Crime Scene Investigation Certificate (AHE, 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 15 semester hours of designated coursework. The student must successfully complete 9 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 “B.”

Certificates

Certificates are available in Business Administration and Crime Scene Investigation.

Business Administration undergraduate certificates are available in three business administration fields: management, marketing and human resource management. The certificate programs are comprised of 18 credit hours (six courses) and provide both degree seeking and non-degree seeking students with an opportunity for focused study in three key business areas that employers’ value. Upon completion of the required six courses with a grade of C or higher, the student will receive a certificate to recognize his/her achievement (see below).

A certificate in Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) is available to students completing a Columbia College degree or minor in Criminal Justice or Forensic Science. Law enforcement academy graduates with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from another regionally accredited school in Criminal Justice, Justice Studies, or Forensic Science are also eligible to complete the CSI certificate (see below).

Certificate Requirements

Students are required to complete a mandatory 9 semester hour core block of courses with 6 additional discretionary hours chosen from a list of pre-approved courses.

These courses are:

Required (9 sem. hrs)

Electives: Taken from the following list (6 sem. hrs)

FRSC 305 - Forensic Anthropology 3 hours
FRSC 327 - Fingerprint Evidence 3 hours
CJAD 328 - Shooting Incidents 3 hours
CJAD 413 - Bloodstain Evidence 3 hours
CJAD 333 - Topics: Mock Trial 1 hour (Departmental approval required) or
CJAD 433 - Topics 3 hours (Departmental approval required)
FRSC 445 - Forensic Pathology 3 hours

Total Semester Hours: 15

Certificate Categories

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

Degree-seeking students at Columbia College (or Columbia College graduates):
- Students in this category must have declared a major in Criminal Justice Administration (AS, BS, or BA), a minor in Criminal Justice, or a major in Forensic Science (BS).
- The certificate will be awarded only after successful completion of the student’s degree program in one of the above areas.
- Students in this category must complete at least 9 hours of certificate coursework at Columbia College.

State certified law enforcement academy graduates with bachelor’s or associate degrees from a regionally accredited academic institution:
- Students in this category must have earned a major or minor in Criminal Justice, Justice Studies, or Forensic Science.
- Students in this category must complete 15 hours of certificate coursework at Columbia College.

Transfer Credit

Students with valid transfer credit for CJAD 201 , CJAD 203 , CJAD 303 and/or for a designated elective must take 3-9 hours of additional elective coursework from the certificate electives (above) in order to receive the certificate.

Certificate Award

The CSI certificate will be awarded after completion of the necessary coursework and submission of appropriate proof-of-degree completion and law enforcement academy certification documentation