Investigative Journalism | Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 33-3021.00

Skills

Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingCoordination

Knowledge

Law and GovernmentPublic Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServicePsychology

Abilities

Oral ComprehensionInductive ReasoningOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionInformation OrderingNear VisionSpeech RecognitionSpeech Clarity

Tasks

Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews,
Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior
Operate drones for aerial surveillance or to gather evidence from difficult to reach locations.

Technology

Network monitoring softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareProject management softwareOffice suite softwareMap creation software

Tools

35 millimeter camerasAudio recording equipmentAutomated external defibrillators AEDBiohazard suitsBlood collection kitsBody armorBreathalyzersBulletproof vestsCompound light microscopesCrime scene rulersCrime scene tape measuresDeoxyribonucleic acid DNA collection kitsDesktop computersDigital camerasDigital tape recorders

Work Values

AchievementWorking ConditionsIndependenceRecognitionSupportRelationships

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: medium33-3021.00	Detectives and Criminal Investigators	title_inference	$93,580 median$159,410 top	-0.68%	-80

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: advanced (Level 4)(based on Master's Degree)

Investigative unit leadership — direct the full operational strategy of a detective unit, setting investigative priorities and allocating resources across concurrent complex criminal cases.
Policy and protocol development — develop and institutionalize interview, evidence-handling, and reporting protocols that align with current law and government standards across the organization.
Mentor and training oversight — coach and evaluate junior investigators in field techniques, report writing, and legal compliance, accelerating their progression from emerging to proficient performance.
High-stakes court coordination — lead the preparation of charges, legal responses, and expert testimony strategies for high-profile or complex prosecutions in collaboration with legal counsel.
Cross-agency intelligence strategy — establish information-sharing frameworks and joint investigative task forces with federal, state, and local agencies using GIS and network monitoring tools.
Organizational performance monitoring — monitor unit-level investigation outcomes, clearance rates, and compliance metrics, reporting findings to command leadership and recommending systemic improvements.
Executive-level judgment — exercise final-authority judgment on legally sensitive decisions — including warrant applications and evidence destruction — with full accountability for organizational and legal outcomes.
Technology integration leadership — evaluate and deploy emerging investigative technologies such as analytical software, photo imaging tools, and mapping platforms to modernize departmental investigative capacity.
Public safety policy influence — represent the investigative function in intergovernmental forums, contributing expertise to shape public safety and security policy at the organizational or jurisdictional level.
Organizational integrity stewardship — model and enforce standards of integrity, cautiousness, and ethical conduct across the investigative division, establishing a culture of dependability and professional accountability.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.