Crime Scene Analysis Degree at British Columbia Institute of Technology
This intensive Industry Partnership Certificate Program is an industry-led initiative, the rationale for which comes directly from the policing community and is designed to produce job-ready Crime Scene Assistants.
BCIT and the policing community envision the need for highly trained civilian professionals for the foreseeable future and require graduates who can make an immediate impact. The bar is set at a high level with Canadian Forensic Identification Specialists who are second to none with respect to training, commitment and experience. Accordingly, the aim of this credential is to meet the expectations of the police officers (Forensic Identification Specialists) with whom the graduates will work. The aim is to provide the requisite knowledge and skills in modern crime scene processing techniques.
Following the highly successful model in place at BCIT’s Centre for Forensic and Security Technology Studies, students will build upon their relevant, general diploma by gaining the specialized, theoretical and applied skills in aspects of forensic science pertinent to crime scene processing.
Graduates of this program will bring increased capacity not only to police and government agencies but also to private security and other companies where civilian trained investigators can augment internal investigation units.
The Program
This program consists of nine academic courses, followed by a qualifying examination and a 200-hour field placement, spread over five academic terms. The program matrix below provides further particulars.
Upon completion of the IPCP-CSA, graduates will have the knowledge and skills required to work as an effective team member alongside the Forensic Identification Specialists. Specifically the goal of the program is to produce graduates who are able to:
Evaluate numerous types of crime scenes encountered in the field and apply proper crime scene management skills.
Advocate and apply proper scientific methodology for:
Scene documentation and processing,
Collection of evidence and
Analysis, comparison, evaluation and verification of pertinent evidence for identification purposes.
Apply effective written communication skills for:
Note taking,
Scene documentation,
Formal report writing,
CV development (required of personnel who may be called as an expert witness) and
Correspondence within a multidisciplinary, professional environment.
Apply effective verbal/interpersonal communication skills for:
Working effectively as a member of a team or work group,
Communication within the unique organizational culture of law enforcement and
Testifying as an expert witness in court and before administrative tribunals.
Apply the highest ethical standards and decision making processes expected of a professional in a position of trust.
Job Opportunities
Currently the processing of crime scenes in Canada is conducted by highly trained police officers from the various Forensic Identification sections from Municipal, Provincial or Federal departments. These experienced police officers receive training from the Canadian Police College in Ottawa, Ontario and are trained in scene documentation, evidence collection and fingerprint analysis. The policing community is exploring avenues of enhancing the specialty areas associated with crime scene processing by the introduction of newly created civilian positions. These designees will work alongside the current Forensic Identification Specialists to alleviate some of the demands of these uniformed members. This represents a new model in Canada, not unlike those in many jurisdictions with the United States. A credential tailored specifically to produce job-ready crime scene assistants would bring increased capacity to police agencies for scene processing at a time when departments across the country need it most.
Program Delivery
Academic courses are delivered at the Burnaby campus of BCIT and at certain other specified locations. The field placement will normally be with a police detachment in work situations relevant to the field of crime scene investigation.
Entrance Requirements
Educational Attainment
Applicants’ academic background must meet at least one of the following six criteria:
A two-year diploma (minimum of 60 credits) or associate or bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution;
A minimum of 60 credits of courses fulfilling the requirements of the first two years of study towards the completion of a defined undergraduate degree from a recognized post-secondary institution (eg. BA, BSc, BComm, BASc, etc);
A minimum of 60 credits of courses from one or more recognized post-secondary institutions (minimum of 18 credits at second-year or higher level);
Successful completion of two years in BCIT’s Degree Transfer in Science and Technology program;
Certification as a police constable AND completion of 30 credits from a recognized post-secondary institution; OR
Meeting of alternate entry/exception policy (Please consult Program Coordinator for particulars).
A relevant diploma includes but is not limited to; Criminology, Criminal Justice or Science.
In addition, all applicants will be required to have completed a minimum of Grade 12 chemistry and biology and four credits of post-secondary coursework covering the Canadian judicial system (Note, applicants who have completed FSCT 7001 - Legal Procedures and FSCT 7002 - Legal Evidence meet this requirement).
English Language Proficiency Level
Applicants must have completed English 12 (B or better) or English-language proficiency.
Other Program Requirements
All applicants must pass a basic criminal record check (to be supplied with the application). Students accepted into the program will also be required to pass an enhanced security check in order to participate in the field work practicum.
Additional entrance requirements: WHIMIS and Basic First Aid.
