Northern Michigan University Offers CSI Certificate Program

The 16-credit program will provide foundational instruction in criminal investigative techniques, forensic disciplines, crime scene reconstruction and evidence processing.

Northern Michigan University's Criminal Justice Department is all set to offer a new crime scene investigation (CSI) certificate this fall. It will be a 16-credit program to provide foundational instruction in crime scene reconstruction, evidence processing, criminal investigative techniques, and forensic disciplines.

Chris McMaster, criminal justice instructor, in a presentation to the NMU Board of Trustees said, “This should enhance recruitment because it will appeal to a wide range of students in a variety of programs at NMU, such as forensic biochemistry, anthropology, biology, chemistry, psychology, cyber defense, and of course criminal justice majors. So this is truly an interdisciplinary academic credential and it will better prepare students for entry into their chosen fields. It will make them more marketable and competitive in future entry-level jobs and later promotions.”

The certificate course areas of study include criminal investigation; crime scene documentation, an introduction to the criminal justice system; processing, preservation and collection of forensic evidence; and death investigations. There are no additional staffing or equipment costs involved as the department is packaging existing courses in a way that focuses on core CSI knowledge and skills.

NMU gets IDEAS Grants to expand Study Abroad Program

The U.S. Department of State has funded 37 universities to expand the Study Abroad program. Northern Michigan University also received $35,000 grant to initiate study-abroad opportunities. The university faculty members in partnership with the nonprofit organization Heart will lead students on a 10-day immersion in literacy-based activities in the San Ignacio area of the country next May. Assistant Professor Kristen White said "If education graduates go on to teach in a context where their students' culture and language are different from their own, they need to be prepared to do so. This is an equity issue."

“We see the gap in the Michigan Department of Education surveys we have our student teachers and their mentors complete. One of the questions is how well-prepared you are to work with diverse populations and our candidates are telling us that they're not prepared. Their mentors are telling us our candidates aren't prepared. This is an opportunity for us to close that gap a bit for both future and practising teachers. We're ecstatic," Kennedy said.

Read more:

• The University of Warwick bags Campus Experience of the Year Award
• University of Leeds, IIT Madras to launch Joint Centre of Excellence in Sustainability