California State University, Long Beach
Reach Higher: College of Continuing and Professional Education
 

Basic Applied Forensic Science and Crime Analysis
Certificate Program

The field of forensic science is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing areas in criminal justice education. This certificate program is an overview of major areas in the forensic sciences and will give you a competitive edge as you seek careers in criminal justice. The skills and knowledge obtained in this program may also qualify you for special forensic science assignments within law enforcement agencies.

Core Modules (complete four):

  • Principles of Forensic Science
  • Criminal Investigation
  • Crime Scene Investigation
  • Courtroom Presentation

Elective Modules (complete four)

  • Traffic Accident Reconstruction
  • Latent Print Techniques
  • Firearms Identification
  • Death Investigation: The Role of the Coroner
  • Skeletal Analysis
  • Forensic Psychology

Who Should Attend?

  • Current Criminal Justice students
  • Private and fraud investigators
  • Insurance and medical fraud investigators
  • Attorneys
  • Paralegals
  • Law enforcement personnel

You Will Learn:

  • Forensic science investigative techniques
  • General principles
  • Criminal investigation
  • Crime analysis techniques

How Do I Complete the Certificate?

  • Complete four core and four elective modules.
  • Complete all class projects and exams.

6.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be provided upon request as a permanent record of one's attendance, if requested by the last class meeting.

Instructors:
John Wang, PhD, Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, CSULB.
Jeffrey B. Love, Retired Lieutenant, Irvine, CA Police Department
Ruben Flores, Supervising Criminalist and Firearms Examiner, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Jonathan Cherney, Traffic Investigator, Irvine Police Department.
Linda Raatz, Supervising Forensic Specialist, Orange County, CA Sheriff's Department.
James Carroll, MS, Senior Criminalist & Firearms Examiner, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
James Young, Deputy District Attorney, Orange County.
Ana Gamez, PhD, Custody Office, Los Angeles County Sheriff Department.
Elizabeth Miller, PhD, Department of Anthropology, CSULB.
Joe Monroe, MPA, Computer Crime Detective, Specialized Investigations Unit, Irvine Police Department.
Brian Elias, Investigator, Operations Bureau County of Los Angeles, Department of Coroner.

Core Modules:

Principles of Forensic Science

Topics Include:

  • General overview of forensic science
  • Current practices in fingerprints, firearms, and trace evidences
  • Laboratory equipment and methodologies

Criminal Investigation

Topics Include:

  • Grounding and overview of investigation
  • Interviewing and interrogation
  • Crimes against the person and property

Crime Scene Investigation

Topics Include:

  • Crime scene safety and search techniques
  • Crime scene diagrams and documentation
  • Identification, packaging, and booking of evidence

Courtroom Presentation of Evidence

Topics Include:

  • Collecting and preparing of relevant evidence (diagrams, models, and charts)
  • Establishing the qualifications of the expert witness
  • Mock court exercises

Traffic Accident Reconstruction

Topics Include:

  • Traffic collision reconstruction
  • Initial response/scene responsibilities
  • Gathering and preserving of evidence

Latent Print Techniques

Topics Include:

  • Introduction to latent print techniques
  • Acceptance of fingerprint evidence in court
  • Legal challenges to fingerprint evidence

Firearms Identification

Topics Include:

  • Introduction to the science of forensic firearms identification
  • Forensic laboratory analysis of firearms and ammunition evidence
  • Basic skills in the investigation of firearms related crimes

Forensic Psychology

Topics Include:

  • Introduce the student to the most common psychological disorders that fall within the realm of forensic psychology
  • Discussion of: Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Postpartum-Mood Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PSTD), Psychotic-Disorders, and Substance-Abuse Related Disorders
  • Examine the psychopathic traits of a serial killer i.e. Son of Sam, Jeffrey Dahmer, and the "Ice Man"
  • A hands-on group activity where students will evaluate and analyze a case based on materials presented in class

Skeletal Analysis

Topics Include:

  • Human vs. non-human remains
  • Overview of the human skeletal system with a focus on "sexing" and "aging" in skeletal remains
  • Establishing a forensic context

Death Investigation: The Role of the Coroner

Topics Include:

  • Role of the coroner, including applicable laws, standard terminology, and basic procedures
  • In-depth examination of coroner operation
  • Basic coroner death investigation

Additional Information