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CJS/215

Criminal Justice

Introduction to Forensics

Online

Format

$1,194

Estimated Tuition

3 credits

Total credits

5 weeks

Course length

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Take this course on its own, or as part of a degree or certificate program.

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Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

Course level: Undergraduate

This course provides an introduction to forensic science. This survey course is developed specifically for non-science majors to familiarize them with the different forensic science disciplines, the types of examinations crime laboratories conduct, and how forensic science is applied in current American criminal justice systems. Students gain a basic understanding of the principles of science, specifically the scientific method and its application.

Prerequisites

CJS/201 – Introduction to Criminal Justice  or equivalent

Required materials

The materials required for this course are covered in your resource fees.

Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

What you'll learn

Course skills and outcomes

  • Describe the role of the forensic expert.
  • Identify forensic science disciplines.
  • Explain the capabilities of forensic science.
  • Discuss the history and development of forensic science.

  • Identify the structure and genetic properties of DNA.
  • Identify DNA typing techniques.
  • Identify the various types of biological evidence.
  • Discuss the collection and preservation of biological evidence.

  • Identify types of physical evidence encountered at crime scenes.
  • Discuss legal issues surrounding physical evidence encountered at crime scenes.
  • Identify the collection and preservation of firearms evidence.

  • Identify procedures associated with crime scene evaluation.
  • Discuss the procedures for collecting and packaging physical evidence.
  • Analyze crime scene safety.
  • Identify methods of recording the crime scene.

  • Identify the toxicology of drugs.
  • Identify the forensic characteristics of document examination.
  • Describe the roles of the forensic pathologist, forensic anthropologist, and forensic entomologist.

Why UOPX

Why take courses at University of Phoenix

Accreditation that matters

We’ve been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) for more than 40 years.

Real-world instructors

Learn from instructors who bring an average of 25 years of working experience to the classroom.

Affordable and potentially reimbursable

Our tuition and fees are competitive and fixed. Also, check to see if your employer will cover you for this course.

Next Steps

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Transfer Credits

Credit Transfer

Need to transfer credits to another college or university?

Before you enroll in a course, check with your school of choice to make sure they will accept our transfer credits and to understand any requirements or limitations. Then you can complete your course, and request your official transcript be sent to your school. That’s it!

How to request your transcripts

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. Although our continuing teacher education courses are accepted by some state agencies in the United States toward teacher certifications and endorsements, this may not be the case in all states or foreign jurisdictions. If you plan to use courses for certification or endorsement, please check with your own state agency and your school district for applicability. Continuing teacher education courses are not eligible to apply to degree programs at University of Phoenix. These courses are not eligible for federal financial aid. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.