Exploring Crime Analysis: Essential Skills I

This 12-week online course introduces students to the foundational concepts, systems, and analytical skills that support effective crime analysis. Students examine the criminal justice system, law enforcement models, criminal behavior, police data, internet resources, and research-based approaches to problem solving.

Throughout the course, students build a practical understanding of crime analysis data, data management, descriptive and multivariate statistics, advanced statistical concepts, and qualitative analysis. The course concludes with a two-week capstone that helps students apply what they have learned in a practical context.

Instructor: Jennifer Zawitz

Important: Essential Skills I and II can be taken in any order

Essential Skills I and II are independent of each other, so they may be taken in any order. You do not need to take both classes, and neither class is required for LEAF or CLEA testing.

These classes were specifically designed to help students prepare for the CLEA exam, but the material is an excellent foundation for all analysts, regardless of testing intentions.

Please see the competency alignment document for more detail on how these classes relate to LEAF and CLEA skill areas.

At a Glance

Upcoming Sessions

Select the session that works best for your schedule. Once a session has passed or is already in progress, registration is disabled.

This class is offered every quarter and often generates questions alongside Essential Skills II, so please review the note above before registering.

Note: availability labels are updated manually. For the most accurate information, refer to the registration form. If a class does not appear on the form, it should be treated as sold out.

Class Format

This course is designed for students who want a stronger foundation in the core concepts, data sources, and analytical skills used in crime analysis. It is especially useful for newer analysts, self-taught analysts seeking formal training, and students interested in strengthening their knowledge before pursuing certification.

Students should expect a time commitment of 3-5 hours per week to gain a passing grade. The course is graded as pass/fail and follows a weekly-structured online format, meaning the class advances through each topic together week by week.

Students can log in whenever it fits their schedule, and there are no live sessions. Participation throughout the course is required for a passing grade. As a rule, bulk submissions during the last week of class are not accepted unless prior authorization has been granted by the instructor.

Invitations to the learning platform are sent the weekend before class begins.

Course Outline

This course is organized into 12 weekly modules that introduce foundational concepts in crime analysis and build toward research, statistics, qualitative analysis, and a capstone application.

Ready to Enroll?

Choose an upcoming session and complete your registration. If a session fills, students may contact [email protected] to ask about availability, the waitlist, or future offerings.