Minor in Integrated Science and Technology for Undergraduate Criminal Justice Majors

 

 

What is the minor in Integrated Science and Technology? 

 

Marshall University Criminal Justice (CJ) majors can add skills in computer technology, computer forensics, and DNA typing by completing a minor in Integrated Science and Technology (IST).

 

As Jeremy Travis, Director of the National Institute of Justice stated in 1997: “This much is known: the technological revolution is upon us and we are not ready.”  Since that time, law enforcement agencies have focused on recruiting graduates with expertise in science and technology.  The FBI is currently only recruiting special agents in three areas, with IT/Computers as one.  One of their ten key priorities is upgrading technology to successfully perform the FBI’s mission.

 

The largest division of the FBI is now the Criminal Justice Information Services, based in Clarksburg, WV and includes the National Crime Information Center, Uniform Crime Reporting, Fingerprint Identification, and development of a National Incident-Based Reporting System.  

 

The gathering and examination of DNA is now an essential tool in criminal investigations and the prosecution of cases and is becoming as important as fingerprints in identifying criminals.

 

The minor in IST allows CJ students to take courses that use scientific procedure and technology to detect crimes and resolve cases through the study of the application of computer and information technology and biotechnology.  Students may take courses in both areas or focus on one area.

 

Like all academic plans and programs, the minor in Integrated Science and Technology is most useful to CJ students if it is carefully planned in cooperation with advisors from the Criminal Justice and Integrated Science and Technology Departments. 

 

 

What are the requirements for the IST minor for CJ students?

 

Students are advised to complete the following:
 

• Two courses in Criminal Justice that demonstrate competence with proper procedures in identification and characterization of criminal activity.  Choose from: CJ 312 Criminal Investigation, CJ 323 Criminal Procedure, or CJ 326 Computer Crime and the Law.

• CJ students must complete a minimum of 12 hours of IST courses as part of a plan developed in cooperation with both IST and CJ advisors. 
   

 

What IST courses might help me prepare for a career in Criminal Justice?

• ISC 205, 4 hrs. Introduction to Forensic Science.  Course provides a thorough introduction to forensic science applications including such topics as blood spatter analysis, ballistics, bite mark analysis, and DNA typing.
   

• IST 264, 3 hrs. Topics in Computer Hardware Technologies. Includes basic information on hardware structures involved in computer fraud and crime. Course is a prerequisite for taking additional IST coursework in computer forensics.
  For students interested in computer and information technology:

• IST 160, 3 hrs. Introduction to Programming.  Course introduces students to modern data gathering methods and programming for the internet.  The course covers programming, graphic programming interface packages, and problem solving methods.

• IST365, 3hrs. Database Management Systems. Covers the logical and physical structures of data stored and retrieved from a relational database. Exposure to distributed databases, database administration and structured query language will also be done.  Database management is the basic core of all work in storing and retrieving fingerprint and DNA information.

• IST 423, 3hrs. GIS and Data Systems.  Course covers basic applications of digital mapping and the integration of numeric and descriptive data.  The use of GIS and crime mapping is a rapidly expanding area of criminal investigation.  Digital image analysis and mapping is a rapidly growing area of crime scene analysis and security development.

 

For students interested in course work specifically focusing on computer forensics:

• IST 446, 3 hrs.  Introduction to Digital and Multimedia Evidence. (PR: IST 264). Introduction to the principles of forensics and their application to the practice of computer forensics.  Review of foundations of criminal and civil law and judicial system.
   

• IST 447, 3 hrs.  Search and Seizure Techniques in Digital and Multimedia Evidence.  Basic information in the proper procedures and legal issues involved in seizing digital evidence used in commission of a crime.
   

• IST 448, 3 hrs.  Forensic Uses of Digital Imaging.  Principles of digital imaging analysis and their application to practice, including preparation of court exhibits.  (PR: IST 447).
   

• IST 449, 3 hrs.  Data Recovery and Analysis.  Recovery of information from electronic devices, legal issues and the techniques used in forensic examinations. (PR: IST 448).

• IST 463, 3 hrs. Digital Computer Evidence. Computer forensics, including handling digital evidence, case preparation, forensic imagining, data recovery, password cracking, e-mail analysis, and report writing. Proper usage of forensic tools is emphasized.
   

• IST 464, 3 hrs.  Network Security and Cyber Crime.  Addresses security issues for TCP/IP-based networks as well as Internet security in the areas of cryptography, protocols, applications, encryptions, hash functions, digital signatures, etc.

 

For students interested in DNA and crime, recommended course options include:

• IST 340, 4hrs. Double Helix: Issues in DNA Technology. DNA and genes, the code of life, which we receive from our parents.  Discusses how humans have recently learned about DNA and have started to manipulate it. (PR :IST 111 or basic biology course).
   

• IST 341, 4hrs. It’s All in Your Genes: Issue in Human Genetics. Gene cloning, genetic testing, gene engineering, DNA fingerprinting.  What does human heredity hold from the past and store for the future? (PR: IST 111 or basic biology course).
   

• IST 445, 3hrs.  DNA Forensics. Hands-on DNA typing of simulated crime scene evidence.  Process biological samples, purify DNA, perform a presumptive and confirmatory tests for blood and semen, learn microscopy, PCR genetic analysis and practice testimony. (PR: IST 340 or IST 341).

For additional information contact your CJ advisor or Dr. Mike Little, Chair of Integrated Science and Technology, Morrow Library 112 at 696-6498 or little@marshall.edu.

 

Revised December, 4 2012