VME 6575
CREDITS: 3
This course will introduce the student to the application of veterinary medicine to the forensic sciences. Course topics will focus on the interpretations of injury patterns, cause of death, and mechanism of death. Upon completion of this course, the student will have basic knowledge of the pathological documentation required for crimes involving animals, including recognition of abuse, crime scene investigation, and interacting with the legal community.
Course Pre-Requisites / Co-Requisites: None
Instructors: Dr. Adam Stern and Dr. Jennifer Woolf
Module | Topic |
---|---|
Week 1 | Introduction to veterinary forensics |
Week 2 | Animal abuse, cruelty, and neglect |
Week 3 | Clinical veterinary forensic exam and report |
Week 4 | Forensic autopsy and report |
Week 5 | Decomposition and postmortem interval methods |
Week 6 | Neglect, animal hoarding, and puppy mills |
Week 7 | Animal fighting |
Week 8 | Non-accidental injury |
Week 9 | Blunt force trauma |
Week 10 | Sharp force trauma |
Week 11 | Projectile injuries |
Week 12 | Asphyxia and burns |
Week 13 | Animal sexual abuse |
Week 14 | Poisonings |
Week 15 | Expert witness testimony |
Text
There is no required textbook. All reading assignments will be posted with each module or will be made available in the course reserves.