. Examination of local, state and federal agencies involved in administration of criminal justice. The court and trial process is included. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSCOR 604
Evidence
Analysis of criminal court procedures that occur once a case is actually brought against an accused, with emphasis on trial tactics and procedure. Analysis of the laws of evidence and how they are used in the criminal courts and their effect on the administration of justice. Preparation and presentation of evidence, rules of search and seizure and admissibility of evidence are covered. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSCOR 606
Internet Research & Writing
Provides instruction on the methods of legal research and legal writing. Students will examine the various sources of law and categories of research materials. Emphasis placed on written analyses of criminal cases and statutes and how to use the law library. Computerized legal research and use of the internet is included. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSCOR 664
Litigation Practice & Procedure
A study through student performance of the role of the advocate in the trial process. Class members form prosecution and defense teams for criminal cases, and undertake representation of the parties in all aspects of litigation. Each team is expected to develop a case from the initial client interview through actual litigation before a presiding judge. The course deals with all phases of pretrial and trial work, including fact-gathering, use of pleadings and pretrial motions, preparation of witnesses, discovery techniques, plea bargains, voir dire of jury panel, opening and closing statements, direct and cross-examination of witnesses, and presentation of evidence. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSCOR 701
Mock Trial Capstone
This course examines how evidence is presented in the courtroom. Oral communication skills as they relate to oral testimony will be explored. Students will examine the means to present physical evidence and documentary evidence. Implementation and manipulation of litigation support computer systems utilized within the legal environment for the collection, organization, and management of documents will be emphasized. Students will obtain hands-on experience in the use of the most prevalent litigation support software packages. Students will prepare and present direct testimony and be cross-examined by an experienced attorney in a simulated courtroom setting. Class will focus on discussions of problems, techniques, discovery issues, expert witness testimony, admissibility of scientific and other evidence, chain of custody, and use of notes. Six credits. (20 Oct 2005)

Accounting Track

FSAAC 620
Forensic Information Technology
Introduction to forensic computer science with techniques used to investigate computer crime scenes as well as computer hardware and software to solve computer crimes. Students will study the history of computer crimes and the important legal and social issues relating to computer crime. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSAAC 622
Advanced Accounting Information Systems
This course focuses on how information technology is altering the nature of accounting with emphasis on the integration of accounting systems in business software. Students will discuss how the internet, e-commerce, and data bases affect accounting systems. Emphasis is placed on reporting objectives, management needs, transaction trails, documentation, security, and internal controls. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSAAC 624
Fraud: Accounting
Fraud detection, warning signs, technology tools, investigation techniques, financial statement screening, fraud risk in e-commerce, proactive fraud risk. The proper manner in which allegations of fraud should be investigated to meet the requirements of civil/criminal court procedure will be addressed. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSAAC 626
Investigation & Analysis: Auditing
Case studies of the SEC Enforcement Division's releases for false and misleading financial statements. Emphasis will be placed on financial statement fraud and how an auditor can go about finding such fraud. The proper manner in which allegations of fraud should be investigated to meet the requirements of civil/criminal court procedure will be addressed. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSAAC 628
Investigation & Analysis: Tax
Emphasis on the financial consequences of alternative contractual arrangements and on the precise tax laws governing the arrangements. Students will be provided with a framework for understanding how taxation influences asset prices, equilibrium returns, and the form and content of contractual agreements. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

Information Technology Track

FSIS 640
Technology Law & Enforcement Activities
An in-depth review of the existing and emerging body of technology law at the state, national and international level. Students will examine the impact of legal requirements on businesses conducting search and seizure operations for digital evidence, while at the same time they are legally required to preserve electronic data, insure privacy, protect intellectual property, and protect individual civil rights. The student will learn the legal requirements for digital forensic evidence collection, handling, and preservation to protect the chain of evidence in support of prosecution. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSIS 642
File Systems Forensic Analysis
Examination of the tools and techniques used in the recovery of operating-system-generated artifacts used to aid forensic evidence collection and timeline corroboration. Students will review documented prosecutions and investigations where operating system artifact recovery led to a successful resolution. System policies, auditing techniques, authentication methods, hard drive recovery and reconstruction methods, and event and system logging techniques for a range of operating systems are researched. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSIS 646
Windows Intrusion Forensic Investigation
This course will answer such questions as how someone got in, what systems were affected, how they were compromised, how to repair them and how to prevent such incidents from happening again. Students will learn to think like a hacker, develop the skills to break into a system , and thereby understand how to catch someone breaking into their system. Network level attacks, denial service attacks, web attacks, DNS injection, IP Spoofing, and other exploits will be discussed along with case studies in each area. Selecting and implementing countermeasures will be reviewed with a competitive look at vendor products and development of evaluation criteria. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSIS 648
Disaster Recovery Planning & Implement
A practical study of the key disaster recovery strategies and evaluation of their strengths and limitations. The course reviews risk and vulnerability assessment techniques, backup and recovery products, and the design and test of a disaster recovery plan. Incident response techniques and procedures are examined along with the steps in recovering from an incident. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSIS 650
Intrusion Detection Systems Firewalls Audit
An exploration of the network forensic components responsible for detecting, blocking and tracking network intrusions. Students will learn how to configure IDS, firewalls and network analysis tools to protect network resources. Steps in recovering digital forensic evidence from these devices will be examined. The various categories of IDS, firewall and network analysis products will be compared and evaluated. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

