Crime Scene Investigator

The Certificate of Achievement in Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics offers instruction in the areas of crime scene processing and documentation, evidence preservation, blood spatter, DNA, fingerprints, photography, report writing, and legal issues relating to physical evidence. The curriculum prepares students with a foundation in crime scene investigations (CSI) and forensics, and is designed to meet the needs of students seeking an entry-level civilian position working crime scenes or handling evidence, as well as to enhance the credentials of law enforcement officers interested in CSI.

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The purpose of the Certificate of Achievement for Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics is to provide the student with selected basic core courses to meet the needs of entry-level positions in preparation for employment or re-skilling of current public safety employees with lateral movement, and/or promotional opportunities in the sworn and non-sworn public safety field. The Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics certificate program consists of courses in Principles of Investigations, Introduction to Criminalistics, Forensics, and Crime Scene Investigations. The goal of this program is to meet the needs of students who are interested in pursuing careers in or advancing in the myriad of fields offered to sworn and non-sworn employees in the public safety field, including Local, State, and Federal government agencies. Possession of such a certificate will demonstrate to employing agencies and companies an orientation to the profession and a basic level of knowledge that is often lacking from entry level applicants. Such a certificate can benefit a student / applicant's employability in entry-level positions. 

Employment for forensic science technicians is projected to grow 11 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average of all occupations. About 2,500 openings for forensic science technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retire. 

Program Courses