Course Syllabus

Jump to Today

CHS3533L.012: Forensic Biochemistry I Laboratory

Chemistry, College of Science

1 Credit Hours

Table of Contents

General Course Information
Course Description
Course Materials and Resources
Student Learning Outcomes
Course Activities
Grading Information
Course Schedule
Policy Statements

Instructor Information

Instructor: Dr. Erin Hanson
Office Location: CH305, Chemistry Building (primary); 324C, NCFS Partnership I Building in Research Park
Office Hours: By appointment only
Phone (Office): (407) 823-0642
Digital Contact (E-mail): Erin.Hanson@ucf.edu

Teaching Assistants

GTA(s): Kaitlin Huffman
Email: huffmank13@knights.ucf.edu

Course Information

- Term: Fall 2021
- Course Number & Section: CHS3533L.013
- Course Name: Forensic Biochemistry I Laboratory
- Credit Hours: 1
- Class Meeting Days: Thursday
- Class Meeting Time: 3:30 - 6:20pm (in person labs will be held every week, but class will be split into two groups with only one group coming in per week)
- Class Location: CH305, Chemistry Building
- Course Modality: P (will include online assignments, quizzes/tests)
  - UCF expects that all members of our campus community who are able to do so get vaccinated, and we expect all members of our campus community to wear masks indoors, in line with the latest CDC guidelines. Masks are required in approved clinical or health care settings.

Notifications in Case of Changes to Course Modality
- Depending on the course of the pandemic during the semester, the university may make changes to the way classes are offered. If that happens, please look for announcements or messages in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email about changes specific to this course.
- The final exam will be held online:
  - ProctorHub is a UCF test monitoring system that utilizes a webcam to monitor test-taking activity during online testing. Videos are only accessible to your instructor and are stored in a secure environment. If you do not have a webcam, there are computers with webcams in the UCF library, or you can visit the LibTech desk at the library to check one out. LibTech can also direct you to a computer in the library with a webcam. Please note that these computers cannot be reserved ahead of time. It is your responsibility to ensure that you will have access to a computer with a webcam and know how to log into and use ProctorHub prior to the time that the tests start. Currently, ProctorHub is not yet compatible with Apple iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad) or Android smartphones. If an issue occurs during a test, finish the test and contact me via email.
  - Test your webcam before the test at https://proctorhub.cdl.ucf.edu/proctorhub/test_webcam/.
  - For assistance with setup, contact Webcourses@UCF Support at 407-823-0407
  - ProctorHub will not be used for any online module quizzes

Enrollment Requirements

Course Prerequisites: 'C' or better in PCB 3063 (Genetics), PCB 3063L (Genetics Laboratory)
Course Co-requisites: None
Course Prerequisite(s) or Co-requisite(s): CHS3533 Forensic Biochemistry I

Other Enrollment Requirements (if applicable): None

Course Description

This course introduces students to the concepts and procedures of contemporary forensic biochemistry. It forms the foundation for more advanced studies in the area of forensic DNA analysis. Emphasis will be placed upon techniques and procedures that are used in operational crime laboratories throughout the United States. This laboratory will provide hands-on experimentation and experience with topics and techniques covered in CHS3533 (Forensic Biochemistry).

Course Materials and Resources

Required Materials/Resources

Computer and access to Internet/Webcourses/Zoom/Webcam/ProctorHub/Adobe/Microsoft Office
Laboratory protocols and workskeets (will be posted on WebCourses)
PPE: Laboratory coat, safety glasses, closed-toe shoes and long pants
Face mask
- UCF expects that all members of our campus community who are able to do so get vaccinated, and we expect all members of our campus community to wear masks indoors, in line with the latest CDC guidelines. Masks are required in approved clinical or health care settings.
You are responsible for bringing your own lab coat, safety glasses and face mask. These will not be provided to you and you will not be permitted to enter the laboratory without these items. Gloves will be provided in the lab.

Optional Materials/Resources

Binder or laboratory notebook for recording experiment results

Third-Party Accessibility and Privacy Statements

No third party tools will be used in the course

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will perform laboratory experiments to learn the skills and techniques used in the identification of forensically relevant biological fluids.
Students will read forensic journal articles and utilize critical thinking skills to evaluate each article in terms of purpose, experimental design, results and impact on the forensic community.
Student knowledge of the course will be assessed through two exams and weekly module assignments

Course Activities

Laboratory experiments (in-person)
Module assignments (online: journal articles/discussions, quizzes, training)
Final exam 1 (December 2, 2021). The final exam will be given online using ProctorHub. The exam will be multiple choice and short answer format.
Extra Credit opportunities are not guaranteed but might be available during the semester.
All students should have regular access to the internet and plan on logging into the course several times each week. For the online-module weeks, students should plan on spending an equivalent amount of time as the scheduled lab period.
Note: For each online quiz or exam, you are expected to remain on the testing screen for the duration. You may not visit other sections of the course, other websites, or communication tools for assistance. I will be monitoring the Webcourses@UCF quiz audit log for compliance. Failure to only access the quiz or exam during testing will result in an academic integrity violation.

