A Criminal Justice degree specialization in Criminalistics will provide in depth knowledge of: the critical concerns of crime scene processing; the methods that are employed to eliminate those concerns; proper crime scene search patterns; and the appropriate methods to plot the location of evidence when it is discovered. You will also have obtained a working knowledge in the field of Forensics and will understand the principles and techniques needed to identify or compare physical evidence in a criminal investigation.
The Criminal Justice program prepares you to begin or advance your career in the private sector or at the local, state, and federal levels. New positions for qualified law enforcement and security professionals are created every day in the face of ever-increasing challenges to public safety. Saint Leo University has online criminal justice programs to fit your lifestyle while meeting your professional goals.
Criminal Justice Core Program Objectives
- An Introduction to Law and the Legal System
- Survey of the Criminal Justice System
- Substantive Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure And Criminal Justice Ethics Overview
- Police Organization and Administration
- Criminal Behavior
Criminalistics Specialization Objectives
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Forensic Science and Criminal Justice
- History and Science of Criminal Identification
- Evidence Collection and Preservation
- Bodily Fluids as Evidence
- Scientific Writing and Courtroom Testimony
This degree is a 39-hour major based on the input of a diverse criminal justice advisory board that is designed to prepare students for careers and rapid advancement in the criminal justice system and related fields. This program of study will enhance the effectiveness of working professionals, provide a foundation for advancement to administrative levels, and prepare students for graduate study in criminal justice administration and related fields.
Field placements are available to all students who do not have prior criminal justice-related professional experience. Placements and possible future employment opportunities with agencies such as the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Capital Police, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. District Court, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and a variety of local law enforcement agencies and private security firms may be able to provide practical experience for those who are not yet working professionals. | 
