(Level I Certificate)

Eastfield only

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

Degree Plan Code: C1.CJ.DIG.FOR.INV

The Criminal Digital Forensic Investigations Technician Certificate is designed to prepare an individual for a future career in a specialized area of Criminal Justice. The Certificate in Criminal Digital Forensic Investigations will provide students with the knowledge and skills to pass the state of Texas Private Investigator License Exam. Individuals must be licensed as Texas licensed 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, regional, and national law enforcement agencies, crime labs, paternity identification labs, and archaeological sites. Forensic Science 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 for this particular certificate to combine the knowledge that comes from different academic disciplines â?? criminal justice and digital forensics. Local, state and national 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 Criminal Digital Forensic Investigations Certificate will focus on the basics of the gathering and the analysis of evidence by qualified, experienced faculty from both Eastfield and Richland Colleges. Please note that three of the courses in this certificate will be taught at Eastfield College (Criminal Justice Program) and three will be taught at Richland College (Digital Forensic Program).

SEMESTER I

+These courses will be taught by Richland College Faculty.

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

This is a unique certificate offering in that although it is an Eastfield College Program and will be approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as a certificate program for Eastfield College, 50% of the courses will be taught from the curriculum and by the faculty of Richland College and 50% of the courses will be taught from the curriculum and by the faculty of Eastfield College.

Individuals who are planning to go into a career related to digital forensics investigations must, by Texas law, be a licensed Private Investigator. 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 College for the digital forensic courses will be Richland students, and Richland College will report those students. The students who enroll at Eastfield College for the criminal justice courses will be Eastfield College students, and Eastfield College will report those students. It will be an Eastfield College Program and the students will receive their certificate from Eastfield 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.