California State University, Long Beach
 

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 pursue a career 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 of Evidence

Elective Modules (complete four):

  • Trace Evidence Analysis
  • Latent Print Techniques
  • Firearms Identification
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Skeletal Analysis
  • Death Investigation: The Role of the Coroner

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:
James Carroll, MS, Senior Criminalist and Firearms Examiner, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Brian Elias, Investigator, Operations Bureau County of Los Angeles, Department of Coroner.
Ruben Flores, Supervising Criminalist and Firearms Examiner, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Ana Gamez, PhD, Custody Office, Los Angeles County Sheriff Department.
Jeffrey B. Love, Retired Lieutenant, Irvine, CA Police Department.
Elizabeth Miller, PhD, Department of Anthropology, CSULB.
Susan Moore, OCSD, OC Crime Lab, Lead Forensic Specialist.
James Young, Deputy District Attorney, Orange County.
John Wang, PhD, Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, CSULB.

Core Modules:

Principles of Forensic Science

Topics Include:

  • General overview of forensic science
  • Current practices in fingerprints, firearms, and trace evidence
  • 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 relevant evidence (diagrams, models, and charts)
  • Establishing the qualifications of the expert witness
  • Mock court exercises

Elective Modules:

Trace Evidence Analysis

Topics Include:

  • Forensic values of hairs, fibers, paint, glass, and soil
  • Well-known criminal cases related to Trace Evidence Analysis
  • New techniques and equipment of Trace Evidence Examination

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:

  • 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 (PTSD), Psychotic Disorders, and Substance-Abuse Related Disorders
  • Examination of the psychopathic traits of a serial killer, e.g. 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

This class will help you understand the procedures that a coroner will follow when investigating in a forensic environment.

You Will Learn:

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

Additional Information