Exploring the Crime and Intelligence Analysis Program

Chris Mason is an instructor in the Crime and Intelligence Analysis Certificate Program at Cal State Fullerton. In this Q&A, he talks about how the program prepares students for successful careers, common career paths, and key skills and knowledge that students will obtain from the program.

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What is your favorite subject/course/lecture/project in this program?

Although every class has something of value to be gleaned, when I was a student in this program, I fell in love with Criminal Intelligence Analysis and was fortunate enough to support my department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit for the first 7 years of my career.

What advice do you have for students entering the Crime and Intelligence Analysis certificate program?

Take advantage of the experience of the instructors in this program and absorb as much information as you can by taking good notes and asking questions. It goes a long way later when students complete the coursework and are trying to apply for a job or even an internship.

What are some of the highlights of the Crime and Intelligence Analysis certificate program?

On a granular level, the major benefit of taking my course in this program is that all of the analytical techniques are done in Excel, which is used extensively in the Crime and Intelligence Analysis domain or is used in conjunction with other software such as Power BI or ESRI’s Dashboard platform, for example. Excel is readily available as well, so anyone can access it and start using it to perform the basics within Crime Analysis. Prior to my class being restructured, all of the analytical techniques were taught manually, so this is a significant evolution to the program.

On a more macro level, Crime and Intelligence Analysis is a very specialized field in the law enforcement domain requiring specialized education that is not normally taught in a standard Criminal Justice degree curriculum. The type of education that is offered in this program is not readily available in mainstream academia, which enhances the value of the program for those interested in the field.

What are some key skills and knowledge areas that students will gain from your course?

In my specific courses, which are Crime Analysis Data Analysis and Crime Analysis Applications, these courses are really fundamental to the program as they address the evolution of the field of Crime Analysis, the different types of analysis a practitioner may be engaged in, and considerations when an Crime Analysis Unit is being initiated or is evolving within the department. The key skill needed for this course is a comfortable, working understanding of Excel, which is used as the primary software to conduct the analytical techniques and is a foundation to build on as students progress in the Crime Analysis field.

How does this program prepare students for successful careers?

This program is intended to establish the foundational concepts necessary for students to build on as they progress in the field. Certainly, the concepts taught in this program will also prepare students during the interview process, especially if the students are able to get into an internship prior to the interview.

What are some common career paths for graduates?

Law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels are where most students will find jobs as a Crime Analyst or an Intelligence Analyst. However, there are certainly opportunities in the private sector, including Asset Protection and Fraud Analysis at banks, just to name a couple. At the federal level, there are opportunities to apply for analytical positions in Cyber Security, Open Source Intelligence, and even Intelligence Units, just to name a few.

For those new to Crime and Intelligence Analysis or looking to advance their careers, what advice would you give on staying competitive in the evolving Crime and Intelligence Analysis landscape?

Start by getting plugged into the Crime and Intelligence Analysis Associations. The membership fees are nominal and will allow students to attend the meetings and training to get a feel for the direction the practitioners are moving within the domain. As you start to intern and/or get hired with an agency, continue to network with others in the field, as this will allow you to ask how others are dealing with a particular issue or challenge.