Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Crime Analysis
Radford University recently approved a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Crime Analysis, to be offered by the Department of Criminal Justice. The Certificate will provide 15 hours of graduate-level coursework in crime analysis, and will begin in Fall 2009. See below for further information about this exciting program!
What is a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Crime Analysis?
Who is eligible for this program?
How do you enroll in the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Crime Analysis program?
Do I have to take the GREs or other standardized tests for admission?
What about my undergraduate GPA?
What topics will be covered in the program?
How will the classes be conducted?
What are the computer requirements for the program?
What computer skills will I need?
Can the credit I earn in the PBC program count if I decide to pursue a Master’s degree?
Can I transfer credit from another school to meet certificate requirements?
Crime analysis is a criminal justice occupational field that engages in the systematic analysis of data from a wide variety of sources in order to provide information about the patterns and trends of crimes in a locality, state, or nation. The work product of a crime analyst can be used to inform tactical and strategic decision making, support investigative efforts, assist in the study of resource needs, and facilitate the development of criminal justice policy. Ý
What is a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Crime Analysis?
A post-baccalaureate certificate (PBC) is an educational certificate that attests to certain advanced graduate study in an area of concentration beyond the baccalaureate level. It is graduate-level coursework, but is less than the credit hours necessary to earn a Master’s degree. The PBC in crime analysis is a 15-credit hour program designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities for an entry level position as a crime analyst or to enhance the skills of a working analyst. It includes coursework in environmental criminology, research methods, statistics, crime analysis and crime mapping. Upon completion of the required curriculum, the student is awarded the PBC in Crime Analysis. Ý
Who is eligible for this program?
Anyone who has completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and meets the admission standards for graduate students in the Department of Criminal Justice at Radford University. Also, graduate students currently enrolled in a course of study at Radford University are eligible to participate in this program. Ý
How do you enroll in the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Crime Analysis program?
You must first be admitted to Radford University as either a degree-seeking or a non-degree seeking graduate student. Students already enrolled as degree-seeking graduate students at Radford University are eligible to enroll in the PBC in Crime Analysis program. Students who are interested in the PBC in Crime Analysis, but do not presently desire to seek a Master’s degree, must first complete an application to the Department of Criminal Justice graduate program as a non-degree seeking student. This application is available on-line at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies website. Ý
Do I have to take the GREs or other standardized tests for admission?
No. There is no testing requirement. Ý
What about my undergraduate GPA?
The general admissions requirement is to have earned a 2.9 GPA in your undergraduate work. However, we recognize that many people have been out in the working world and their undergraduate GPA may not be the best indicator of success in graduate study. Applicants with a lower GPA may still be considered for admission, on a case-by-case basis, as long as they are able to provide proof of readiness for graduate study to the satisfaction of the Graduate Admissions Committee of the Department of Criminal Justice. Ý
What topics will be covered in the program?
The curriculum includes coursework in environmental criminology, research methods, statistics, and crime mapping. The following table describes the 15-credit hour curriculum:
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credit Hours |
|
CRJU 670 |
Criminal Justice Research Methods |
3 hours |
|
Description |
This course is a practical application of basic research methods developed in the field of criminal justice. The student must conduct a research project or thesis proposal and present their research in the classroom forum. A review of research methodology will be presented. Computer applications will be emphasized where appropriate. |
|
|
CRJU 671 |
Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice research |
3 hours |
|
Description |
This course is intended to equip the students with the ability to calculate and conduct statistical analyses for applied research, to ensure the ability to interpret the results from statistical analysis, and to apply those results to appropriate situations. |
|
|
CRJU 672 |
Applications in Crime Analysis |
3 hours |
|
Description |
This course is an introduction to the application of quantitative methods in the analysis of crime trends, patterns, and series for use in tactical, strategic and administrative situations. |
|
|
CRJU 673 |
Crime Mapping |
3 hours |
|
Description |
This course develops basic and advanced skills in the tactical and strategic mapping of crime trends, patterns, and series. |
|
|
CRJU 676 |
Environmental Criminology |
3 hours |
|
Description |
This course explores the theoretical underpinnings of the temporal and spatial distribution of crime with attention to prevention, intervention, order maintenance, and policy implications. |
|
|
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Crime Analysis |
15 hours |
|
How will the classes be conducted?
