Course Overview
Forensic health care and the application of forensic medical expertise is emerging as a new specialty in both health care and in investigative professions where medical and legal issues overlap. This course provides an overview of the various components of forensic health sciences. Although the material focuses on the role of the forensic nurse, the content will be of benefit to all health care and allied health professionals, law enforcement and investigative personnel whose work intersects with aspects of the healthcare system or where forensic medical expertise can assist in the investigative process. Through an introduction to forensic health sciences, the role of the health care or allied health professional will be explored by bridging medical and legal components. The course will present the evolution of forensic nursing and explore the various roles and responsibilities of the forensic nurse in a variety of healthcare and non-traditional settings. The course will also explore the gap between the medical and forensic medical information and law enforcement/investigative agencies and the criminal justice system in both criminal and non-criminal incidents requiring investigation. This course will provide the framework for bridging this gap and students will uncover the potential to apply forensic health science expertise in variety of settings and multidisciplinary environments. This is an undergraduate level that course provides an introduction to forensic health sciences and will be of interest to nursing students, registered nurses or other allied health professionals with an interest in forensics and its application in the health care setting. Also this course may be of interest to anyone working in an investigative setting where there is a benefit from the application of forensic medical expertise.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
3.0
Registration requirements
Departmental approval is required to register for this course. You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Domestic fees
$831.64 - $848.52 See individual course offerings below for actual costs.
International fees are typically 3.4 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, the student will be able to:
- Analyze Canadian laws which impact the clinical practice of the health care professional.
- Outline the roles of health care professionals, law enforcement, judicial system and forensic science in the care of victims of trauma, crime or violence.
- Outline the development of professional working relationships for the multi disciplinary teams needed to provide comprehensive forensic care to victims of trauma , crime and violence.
- Assess the interactions of the multidisciplinary forensic investigative disciplines including nursing, medicine, forensic science and judicial system.
- Evaluate the emerging role of the forensic nursing specialty in forensic health care.
- Outline the specific roles and responsibilities of the forensic examiner; such as sexual assault, child maltreatment/abuse, elder abuse/maltreatment, interpersonal violence, anatomical gifts, organ donation and tissue recovery for transplantation, death investigator, legal consultant.
- Outline the specific roles and responsibilities of the forensic examiner (sexual assault, child maltreatment/abuse, elder abuse/maltreatment, interpersonal violence), death investigator, legal consultant.
- Outline clinical forensic processes, current standards and scope of practice for the forensic health care professional.
- Compare current forensic health care and assess the future of forensic health sciences in Canada.
Effective as of Fall 2008
Related Programs
Introduction to Forensic Health Sciences (FSCT 7810) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
School of Computing and Academic Studies
- Forensic Nurse Death Investigator
Microcredential Part-time
- Forensic Nurse Examiner Education for RNs
Microcredential Part-time
Course Offerings
Spring/Summer 2026
Below is one offering of FSCT 7810 for the Spring/Summer 2026 term.
CRN 66192
Dates
Apr 06 - May 29 Loading
- CRN 66192
- $831.64 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 06 - May 29 | N/A | N/A | Online |
Duration
8 weeks
Instructor
Colin Harris
Course outline
Important information
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- This is an ONLINE, asynchronous course, however, it is not self-paced. There will be specific timelines for assignments and exams. You will have readings, discussions, peer review, and assignments to complete each week (although you do NOT have to be online at a particular time or on a particular day). On the start date of your class (not before), log into learn.bcit.ca to access your course link. For the required textbook, please check: www.bcitbookstore.ca/bcit/buy_textbooks.asp? (DE-FSCT) for more details. Departmental approval needed. Please contact the Program Assistants for departmental approval at BCIT_Forensics@bcit.ca. For information on Forensic programs and courses, please visit: www.bcit.ca/computing-academic-studies/forensics/.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
Fall 2026
Below is one offering of FSCT 7810 for the Fall 2026 term.
CRN 37718
Dates
Sep 07 - Oct 30 Loading
- CRN 37718
- $848.52 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 07 - Oct 30 | N/A | N/A | Online |
Duration
8 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- 1.This is an ONLINE, asynchronous course, however, it is not self-paced. Students work on one module each week. You are not required to be online at any specific time but there will be specific deadlines for assignments, discussion postings and exams. The focus on this course is through the perspective of healthcare personnel, but it is open to other professions and interested students where medical and legal issues may overlap. On the start date of your class (not before), log into learn.bcit.ca to access your course link. 2. Please contact the Program Assistants for departmental approval to register (including your BCIT student A0#) at BCIT_Forensics@bcit.ca. If you do not have a #, you can create one here: secure.bcit.ca/sis/reg/ 3. Required textbook: www.bcitbookstore.ca/bcit/buy_textbooks.asp (BCIT-FALL 2026 TERM / DE – FSCT / 7810 / NET). Materials available for purchase at the BCIT Bookstore on Monday, 19 July 2026 (Approx.).
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.