Advanced Placement
Students accepted into the program who have successfully completed FSCT 7010, 8320 or 8340 in the current forensics program, with a final grade of at least 60%, will receive credit towards the IPCP-CSA credential.
Apply to this Program
Candidates for admission are invited to apply directly to the Program Coordinator:
Dr. Dean Hildebrand
Centre for Forensic and Security Technology Studies
British Columbia Institute of Technology
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC, Canada V5G 3H2
Dean_Hildebrand@bcit.ca
Tel. 604-451-7027
Fax 604-431-4516
Selection Process
A maximum of 20 students will be selected for the program each year. Selection will be based on merit: meeting of all entrance requirements (q.v.), personal interview with the Program Head, and an essay outlining qualifications, career goals, and other pertinent matter.
Application Deadline
Continuous intake, with an application deadline of June 30 for the cohort beginning in the fall of each year.
Continue Your Education
Students within the IPCP-CSA program who have successfully completed FSCT 7010, 8320 or 8340 who wish to exit this program and continue in an applicable, alternate ASC or BTD Program (Forensic Science Option) may apply these credits. Note that such students must meet all entrance requirements for the ASC or BTD program.
Prior Learning Assessment
Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) lets students use knowledge and skills learned outside recognized programs - including volunteer work, hobbies, on-the-job experience, or independent study - to gain exemption for particular courses in the program. It relies on an assessment of their knowledge and skills course by course, done by faculty members in the program area. Students who wish to apply for PLAR may contact the Program Coordinator for further details.
Grading
Students must attain a grade of 60% in all academic courses in order to pass. The passing grade on the qualifying exam (which may be taken after all academic courses have been passed) is also 60%. The field placement will be graded on a pass-fail basis.
Apply for Graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, submit an Application for Certification to Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.
All financial obligations to the Institute must have been met prior to issuance of any credential.
Program Matrix
Term 1 Credits
FSCT 5107 Written Communication Skills for the Crime Scene Analyst 2.0
FSCT 8320 The Science of Fingerprints - Theory 3.0
FSCT 8340 Forensic Photography 3.0
Term 2 Credits
FSCT 7311 Crime Scene Investigation 1 3.0
FSCT 8321 The Science of Fingerprints - Applications 3.0
Term 3 Credits
FSCT 7312 Crime Scene Investigation 2 3.0
FSCT 7313 Adv. Evidence & New Tech 2.0
Term 4 Credits
FSCT 5108 Problem Management for Criminal Justice Interventions 3.0
FSCT 7010 The Expert Witness: Prepared for Court 2.0
Term 5 Credits
FSCT 0100 Crime Scene Analysis - Qualifying Exam 0.0
FSCT 0110 Crime Scene Assistant Field Work Practicum 0.0
Total Credits: 24.0
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Course Descriptions
Forensic Investigation
FSCT 0100 - Crime Scene Analysis - Qualifying Exam: This course is the penultimate step towards the completion of the IPCP-CSA Program and is to be successfully completed by the student prior to acceptance into the final field work practicum component. Students must demonstrate a mastery of the theories and competencies relevant to success in the field of crime scene investigation. Success will be determined through a comprehensive written exam, a series of practical assessments in key areas of crime scene processing (photography, fingerprinting, evidence handling) and a final mock crime scene. Prerequisites: FSCT 5107 and FSCT 5108 and FSCT 7010 and FSCT 7311 and FSCT 7312 and FSCT 8320 and FSCT 8321 and FSCT 8340
FSCT 0110 - Crime Scene Assistant Field Work Practicum: This course entails supervised experience in work situations relevant to the field of crime scene investigation in which you may later be employed. You will have an opportunity to practice skills gained in prerequisite courses within the IPCP-CSA Program in order to solidify the theoretical and practical aspects gained in a professional setting. Students receive monthly feedback about their competencies from an assigned mentor/instructor. A field work practicum will innovative and responsive to community/agency needs.
FSCT 5107 - Written Communication Skills for the Crime Scene Analyst: This course introduces key written communication skills, techniques and procedures relevant to the policing environment with special emphasis on those relevant to the crime scene investigator. Students will learn the importance of effective communication via mediums spanning the less formal (e-mail) to the formal (letter and report writing). Additional, industry specific skills will also be covered and include writing crime lab analysis requests, warrant applications and proper CV development skills for court purposes. Prerequisite: Admission to a Forensics credential program or permission from The Program Head.
