Online Class: Fatal Clues — The Art and Science of Death Investigation

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
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18Lessons
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19Exams &
Assignments -
80Students
have taken this course -
16Hours
average time -
1.6CEUs
Course Description
Step Into a World Few Dare to Explore
When you hear the term "death investigation," your mind might immediately turn to crime dramas like CSI or the forensic thrillers of Patricia Cornwell. But the reality of death investigation is far richer, more diverse, and infinitely more impactful than Hollywood can ever portray. This course is your invitation to step beyond the TV screen and into the real, fascinating world of death investigation-a field where curiosity meets purpose, science meets humanity, and every discovery has the potential to transform lives.
In this groundbreaking course, you'll uncover the untold stories of death investigation. It's not just about forensics or chasing down a killer; it's about asking the deeper questions: Why does SIDS continue to claim young lives? Can tularemia truly be weaponized? Is the Bird Flu a fleeting headline or a looming pandemic threat? Death investigators are the unsung heroes who connect the dots, uncover truths, and use the lessons of the past to create a healthier, safer future for us all.
Imagine a career where your work contributes to the eradication of deadly diseases, the design of safer workplaces, or the prevention of global health crises. Picture yourself collaborating with experts from fields as varied as public health, aviation, psychology, toxicology, and even art. Death investigation isn't confined to labs or morgues-it's an interdisciplinary force that touches every industry, every community, and every corner of the world.
But this course isn't just about the science or the technical skills. It's about finding your passion and discovering how you can make an impact. Whether you're drawn to medicine, law enforcement, public health, or even fields you never imagined would connect to death investigation, this course will show you how to channel your unique interests into meaningful work. You'll learn how to take the lessons from those who have passed and use them to protect and improve the lives of those who are still here.
This isn't just another online course. It's a transformative experience designed to open your mind, expand your horizons, and ignite your potential. You'll walk away not just with knowledge, but with a profound sense of purpose-and the confidence that you're equipped to make a real difference in the world.
The world of death investigation is vast, complex, and essential. Are you ready to explore it? If you've ever wanted to combine curiosity with compassion, science with service, or learning with legacy, then this course is where your journey begins. Don't just study death investigation-help shape the future of how we understand, prevent, and respond to it.
The question isn't whether you should enroll-the question is: can you afford to miss this opportunity?
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1. Unlocking History's Secrets Through Death
Exploring ancient diseases and natural disasters through death investigations uncovers the interconnected histories that shaped human societies. From the Bubonic Plague to Pompeii, these studies highlight vulnerabilities and resilience, providing lessons for modern challenges.Lesson 2. Forensic Science: Modern Tools for Ancient Law
The integration of forensic science in crime labs commenced in 1923 with the LAPD, evolving significantly post the 1929 Saint Valentine's Day Massacre. These advancements highlight the powerful synergy between science and justice, underscoring a historic journey from rudimentary investigations to comprehensive, cross-disciplinary analyses.Lesson 3. From Forensics to Reform: The Justice System's Evolution
Criminal justice represents the pursuit of equitable law enforcement, grappling with challenges of bias and systemic flaws. Progressive reforms and forensic advancements aim to uphold justice and foster societal trust within an ever-evolving framework.Lesson 4. Exploring Behavioral Trends in Children from Single-Parent Families
In the modern era, public health faces challenges such as chronic diseases and emerging infectious threats, with the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need for global surveillance and equitable healthcare access. Addressing social determinants and promoting mental health are essential aspects of comprehensive health policies that seek to reduce inequalities.Lesson 5. Public Health in a Connected World: Challenges and Innovations
Public health agencies are crucial for enhancing life quality by preventing disease spread and promoting holistic well-being, guided by WHO's comprehensive health definition. Globally, institutions like the CDC and WHO ensure rapid response and collaboration to avert health crises, showing the importance of integrated international efforts.Lesson 6. Prevention Programs: Key to a Longer Life
Understanding the complex interplay of mortality involves examining biological, psychological, and social factors, with mental health awareness now pivotal in preventing tragedies like suicide. Examples like suicide prevention initiatives highlight how deep investigation and multifaceted strategies create societal support and encourage help-seeking behaviors.Lesson 7. Beyond Disease: The Role of Epidemiology
As digital tools and genomics revolutionize epidemiology, the future lies in harnessing big data and personal health tracking to offer precise medical interventions. These advancements, combined with a One Health approach, foster comprehensive strategies for emerging and zoonotic diseases, demonstrating the field's adaptability and scope.Lesson 8. Ensuring Child Well-Being in Divorced Families
Field investigations highlight the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and cultural sensitivity to effectively manage outbreaks. These efforts, supported by advanced training and the use of technology, strengthen public health resilience and prepare communities for future health challenges.Lesson 9. Unmasking the Invisible Threat: Exploring the Hantavirus Outbreak of the 1990s
