Diana
What are the typical class requirements or recommendations I should take in order to become a criminal investigator?
Hello, my name is Diana and I'm currently a senior in Connecticut. I was asking this question I really had an interest in criminal justice and I just wanted to know more about what classes people have taken in order to become a criminal investigator or any interesting courses people took in college to help major in this. #criminal-justice #detective #investigator
2 answers
Dr. Kelly Desso
Dr. Kelly’s Answer
As a fellow Connecticut native, I'm really hoping that the decade since your original post has seen you well into a successful policing career! I'm also hoping that this message might find others from our neck of the woods who have the same question.
I completed both my AS and BS at Goodwin University, which offered a wealth of courses that proved invaluable for my career in security. If you're considering a career in investigations, the most beneficial course I took - a major requirement, no less - was investigative report writing. I can't think of a single job I've had where I didn't need to write an accident report, transcribe witness interviews, or prepare incident summaries for insurance or litigation purposes.
If I were to list my top 5 officers, they all shine in this area! They present facts clearly and leave no room for questions that could potentially cost your employer money or even a case. So, if you come across a program that offers a similar course, I'd strongly recommend giving it a shot.
Kristie Swanson, CIPP/US
Kristie’s Answer
Hi Diana,
Pursuing a criminal justice degree is a good first step. There are also other similar degrees that are more specialized like Investigations. I personally enjoyed some of the forensics classes I took. If you are truly interested in becoming a criminal investigator, I would recommend contacting your local police department and speaking with their investigations team. They are usually more than likely to share this type of knowledge. They have those careers and know how they acheived them.