FSCT 5108 - Problem Management for Criminal Justice Interventions: This course will provide students with a foundation set of skills in preparation for problem interventions and front line leadership in common criminal justice situations. They will examine theories and develop skills for successful interventions. The course introduces strategies for negotiation, mediation, crisis management, conflict de-escalation, and facilitation of problem solving and decision-making. The course also includes a focus on the necessary ethical dimensions of professional interventions in the criminal justice field. Students will also learn appropriate intervention strategies for a wide range of situations including one-to-one encounters, in team situations, and in organizations. The skills of personal mastery, interpersonal communication skills, interviewing skills, conflict management, and understanding of diversity, team leadership, decision making and problem solving models are also introduced and practiced. Prerequisite: Admission to a Forensics credential program or Permission from the Program Head.
FSCT 7010 - The Expert Witness: Prepared for Court: This course is designed for professionals in a variety of disciplines who may have to testify in a criminal or civil case. Technical competence is only the beginning of an expert witness’ role. To be relevant, one’s analysis must be effectively communicated to the trier of fact. The progression from crime scene to courtroom is described and analyzed by considering legal principles, actual court practice, trial strategies and moot court demonstrations. Prerequisite: Permission of Program Coordinator or Program Head. Permission will normally be given to qualified professionals whose subject-matter expertise may qualify them to testify in court as an expert witness.
FSCT 7311 - Crime Scene Investigation 1: A successful investigation culminating in conviction(s) in a court of law often begins at the crime scene, the processing of which is conducted by highly trained professionals. The purpose of this crime scene investigation course is to teach some of the fundamental aspects of scene processing to a standard expected by the policing community. As such, this course covers the major areas of crime scene management providing an understanding of the employment of appropriate scene preservation and documentation methodologies. Prerequisites: FSCT 8340
FSCT 7312 - Crime Scene Investigation 2: A successful investigation culminating in conviction(s) in a court of law often begins at the crime scene, the processing of which is conducted by highly trained professionals. The purpose of this crime scene investigation course is to expand upon aspects of scene management covered in CSI-Level I to teach additional aspects of scene processing. As such, this course covers the major areas of crime scene processing, in order to give an in-depth understanding in theories of searching and in dealing with the entire range of physical evidence located during the various types of crime scene searches. Prerequisites: FSCT 7311
FSCT 7313 - Adv. Evidence & New Tech: This course expands upon the theories and applications of evidence handling covered in Crime Scene Investigation (Level II) with additional, specialized topics related to forensic biology, entomology and anthropology. This course also offers an opportunity for students to learn about and assess the latest technologies in the ever-changing field of crime scene investigation. Prerequisites: FSCT 7311 and FSCT 7312
FSCT 8320 - The Science of Fingerprints - Theory: This course covers the history of fingerprints as it relates to individualization; friction skin development; how to obtain a proper set of known fingerprint impressions; the Henry Classification System and the Auto-Class Classification System; fingerprint individualization with emphasis on Ridgeology; palm print individualization including the use of palmar flexion creases; procedures utilized in crime scene examination and recovery of fingerprints; chemical techniques for fingerprint detection; the Identification of Criminals Act; and the expert witness in the Canadian Court System. Prerequisite: Admission to a Forensics credential program or permission of the Program Head.
FSCT 8321 - The Science of Fingerprints - Applications: This course builds on the theoretical aspects covered in FSCT 8320 by the addition of applied aspects of detecting, recording and recovering friction ridge detail from crime scenes and exhibits. The course covers: crime scene approaches; examination techniques at the crime scene with a focus on powder techniques (conventional, magnetic and fluorescent); how to properly record and seize exhibits requiring chemical examination techniques; chemical examination techniques (cyanocrylate fuming, DFO and ninhydrin); fluorescent dye techniques associated with CA fuming; proper marking and recording of evidence for continuity and court purposes. Prerequisites: FSCT 8320
FSCT 8340 - Forensic Photography: The multi-faceted field of Forensic Photography is used in diverse disciplines as Forensic Odontology, Dactyloscopy, Document Examination, Forensic Pathology and Forensic Tool Mark Examination. Forensic photography’s role as well as its limitations are emphasized in this course. Students will be thoroughly immersed in the theory of photography, providing them with an understanding of the techniques which will be used in the practical exercise. Topics include crime scene photography, alternate light source photography, unltraviolet and infrared photography, photomicrography, macro photography, theory of light and photographic evidence in the courtroom. Prerequisite: Admission to a Forensics credential program or permission of the Program Head