Wright State offering policing and investigation minor

Students can now learn more about policing and crime investigation through a new minor offered by Wright State’s Crime and Justice Studies Program.

The policing and investigative studies minor emphasizes historical and cross-cultural perspectives, social justice, ethics, effects of court decisions and the difference between theory and practice in enforcing formal norms.

Students will learn about controversial topics such as police discretion, use of force, the conflict between policies such as “stop and frisk” and civil rights and challenges to forensic science from the scientific community. Courses vary along a broad spectrum from theoretical (Criminology) to applied (Crime Scene Investigation).

Jessalyn Besecker, a biological sciences major, said she declared the minor because “I want to pursue a career in forensic science, specifically crime scene investigation and laboratory forensics. This will give me a wide variety of tools I need to be successful in this field.”

Steeped in the liberal arts tradition, the minor emphasizes critical thinking, analytical writing and effective oral communication.

A minor in policing and investigative studies requires students to complete 12 hours from four core areas — police and society, policing and investigative practices, law and diversity and ethics — and nine hours of electives.

Courses in the interdisciplinary program come from political science, psychology, sociology and urban affairs and geography.

For more information about the Policing and Investigative Studies minor, contact Michael Norris, director of crime and justice studies, at michael.norris@wright.edu.

Wright State students can declare the minor through their WINGS account.