Activity Submissions

In-Person laboratory weeks: Assignment will involve completion and online submission of the completed worksheet (provided as a Word document). All worksheets will be due by Sunday at 11:59pm on the week of the in-person laboratory.

Online assignment weeks: Assignments will involve reading a journal article or other such document and completing an online group discussion assignment using Perusall. Alternatively, some online assignments involve completion of an online training course. All assignments will be due by Sunday at 11:59pm on the week of the online assignment.

*Refer to course schedule for weekly schedules, assignment lists and assignment due dates.

Attendance/Participation

Attendance is required as experiments cannot typically not be made up on other weeks. If you are more than 5-10 min late for lab, entry may be refused and you will receive a 0 for that week's laboratory.

Excused absences require prior instructor approval (with few exceptions in extreme situations where this is not possible in advance). The Undergraduate Catalog states, “Reasons for acceptable absences may include illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular requirements (e.g., judging trips, field trips, professional conferences), military obligations, severe weather conditions, and religious holidays.” In instances where advanced notice cannot be given, students need to contact the instructor within a reasonable amount of time (e.g. a few days) to discuss the absence.
To request or document an excused absence, please send me an email or webcourse communication at least 1-week prior to the missed week indicating the reason for the absence. This must be sent to me and not the GTA. I will determine if the absence is excused and will provide a response with this determination. Appropriate documentation must be provided, if applicable:
1. personal illness (verifiable by a doctor’s note)
2. death of an immediate family member (verifiable by an obituary or funeral program)
3. military duty (verifiable by documentation from your supervisor)
4. required engagements in university-sponsored activities (verifiable by documentation from your advisor)
5. court-imposed legal obligations (verifiable by court documentation)
6. religious obligations (notified two weeks in advance)
7. severe weather conditions (as confirmed by university-wide statements and/or relevant media)
Note that transportation issues and employment schedules are not on the list of excusable reasons.

COVID-19 Specific Notifications

I recognize and understand the difficult times we are all in. The COVID-19 pandemic impacts us all in many ways, including physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, academically, and professionally. I will work with you on challenges you may be encountering and to provide support to help you succeed. However, please keep in mind that I will hold you accountable, especially in terms of class attendance, participation, and contributions.

Students who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 or who test positive must contact UCF Student Health Services (407-823-2509) so proper contact tracing procedures can take place. Students should not come to campus if they are ill, are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19.
Students should contact their instructor(s) as soon as possible if they miss class for any illness to discuss reasonable adjustments that might need to be made. When possible, students should contact their instructor(s) before missing class.
Accommodations may need to be added or adjusted should this course shift from an on-campus to a remote format. Students with disabilities should speak with their instructor and should contact sas@ucf.edu to discuss specific accommodations for this or other courses.
If the instructor falls ill during the semester, there may be changes to this course, including having a backup instructor take over the course. Please look for announcements or mail in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email for any alterations to this course.

Make-up Exams and Assignments

Per university policy, you are allowed to submit make-up work (or an equivalent, alternate assignment) for authorized university-sponsored activities, religious observances, or legal obligations. If this participation conflicts with your course assignments, I will offer a reasonable opportunity for you to complete missed assignments and/or exams. The make-up assignment and grading scale will be equivalent to the missed assignment and its grading scale. In the case of an authorized university activity, it is your responsibility to show me a signed copy of the Program Verification Form for which you will be absent, prior to the class in which the absence occurs. In any of these cases, please contact me ahead of time to notify me of upcoming needs.

Assessment and Grading Procedures

The table shows the point and weight percentage of each course activity.
Assignment	Points	% of Grade
First Week Activity - Introductions	5	2.5%
NIJ Lab Safety Training	10	5%
Quiz 1	10	5%
Bloodborne Pathogens Training	20	10%
Lab worksheets (5 pts each x 5)	25	12.5%
Online assignments (10 pts each x 5)	50	25%
Final Exam	80	40%
Total	200	100%

The table shows the range for each letter grade and uses a plus/minus system.
Letter Grade	%
A	91 – 100
A-	86 – 90
B+	81 - 85
B	76 - 80
B-	71 - 75
C+	68 - 70
C	61 - 67
D	51 - 60
F	< 50

Consult the latest Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for regulations and procedures regarding grading such as Incomplete grades, grade changes, and grade forgiveness.

