FSC407H5 Application

THIS FORM IS FOR NON-CAPSTONE STUDENTS ONLY
Specialist students seeking FSC407H5 as a capstone experience must apply through the Capstone Application Form.

IMPORTANT:
Before filling out this application, ensure that you have read and understood the instructions,
eligibility and requirements below.
Deadline to Apply: Wednesday April 30, 2026

FSC407H5 includes a two-week field component in the Summer (excluding weekends).
Participation in the field component is a requirement of the course.

WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

✓ Are planning a career in forensic identification or police investigation
✓ Are looking to learn advanced forensic identification techniques
✓ Want summer ﬁeld experience prior to the academic year

Course Description

A field course to complement the material covered in both FSC300H5: Forensic Identification and FSC302H5: Advanced Forensic Identification. The field school will be held on the U of T Mississauga Campus over a two-week period during the Summer term and during weekly two hour labs in the Fall term. In these classes, students will experience practical exposure to field and laboratory methods related to evidence recognition, collection and interpretation. Emphasis will be placed on the types of evidence collected, processed, and analyzed by forensic identification specialists. General evidence and small object photography techniques will be an important component of the course.

View the complete course description (including prerequisites) here.

Students who are taking this course as a capstone experience must also enrol in FSC482H5: Professional Practice in Forensic Science.

FAQ

Do I make professional connections?

Yes. Professor Knaap brings a breadth of experience and connections, and there are often opportunities to meet and discuss careers with active police and investigation agents. A favourite guest speaker among students is directly involved with recruitment in the police services.

What is a highlight of the Field School?

The Field School culminates in an advanced mock crime scene. If you enjoyed the mock crime scene in FSC302H5, then get ready for one that is even bigger and more complex! Multiple rooms and locations are used for a large-scale crime scene scenario. Students participate by processing one location, then sharing their ﬁndings with the group to collectively uncover the events leading up to the crime. It is kicked up a notch with a mock court where students get a taste of the court experience with real lawyers acting as the crown and defense.

Examples of Topics Covered in Past Course Offerings

Duties of a forensic identification specialist
Scene documentation techniques
Different types of evidence
Scene preservation and management techniques and protocols
Evidence visualization techniques
Advanced fingerprint development techniques
Footwear impression evidence recovery and preservation techniques (two and three dimensional impressions)
Basic blood stain patterns and the application of blood stain analysis in a crime scene investigation
Crime scene reconstruction through use of 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry/cloud comparison
Fire scene investigations
Evidence collection using archaeological recovery techniques (including human remains)
Identification process relating to friction ridge and footwear impression evidence through the use of comparator software programs and analysis reports
Presentation of crime scene evidence

Course Delivery, Location, and Time

Field School

The field component takes place from Monday to Friday between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm over two consecutive weeks in the Summer on the UTM campus, excluding weekends. Participation in the field component is a requirement of the course.

In 2026, the field component ran from Tuesday August 4 to Friday August 14.
In 2025, the field component ran from Monday August 18 to Friday August 29.

Laboratory Classes

Weekly two-hour labs are held in the Fall session on the UTM campus.

Students must be available for both the Summer field component and the laboratory classes in the Fall term. Participation in Summer field component is a required component of the course. This course is typically offered every year.

Fees and Supplies

Students are charged tuition for the Fall session. There are no tuition charges in the Summer session.
Students are charged a non-refundable ancillary fee of $35.00 CAD prior to being enrolled in the course via ACORN. The ancillary fee covers the cost of minor Field School supplies.
Students are required to supply their own secure digital (SD) or photography storage memory cards (minimum 1 GB) for the photography portion of the course. The student can keep the card after the course.
Students must have CSA-approved steel-toed work boots. A hiking boot style is acceptable.
Students are expected to wear clothing appropriate for outdoor/field work (long pants), including boots, for the Field School.

Check your eligibility. Refer to the UTM Academic Calendar for course prerequisites and enrolment limits. View the complete course description (including prerequisites) here. Students must have completed FSC302H5.
Submit the Field School Application Form.
The Institute of Forensic Sciences will review all applications.
The Institute of Forensic Sciences will email your results to your @mail.utoronto.ca email account. You can expect to receive notice no later than June 30th. Please do not enrol in the course on ACORN until you have received notice of your approval into the course.