Certificate Program

Topics

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 a team approach at a realistic crime scene. This, coupled with a quiz during each module and a written final exam, is a true judge 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 and will be conducted by experienced professionals. Participation in modules 9 and 10 requires completion of modules 1-8 or permission from the Coordinator.

You must attend all ten modules in order to receive your certificate. Each module begins at 8 AM and ends at 5 PM with small breaks throughout and a one-hour lunch break at mid-day. In each module you will be required to sign in at the beginning of class and sign out at the end of 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. If for some reason you have to miss a module for illness, family emergency, etc. or if you have to leave class early to attend another event you will be required to make up that module next semester. There is no make-up work that can be done for the material in each module. The majority of the work completed in class is hands on experience that is discussed, demonstrated and practiced in class. Please contact the Center for Criminal Justice office to discuss any absences further.

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. 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.

Schedule and Attendance

You must attend all ten modules in order to receive your certificate. Each module begins at 8 AM and ends at 5 PM with small breaks throughout and a one-hour lunch break at mid-day. In each module you will be required to sign in at the beginning of class and sign out at the end of 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. If for some reason you have to miss a module for illness, family emergency, etc. or if you have to leave class early to attend another event you will be required to make up that module next semester. There is no make-up work that can be done for the material in each module. The majority of the work completed in class is hands on experience that is discussed, demonstrated and practiced in class. Please contact the Center for Criminal Justice office to discuss any absences further.

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

Each module is $231 for a total of $2,550. A down payment of $240 for the first module is due upon acceptance into the program, and three installments of $770 will be due at one-month intervals. 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 the first 24 qualified students will be selected. Once the application phase is closed, please allow up to two weeks for processing. Students will be advised of their application status after all documents are reviewed. A payment of $245 is due at the time of acceptance.

Please check the Center for Criminal Justice website for application dates and additional information.

You are encouraged to apply as soon as the application period is open as we have a very high demand for this course. 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.

Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Certificate Program Schedule Details 

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 https://www.csulb.edu/centers/ccj for more information. 

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.

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.

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 CCPE.

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.