Master of Criminal Justice • Graduate Certificate
Graduate Certificate in Crime Analysis
Build graduate-level skills in crime analysis, crime mapping, data interpretation, and applied research through a focused certificate designed for modern public safety and data-informed decision-making.
Overview What You Will Learn Why This Certificate Curriculum Instructor Career Applications Get Started Next Steps
12
Credit Hours
4
Graduate Courses
100%
Fully Online
MCJ
Courses Apply to the Degree
What Is Crime Analysis?
Crime analysis transforms crime-related data into actionable information that can help public safety agencies identify patterns, trends, recurring problems, and geographic concentrations of crime.
Analysts combine data management, mapping, research, and interpretation to support operational decisions, investigations, resource allocation, prevention strategies, and longer-term organizational planning.
Tarleton’s graduate certificate was developed in partnership with the Texas Law Enforcement Analyst Network (TXLEAN) and emphasizes skills that connect graduate education directly to contemporary public safety practice.
What You Will Learn
Patterns & Trends
Identify recurring crime patterns, emerging trends, series, and hot spots.
GIS & Mapping
Use geographic information systems to analyze crime across places and communities.
Data Management
Extract, organize, manipulate, query, and interpret large crime-related datasets.
Applied Research
Use research design and statistical analysis to support evaluation and policy decisions.
Decision Support
Create analytical products that support public safety planning and strategic decisions.
Why This Certificate Stands Out
The program combines analytical depth with practical applications that connect directly to contemporary criminal justice and public safety environments.
Applied Training
Develop practical capabilities in analysis, mapping, research design, and data interpretation.
Public Safety Focus
Connect analytical methods to operational and strategic challenges faced by justice agencies.
Transferable Skills
Build capabilities useful in intelligence, GIS, policy analysis, research, and evaluation.
MCJ Pathway
Apply certificate coursework toward the non-thesis Master of Criminal Justice degree.
Certificate Curriculum
Complete four graduate courses for a total of 12 semester credit hours.
CRIJ 5300
Applied Data Analysis for Criminal Justice I
Develop data-analysis skills for criminal justice decision-making, research, and policy.
CRIJ 5363
Introduction to Crime Mapping
Use GIS concepts and spatial analysis to examine community crime problems and create effective maps.
CRIJ 5364
Introduction to Crime Analysis
Learn advanced data-management methods that support crime analysis and intelligence-led policing.
CRIJ 5398
Applied Research Design I
Apply research methods to evaluation, policy analysis, hypothesis testing, and criminal justice practice.
MCJ students: All four certificate courses can be incorporated into the non-thesis Master of Criminal Justice degree, allowing the certificate to account for up to 40% of that degree plan.
Meet Our Instructor
Dr. Kenneth Michael Reynolds
Dr. Reynolds combines academic expertise with more than a decade of direct law enforcement experience and extensive work in crime analysis, crime mapping, data sharing, and intelligence-led policing.
He has led federally and locally funded initiatives involving law enforcement information sharing and analytical systems, including work supporting the Florida Law Enforcement Data Sharing Consortium and FINDER. His research, consulting, and training have also supported public safety organizations including the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice.
His combination of practitioner experience, research, and training provides students with a strong connection between analytical methods and their real-world application in criminal justice agencies.
Where These Skills Apply
The certificate develops analytical skills applicable to public safety, intelligence, mapping, evaluation, research, and data-informed decision support.
Crime Analysis
Pattern identification, operational analysis, strategic analysis, and public safety decision support.
Intelligence Analysis
Analytical products supporting investigations, intelligence-led policing, and strategic planning.
GIS & Mapping
Spatial analysis, mapping, geographic problem identification, and visual communication.
Research & Evaluation
Program evaluation, policy analysis, applied research, and evidence-based decision-making.
Possible professional pathways include crime analyst, intelligence analyst, research or policy analyst, and other public safety or justice-related analytical roles.
How to Get Started
Getting started is simple. Follow the steps below to begin the certificate process and connect with the right support.
Step 1
Fill out the certificate form.
Step 2
Get the required signatures.
Step 3
Submit the completed form toemail.
Step 4
Meet with the MCJ advisor if you have questions.
Explore Your Next Steps in Graduate Study
Whether you want to strengthen your Master of Criminal Justice pathway, explore additional graduate certificates, or pursue focused learning through extended education non-degree options, Tarleton offers flexible ways to build advanced knowledge and career-relevant skills.
Master of Criminal Justice
Use certificate coursework to complement broader graduate study and deepen analytical expertise within the MCJ.
More Certificate Options
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Homeland Security
Non-Degree Learning
Pursue targeted crime analysis certificate through flexible non-degree options designed for immediate skill building.