Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Certificate Program

Topics

The following topics are required for completion of the CSI Certificate program.  Please note that some of the topics may be moved around between modules.

1. Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation
2. Fingerprints at the Crime Scene
3. Biological and Trace Evidence at the Crime Scene
4. Impression Evidence & Chemical Processing of Evidence
5. Photography for the Crime Scene Investigator
6. Death Investigations at the Crime Scene
7. Firearms Evidence and Scene Analysis
8. Fingerprint Analysis and Comparison
9. Crime Scene Practical
10. Interview Skills and Courtroom Testimony

The course will culminate with a practical exercise whereby the class will utilize small teams to process a realistic crime scene. This, coupled with a quiz during each module and a written final exam, is a true validation of how well the participants have learned the skills and techniques taught in the course.  The final module consists of interview strategies for obtaining employment that will be conducted by experienced professionals. Participation in modules 9 and 10 requires completion of all other 8 modules.

Schedule and Attendance

Students must attend all ten modules. Each module begins at 8 AM and ends at 5 PM with small breaks throughout the day and a lunch break at midday. In each module students will be required to sign in at the beginning of class and sign out at the end of class. 

The majority of the work completed in class is hands on experience that is discussed, demonstrated, and validated in class.  Each module presented builds on the content of the prior modules.  It is very important for students to attend all modules of the course.  For this reason, no make-up work can be completed for the material missed in any module. 

If for some reason students must miss a module for illness, family emergency, or to attend another event, students will be required to make up that module next semester if space is available.  Please contact the Center for Criminal Justice office to discuss any absences further.  

Hands-On Learning

This course is designed for persons preparing for a Crime Scene Investigator Field Position. The class may require physical activity and simulations designed to duplicate the actual work of a Crime Scene Investigator. 

Students admitted into the course must be able to do the following:

• The student must meet the physical requirements of a Crime Scene Investigator and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing, and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties performed. This class requires physical activity such as lifting moderate weights up to 25 pounds.
• Class work is performed indoors and outdoors. When working outdoors, the student may be exposed to heat, cold, and the elements. Students will need to walk to their outdoor activity locations and stand for periods of time, during activities within their module training.
• Class work may necessitate exposure to environmental factors, lab exercises, and “mock crime scenes” involving violent crimes. The student may climb, stoop, bend, crouch, kneel, and reach above and below shoulder level. This class requires varying levels of physical activity that must be demonstrated to complete the course.
• Students must be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing to simulate interviewing victims and witnesses to gather information about crime scenes. Additionally, strong verbal communication skills are critical for courtroom testimony. Students must also have the ability to follow oral and written instructions; maintain effective working relationships with their fellow students and write clear concise reports.

Certificate of Completion

Students who successfully demonstrate competency and attend all ten modules will receive a certificate of completion. Competency will be evaluated via quizzes, a written final exam, and a written crime scene report. There will be no revisions or appeals once these evaluations have been completed.

Internship Opportunities

We will attempt to assist successful qualified graduates of this program to find CSI internship positions at local agencies.  Positions are limited and are not guaranteed.

Tuition and Payment Policy

Each module is $231 for a total of $2,550. A down payment of $240 is due upon acceptance into the program, and three installments of $770 will be due at one-month intervals. The payment schedule for each semester is listed below. There is no financial aid available for this course.

Installments must be made by 5 PM on the due date. If your payment is late, you will be issued a $50 late fee.
The last day to drop from the program without penalty is 30 days before the first module. Drops made less than 30 days before class will be charged 1/2 the tuition. No shows or failure to cancel your enrollment will result in a forfeit of your full tuition. All cancellation requests must be made in writing.

If you must withdraw from the course partway through the semester, a $50 administration fee will be assessed for each remaining module.

Application Process

Each prospective student will be required to complete a course application via DocuSign for the semester they are interested in attending. These will be reviewed by the Center for Criminal Justice and 24 qualified students will be selected. Once the application phase is closed, please allow up to two weeks for the selection process to be completed. Students will be advised of their application status after all documents are reviewed. A payment of $245 is due at the time of acceptance.

Once the application period ends or capacity is reached, you will not be able to submit an application. Failure to disclose correct information or the provision of incorrect/inaccurate information will result in denial of application or immediate dismissal from the program without refund.

Alternative Credit

Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) are available through CCPE. If interested ask for additional information regarding CEU’s.

*Please note, Summer accelerated courses are more rigorous due to their condensed schedules. These courses require a semester's worth of material to be covered in a shorter timeframe, resulting in a heavier workload and frequent assessments, which demand strong time management and consistent engagement.

