Fire and Arson Investigation Certificate, Statewide Program

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(R): 180

This certificate provides students with the technical and professional knowledge to prepare for a career in fire and arson investigation. Part detective, scientist, engineer, and law enforcer, the investigator represents the many different facets of both fire science and criminal justice. An arson investigator tries to determine who is responsible for setting a fire; a fire investigator attempts to determine the cause and origin of a fire. This certificate curriculum has been designed to be compatible with industry standards and prepares the student for the challenges he or she may face in investigations and court settings.

Program Requirements

All students should consult an advisor.

CCJS 110 - Administration of Justice 3 semester hours
CCJS 211 - Criminal Investigation 3 semester hours
CCJS 222 - Criminal Evidence 3 semester hours
CCJS 232 - Criminal Forensics 3 semester hours
ENGL 101 - Introduction to College Writing 3 semester hours
ENGL 102 - Critical Reading, Writing, and Research 3 semester hours
OR
ENGL 103 - Critical Reading, Writing, and Research in the Work Place 3 semester hours
FIRE 102 - Fire Behavior and Combustion 3 semester hours
FIRE 103 - Building Construction for Fire Protection 3 semester hours
FIRE 225 - Fire Investigation I 3 semester hours
FIRE 226 - Fire Investigation II 3 semester hours
PSYC 102 - General Psychology 3 semester hours
PSYC 213 - Criminal and Legal Psychology 3 semester hours
OR
PSYC 221 - Introduction to Abnormal Psychology 3 semester hours

Total Credit Hours: 36

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program a student will be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of building construction and associated fire codes.
Describe inspections, corrections of fire hazards, and fire investigations.
Investigate a fire to determine point of origin and cause of the fire.
Identify and differentiate the various forms of fire, their fundamental scientific principles, and their associated mitigation and response strategies.