Chris Mason, a crime and intelligence analyst with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, is passionate about the Crime and Intelligence Analysis Certificate program at Cal State Fullerton, not only because he teaches in it, but because he’s a proud CSUF alum, having earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice as well as his certificate through CSUF University Extension.
“When I was a student in this program, I fell in love with criminal intelligence analysis,” said Mason. “I used link analysis extensively to support investigations and applied intelligence guidelines to support our unit’s policies and procedures.”
That experience laid the foundation for a successful career in a highly specialized and impactful field within law enforcement.
Mason, now an instructor for the program, teaches Crime Analysis Data Analysis and Crime Analysis Applications — two core courses that introduce students to essential techniques and real-world workflows.
According to Mason, one of the standout features of the curriculum is its emphasis on accessible tools that are commonly used in the profession.
“The major benefit of taking my course is that all of the analytical techniques are done in Excel, which is used extensively in the crime and intelligence analysis domain,” he explained. “Excel is readily available, so anyone can access it and start using it to perform the basics within crime analysis.”
What sets the CSUF certificate apart from many traditional academic programs?
Typically, crime and intelligence analysis isn’t covered extensively in a standard criminal justice degree, yet it plays a crucial role in modern policing and public safety strategy. The CSUF University Extension program provides focused training in link analysis, data management, intelligence procedures and analytical tools that reflect current industry needs through the program’s technical and hands-on projects.
To take the first step toward a career in crime and intelligence analysis, apply to the CSUF University Extension Crime and Intelligence Analysis Certificate program today.