Course Schedule

Please refer to the course schedules (Group 1, Group 2) for a summary of the course activities and due dates.

University Services and Resources

Academic Services and Resources

A list of available academic support and learning services is available at UCF Student Services. Click on "Academic Support and Learning Services" on the right-hand side to filter.

Non-Academic Services and Resources

A list of non-academic support and services is also available at UCF Student Services. Click on "Support" on the right-hand side to filter.

If you are a UCF Online student, please consult the UCF Online Student Guidelines for more information about your access to non-academic services.

Optional In-Class Recording Statement

Students may, without prior notice, record video or audio of a class lecture for a class in which the student is enrolled for their own personal educational use. A class lecture is defined as a formal or methodical oral presentation as part of a university course intended to present information or teach students about a particular subject. Recording classroom activities other than class lectures, including but not limited to lab sessions, student presentations (whether individually or part of a group), class discussion (except when incidental to and incorporated within a class lecture), clinical presentations such as patient history, academic exercises involving student participation, test or examination administrations, field trips, and private conversations is prohibited.

Policy Statements

Academic Integrity

Students should familiarize themselves with UCF’s Rules of Conduct. According to Section 1, "Academic Misconduct," students are prohibited from engaging in:

Unauthorized assistance: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise unless specifically authorized by the instructor of record. The unauthorized possession of examination or course-related material also constitutes cheating.
Communication to another through written, visual, electronic, or oral means: The presentation of material which has not been studied or learned, but rather was obtained through someone else’s efforts and used as part of an examination, course assignment, or project.
Commercial Use of Academic Material: Selling of course material to another person, student, and/or uploading course material to a third-party vendor without authorization or without the express written permission of the university and the instructor. Course materials include but are not limited to class notes, Instructor’s PowerPoints, course syllabi, tests, quizzes, labs, instruction sheets, homework, study guides, handouts, etc.
Falsifying or misrepresenting the student’s own academic work.
Plagiarism: Using or appropriating another’s work without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.
Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same academic work for credit more than once without the express written permission of the instructor.
Helping another violate academic behavior standards.
Unauthorized use of websites and internet resources: There are many websites claiming to offer study aids to students, but in using such websites, students could find themselves in violation of academic conduct guidelines. These websites include (but are not limited to) Quizlet, Course Hero, Chegg Study, and Clutch Prep. UCF does not endorse the use of these products in an unethical manner, which could lead to a violation of our University’s Rules of Conduct. They encourage students to upload course materials, such as test questions, individual assignments, and examples of graded material. Such materials are the intellectual property of instructors, the university, or publishers and may not be distributed without prior authorization. Students who engage in such activity could be found in violation of academic conduct standards and could face course and/or University penalties. Please let me know if you are uncertain about the use of a website so I can determine its legitimacy.

For more information about Academic Integrity, students may consult The Center for Academic Integrity.

For more information about plagiarism and misuse of sources, see “Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices”.

Responses to Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, or Cheating

Students should also familiarize themselves with the procedures for academic misconduct in UCF’s student handbook, The Golden Rule. UCF faculty members have a responsibility for students’ education and the value of a UCF degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and when necessary respond to academic misconduct. Penalties can include a failing grade in an assignment or in the course, suspension or expulsion from the university, and/or a "Z Designation" on a student’s official transcript indicating academic dishonesty, where the final grade for this course will be preceded by the letter Z. For more information about the Z Designation, see http://goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/zgrade.

Course Accessibility Statement

The University of Central Florida is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need specific access in this course, such as accommodations, should contact the professor as soon as possible to discuss various access options. Students should also connect with Student Accessibility Services (Ferrell Commons, 7F, Room 185, sas@ucf.edu, phone (407) 823-2371). Through Student Accessibility Services, a Course Accessibility Letter may be created and sent to professors, which informs faculty of potential access and accommodations that might be reasonable. Accommodations may need to be added or adjusted should this course shift from an on-campus to a remote format. Students with disabilities should speak with their instructor and should contact sas@ucf.edu to discuss specific accommodations for this or other courses.

Campus Safety Statement

Sections with face-to-face components (M, RA, RV)

Emergencies on campus are rare, but if one should arise during class, everyone needs to work together. Students should be aware of their surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.

In case of an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.
Every UCF classroom contains an emergency procedure guide posted on a wall near the door. Students should make a note of the guide’s physical location and review the online version at <http://emergency.ucf.edu/emergency_guide.htmlLinks to an external site.>.
Students should know the evacuation routes from each of their classrooms and have a plan for finding safety in case of an emergency.
If there is a medical emergency during class, students may need to access a first-aid kit or AED (Automated External Defibrillator). To learn where those are located, see <http://www.ehs.ucf.edu/AEDlocations-UCFLinks to an external site.> (click on link from menu on left).
To stay informed about emergency situations, students can sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to <https://my.ucf.eduLinks to an external site.> and logging in. Click on “Student Self Service” located on the left side of the screen in the toolbar, scroll down to the blue “Personal Information” heading on the Student Center screen, click on “UCF Alert”, fill out the information, including e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click “Apply” to save the changes, and then click “OK.”
Students with special needs related to emergency situations should speak with their instructors outside of class.
To learn about how to manage an active-shooter situation on campus or elsewhere, consider viewing this video You CAN Survive an Active Shooter

Deployed Active Duty Military Students

Copyright

This course may contain copyright protected materials such as audio or video clips, images, text materials, etc. These items are being used with regard to the Fair Use doctrine in order to enhance the learning environment. Please do not copy, duplicate, download or distribute these items. The use of these materials is strictly reserved for this online classroom environment and your use only. All copyright materials are credited to the copyright holder.

Third-Party Software and FERPA

During this course you might have the opportunity to use public online services and/or software applications sometimes called third-party software such as a blog or wiki. While some of these could be required assignments, you need not make any personally identifying information on a public site. Do not post or provide any private information about yourself or your classmates. Where appropriate you may use a pseudonym or nickname. Some written assignments posted publicly may require personal reflection/comments, but the assignments will not require you to disclose any personally identity-sensitive information. If you have any concerns about this, please contact your instructor.

Preferred Gender Pronoun

Diversity and Inclusion

This course affirms people of all gender expressions and gender identities. If you prefer to be called a different name than what is indicated on the class roster, please let me know. Should I make a mistake, feel free to respectfully correct me on your preferred gender pronoun. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The University of Central Florida considers the diversity of its students, faculty, and staff to be a strength and critical to its educational mission. UCF expects every member of the university community to contribute to an inclusive and respectful culture for all in its classrooms, work environments, and at campus events. Dimensions of diversity can include sex, race, age, national origin, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, intellectual and physical ability, sexual orientation, income, faith and non-faith perspectives, socio-economic class, political ideology, education, primary language, family status, military experience, cognitive style, and communication style. The individual intersection of these experiences and characteristics must be valued in our community.

Title IX prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct, sexual violence, sexual harassment, and retaliation. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find resources available to support the victim, including confidential resources and information concerning reporting options at www.shield.ucf.edu and http://cares.sdes.ucf.edu/.

If there are aspects of the design, instruction, and/or experiences within this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or accurate assessment of achievement, please notify the instructor as soon as possible and/or contact Student Accessibility Services.

For more information on diversity and inclusion, Title IX, accessibility, or UCF’s complaint processes contact:

Title IX – OIE – http://oie.ucf.edu/ & askanadvocate@ucf.edu
Disability Accommodation – Student Accessibility Services – http://sas.sdes.ucf.edu/ & sas@ucf.edu
Diversity and Inclusion Training and Events – www.diversity.ucf.edu
Student Bias Grievances – Just Knights response team – http://jkrt.sdes.ucf.edu/
UCF Compliance and Ethics Office – http://compliance.ucf.edu/ & complianceandethics@ucf.edu
Ombuds Office – http://www.ombuds.ucf.edu

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date	Details	Due

December 2025

Calendar
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
30 November 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	1 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	2 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	3 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	4 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	5 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	6 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details
7 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	8 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	9 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	10 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	11 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	12 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	13 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details
14 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	15 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	16 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	17 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	18 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	19 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	20 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details
21 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	22 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	23 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	24 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	25 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	26 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	27 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details
28 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	29 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	30 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	31 December 2025 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	1 January 2026 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	2 January 2026 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	3 January 2026 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details
4 January 2026 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	5 January 2026 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	6 January 2026 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	7 January 2026 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	8 January 2026 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	9 January 2026 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details	10 January 2026 Previous month Next month Today Click to view event details