Criminal Investigation - Program Description
The Bachelor of Technology in Criminal Investigation provides a unique alternative to traditional criminal justice programs. This degree focuses on developing the necessary knowledge and skills required in criminal investigations. Students will complete an internship with a law enforcement related agency or enroll in five upper level JUST courses.
Students in this Major:
- Receive advanced training in criminal investigations.
- Learn to analyze forensic evidence, preserve crime scenes, collect and process evidence.
- Spend an entire semester with selected criminal investigation units or complete five upper level criminal justice courses.
Career Opportunities:
- Criminal investigation officer for police departments
- Federal law enforcement agencies
- Private investigation agencies
- Military police
- Crime Scene Technician
- Medical Investigator
- Autopsy Technician
- Forensic Scientist
Admission Requirements:
- Admission to the Bachelor of Technology program in Criminal Investigation is competitive.
- Refer to the table of high school course prerequisites for admission.
- Students must be prepared to take College Algebra (MATH 121)
- Students must have a high school average of at least 80.
- Students must be prepared to take ENGL 101 or ENGL 102.
- Transfer students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
- Recommended preparatory courses or their equivalencies are:
- JUST 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
- JUST 110 Criminal Law
- JUST 111 Criminal Procedure
- JUST 203 Criminal Investigations
- JUST 209 Law Enforcement Communications
- JUST 210 Introduction to Forensic Investigation
- MATH 111 Survey of Mathematics OR
- MATH 121 College Algebra
- Admission priority will go to SUNY Canton Criminal Justice students. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 is required.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (Curriculum 1359)
The following shows the typical course sequence and program requirements.
Semester I Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 | Composition and the Spoken Word (GER 1/2) | 3 |
| JUST 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology (GER 7) | 3 |
| Math Elective* (GER 4) | 3 | |
| Liberal Arts Elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 15 |
Semester II Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 112 | Criminal Law & Procedure | 3 |
| SOCI 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Lower Level Program Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Science w/ Lab (GER 5) | 4 | |
| Humanities Elective (GER 6) | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 16 |
Semester III Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 201 | Critical Issues in Criminal Justice** | 3 |
| JUST 202 PSYC 275 |
Intro to Forensic Criminology OR Abnormal Psychology |
3 |
| JUST 209 | Law Enforcement Communications | 3 |
| American History Elective (GER 9) | 3 | |
| DEISJ Elective (GER 3) | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 15 |
Semester IV Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 203 | Criminal Investigations | 3 |
| JUST 210 | Intro to Forensic Investigations | 3 |
| Liberal Arts Elective (any GER) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 15 |
Semester V Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 300 | Forensic Photography | 3 |
| JUST 303 | Investigative Interviews | 3 |
| U/L General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 15 |
Semester VI Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 301 | Latent Prints and Impressions | 3 |
| JUST 314 JUST 4263 |
Ethics in Criminal Justice OR Ethics in Forensic Science3 |
3 |
| Forensic Science Cluster4 | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 15 |
Semester VII Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 406 | Crime Scene Investigation | 3 |
| JUST 408 | The Investigation of Death | 4 |
| JUST 429 | Intro. to Culminating Experience5 | 1 |
| U/L General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 17 |
Semester VIII Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 430 | Culminating Experience in Criminal Justice OR (5) U/L Program Electives2 |
15 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
Students in the Criminal Investigation, B.Tech program are required to earn a C or better in JUST 430
* Must be MATH 111 or higher - NOTE: If you are enrolling in a course that is a pre-requisite for a required course in your program, your TAP eligibility may be affected.
** Writing intensive course.
1 Lower Level Program Electives are selected from JUST or EADM (100-200) level courses
2 UL Program Electives are selected from JUST, EADM or LEST (300-400) level courses
3 A student CAN earn credit for both courses but is only required to take one or the other.
4 Choose one from this list: JUST 330 Questioned Documents, JUST 411 Forensic Drug Analysis and Investigation, JUST 412 Firearm and Toolmark ID, JUST 413 Methods of Human Skeletal ID
5 This course is only required for students intending to take JUST 430, Culminating Experience, in the 8th semester
U/L=Upper Level Courses (300/400)
GER=General Education Requirement
Review the Index of Course Descriptions
Criminal Investigation
Kelly Peterson
Assistant Professor
dehautk@canton.edu