Schedule

The Summer 2025 course will run two times, Session A & Session B. Each session will be two weeks long with a one week break in between.

• Week 1

  - Introduction to Crime Scene Investigations

  - Latent Fingerprints and Chemical Processing

  - Biological and Trace Evidence at the Crime Scene

  - Impression Evidence

  - Death Investigations at the Crime Scene

   

•  Week 2

  - Crime Scene Photography and Night Photography

  - Firearms Evidence

  - Fingerprint and Latent Print Comparison

  - Crime Scene Practical

  - Courtroom Testimony and Career Prep

Location 

Shakarian Student Success Center (SSC), Room 045
1250 N Bellflower Blvd
Long Beach, CA 90840

Application

Status: This session's application period will open at 9:00 AM on January 27, 2025

The application period will open at 9:00 am on January 27, 2025. The application will remain open until we reach capacity, as determined by the CJ Center or until 4:30 PM on February 14, 2025. You may choose one or both sessions on your application; DO NOT submit multiple applications. If you submit multiple applications, all will be disqualified.

You must be available for all dates of the session you select. You will not be allowed to make up classes with the other session. 

Please complete the DocuSign form linked below during that time frame in order to register. You will not be able to access the application until the application period has begun. We will access applications through DocuSign directly - as long as you receive an automated email from DocuSign confirming your submission, there is no need to email us the final copy or call to verify receipt. Please pay close attention to instructions as unfinished or incorrectly completed applications will not be considered.

                                                                                                           CSI Application  

*Submissions will be reviewed by the director within two weeks of the closing date of the application period. You will be notified via email of your acceptance or waitlist status. Please keep an eye on your inbox and your spam folder as a timely response will be required. Lack of response will be considered a withdrawal from the program.

Tuition Payment Schedule

Deposit - $240 due upon acceptance 
Installment 1 - $770 due by March 24, 2025 at 5 pm
Installment 2 - $770 due by April 24, 2025 at 5 pm
Installment 3 - $770 due by May 24, 2025 at 5 pm

Payment link will be provided upon acceptance. Payment reminders will not be provided - you are responsible for remembering to make your payments on time. A late fee of $50 will be charged if you fail to submit payment by the deadlines listed above.

Schedule

• September 6, 2025 - Module 1: Introduction to Crime Scene Investigations
• September 13, 2025 - Module 2: Impression Evidence
• September 20, 2025 - Module 3: Biological and Trace Evidence at the Crime Scene
• September 27, 2025 - Module 4: Latent Fingerprints
• October 4, 2025 - Module 5: Crime Scene Photography and Night Photography
• October 11, 2025 - Module 6: Death Investigations at the Crime Scene
• October 18, 2025 - Module 7: Firearms Evidence
• October 25, 2025 - Module 8: Fingerprint and Latent Print Comparison
• November 1, 2025 - Module 9: Crime Scene Practical
• November 8, 2025 - Module 10: Courtroom Testimony and Career Prep

All modules run from 8 am - 5 pm. This schedule is subject to change without notice.

Location 

Sheraton Garden Grove
12221 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA 92840

Application

Status: Application period will be from April 21, 2025 - May 2, 2025.

The application period will open at 9:00 am on April 21, 2025. The application will remain open until we reach capacity, as determined by the CJ Center or until 3:00 PM on May 2, 2025. Please complete the DocuSign form linked below during that time frame in order to apply. You will not be able to access the application until the application period has begun. Any applications submitted before/after the application period will not be considered. We will access applications through DocuSign directly - as long as you receive an automated email from DocuSign confirming your submission, there is no need to email us the final copy or call to verify receipt. Please pay close attention to instructions as unfinished or incorrectly completed applications will not be considered.

CSI Application - The Fall 2025 application will open on April 21st. 

Submissions will be reviewed by the director after the closing date of the application period. You will be notified via email of your acceptance or waitlist status. Please keep an eye on your inbox and your spam folder as a timely response will be required. Lack of response will be considered a withdrawal from the program.

Tuition Payment Schedule

This schedule is subject to change

Deposit - $245 due upon acceptance
Installment 1 - $735 due by June 1st at 5 pm
Installment 2 - $735 due by July 1st at 5 pm
Installment 3 - $735 due by August 1st at 5 pm

Payment link will be provided upon acceptance. Payment reminders will not be provided - you are responsible for remembering to make your payments on time. A late fee of $50 will be charged if you fail to submit payment by the deadlines listed above.

