Crime Scene Investigation Certificate (CCG, Day)

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Students desiring a concentration in the identification, documentation and preservation of evidence at crime scenes may pursue a Certificate in Crime Scene Investigation as part of their academic plan.

The CSI certificate will appear on the student’s academic transcript and provide evidence that the student has satisfied academic requirements for departmentally recognized courses in the area. The CSI certificate consists of successful completion of 18 semester hours of designated coursework. The student must successfully complete 9-15 of these semester hours at Columbia College.

To qualify for the awarding of the certificate, each Columbia College course that comprises the certificate must be completed with a minimum grade of “C.”

A certificate in Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) is available to students completing a Columbia College degree or those with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from another regionally accredited school (see below).

Certificate Requirements

Students are required to complete a mandatory 12 semester hour core block of courses with 6 additional discretionary hours chosen from a list of pre-approved courses.

These courses are:

Required (12 sem. hrs)

Electives (6 sem. hrs)

Taken from the following list:

FRSC 305 - Forensic Anthropology 3 hours
CJAD 317 - Bloodstain Evidence 3 hours
FRSC 327 - Fingerprint Evidence 3 hours
CJAD 328 - Shooting Incidents 3 hours
CJAD 333 - Topics 3 hours (Departmental approval required) or
CJAD 433 - Topics 3 hours (Departmental approval required)
FRSC 445 - Forensic Pathology 3 hours

Total Semester Hours: 18

Certificate Categories

The CSI Certificate is available to students in the following categories:

Degree-seeking students at Columbia College (or Columbia College graduates):

The certificate will be awarded only after successful completion of the student’s degree program.
Students in this category must complete at least 9 hours of certificate coursework at Columbia College.

Students with Bachelor’s or Associate degrees from a regionally accredited academic institution who have a professional interest in enhancing their credentials: Students in this category must complete 15 hours of certificate coursework at Columbia College.

Certificate Award

The CSI certificate will be awarded after completion of the necessary coursework and submission of appropriate proof-of-degree completion.