2020 - 2021 Catalog
Program: Criminal Justice

DIGITAL FORENSICS AND PRIVATE INVESTIGATION CERTIFICATE

Note: This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible. For more information, please visit: https://www.dcccd.edu/hb1508.

(Level 1I Certificate)

• Students pursuing this certificate are waived from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standards, but must meet course prerequisites.
• Complete at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by Dallas College.

Degree Plan Code: C1.CJ.DF.PRIV.INV

The Digital Forensics and Private Investigation Certificate is designed to prepare an individual for a future career in a specialized area of Criminal Justice. The Certificate in Digital Forensics and Private Investigation will provide students with the knowledge and skills to become a Texas Private Investigator. Individuals not employed by a law enforcement agency must be licensed as a Private Investigator to perform digital forensic investigations in Texas. The certificate is also designed to provide professional development opportunities to those who are currently employed in related industries.

Job opportunities for students who complete this certificate will be available in local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, Digital crime labs, paternity identification labs, and Homeland Security.

Digital Forensics Science is the application of computer science and investigative procedures for a legal purpose involving the analysis of digital evidence (information of probative value that is stored or transmitted in binary form) after proper search authority, chain of custody, validation with mathematics (hash function), use of validated tools, repeatability, reporting, and possible expert presentation.

Scientific discoveries along with advances in technology have increased the accuracy of forensic results and thus the pursuit of justice. Therefore, it is necessary for this particular certificate to combine the knowledge that comes from different academic disciplines, criminal justice and digital forensics. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, along with private detectives, attorneys and judges, rely heavily on the work of the professionally trained criminal digital forensic investigation specialist.

Course content for the Digital Forensics and Private Investigation Certificate will focus on the basics of the gathering and the analysis of evidence by qualified, experienced faculty from both Eastfield and Richland campus. Please note that courses in this certificate will be taught at Eastfield campus under the Criminal Justice Program and at Richland campus under the Digital Forensic Program.

+These courses will be taught by Richland campus Faculty.

++These courses will be taught by Eastfield campus Faculty.

In 2015, the Texas Private Security Board approved the Digital Forensics and Private Investigation Certificate in lieu of the required twenty-four (24) months of investigation related experience (as allowed by 35.121(a)(6), when submitted with an associate degree in criminal justice. These students must have the knowledge to pass the Private Investigator license exam. They will obtain that knowledge by successfully completing the identified courses taught through the Eastfield Criminal Justice Program. Individuals who are planning to go into a career related to criminal investigations must have a background and foundation base in digital forensics. They will obtain that knowledge by successfully completing the identified courses taught through the Richland Digital Forensics Program. The merger of these courses provides the opportunity for both groups of students to attain their career goals with the best instruction possible.

The students who enroll at Richland campus for the digital forensic courses will be Dallas College students, and Richland campus will report those students. The students who enroll at Eastfield campus for the criminal justice courses will be Dallas College students, and Eastfield campus will report those students. It will be an Eastfield campus Program and the students will receive their certificate from Dallas College.

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.

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CRIMINAL JUSTICE -- FORENSIC SCIENCE TECHNICIAN

Note: This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible. For more information, please visit: https://www.dcccd.edu/hb1508.

(Level 1I Certificate)

Eastfield campus only

• Students pursuing this certificate are waived from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standards, but must meet course prerequisites.
• Complete at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by Dallas College.

Degree Plan Code: C1.CJ.FORSCI.TECH

This certificate is designed to prepare an individual for a future career in a very specialized area of Criminal Justice. The certificate will be suitable for students majoring in criminal justice or certain scientific major fields of study that will launch the student into a successful career in forensic science. The certificate will also provide the individual who is already a professional public service criminal justice employee with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills and just provide opportunities for advancement.

Students pursuing this certificate will be taught and trained in the basics of the gathering, collecting, and the analysis of evidence. Job opportunities for students who complete this certificate will be available in local, regional, and national public service police employment.

Forensics is recognized as both an art and a science. Scientific discoveries along with advances in technology have increased the accuracy of forensic results and thus the pursuit of justice. Therefore, it is necessary that individuals who are either currently employed or are seeking future employment in the field of Criminal Justice be educated and trained in the basics of crime scene investigation procedures and evidence collection. Local, state and national law enforcement agencies, along with private detectives, attorneys and judges, rely heavily on the work of the professionally trained forensic specialist.

Students are encouraged to complete an associate degree and then pursue a bachelor's or master's degree in forensics. Certain WECM courses may not transfer to the degree requirements for the bachelor's degree.

Semester 1
Course	Course Title	Credit Hours
CRIJ 1301	Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
CJSA 1308	Criminalistics 1I	3
PSYC 2301	General Psychology	3
CJSA 1471	Forensic Science 1I	4
Semester Total		13

Semester 2
Course	Course Title	Credit Hours
CJSA 2323	Criminalistics 2II	3
CRIJ 1307	Crime in America OR	3
SOCI 2336	Criminology	(3)
CJSA 1400	Death Investigation 1I	4
CJSA 1472	Forensic Science 2II	4
Semester Total		14

Semester 3
Course	Course Title	Credit Hours
CJSA 1401	Death Investigations 2II	4
CRIJ 2314	Criminal Investigation	3
CJSA 2332	Criminalistics 3III	3
CJSA 2334	Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice	3
Semester Total		13

Minimum Hours Required		40

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.

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