Degree Specialization inCRIMINAL FORENSICS

Venture inside the mind of a criminal. Become an expert on analyzing crime scene evidence to help investigations through forensic science.

Forget what you’ve seen on TV crime shows. This program uses practical application and hands-on instruction to teach you how to analyze crime scene evidence and help solve crimes and other investigations.

You’ll learn the treatment of witnesses and suspects, the proper handling of evidence, and the legal procedures and requirements for working on an open investigation. These specialized courses are ideally suited for students pursuing or currently working in careers as criminal examiners, crime scene analysts, investigators, and more.

This program consists of five lower-division online criminal forensics courses for a total of 15 credit hours.

• CRJ325: Introduction to Forensic Psychology

  In this course, students examine major areas of interest shared by psychology and law, including the use of psychological assessments in court, issues of criminal responsibility, criminal profiling, and the use of psychological knowledge in prisons. Students apply knowledge of human behavior and through processes to a variety of legal contexts covered in this course.

• CRJ336: Criminal Investigation

  In this course, students examine the theory and practice of modern investigation methods for law enforcement and private sector agencies. Topics include techniques and procedure for evidence collection, preservation, and presentation, as well as investigation resources, including crime laboratory and databases. Students explore current investigative techniques and tools applied in criminal investigations and also address exciting trending topics such as cybercrime, profiling, and white collar crime. (This course is also offered through CBE. Credits earned using this option will appear on transcripts with an “EX” suffix.)

• CRJ426: Investigative and Forensic Interviewing

  In this course, students explore the importance of conducting investigative interview and interrogations as the foundation for all levels of law enforcement and private investigative case work, intelligence development, and assessment and planning. The major course components include structure of the interview, cognitive interviewing, detection of deception, and elements of interrogation. (This course is also offered through CBE. Credits earned using this option will appear on transcripts with an “EX” suffix.)

• CRJ450: Investigative Forensic Photography

  In this course, students learn the art of reproducing crime, accident, or autopsy scenes using photography to aid in investigation or for the benefit of a court. Students examine the principles, theory, techniques and ethics of photography in digital format as applied in criminal investigation and within the field of forensics. Discussions are focused on the use of photographs in court and the testimony of the photography. (This course is also offered through CBE. Credits earned using this option will appear on transcripts with an “EX” suffix.)

• CRJ465: Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)

  In this course, students focus on the application of scientific methods for the examination of physical evidence in the criminal justice system including microscopy, ballistics, pattern recognition, and fingerprint analysis. Students apply critical-thinking skills to analyze evidence using scientific processes and procedures.

A Specialization in Your Bachelor’s Degree

Add an area of focus to your degree that can help you stand out to future employers.

• B.S. in Accounting
• B.S. in Business Management
• B.S. in Communication
• B.S. in Criminal Justice
• B.S. in Healthcare Administration and Management
• B.S. in Human Resource Management
• B.S. in Human Services
• B.S. in Information Technology
• B.S. in Interdisciplinary Professional Studies
• B.S. in Management Information Systems and Business Analytics
• B.S. in Marketing
• B.S. in Organizational Leadership
• B.S. in Project Management