Egas Moniz School of Health & Science

Bachelor Degree in Forensic and Criminal Science

Year 1

• Quantitative Methods in Forensic Science
• Forensic Chemistry I
• Animal and Plant Biology
• Introduction to Forensic Laboratories
• General Anatomy
• Introduction to Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science
• Statistics Applied to Forensic Science
• Forensic Chemistry II
• Biochemistry
• Forensic Physics
• Physiology and Post-Mortem procedures
• Introduction to Law

Year 2

• Forensic Molecular Genetics
• Forensic Analytical Techniques I
• Substance Abuse I
• Forensic Palynology
• Crime Scene Analysis
• Sociology and Sociological Methods
• Forensic Molecular Biology
• Forensic Analytical Techniques II
• Substance Abuse II
• Advanced Methods for Crime Science Analysis
• Criminal Sociology
• Criminal Law

Year 3

• Forensic Anthropology
• Forensic Toxicology
• Forensic Psychological Evaluation
• Forensic Microbiology
• Criminal Procedural Law
• Comparing Handwriting (Option)
• Forensic Environmental Crimes (Option)
• Forensic Dentistry (Option)
• Forensic Medicine
• Methods to Analyse Toxicology in Food
• Ethics, Communication, and Court Testimonies
• Computer Crimes (Option)
• Road Crimes (Option)
• Document analysis (Option)
• Forensic Entomology (Option)
• Fire and Explosives (Option)
• Criminal Investigation Methodology (Option)
• Forensic Sexology (Option)
• Independent Study of Practical Cases

It is intended that the student acquires solid and multidisciplinary scientific training and skills to solve problems of a technological and scientific nature in forensic practice, with direct implications in a criminal investigation. Thus, the main learning goals of the degree are aimed at obtaining skills and competencies compatible with good performance in the following areas:

• Detection, preservation, and collection of trace elements at the crime scene, in accordance with current criminal procedural law.
• Development of forensic laboratory analysis strategies, compatible with the trace elements collected and the ongoing criminal investigation.
• Analysis related to the identification of physical, chemical, and/or biological properties in samples/trace elements received for examination.
• Oral and written presentation of the experimental results obtained, according to the standards required by the courts.
• Integration and interpretation of the results of the various analysis carried out and their interpretation in the context of the crime scene.
• Obtaining Juridical Knowledge in the area and the sociological and psychological conditioning of human behavior.

Once you complete your degree, you will be able to:

• Work in laboratories dedicated to analyzing forensic traces, and carrying out sample/trace analysis (biological, chemical, toxicological, fingerprints, documents, comparing handwriting and ballistics).
• Work as an expert for insurance firms, banking institutions, lawyers’ firms, and research and development laboratories.
• Pursue an academic career, furthering your education in second and third-cycle courses specific to forensic science or crime scene investigation.
• Pursue a scientific career in fields such as Biochemistry, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Toxicology, and others, due to the high level of laboratory experience gained during your degree.
• Pursue your studies, for instance, through post-graduate courses in this area. Under the agreement signed between IUEM and Lancashire University, there are two vacancies each for one of the post-graduate courses in the MSc in “Criminal Investigation”, “DNA Profiling”, “Document Analysis”, “Forensic and Conservation Genetics”, “Forensic Anthropology” and “Forensic Toxicology”.