Forensic Investigation (FI)

This course is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the methodologies, principles, and practices central to forensic investigations. The course covers the comprehensive forensic process from crime scene management to the collection, preservation, and analysis of physical, biological, and digital evidence. Students will explore various forensic disciplines, including crime scene reconstruction, evidence handling, analysis, and forensic reporting, with a strong emphasis on integrating scientific techniques into legal contexts. This course prepares students for advanced roles in criminal justice system, equipping them with the critical thinking and analytical skills needed for real-world forensic investigations.

The application of managerial and organizational leadership skills involved in forensic investigation, such as human resources, budgetary issues, Inter-agency cooperation, quality control and assurance, certification and accreditation issues, and internal security.

Development of written and oral communication skills in connection with forensic report writing. Focus will be on the necessary elements of a forensic report, including background, data analysis, opinion, and the basis for expert opinions. Students will be required to create an APA formatted forensic report and presentation to be used in court.

This course introduces students to the various applications of medicolegal practice. Emphasis is placed on basic and advanced human anatomy, natural disease processes, and trauma dynamics. Students will engage in special dissections, advanced trauma assessment, and postmortem photography. The course provides in-depth exploration of the forensic autopsy, manners and specific causes of death, body recovery and exhumation procedures, toxicology, and methodologies used in the identification of human remains. Additionally, the course examines peripheral roles within the medicolegal community, with particular emphasis on the responsibilities of the medicolegal death investigator at the scene of death and the role of the forensic pathologist. Students will be required to be present during human cadaver dissection as well as having hands-on examination of human remains and organ systems.

An exploration into the requirements to be classified as an expert in the American criminal justice system. Students will perform an in-depth analysis of the Federal Evidence Code to enhance their knowledge of what evidence is and is not admissible in court. Students will develop expert findings and participate in court simulations of expert testimony.

This course will cover advanced criminalistics involved with processing and preserving physical evidence.

This course introduces students to the growing crime analysis and forensic crime scene mapping field. The course will provide students with the skills necessary for visualizing, analyzing, and managing spatial data for crime forecasting and evidentiary documentation of crime scenes.

This course focuses on the leadership and organizational skills necessary to manage human resources within forensic and investigative environments. The course explores the unique challenges of staffing, training, and leading forensic professionals, emphasizing team dynamics, ethical considerations, and maintaining high standards of professionalism in forensic labs and investigative units. Students will learn strategies for effective recruitment, development, and retention of personnel, along with managing multidisciplinary teams in high-pressure forensic settings in the criminal justice system. This course equips future forensic leaders with the skills to manage both people and processes in complex investigative environments.

This course will cover field techniques when processing various crime scenes. There will be both PowerPoint and hands-on practical exercises in regarding different types of crime scenes including advanced crime scene processing indoors and outdoors, burglary scenes, sexual assault scenes, homicide scenes, suicide scenes, overdose scenes, surface and subsurface skeletal remains, drug related scenes including clandestine lab operations, arson/fire investigations, and mass fatality scenes and also how to process vehicles involved in crime scenes. There will also be some research required during the semester.

This course will cover all aspects of fire and explosive investigations including both accidental and malicious burning of property, and emerging trends in explosives and how to process scenes that involve explosives and the manufacturing of explosives.

This course provides information about the accredited principles of computer forensics from the crime scene to the service requesting entities in the way of obtaining meaningful data by applying data acquisition techniques in the lab while preserving the original digital evidence against to be destroyed.

This course provides information about the accredited principles of mobile forensics from the crime scene to the service requesting entities in the way of obtaining meaningful data by applying both physical and logical data acquisition techniques in the lab while preserving the original digital evidence against to be destroyed.

The term "cold case" will be specifically defined, as well as the explanation of the difference between open and closed cases. This course will explore the concept and investigation of cold cases, with a detailed focus on crimes against persons (i.e., homicide, sexual assault, and crimes against children). Students will examine how current technologies and investigative methodologies are used to increase case solvability. Further, current cold cases will be used to augment the student's understanding of investigative applicability.

This course provides an in-depth examination of violent crime through advanced principles of behavioral analysis. Students will explore sophisticated investigative methods used to interpret behavioral clues, integrate scientific research, and support offender identification in complex criminal cases. Emphasis is placed on analyzing behavioral patterns that may evolve into offender signatures, assessing homology assumptions within investigative contexts, and evaluating the behavioral characteristics of known offenders to inform predictions of future criminal actions. The course also critically addresses the strengths and limitations of profiling methodologies, ethical considerations, and the application of behavioral science to contemporary investigative and forensic environments.

This course provides an advanced and comprehensive examination of crime scene investigation, emphasizing scientific methodology, critical analysis, and professional practice. Students will engage in complex crime scene scenarios involving major crimes, multi-scene events, digital-physical evidence integration, and interdisciplinary investigative coordination. The course addresses advanced documentation techniques, reconstruction principles, forensic evidence interrelationships, and strategic decision-making under operational constraints. Emphasis is placed on applying theory to practice through analytical reasoning, evaluating limitations of evidence, and understanding legal, ethical, and administrative challenges that influence crime scene operations. Students will also develop leadership competencies essential for managing investigative teams and ensuring adherence to professional standards.

This course provides an introduction to statistical methods useful for analyzing the types of data most often encountered in criminal justice research. The course has a practitioner orientation, emphasizing the understanding and use of statistics, but also focuses on how to create them. A variety of widely-used statistical methods will be considered, including descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, hypothesis testing (inferential statistics), and contingency tables. A working knowledge of high school-level algebra is assumed.

Social research methods and their application to administration of justice; in-depth examination of the role of social research in analysis, interpretation, and clarification of problems in the Criminal Justice System. CJ 5702 is cross-listed with FI 5702, and only one course may be taken for credit.

Application of ethical theories and systems to practical ethical problems and dilemmas encountered in criminal justice. CJ 5815 is cross-listed with FI 5815, and only one course may be taken for credit.

An examination of contemporary issues in forensic investigation. Topics may vary. May be taken for a total of six credit hours.

Selected topics appropriate to student's course of study as determined by faculty advisor. This course may be duplicated for credit for a total of 6 semester hours. Grades: Pass/Fail.