Investigations Track

FSINV 600
Investigative Interviewing Techniques
This course examines how to gather testimonial evidence by interviewing persons of interest and preparing reports of investigation and oral presentations. Students will learn about the importance of planning thoroughly before conducting interviews by carrying out preliminary research into the interviewee's personal history and background. Background research will include employment, education, financial, and criminal records. Legal issues regarding gathering, maintaining and disclosing information obtained during the investigation will be presented as well as the law regarding the rights of interviewees and the responsibilities of interviewers. Prerequisites: FSCOR 601: Criminal Justice. Alternating sessions. Three credits. (18 Sept 2007)

FSINV 605
Investigative Techniques/Physical Evidence
This course examines how to gather physical and documentary evidence such as accounting documents and digital records from persons of interest and preparing reports of investigation and oral presentations. Students will learn the importance of planning thoroughly before gathering evidence by conducting preliminary research into the record system to be examined. Legal issues regarding gathering, maintaining and disclosing information will be presented as well as the law controlling privacy and search and seizure. Students will learn how to properly record evidence as well as to maintain a chain of custody. Students will prepare reports using analytical techniques and turn facts into coherent, defensible conclusions. Prerequisites: FSCOR 601: Criminal Justice. Alternating sessions. Three credits. (14 Sept 2007)

Legal Track

FSLAW 602
Criminology
Provides students with the opportunity to examine crime, criminals, the law, criminal behavior, and other social processes involved in crime causation. Emphasis is placed on the role of crime as a social phenomenon, the nature of criminal law, and related matters of crime in modern society. Students will examine criminological theories and their impact on policy formation in the criminal justice arena as well as examine scholarly criminological research for use in supportive analysis of theory and policy in the criminal justice arena. Three credits. (20 Aug 2007)

FSLAW 662
Fraud Investigation & Analysis
This course deals with all phases of fraud investigations, including fact-gathering and interviewing witnesses and targets. Issues to be considered include constitutional criminal procedure relating to the Fourth Amendment (search and seizure), Fifth Amendment (custodial interrogations), and Sixth Amendment (interrogation and identification). The course will also cover the grand jury, the rules governing subpoenas for testimony, exemplars and documents, grand jury operation and secrecy, the rights and obligations of grand jury witnesses and the obligations and responsibilities of a defense attorney when discovering evidence that tends to incriminate the defendant. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSLAW 667
Legal Research & Writing
This course is a continuation of Legal Research & Writing. Methods of legal research and legal writing will be explored in more depth. Emphasis placed on research of complex issues, analysis and synthesis of cases and statutes, and persuasive writing. Computerized legal research and use of the internet is included. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSLAW 668
White Collar Crimes
This course includes a review and analysis of the general principles of white collar criminal prosecution and defense, including jurisdiction of various federal criminal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies; corporate and other business crimes; fraud and political corruption crimes, including mail fraud, bank fraud, and crimes involving bribery of public officials; conspiracy; financial and securities fraud; tax fraud; RICO; currency reporting crimes and money laundering; regulatory crimes in the health and environmental areas; crimes involving the environmental areas; crimes involving the including perjury statutes, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering; and sanctions, including the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the use of minimum mandatory sentences. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)

FSLAW 670
Thesis
Students in the Legal Studies track will research a topic which culminates in a master's thesis. The research topic will be chosen in conjunction with a thesis advisor. Three credits. (20 Oct 2005)