Schedule

• January 25, 2025 - Module 1: Introduction to Crime Scene Investigations
• February 1, 2025 - Module 2: Impression Evidence
• February 8, 2025 - Module 3: Biological and Trace Evidence at the Crime Scene
• February 15, 2025 - Module 4: Latent Fingerprints
• February 22, 2025- Module 5: Crime Scene Photography and Night Photography
• March 1, 2025 - Module 6: Death Investigations at the Crime Scene
• March 8, 2025 - Module 7: Firearms Evidence
• March 15, 2025 - Module 8: Fingerprint and Latent Print Comparison
• March 22, 2025 - Module 9: Crime Scene Practical
• March 29, 2025 - Module 10: Courtroom Testimony and Career Prep

All modules run from 8 am - 5 pm. This schedule is subject to change without notice.

Location 

Sheraton Garden Grove
12221 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA 92840

Application

Status: Application period will be from September 9, 2024 - September 27, 2024*

*The application will remain open until we reach capacity, as determined by the CJ Center or until 3:00 PM on September 27, 2024

The application period will open at 9:00 am on September 9, 2024. Please complete the DocuSign form linked below during that time frame in order to apply. You will not be able to access the application until the application period has begun. Any applications submitted before/after the application period will not be considered. We will access applications through DocuSign directly - as long as you receive an automated email from DocuSign confirming your submission, there is no need to email us the final copy or call to verify receipt. Please pay close attention to instructions as unfinished or incorrectly completed applications will not be considered.

CSI Application 

Submissions will be reviewed by the director after the closing date of the application period. You will be notified via email of your acceptance or waitlist status. Please keep an eye on your inbox and your spam folder as a timely response will be required. Lack of response will be considered a withdrawal from the program.

Tuition Payment Schedule

This schedule is subject to change

Deposit - $240 due upon acceptance
Installment 1 - $770 due by November 4th at 5 pm
Installment 2 - $770 due by December 4th at 5 pm
Installment 3 - $770 due by January 4th at 5 pm

Payment link will be provided upon acceptance. Payment reminders will not be provided - you are responsible for remembering to make your payments on time. A late fee of $50 will be charged if you fail to submit payment by the deadlines listed above.

Can I attend half of the modules this semester and half of them next semester?

No. You must register for all 10 modules in one semester. If you miss a module due to an emergency, we will try to help you make it up the following semester.

Is there a payment plan?

Yes, you will be able to make payment for the semester in installments.

Do you offer financial aid?

There is no financial aid available for this course.

Do I need to be a CSULB student in order to register?

No, this course is not limited to Cal State Long Beach students.

What requirements do I need to meet to register?

You must have graduated from high school and have an interest in working as a Crime Scene Investigator. We will be selecting the best candidates from the applicants.

I work at a law enforcement agency - can I take this course?

Registration is open to anyone, however if you are already employed by a law enforcement agency you are eligible to attend our POST-certified CSI/FET course. You will not earn POST credit for this certificate course, only for the POST-certified course. You must have approval from your department to register for the POST course.

Can I register online?

Registration procedure is currently undergoing some changes. Please check back for more information.

How often do you run this course?

We run this course every Spring and Fall semester. Occasionally, we may offer accelerated or special sessions if we have a lot of interest. You will see these listed here on the website.

If I am accepted into the program, can I defer my enrollment to a later semester?

No, your acceptance is for one semester only. A change of plans or request to defer constitutes a cancellation and cancellation fees may apply. You will need to re-apply for subsequent semesters.

Does this program count toward my undergraduate or graduate degree?

No, this course is not eligible for college credit. However, you may earn Continuing Education Units (CEU's) through CPaCE.

Does this course make me a Crime Scene Investigator?

This course gives you hands-on, real-world experience to aid you in acquiring a position as an active Crime Scene Investigator. There is no state-wide certification process for CSIs.

Is this certificate a requirement to apply to job openings?

Not necessarily. Each job posting will have slightly varied requirements, however this course will provide experience that interviewers are looking for in a candidate.

Will I be assigned to an internship once I complete this program?

We do not guarantee internship or job placement, but all of our instructors are active employees in the CSI field and may notify you of openings if they think you would be a good fit.

What exactly is a CSI?

A Crime Scene Investigator is responsible for the collection and documentation of evidence at crime scenes.

I'm interested in forensics and lab work - is this the right course for me?

Unlike you may see on TV, CSIs rarely work in a lab setting. If you would like to process evidence once it is submitted to the lab, we recommend searching for programs or trainings in forensics or hard sciences. Many lab-based positions will require a Bachelor's of Science as a minimum qualification.