CANTON -- SUNY Canton's newest four-year degree is a bachelor of science in crime analysis that will be offered through the college's Center for Criminal Justice, Intelligence and Cybersecurity (CJIC) beginning this fall.

Students can take classes on campus, online and in flex class format. It is the first four-year program of its kind within the SUNY system.

"The Crime Analysis program encourages students to look at real world crime problems, apply analysis techniques, and determine solutions that range from crime prevention to resource allocation," said Nicholas S. Wildey, a lecturer and lead faculty member in the program. "In an era with growing budgetary constraints, data driven decisions are becoming ever more important, and crime analysis fits that bill perfectly."

The growth of the crime analysis field has increased alongside interest from individuals who do not want to seek police positions but want to help improve criminal justice outcomes, according to a news release from the school.

Students in this major will take courses in data analytics and geographic information systems (GIS). They will learn to identify solutions to crime problems and formulate prevention strategies.

"This is a great complement to our current offerings within the CJIC, which combines the strengths of eight individual academic programs," said Professor Elizabeth A. Brown, who oversees the center. "It expands career options for our graduates by incorporating spatial analysis, data analysis and drone usage."

Wildey introduced an optional drone surveillance and mapping micro-credential course at the college, which teaches students to professionally operate unmanned aerial vehicles for both 2D and 3D mapping in a controlled environment.

Concepts in this major can be applied to emergency response, disaster management, crime solving, and even other forms of planning. Students in related classes used GIS software to map occurrences of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) during the early stages of spread in the United States.

Courses in the major prepare students for the Crime Analysis Certification Examination through the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services. The program is designed to allow for internships and on-the-job experience.

SUNY Canton received approval to offer the new major from both the State University of New York and the State Education Department. It is the 32nd bachelor's degree available and the 22nd fully online program available at the college.

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