FREE BACHELOR IN CRIMINOLOGY

Criminalistics is basically a scientific study of criminal behavior and the law. Introductory courses in forensics cover the basics of criminal patterns, theories and behaviour. Students who wish to earn a degree in this subject have the opportunity to explore the causes of crime, methods of prevention, the criminal justice system, and criminal behavior.

Successful completion of the degree allows them to pursue careers in social services, law enforcement, and crime investigation.

What Does a Bachelor of Science in Criminalistics Do ?

Criminalists use their knowledge of the physical and natural sciences to examine and analyze every piece of evidence from a crime scene. They prepare written reports of their findings and may have to present their reports in court.

A criminalist is not involved in determining the guilt or innocence of an accused individual; rather, their job is to present an objective analysis of the evidence. There are several key skills that criminalists need to be successful in their work. They must be detail-oriented and have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

They must also have strong critical thinking and problem solving skills and a solid background in science, statistics, physics, mathematics and ethics. Finally, criminalists should feel comfortable testifying in court. Most of a criminalist’s work is done in a laboratory unless they specialize in crime scene investigation.

Their work usually includes recognizing what information is important, collecting and analyzing evidence without contaminating it, and organizing all the information and evidence in a consistent manner.

Criminalistics has many areas of expertise. Specialties include, but are not limited to:

Alcohol and drugs
Arson
Blood and tissue splashes
Computer Forensics
DNA
Explosions
Serology (examination and analysis of body fluids)
Toxicology
Firearms and tool marks
Tracking evidence
Wildlife (analysis of evidence against poachers)

Subjects Included in the Free Bachelor of Arts in Criminalistics Program

Students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in criminology study laboratory and analytical techniques used in forensic science, such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

The various types of trace evidence such as explosives and body fluids; and the study of latent fingerprints. They also receive an introduction to quantitative and chemical synthesis and trace evidence and fingerprint collection techniques.

Other class topics commonly found in criminology include:

Principles of general chemistry, inorganic and organic chemistry, and biochemistry.
Fundamentals of statistics and physics.
Introductory course in law enforcement and criminal justice.

Some Countries to Study for the Free Bachelor of Arts in Criminalistics

United States
United Kingdom
Australia
Hong Kong
Mexico
Canada
Spain

Some Universities to Study Criminalistics for Free

Cambridge University, Institute of Forensics.

The University of Cambridge Institute of Forensics is acclaimed worldwide for its excellence in teaching and research.

The Institute of Forensic Science offers comprehensive forensic science classes along with socio-legal studies to provide all students with an advanced and in-depth understanding of criminal justice theories.

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

The University of Pennsylvania is the most prestigious university in the nation and is one of the Ivy League’s private schools that has a rich history of rigorous academics and an educational system.

The university offers interdisciplinary programs on criminalistics that allow students to better understand the causes of criminal behavior.

Griffith University, Australia

Established in 1975, Griffith University has been honored as one of the most influential and prestigious universities in the Asia-Pacific region. The university is also regarded as one of Australia’s innovative tertiary institutions with an outstanding course curriculum.

University of Sydney, Institute of Criminology

The Sydney Institute of Criminology is essentially a research centre located on the campus of the Sydney Law School and specialises in courses relating to criminal justice, criminology and criminal law.

University of Leicester, Department of Criminalistics

Since its inception in 1987, the Department of Criminalistics at the University of Leicester has been providing world-class education in criminal justice and criminology, making it the most prominent and world-renowned department.

The University of Hong Kong, Centre for Criminalistics

As the leading university of the 21st century, the Centre for Criminology at the University of Hong Kong provides comprehensive education to promote the development of crime research, criminal education and justice policy in the Asian region.

Studies in Different Academic Levels