Forensic Investigations

Investigate crime, especially in terms of gathering and analyzing evidence. Your work enhances the criminal justice system's ability to arrest and convict those responsible for the crimes. If you're interested in pursuing an investigative career in the public, private, intelligence or military sectors, this specialization is for you.

Admission Information

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Quality classroom experiences

Work in mock crime scenes; document evidence; and summarize your work in report form. You'll learn in the University's dedicated residence half a block off campus, reserved for experience-based learning like this.

The Criminal Justice Program encourages both skills development and the broad understanding of social conditions in which crime occur. You'll round out your major requirements with courses that enhance your developing career goals.

Stand Out in courses like

Investigations
Introduction to Forensic Science
Digital Crime and Criminal Justice
Law, Evidence, and Legal Issues in Forensic Science

Curriculum

In addition to four core courses, you'll take two additional specialization elective courses. Forensic Accounting (taught in the College of Business), Forensic Psychology (taught in the College of Arts & Sciences) and more are available. Six additional electives and a 12-hour Internship complete the requirements for the Forensic Investigations Specialization.

Courses in accounting, computer science and management Information systems address skill-based areas, while more courses in psychology, management, government, child development, drug and alcohol use, and related subjects broaden your understanding of the social and legal environment of your work.

Highly-qualified faculty, well-respected nationally in their field teach most of your courses, bringing real-world experience to your learning

Internships and Careers

The most extensive required field placement/practicum/internship of any program in the country brings what you learn in the classroom to the 'real world.' You'll also make valuable contacts that will help you secure future employment. Field placements are available throughout the U.S.

Go Far in your career

Defense Investigation
Homeland Security
Undercover Investigations

Justice Student Association is open to all students with an interest in the criminal justice system

More Information

The Forensic Investigations Program is a specialization of the Criminal Justice Program, part of the Department of Human Services in the BGSU College of Health and Human Services

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the graduate degree, students in Criminal Justice are expected to be able to:

Students will be able to integrate theory and research with criminal justice practice.
Students will be able to develop effective programmatic or policy responses to emerging criminal justice issues.
Students will be able to appraise the general quality of criminal justice research and propose methods for improving this research.
Students will be able to write and effectively communicate at a level expected of someone in a criminal justice leadership position.

Accreditation

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Criminal Justice program will undergo its next Program/Cluster Review during the Academic Year 2021-22.

More information on accreditation

Professional Licensure

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Criminal Justice program does not lead to professional licensure.

More information on professional licensure

Gainful Employment

Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Criminal Justice program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

Specializations

Accounting
Applied Economics
Business Analytics and Intelligence
Economics
Finance
Individualized business
Information systems
Information systems, auditing, and control
Insurance
International business
Management
Marketing
Sales and Services Marketing
Supply chain management

* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Updated: 05/26/2022 01:11PM