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.
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.
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, is eligible to enroll. Also, graduate students currently
enrolled in a course of study at Radford University may participate in this program.
Applicants wishing to pursue the certificate should apply submitting graduate application,
including “Crime Analysis Certificate” from the drop down-box, the application fee,
and official transcripts. Students already enrolled as degree-seeking graduate students
at Radford University are eligible to enroll in the PBC in Crime Analysis program.
This application is available on-line at the College of Graduate Studies and Research
website.
The curriculum includes coursework in environmental criminology, research methods,
statistics, and crime mapping. The following describes the 15-credit hour curriculum:
CRJU 670. Criminal Justice Research Methods (3)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
Course Delivery
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
the Roanoke Higher Education Center in 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.
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. Cohorts will begin in the fall semester.
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.
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.
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.
Certificate Contact
Dr. Roberto G. Santos, Program Coordinator
Department of Criminal Justice
Phone: 540-831-5157
E-mail: rsantos4@radford.edu