Graduate Certificate in Crime Analysis
Turn data into solutions for safer communities with CU Denver's Graduate Certificate in Crime Analysis.
Today's students are increasingly passionate about topics such as prison reform, counterterrorism, crime trends, and crime prevention. There is no better way to combat the problems faced by society than by starting with analyzing data and other intelligence.
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Degree LevelGraduate Certificate -
School & CollegeSchool of Public Affairs -
Application Deadline(s)May 1, 2025 -
Total Credit Hours15 -
Class Type100% Online -
Time CommitmentFull-Time or Part-Time -
Start Term(s)Fall, Spring, Summer
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Program Overview & Timeline
Crime analysts typically collect crime data, perform quantitative and qualitative analysis on the data, create reports for various governmental entities such as the city in which the law enforcement agency resides, and interpret results as well as offer recommendations.
These functions typically have the purpose of helping to identify trends, reasons for crime, and help to inform preventative measures. Other entities also hire crime analysts, such as state public safety offices, judicial, corrections, non-profit and social justice groups, and sometimes media.
The certificate requires the completion of five courses (15 credits). Students can complete the program in as little as one year.
This certificate prepares students to serve as crime analysts, who are often housed within law enforcement agencies.
Tuition Breakdown
| Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|
| $613 per credit | $736* per credit |
*WRGP participating program.
Certificate Courses
CRJU 5003 – Research Methods (3 credits): Examines applied research designs and analytical models. Research problems in the system are utilized to illustrate the application and interpretation of alternative research strategies.
CRJU 5004 – Statistics for Criminal Justice (3 credits): Introduces principles of descriptive and inferential statistics and provides tools for understanding research findings. Topics include hypothesis testing and point estimation; bivariate and multivariate measures of association; inferential statistics; ordinary least square regressions, logistic regression analyses.
CRJU 5015 – Intelligence Writing & Briefing (3 credits): This course provides an overview of intelligence analysis and aims to provide the skills and tools necessary to effectively communicate results to consumers. Students will be familiarized with the analytical, perceptual, and cognitive pitfalls of conducting intelligence analysis and learn a variety of strategies for overcoming these problems, preparing professional intelligence products, and presenting executive-level intelligence briefings.
ENGL 5175 – Writing in the Sciences (3 credits): Provides rhetorical analyses of scientific discourse and student practice in writing research reports and proposals.
CRJU 5325 – Qualitative Methods for Criminal Justice (3 credits): Focuses on qualitative methods applicable to research in the field of criminal justice. The primary focus is on ethnographic approaches employing such fieldwork techniques as observation, participant observation, interviews, content analysis, life histories and case studies.
PUAD 5007 – Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits): Focuses on qualitative research methods that incorporate field work techniques such as observation, interviews, and content analysis. The main objective is to discover practicalities and limitations of ethnographic methods with a comparative methodology perspective. Students are required to conduct a research project.
CRJU 5331 – Crime Analysis & GIS (3 credits): Serves as an introduction to the uses and applications of analysis within law enforcement, including the role of analysis in law enforcement, theories that guide analysis and police practices, commonly used data sources and technology, and techniques for various types of analysis utilized in law enforcement.
Career Outlook
Demand for crime analysts is rising, particularly with police departments, courts, correctional agencies, research firms, think tanks, and private companies.
Admissions
Students who earned a 3.0 or higher in their bachelor’s program are fully admitted to the program.
To apply for admission, please:
- Complete a non-degree application.
- Upload your current, chronological resume.
- Upload an unofficial transcript from the higher education institution that awarded your bachelor's degree.
- Pay the $50 application fee, which can be waived for CU Denver alumni, veterans and those on active military duty, and AmeriCorps volunteers.
- Submit your application.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Investing in your future is a big decision. However, becoming a fully online student at CU Denver is a high-quality and affordable option for learners of all types. Tuition and fees are based largely on the degree program you enroll in.
Visit our tuition and financial aid page for more information. Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.
Experience flexible, career-focused programs with CU Denver’s renowned quality—100% online—taught by expert faculty in engaging courses within a supportive community, all at an affordable tuition with financial aid and scholarships available.
Flexible, career-focused programs with the same CU Denver quality—100% online.
Expert faculty, engaging courses, and a supportive online community.
Affordable tuition with financial aid and scholarships for online students.
Take the Next Step
Ready to expand your leadership in combatting crime? Take the first step toward earning your online certificate by filling out the form above for more information or calling us at 303-860-5604.