Forensic Pathology

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• Online, enroll anytime
• Upon registering, you have 6 months to complete the course
• Independent study
• Work at your own pace
• $289 course fee

About the Forensic Pathology Online Course

This online course covers major types of traumatic deaths in forensic pathology, relating these to death investigation.

Course is approved by the following for 19.5 hours of Continuing Education

• American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)
• International Association for Identification - Crime Scene

Course is approved by the following for 18.0 hours of Continuing Education

• North Dakota Peace Officers Standards and Training (ND POST)
• Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training (MN POST)
• Montana Peace Officers Standards and Training (MT POST)
• Minnesota Department of Health, Mortuary Science Program

You'll be prompted to select a certificate during the registration process. Only select the certificate that applies to you and your discipline. If your specific discipline is not listed, please choose "certificate of completion."

Forensic Pathology Course Objectives

1. Recognize and interpret post mortem changes of livor, rigor and decomposition, relating them to position movement of body after death, timing of death and documentation needed at death investigation
2. Cite types of asphyxia deaths, mechanisms and relationship to scene findings in common asphyxia deaths such as hanging, smothering, airway obstruction, mechanical asphyxia.
3. Distinguish between sharp and blunt force injury and findings in these deaths, including scene and investigative clues, potential evidence and documentation needed for a death investigation.
4. Recognize types and scene findings in electrical related deaths.
5. Identify findings, common circumstances and risk factors in hyperthermic and hypothermic deaths. Relate these to necessary scene documentation and investigation.
6. Specify findings in transportation fatalities and relate to investigation documentation and interpretation in motor vehicle, recreational vehicles, bicycles and non-motorized vehicles, pedestrian, and mass-transit (rail, airplane, bus). Recognize patterns of driver vs. passenger, restrained vs. non-restrained victims.
7. Identify delayed complications of traumatic deaths.
8. Distinguish findings in gunshot and shot gun injury including range of fire, type/class of weapon, entrance, exit and re-entrance or ricochet wounds.
9. Identify common toxicology testing, suitable fluids for testing and possible interpretive challenges in post-mortem toxicology.
10. Identify steps and challenges in child death investigation.
11. List findings and scene documentation in drowning and water-recreational deaths.

Forensic Pathology Course Instructors

Mary Ann Sens, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Pathology, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Walter L. Kemp, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pathology, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences