The best online bachelor’s in Forensic Science train students to work in the field or to go on to a graduate degree program.
Are you considering a bachelor’s in Forensic Science? Well, you have come to the right place. Maybe you are pulled in by your favorite shows like Bones, Law and Order, and CSI. Or perhaps you want to be on the right side of justice with the skills to assess, collect, and document evidence at crime scenes.
There are many career possibilities for graduates with an online Bachelors in Forensic Science. However, if you want to continue with your education and move on to a master’s degree program in a similar field, many advanced career paths are waiting for you. Keep reading our list of the best online colleges for forensic science.
How We Ranked the Best Online Bachelor’s in Forensic Science
The editors at Online Schools Guide found schools offering bachelor’s degrees in Forensic Science that are online or hybrid. Then, based on reputation, cost, and future salary, we ranked the online Forensic Science bachelor’s degree programs.
1. SUNY Canton
SUNY Canton offers a degree that is a little different from the rest because it is not a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts but a Bachelor of Technology in Criminal Investigation. This program offers many online classes. However, the same courses can be taken in person. Ultimately, the program achieved 75% online.
The one thing to note about this bachelors of forensic science course of study is that the upper-division requirements MUST be taken “immersion” style in a face-to-face classroom. This ensures every graduate has had the hands-on training necessary to work on a crime scene. In addition, every student will have the chance to perform a 600-hour investigative internship for extra practice.
Many students choose this program specifically for the internship opportunity. Students can work with the Bureau of Firearms, Alcohol or Tobacco, Medical Examiner’s Offices or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Participants in the program will learn interrogation skills, latent print development, managing homicide investigations, and crime scene investigation, among many other pertinent skills. The program has a 100% employment rate!
Expert Instruction in:
- Questioned Documents
- Clandestine Graves
- Forensic Taxonomy
- Firearm and Toolmark Examination
2. Purdue University Global
Purdue Global is one of the country’s top providers of public safety programming. Their Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice-Crime Scene Investigation or Forensic Psychology is excellent evidence of their academic leadership in the field. Students in this program will learn the ins and outs of applied forensic research and techniques and gain a practical foundation in the nation’s criminal justice development, philosophy, and criminal law.
Students will pick one of these concentrations: juvenile justice, law enforcement, crime scene investigation, homeland security, and forensic psychology. In addition, students can participate in a related internship program to gain real-world experience in the field. There is also an opportunity to take the program at an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program for students who know they want to go all the way. The classes are entirely online, though an in-person capstone is required, and there is an optional internship.
Expert Instruction in:
- Analyzing crime scene evidence
- Response methods to weapons of mass destruction
- Psychology in the context of criminal justice
3. Utica College
Both the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Intelligence Analysis and the Bachelor of Science in Fraud and Financial Crime Investigation online at Utica College is responding to the drastic innovations applied to the fields of forensics and law enforcement in the last few years.
The Online BS in Criminal Intelligence Analysis is one of the first of its kind in the country. Many people to lessen crime in the US pick this degree program. Some of the tools you will be given from this degree opportunity include learning how to predict criminal activity and stop it in its tracks. Students will also gain a foundation in ethics, critical thinking, analytic methodologies, computer literacy, and complex communication patterns.
The Online BS in Fraud and Financial Crime Investigation is responding to the amount of credit card fraud and identity theft impacting so many people. Students will gain forensic accounting skills and the psychology of risk management and criminology. Graduates will walk away from the program with expertise in money laundering, identity theft, and healthcare fraud, among many similar infractions.
Expert Instruction in:
- Crime Analysis
- