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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Introduction to Forensic Science by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

4.9
stars
2,292 ratings

About the Course

We have all seen forensic scientists in TV shows, but how do they really work? What is the science behind their work? The course aims to explain the scientific principles and techniques behind the work of forensic scientists and will be illustrated with numerous case studies from Singapore and around the world. Some questions which we will attempt to address include: How did forensics come about? What is the role of forensics in police work? Can these methods be used in non-criminal areas? Blood. What is it? How can traces of blood be found and used in evidence? Is DNA chemistry really so powerful? What happens (biologically and chemically) if someone tries to poison me? What happens if I try to poison myself? How can we tell how long someone has been dead? What if they have been dead for a really long time? Can a little piece of a carpet fluff, or a single hair, convict someone? Was Emperor Napoleon murdered by the perfidious British, or killed by his wallpaper? *For Nanyang Technological University (NTU) students, please be noted that this course will no longer be eligible for credit transfer....

Top reviews

AP

Apr 16, 2021

HI, I am student of forensic science and as per my knowledge this is the best course i come across.

you just need to have basic knowledge, the cases given in the course are awesome.

i loved this

KW

Jun 3, 2021

This course was very interesting. It covered different forensic science components in a very methodical way and interspersed cases studies to illustrate the techniques and give real world examples.

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76 - 100 of 729 Reviews for Introduction to Forensic Science

By Harris

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Jan 24, 2021

This is definitely one of the most well mannered and structured courses out there on Coursera, especially regarding a subject such as Forensic Science. It is also very engaging for the average person who knows nothing about Forensic science, and it will chop everything to bite-size in order to easily understand how the science works and is applied in real-life situations. Roderick was also a very engaging lecturer and his occasional humour made it all the better.

By Henry Z

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Nov 30, 2023

I want to thank Professor Bates for the time and effort he clearly put in to designing and narrating this course. The lectures were engaging and the slides were very helpful. I took this course to as part of the process to prepare to teach a high school forensics class, and it suited my needs perfectly. I was able to complete the entire class in a week, with a high degree of retention, thanks to the way that Professor Bates kept me wanting to come back for more.

By Dimitrios P

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Jan 6, 2021

Well prepared and comprehensible teaching material. This course was an opportunity to familiarise with the forensics’ terminology in a foreign language and expand my cognitive understanding. Through this course I managed to enhance skills like attention to detail, reading and writing in a foreign language, understanding new concepts and being able to assess my peers. Furthermore, I developed my inductive and deductive reasoning.

By Veronica

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Jun 23, 2021

I loved the videos and the extensive information provided about the various kinds of technology available for characterizing a substance, etc. My favorite videos are of the lecturer in the lab showing the viewer how to use these tools. My one complaint is that I wish the peer-reviewed graded assessments were more detailed/more accurately tested our understanding of the great information provided in the lectures.

By Nolly P B

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Sep 3, 2023

In this course i learned fundamental skills in evidence collection, preservation, and analysis, enabling you to understand how to examine crime scenes and process physical evidence. Additionally, you can develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, essential for drawing conclusions and presenting findings in legal contexts. i would like to continue and upgrade myself from this experience.

By Sylvia_Natalie N

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Dec 6, 2021

Very informative and interesting course. I learned a lot from it and enjoyed it a lot. Thanks to Prof Roderick Bates for his extremely clear and concise explanations. It was quite an eye-opener to see the various equipment for GC and HPLC etc, and also seeing how various experiments are carried out. A lot of effort has gone into putting this course together... Thanks Prof Bates...

By Ana

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May 6, 2021

Needless to say, this is a fascinating subject, which may set high expectations when joining the class. However, this course exceeds expectations.

Professor Roderick Bates is a wonderful lecturer. His lectures are very engaging, clear and well structured.

The course was extraordinarily informative. Enjoyed every bit, learned a lot.

Waiting for the Forensic Science Advanced Course!

By Inna S

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Aug 14, 2021

I liked this course very much! The course material is very well-structured, the topics flow logically, and the case study examples are extremely interesting. The lectures are very well-organized and clearly presented. In my opinion, each and every lecture in this course is worth rewatching. I would like to thank Professor Roderick Bates for such a wonderful course!

By Dimitra K

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Apr 8, 2021

An informative and comprehensive course that covers basic subjects regarding Forensic Science. It is easy to follow and the instructor Professor Roderick Bates is very helpful throughout the course as well.

I am really interested in Forensic Science, its applications and its techniques. Therefore, this course was an excellent introduction to this field.

By Danna T

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Mar 22, 2021

I really love the course and the instructor. I couldn't ask for a better instructor. From the first week up to the last week, everything is well explained. The instructor explains everything in a precise, elaborative, and part I liked the most humorous way. I recommend this to everyone who has the heart for Forensic or any crime-related stuff.

By Freddy L

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Jul 9, 2023

An excellent course. The course covered all the essential aspects of Forensic Science. The reading materials were engaging enough and it was an opportunity to learn how forensic science was applied to real-life situations. The course got me more interested in forensics and encouraged me to join an advanced course in Forensic Science.

By Iga T

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Jan 4, 2017

Very good course that provides a little more than only basics of forensic science at the same time giving overview of the major areas that this subject covers. Mr Roderick Bates explains everything very clearly implementing new ideas gradually. I loved plethora of examples and case studies. Assignments made learning enjoyable.

By Komal S

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Aug 7, 2020

Very informative and interesting course.. the instructor explained every topic precisely, I really liked that he even performed the practical to make students understand better

quizzes and assignments were really fun.. it helped me in improving my observation skills and to think more practically. I really enjoyed this course!!

By Adriana Z

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Mar 26, 2021

Very well done. I have not taken very many on line courses before but i really enjoyed the presentations and the speaker and all the great samples of stories and real cases that were part of this. I will look in the near future to take another one of your very valuable courses. Thank you very much for all you do.

Adriana

By Esha L

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Jun 24, 2020

Amazing course! It keeps on increasing the curiosity as you complete each week. The instructor is very good in demonstration and I like the way they explained usage and importance of instruments as well as various techniques with help of real case studies. I thank Nanyang Technological University and Coursera for this.

By Venkateswaran M

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Jun 6, 2020

I loved the course! It is really very cool to know how creative people get to kill people. It is even more fascinating to know their motive. Learning to decipher what they did and how they did is the best way to enjoy the essence of crime. All you Agatha Christie and Nancy Drew fans, this is the course for you. Dive in!

By Jessica L

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Jan 23, 2021

I enjoyed learning about forensic science. It was a great experience knowing about the different aspects of forensic science. I also got brainstorming on the two crime scene situations as assignments. Thank you for the sessions. It helped me gain a lot of knowledge and it also made me more interested in the subject.

By Azajul I N

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Feb 24, 2021

THIS COURSE IS ONE OF THE BEST COURSE I HAVE EVER TAKEN IN MY LIFE. THE LECTURES, NOTES, EXAMS, AND ASSIGNMENTS, EVERYTHING OF THIS COURSE DESERVES THE MARKING OF 100 OUT OFF 100. THIS COURSE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT FORENSIC SCIENCE. THANKS FOR GIFTING US SUCH AN WONDERFUL COURSE.

By Maria P F

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Dec 17, 2022

A really great course with very interesting material and good presentation. Thanks to the professor for the great job of synthesizing knowledge and selecting practical cases. Especially remarkable are the demonstrations in the forensic laboratory, which allow acquiring knowledge of the profession beyond theory.

By Dagmar S

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Dec 6, 2020

Very well thought out lesson plan with easily understandable videos and readings. Covers many different aspects of the subject and gives examples of how each type of science was used in real life cases. And I enjoyed the small interjections of humour by the prof as Forensic Science can be a pretty grim subject.

By waseem A

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Apr 14, 2020

The content is very comprehensive. Course delivery is exceptional and very lucid. The video lectures have good learning aids. Adult learning methodologies for maintaining focus and attention of the participants are implemented effectively, to the extent Prof Bates even had a glass of wine to prove his point....

By Ahmad A

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Aug 31, 2022

This course is such a gem, containing fun lectures about a wide array of diverse topics and subjects concerning forensic science, and the real-time examples of recent and old crimes and incidents complimented the lectures aswell! Definitely recommend it to anyone interested in knowing about forensic science.

By Rose C

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Aug 31, 2021

I thoroughly enjoyed this class! I am seriously thinking about retaking it. I will look forward to any more classes like this that I find.

** I wish the Certs were quite so much.. I would have gotten one!

Thank You for offering these classes and Thank You to the Men & Women who are taking time to teach them.

By Haritha S

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Jun 27, 2020

An awesome course which was well elaborated and principles of techniques wonderfully explained.My thirst for forensics and the mystery behind its applications have been satisfied through this course.I really liked the way this course and the concepts were constructed and the tests really were mind wrecking.

By Laura P

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Feb 7, 2024

I have found this course to be truly thorough and very easy to follow. Professor Bates' dedication and hard-work can be appreciated in each one of the lectures. I am really glad to have taken the course, since I feel like not only have I learned a lot, but also it was rather enjoyable and time-worthy