FORENSICS/CSI
The Forensic Science program is taught by Mr. Lautzenheiser, who has been teaching since 2010. Additionally, Mr. Lautzenheiser was a death investigator with the Clark County Office of the Coroner and Medical Examiner for seventeen years.
The Forensic Science field is extremely competitive and students will be given a solid foundation to help prepare them for all aspects of a career in the field of Forensic Science. Some careers that can be found the the Las Vegas Valley include: LVMPD Crime Scene Analyst and Forensic Laboratory Technician.
Students will learn how crime scenes are secured/investigated, how evidence collected from crime scenes is analyzed in a laboratory setting, the importance of evidence documentation from the time crime scenes are secured; to testifying in court regarding the analysis of that evidence.
Students who choose to major in Forensic Science will learn and apply the following skills:
- Sophomore year in Forensic Science II: crime scene documentation, collection and packaging of evidence, fingerprint analysis, and blood spatter analysis.
- Junior year in Forensic Science III: lab based skills used to analyze evidence found at crime scenes including hairs/fibers, DNA, firearms, impressions, and much more.
- Senior year in Forensic Science Advanced Studies: students will learn about specific fields within Forensic Science including entomology, anthropology, pathology and more 'ologies!'
STAFF
Meet our Instructor:
Scott Lautzenheiser
- UNLV, BA in Anthropology and M.Ed in Special Education
- Death Investigator for the Clark County Office the Coroner and Medical Examiner
- Certified Fingerprint Examiner
COURSE SEQUENCE
Students who Major in Forensic Science/CSA will take the following courses:
This course sequence pertains to the school year 2023-24 and forward
9th-Law Enforcement I
10th-Law Enforcement II
11th-Forensic Science I
12th-Forensic Science II
We also encourage all Forensic Science/CSA students to Minor in one of the following areas starting in their Jr. year:
Criminal Justice (supplementary program)
9-1-1 Dispatch
Cybersecurity
Recommended Coursework Includes:
11th-AP Biology, Pre-Calculus, AP Statistics
12th-AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Statistics