The investigation into the 1990s hantavirus outbreak showcased multi-agency and community collaboration, tackling an emerging pathogen through field studies and education campaigns to prevent further spread. This multidisciplinary approach in disease response has since informed global health strategies in adapting to novel infectious threats.Lesson 10. The Intricate Dance of Tularemia in Nature and Public Health
The global distribution of tularemia in varied mammalian reservoirs highlights its adaptability and the risk of urban outbreaks through vectors like ticks and deer flies. Proactive surveillance, using advanced diagnostic tools like PCR, along with education and cross-agency collaboration, is essential for minimizing tularemia's impact as a bioterrorism agent.Lesson 11. The Many Faces of Ebola: Exploring Its Unpredictability and Severity
Ebola is a fierce viral infection that highlights the complex intersection between human, animal, and environmental health. Global efforts have focused on developing vaccines, improving diagnostic capabilities, and fostering community awareness to mitigate future outbreaks and enhance resilience against emerging infections.Lesson 12. From Stigma to Science: The Journey of HIV/AIDS
The HIV/AIDS epidemic encapsulates the intersection of devastating health challenges and the societal battle against stigma, with its history rooted in the early 1980s when it emerged as a mystifying illness initially confined to a particular demographic. Despite early misconceptions, subsequent research revealed its nondiscriminatory nature, paving the way for scientific advancements that have transformed the disease from a fatal epidemic to a manageable condition through antiretroviral therapies.Lesson 13. Navigating the Avian Influenza Threat: Past, Present, and Future
Bird Flu, although currently limited in human-to-human transmission, poses a significant future threat if H5N1 mutates. Learning from past pandemics, global efforts focus on surveillance, vaccination development, and public awareness to safeguard human health.Lesson 14. Decoding the Maze of Insurance Claims
As insurance landscapes evolve, mental health awareness and digital transformations redefine policy structures and claim processes. The pandemic has accelerated these changes, urging an industry that's more empathetic, informed, and ready for future challenges.Lesson 15. The Evolution of Workplace Safety: From Past Challenges to Future Innovations
The construction industry, employing 6% of the workforce yet accounting for 20% of fatalities, calls for actionable interventions, especially concerning falls, electrocution, and entrapment accidents. Addressing these hazards requires better training, protective technologies, and comprehensive strategies to translate awareness into safety practices.Lesson 16. The Profound Symphony of Life's End: Unraveling the Mysteries of Death
The lesson delves into the multifaceted nature of death, exploring its causes, mechanisms, and manners through medical, legal, and philosophical lenses. By encouraging understanding and empathy, it empowers individuals to navigate conversations surrounding death with compassion and intellectual clarity.Lesson 17. Child Mortality: Understanding and Prevention
Navigating the tragedy of child mortality, the lesson investigates various causes, emphasizing the role of rigorous examinations to prevent future tragedies. Empowering communities through knowledge, it underscores compassionate support and education as vital elements in the healing journey for grieving families.Lesson 18. The Art and Science of Death Investigation Careers
In understanding the environmental factors linked to cancer, it’s clear that both outdoor pollutants and indoor conditions can significantly contribute to its onset. Stricter regulations and preventive measures are crucial in protecting communities, particularly those adjacent to industrial zones, from heightened cancer risks.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the role of forensic science in death investigations by analyzing and interpreting evidence related to different types of death occurrences.
- Describe how archaeological findings contribute to our understanding of ancient human societies by evaluating skeletal remains and historical contexts to infer cultural and societal structures.
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze crime scenes using appropriate forensic methodologies to accurately identify and interpret physical evidence.
- Describe the process and significance of DNA examination in forensic investigations to resolve cold cases by identifying potential suspects.
- Analyze the interaction between criminology and sociology to explain how socioeconomic factors influence crime patterns and necessitate reforms in criminal justice systems.
- Define the role of forensic science in criminal investigations, illustrating its impact on case outcomes through specific examples such as wrongful conviction exonerations via DNA evidence.
- Describe Edward Jenner's contribution to public health and how vaccination has continued to impact global health outcomes.
- Define the terms 'epidemic' and 'pandemic' and explain their significance in public health strategy.
- Describe the impact of historical and current public health initiatives on disease prevention and control, including the transition from miasma to germ theory.
- Recognize the roles and responsibilities of major public health agencies in the U.S. and globally, including the NIH, CDC, and WHO.
- Define the impact of historical prevention programs on modern public health outcomes by illustrating specific examples such as the eradication of smallpox.
- Identify and describe multifactorial contributors to suicide risk by evaluating biological, psychological, and environmental factors in defined case studies.
- Define the key components of descriptive and analytic epidemiology, including incidence rates, prevalence, and years of potential life lost, and explain their roles in health status evaluation.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
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