Courses in the Certificate
Course One: Foundational Concepts in Victimology
Foundational Concepts in Forensic Victimology provides students with an overview of the field, and explores the latest research on victim-offender dynamics in relation to crime and event subtypes. Specific emphasis is placed on identifying risk and protective factors associated with victimology subtypes, constructing victim profiles to inform violence prevention, investigation/intervention, and policy efforts, and the compassion-science balance approach to forensic victimology.
Course Two: Forensic Victimology: Prevention
This course will focus upon the practices that support prevention of victimization and revictimization. Research related to crime prevention will be explored. The course will also focus upon threat assessment in various milieu (public venues, households, the workplace, school campuses), as well as specific safety planning strategies to support the prevention of victimization. As mental health professionals are second only to law enforcement officers for risk of workplace victimization, this course will also include specific victimization prevention strategies for mental health professionals.
Course Three: Forensic Victimology: Investigation and Intervention
This course provides an overview of the investigation of crime and intervening with victims when one or more individuals has been victimized. The role of Victimology Assessment in offender identification and apprehension will be explored. Additionally, this course will focus upon the Victim-Witness, and his/her interdependence with the judicial system. Variables affecting Victim-Witness intervention, including age, cultural and gender variables; crime dynamics; trauma history; and cognitive-affective processing will be reviewed. Strategies for maximizing the efficacy of the Victim-Witness from a judicial standpoint, while simultaneously fostering recovery, will be explored. Finally, this course will explore the challenges to the investigator/practitioner who works with crime victims; discussions and strategies for the prevention of secondary victimization, vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue will be reviewed.
Certificates will be accepted for transfer credit toward select 3-unit courses in CSFS’s Master’s of Science Forensic Behavior Science or Master of Science Forensic Administration and Leadership. Up to two certificates can be transferred.
The California Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Behavioral Science, Public Safety, and Justice at the California School of Forensic Studies (CSFS) at Alliant International University is dedicated to providing law enforcement, security professionals, other first responders, and mental and allied health professionals with practical forensic education and training.
Advanced Practice Certificates are eligible for Continuing Education credit through the American Psychological Association (APA). CSFS is also an official corporate sponsor of the International Law Enforcement Education and Trainers Association (ILEETA).