Program Overview

Introduction to the Death Investigation Program

The certificate in death investigation is designed for students aspiring to enter the field, as well as for individuals already employed who seek professional advancement or wish to update their skills. This course of study prepares students for the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators national certifying exam. Job opportunities for those with a certificate in death investigation are available in the offices of both medical examiners and coroners.

Program Type and Format

The Death Investigation program is an Undergraduate Certificate offered On Campus.

Curriculum

The certificate requires a basic knowledge of chemistry and biology. To meet this requirement, students must successfully complete CHEM 100: Chemical Science or equivalent, and BIO SCI 100: Survey of Zoology or equivalent.

Required Courses

The following courses must be completed successfully to obtain a death investigation certificate:

• ACCC 281: Dead Men Do Tell Tales: An Introduction to Forensic Science (3 credits)
• ACCC 285: Medicolegal Death Investigation (3 credits)
• ACCC 481: Criminalistics (3 credits)
• ANTHRO 403: The Human Skeleton (3 credits)
• ANTHRO 405: Forensic Anthropology (3 credits)
• CRM JST 110: Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 credits)
• CRM JST 480: Criminal Evidence and Investigation (3 credits)

Elective Courses

Choose one of the following:

• BMS 610: Pharmacology (3 credits)
• HCA 212: Drugs Used and Abused (3 credits)

Additional Courses

Additional courses with forensic content are recommended but not required for the death investigation certificate:

• ACCC 585: Internship in Forensic Toxicology (2-3 credits)
• ACCC 594: Internship in Forensic Science (3 credits)
• ANTHRO 404: Heredity, Environment, and Human Populations (3 credits)
• BIO SCI 539: Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Biology (4 credits)
• BMS 555: Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (1 credit)
• BMS 560: Molecular Diagnostics (2 credits)
• BMS 561: Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (1 credit)
• BMS 620: Forensic Pathology (2 credits)
• CHEM 194: Freshman Seminar: (with forensic subtitle) (3 credits)
• CHEM 524: Intermediate Analytical Chemistry (3-5 credits)
• CHEM 602: General Biochemistry (3 credits)

Declaration of the Death Investigation Certificate

To pursue the Death Investigation Certificate, students must declare their intention to complete the certificate program.