Forensic Studies Certificate

The certificate in forensic studies is designed so that students may complete the requirements either as resident students at UM-Missoula or completely online through UM-Missoula's online facility.

To earn a certificate in forensic studies the student must complete a minimum of 18 credits, including 6 credits in core forensic science courses.

Certificate of Art - Forensic Studies

College Humanities & Sciences

Catalog Year: 2014-2015

Degree Specific Credits: 18

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: The Certificate in Forensic Studies is primarily designed as a step toward a baccalaureate degree for those interested in a career in the forensic sciences or a related field. It is also designed as an avenue for law enforcement agents, forensic scientists, or other professionals in the justice system to satisfy mandatory continuing education requirements for continued employment or promotion.


Core Courses

Rule: All courses required.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description CJUS 125N - Fund of Forensic Science
Offered autumn and online spring. A survey of the forensic sciences and related disciplines and their use in criminal investigations, the role of forensic scientists in the investigative process and as expert witnesses.
3 Credits
Show Description CJUS 488 - Foren Sci: Beyond Crime Lab
Offered spring and online in autumn. Prereq., ANTH 286N or consent of instr. Examination of the forensic sciences with emphases on the non-crime lab forensic sciences, new technologies, and new directions in the forensic sciences.
3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 6 Total Credits Required

Science Electives

Rule: Must complete 6 credits

Note: To meet this requirement, students must complete six credits in courses listed above, or any courses with a suffix of "N" (courses that have been designated as University of Montana- Missoula General Education Group XI, Natural Sciences, courses in any department) in the following departments: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Physics, or Psychology. Any Criminology courses offered through the Sociology department also count towards meeting this requirement. Courses numbered under 100 may not be counted toward meeting this requirement.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description ANTY 210N - Intro to Physical Anthropology
Offered autumn. An introduction to human evolutionary biology including processes of evolution, primate studies, hominid paleontology, and human variation.
3 Credits
Show Description ANTY 450 - Archaeological Theory
Offered autumn. Prereq., ANTY 250S. Historical trends and current major theories and methods in archaeology.
3 Credits
Show Description ANTY 454 - Lithic Technology
Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Prereq., ANTY 250S and consent of instr.  Analysis of stone artifacts and debitage.
3 Credits
Show Description ANTY 455 - Artifact Analysis
Offered spring. Prereq., ANTY 250S and consent of instr. Laboratory approaches and techniques for analyzing material culture from technological, stylistic, and chronological perspectives.
3 Credits
Show Description ANTY 456 - Historic Archaeology
Offered spring. Prereq., ANTY 250S or consent of instr. Understanding and interpreting the past through historical archaeological remains, methods, and theories. Focuses on historical archaeological sites and topics from the American West, but also examines the field’s global perspective.
3 Credits
Show Description ANTY 458 - Arch of Hunter-Gatherers
Offered autumn even-numbered years. Introduction to the archaeological study of hunter-gatherer societies. Primary emphasis on archaeological method and theory.
3 Credits
Show Description ANTY 466 - Archaeological Survey
(R-12) Prereq., ANTY 250S and consent of instr. Offered autumn. A field course in Montana archaeology.
1 To 12 Credits
Show Description ANTY 467 - Archaeological Field School
(R-12) Offered summer.  Prereq., ANTY 250S and consent of instructor. Provides students with a well-rounded experience in archaeological field methods.  Field schools will typically occur at archaeological site locations away from campus.  During the archaeological field experience, students may learn methods of excavation, survey, research, and analysis to facilitate their transition to careers as professional archaeologists.
3 To 12 Credits
Show Description ENSC 105N - Environmental Science
Offered autumn. Provides students with opportunities to use class knowledge to make a difference; helps students build all of the following: scientific literacy; skills in critical thinking, research and self-instruction; provides an understanding of the scientific basis of environmental issues, policies and laws; encourages habits of sustainable living, scientifically-informed, active participation in social decisions, and service to their community and to the earth.
3 Credits
Show Description PHAR 110N - Use & Abuse of Drugs
Offered autumn and spring. Drug dependence and abuse.
3 Credits
Show Description SCI 225N - General Physical/Chem Sci
Offered autumn. Prereq., M 095 or equiv. Integrated lectures, discussions, laboratory exercises, and demonstrations on topics in chemical and physical science for prospective elementary school teachers and the non-scientist. A two-hour laboratory session is required each week.
5 Credits
Show Description SCI 226N - General Earth/Life Science
Offered spring. Prereq., SCI 225N and M 135 or equiv. Integrated lectures, laboratory exercises, and field trips on topics in earth and biological science for prospective elementary school teachers and the non-scientist. A two-hour laboratory session is required each week and one or two Saturday field trips.
5 Credits
Show Description SOCI 101S - Introduction to Sociology
Offered every term. Overview of the principles and concepts used in the study of human social interaction, groups, communities and societies. Required of all majors.
3 Credits
Show Description STAT 216 - Introduction to Statistics
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 115 (preferred), or one of M 121, 135, 151, 162 or 171, or ALEKS placement >= 4. Introduction to major ideas of statistical inference. Emphasis is on statistical reasoning and uses of statistics.
4 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 6 Total Credits Required

Communication Elective

Rule: Must complete a 3 credit course

Note: To meet this requirement, student must complete one, 3-credit course related to written, oral, or pictorial communication, including selected courses in Art, Curriculum & Instruction, Communication Studies, Computer Science, English, Forestry, Journalism, Linguistics, and Media Arts. Courses numbered under 100 may not be counted toward meeting this requirement.

Minimum Required Grade: C
3 Total Credits Required

Ethics Elective

Rule: Must complete a 3 credit course

Note: To meet this requirement, student must complete one, 3-credit course that has been designated as a University of Montana - Missoula General Education Group VIII (Ethics and Human Values) course in any department.

Minimum Required Grade: C
3 Total Credits Required