AoJ
Crime Scene Investigator, Associate in Science Degree and or Certificate:
AJ111 Introduction to Administration of Justice (Offered online) 3 unit
AJ151 Concepts of Criminal Law 3 unit
AJ156 Legal Aspects of Evidence (Offered online) 3 unit
AJ166 Principles of Investigation (POST 96hrs) 4 uniy Lest/Lab
AJ171 Evidence Technology (POST 96hrs) 4 unit Lect/Lab
AJ216 Latent Fingerprint Examiner 4 unit Lect/Lab
Art121 Basic Photography 3 unit
AJ221 Forensic Photography (POST 64hrs) 2.5 unit Lect/Lab 
Bio100 Principles of Biology 3 unit
Bio101 Principles of Biology Lab 1 unit
Chem100 Introduction to General Chemistry 4 unit
Currently electives
AJ288 Forensic Computer Investigation (New 2007)
POST is the California Commission on Police Officer Standards
and Training. It is the certifying body for California Law Enforcement.
Take core classes for a certificate. Take core classes and General Education
under Plan A for Associates Degree.
Criminal Investigator: Most are police officers who have transferred to the ranks of Detective. Federal investigators may or may not have worked previously as police officers. Examples of Federal Investigators are the FBI, NCIS, NSA, ATF.
Field Evidence Technician [FET] or Crime Scene Investigator [CSI]: These are typically not sworn police officers but instead civilians working at evidence collection. They have two year degrees or more in this area and they have experience gained from internships or volunteer positions. These are middle income jobs. Some FET's have more education, perhaps even a Masters degree but this is rarely required.
A FET/CSI collects evidence at a crime scene under the direction of a Criminal Investigator. They identify, collect, preserve, and submit to analysis evidence collected.
Criminalist: This is a person with a 4 year degree or more in what is called a "hard science". An example is Chemistry or Biology. They use their education in a forensic setting. Typically they work in a laboratory where they analyze evidence sent to them by detectives or FET/CSI's. Some work for the state (Department of Justice), some work for the Coroner's office (Toxicologists) and many work for county or city laboratories.
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