COD to offer new Forensic Criminal Investigations certificate

The new Forensic Criminal Investigations certificate at College of DuPage will provide students with up-to-date training for the complexities of this specialized field.

Recently approved by the Illinois Community College Board, the 22 credit-hour certificate consists of seven courses in criminal justice, chemistry and anthropology. Courses for this new certificate will be taught in the state-of-the-art forensics lab in the College's new Homeland Security Education Center.

“This lab was created specifically for a 21st century education that no other Criminal Justice program has,” said Theo Darden, associate professor of Criminal Justice. “Our training will reflect what's currently happening in the profession, allowing us to be at the forefront with our curriculum.”

The certificate includes four new courses: “Introduction to Forensic Crime Scene Investigation,” “Violent Crime,” “Introduction to Forensic Science and Chemistry” and “Introduction to Forensic Anthropology.” Darden said the certificate will appeal to both traditional-age students and current employees.

“For professionals who are working in the field as police officers or crime scene investigators, these classes will enhance what they've learned on the job,” Darden said. “For example, if you work in the field as a collector, you may not know what happens when you turn in your materials. The certificate could also lead to promotion opportunities.”

Criminal Justice students who want to enter this field will receive an introduction to both the collection and lab sides of the profession, which will help them determine which path to pursue. In addition, earning an associate's degree along with this certificate will allow students to transfer and earn a bachelor's degree in forensic investigation, Darden said.

Finally, the certificate will benefit students who are not criminal justice majors but who want to work in the forensics science field as a lab technician.

“What we don't want to do is give our students a false sense of what's possible,” Darden said. “People watch criminal investigations on TV and think, ‘This is easy,' when there's so much more involved. This certificate provides both the theory and the hands-on applications that will build a student's critical, practical and analytical skills.”

For more information on this certificate, call (630) 942-2989 or e-mail darden@cod.edu.