3412 - Master of Forensic Medicine

The broad aims of this course, offered by the Department of Forensic Medicine, are to assist in the establishment of academic standards in clinical forensic medical practice, produce graduates who have a sound knowledge of the medico-legal principles, and develop practitioners' skills in providing clinical forensic services to the community.

Assessment

Assessment methods will vary but will include coursework participation, formal assignments, casebooks and minor thesis.

On completion of the course it is expected that graduates will have:

• developed proficiency in the provision of clinical forensic medical services
• obtained experience and the skills required to communicate medico-legal issues to the justice system
• acquired proficiency in the preparation of effective and objective medico-legal reports
• become aware of the ethical and legal issues arising in forensic medical practice and be able to critically evaluate and appreciate these matters
• learn the skills required to interpret wounds and injury patterns with particular reference to causation.

Depending on the optional units taken students will also have:

• acquired an enhanced knowledge in one or more of a range of important areas in forensic medicine
• become familiar with the Australian legal system, legal procedures, the rules of evidence and other law impacting on clinical forensic medical practice
• become proficient in the analytical skills and methods used in clinical forensic medicine
• acquired an understanding of the principles of, and contemporary issues in, bioethics including autonomy, confidentiality and consent.

Students completing the programme by minor thesis will have:

• an opportunity to extend their knowledge in forensic medicine through a structured program of coursework and to develop research skills in the area
• demonstrated competence in their field by their approach, selection and application of methods to yield fruitful results
• the capacity to critically evaluate their results and present them effectively.

The masters program is offered in two streams; via coursework and minor thesis, or by coursework only.

Minimum pass grade

Students must achieve a CREDIT standard assessment in all three core units and at least one elective unit from the list of units offered by the Department of Forensic Medicine.

Core units (24 points)

• FOR1001 Medical evidence
• FOR1002 Injury interpretation
• FOR1003 Ethics, medicine and the law

Minor thesis (24 points)

Students undertaking the minor thesis are required to prepare a research proposal at an early stage of their minor thesis enrolment and have this approved by their thesis supervisor. The area of research must cover a topic directly related to forensic medicine.

Elective units

Students undertaking the degree by coursework only select 48 points of electives* (those undertaking the minor theses stream select 12 points of electives) from the list below, or students may also select (with departmental approval) other graduate units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, other faculties at Monash University or other tertiary institutions. At least one unit must include instruction on research methodologies and basic statistics.

• FOR2001 Traffic medicine
• FOR2003 Custodial medicine
• FOR2004 Elements of the forensic sciences
• FOR2005 Adult sexual assault
• FOR2006 Paediatric forensic medicine
• FOR2007 Elements of forensic toxicology
• FOR2010 Research project
• CRH1001 Research methods in health
• CRH1032 Applied research for health practitioners

* Up to 12 points can be taken as a short project.

Master of Forensic Medicine

* Where more than one award is listed, or in the case of double degrees, where more than one award is listed for one or both components of the double degree, the actual award/s conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved (eg in the case of 'with honours' programs), or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.