Crime and Intelligence Analysis Certificate
Program Features
At-a-Glance
The Crime and Intelligence Analysis program equips students with the skills and techniques necessary to:
- Understand the role of crime analysts within a law enforcement agency
- Apply predictive analytics to forecast future crime trends
- Analyze evidence of conspiratorial activities, evaluate the validity of the data, and determine how to present criminal intelligence reports
- Identify behavioral and personality characteristics of offenders to assist law enforcement in their investigation of suspects
- Conduct research in the criminal justice field and present findings using various statistical methods
Overview
Develop the skills necessary for assisting law enforcement in the investigation and apprehension of offenders in the Crime and Intelligence Analysis certificate program.
In this program, students will focus on skill development in collecting and analyzing crime data and identifying crime patterns and trends for the forecasting of future crime occurrences. Students will also learn how criminal profiles are developed, document illicit relationships and use statistical techniques to prepare predictive and descriptive reports of individuals, associations, flow, operations, and threats based on distillation and synthesis of all available information. Students will receive practical instruction in crime analysis, criminal investigative analysis, organized crime and intelligence analysis, and law enforcement research and statistical methods.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will receive a certificate from Sacramento State — for completing the required courses.
Audience
The program is designed for:
- Those involved in crime and intelligence analysis with no formal training
- Law enforcement employees
- Those who supervise crime and intelligence personnel
- Professionals working in related fields who desire future employment in crime and intelligence analysis
Format
The Crime and Intelligence Analysis certificate program consists of eight courses and a supervised practicum. The eight courses are made up of four two-part classes. For example, CA101A and CA101B are enrolled in concurrently.
Courses are delivered online and are asynchronous.
Prerequisites
To be successful in this program:
- Students should have a rudimentary knowledge of the criminal justice system (completion of previous course work in criminal justice or on-the-job training will suffice).
- Students must have a basic knowledge in using Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint (all assignments will require the use of one or more of these applications).
If you live outside of California, see if Sacramento State has secured authorization or exemption to enroll students from your state in its online programs.
Course Offerings
This certificate program consists of four courses designed to be taken in the order listed.
- CA103A & CA103B – Criminal Intelligence: Basic Elements & Applications
- CA104A & CA104B – Criminal Investigative Analysis: Part I & Part II
- CA102A & CA102B – Law Enforcement Research & Statistical Methods: Forecasting & Sampling
- CA101A & CA101B – Crime Analysis: Data Analysis & Applications
Employment Outlook
This program meets the needs of those seeking to become Crime and/or Intelligence Analysts for police agencies and sheriff departments, as well as criminalists and criminal identification specialists for state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Costs
Total Cost: $3,692
Prices are subject to change; please confirm program pricing before your cohort begins. Course fees are currently under review and may change effective Fall 2026.
How to Enroll
Upcoming Dates
2026-2027 Cohort Schedule
- Criminal Intelligence: Basic Elements & Applications (Oct. 19 – Dec. 13, 2026)
- Criminal Investigative Analysis: Part I & Part II (Jan. 11 – March 7, 2027)
- Law Enforcement Research & Statistical Methods: Forecasting & Sampling (March 15 – May 9, 2027)
- Crime Analysis: Data Analysis & Applications (May 17 – July 27, 2027)
Basic Requirements
Students are expected to have a thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation and be able to clearly communicate orally and in writing. Participants must have basic computer skills, a working email address, and access to a computer with internet.
FAQ
Is there an application required for this program?
No. Once registration is open, students will be able to follow the instructions and link provided to complete their enrollment.
Do I need to be enrolled at Sacramento State to participate in this certificate program?
No. Our program is open to the public. There is no requirement to be an admitted Sac State student to enroll.
Do I need to pay for the whole program up front?
No. Students may pay per class, but please note that payment is due at the time of registration. Spots in subsequent courses of the program will be secured, even if students are paying on a per-class basis.
When do the classes meet?
Each course is completely online in an asynchronous format. There will not be any virtual or in-person meetings for any of the courses.
