Death Investigation Certificate
The undergraduate Death Investigation Certificate is for students aspiring to enter the field, and for individuals already employed who either seek professional advancement or wish to update their skills.
This course of study prepares students for the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators national certifying exam. Job opportunities for those with a certificate in death investigation would be available in the offices of both medical examiners and coroners.
Program Type
Undergraduate Certificate
Program Format
On Campus
Curriculum
The Death Investigation Certificate requires a basic knowledge of chemistry and biology. To meet this requirement, students must successfully complete CHEM 100: Chemical Science or equivalent, and BIO SCI 100: Survey of Zoology or equivalent.
The Abbreviation ACCC
The abbreviation ACCC is used in the course listings below to represent the four departments that are jointly offering these courses:
- Anthropology (ANTHRO)
- Chemistry (CHEM)
- Biomedical Sciences (BMS)
- Criminal Justice and Criminology (CRM JST)
The following courses must be completed successfully to obtain a Death Investigation Certificate:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCC 281 | Dead Men Do Tell Tales: An Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
| ACCC 285 | Medicolegal Death Investigation | 3 |
| ACCC 481 | Criminalistics | 3 |
| ANTHRO 403 | The Human Skeleton | 3 |
| ANTHRO 405 | Forensic Anthropology | 3 |
| CRM JST 110 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRM JST 480 | Criminal Evidence and Investigation | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| BMS 610 | Pharmacology | |
| HCA 212 | Drugs Used and Abused | |
| Total Credits | 24 |
Additional Courses
Additional courses with forensic content are listed below. Check prerequisites or consult the instructor for eligibility.
These courses are recommended, but are not required, for a certificate in death investigation:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCC 585 | Internship in Forensic Toxicology | 1-3 |
| ACCC 589 | Internship in Death Investigation | 1-3 |
| ACCC 594 | Internship in Forensic Science | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 404 | Human Biological Variation | 3 |
| BIO SCI 539 | Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CHEM 194 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| CHEM 524 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 602 | Biochemistry: Cellular Processes | 3 |
| BMS 555 | Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring | 1 |
| BMS 560 | Molecular and Genetic Diagnostics | 2 |
| BMS 561 | Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory | 1 |
Field Programs
Student Advising & Support Services
Northwest Quadrant D 3800
414-229-4852
ccep-advising@uwm.edu