Death Investigation Certificate
The certificate in death investigation 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 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 is used in the course listings below to represent the four departments that are jointly offering these courses, ANTHRO/CHEM/BMS/CRM JST; students may enroll in the courses under any of the four curricular areas.
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:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMS 610 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| HCA 212 | Drugs Used and Abused | 3 |
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 the death investigation certificate:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCC 585 | Internship in Forensic Toxicology | 2-3 |
| ACCC 594 | Internship in Forensic Science | 3 |
| ANTHRO 404 | Heredity, Environment, and Human Populations | 3 |
| BIO SCI 539 | Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BMS 555 | Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring | 1 |
| BMS 560 | Molecular Diagnostics | 2 |
| BMS 561 | Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory | 1 |
| BMS 620 | Forensic Pathology | 2 |
| CHEM 194 | Freshman Seminar: (with forensic subtitle) | 3 |
| CHEM 524 | Intermediate Analytical Chemistry | 3-5 |
| CHEM 602 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
Academic Resources
- Academic Programs
- Academic Catalog
- Advising – Undergraduate
- Advising – Graduate
- Mentoring Program for Students
Field Programs
Students in Letters and Science
Dana Northrup
414-229-4654
northrup@uwm.edu
Students in the College of Health Sciences
Bill Mueller
414-229-2758
muellew@uwm.edu
Students in Criminal Justice & Criminology
Kate Masshardt
414-229-4852
masshard@uwm.edu