Course delivery will be through a hybrid on-line format. This is not a self-paced, self-instructed curriculum. Instead students will meet once a week in a virtual on-line classroom using Adobe Connect to receive lecture materials and instructions, skill demonstrations, and to participate in on-line discussions with their classmates. These skill-based courses will generally use the adult-learner “watch-follow-do” model of instruction.
The courses will also make use of the WebCT/Blackboard platform to augment the course with a variety of web-based educational materials and learning tools. Each course will last one 14-week semester and upon successful completion the student will earn 3-credit hours of graduate study. Students will complete weekly reading and homework assignments designed to assess their mastery of the skills being taught in the class.
An initial orientation session will be held to insure that all the participating students have a basic proficiency with the course software. This will necessitate travel to Roanoke, VA for a Saturday class covering this material and to meet your class mates and professor face-to-face. After this one-day session, the rest of the coursework can be completed on-line from any computer with high-speed internet access. Ý
The PBC in Crime Analysis will use a cohort model, starting a group of students at the same time and offering the courses in a sequence so that a student will be able to complete the certificate in five semesters. The first cohort is scheduled to start in the Fall semester of 2009 and to complete the certificate in the Spring of 2011. Ý
Class size will be limited because of the virtual class room format. Each cohort will only enroll 15 students. Although on campus graduate students are eligible to enroll in these classes on a space-available basis, priority will be given to on-line cohort students to insure that the cohort moves through the course sequence as a group. Ý
What are the computer requirements for the program?
Students will need to have access to a computer with high-speed access (DSL, cable-modem, or through a LAN) to the internet. This computer should have Microsoft Office software installed. In addition, the student should have Administrator-status on the machine to facilitate the installation of various programs. The student should also have the ability to adjust or modify any firewall or other security settings to allow full access to the course support software (Adobe Connect and WebCT/Blackboard). While it may be possible to use a computer at your workplace, the security settings on such systems generally prohibit this. Ý
What computer skills will I need?
Students enrolling in the program should have a working knowledge of the Desktop environment, the use of the MS Office suite of programs, and be comfortable operating a web browser. It will be assumed that students are familiar with such routine operations as opening, modifying, saving and closing files. Students should also be comfortable in general file maintenance and storage on a computer. No special computer skills are needed, and those necessary to survive in a contemporary office environment are sufficient. Ý
Can the credit I earn in the PBC program count if I decide to pursue a Master’s degree?
Yes. The coursework you successfully complete as part of the PBC in Crime Analysis can be applied to help meet the degree requirements for a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice at Radford University. Two of the courses (CRJU 670 and CRJU 671) are required of all Master’s students, and these courses would satisfy that requirement. In addition, the other three courses can be used as elective credit with up to six hours counting towards meeting the degree requirements. However, students should be aware that Radford University does not currently offer the Master’s degree in an on-line format. Other graduate programs will typically accept 6 to 9 hours of transfer credit. Check with the individual schools for their current transfer policies. Ý
Can I transfer credit from another school to meet certificate requirements?
No. While this is possible for degree seeking students, it is not allowed for non-degree seeking students enrolled in the PBC in Crime Analysis program. Ý
Yes. All admitted graduate students are eligible to enroll in this program. All the classes offered in the on-line format are also offered on-campus and may be taken to meet the requirements of the certificate. While on-campus students are eligible to enroll in the on-line classes, they are encouraged to take the classes when offered on-campus. Ý
If you have any other questions please feel free to contact the Department of Criminal Justice Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Lori Elis, or the Program Coordinator, Dr. Isaac Van Patten. You may also call the Department of Criminal Justice at (540) 831-6148. An overview of the program is also available by clicking here. Ý
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