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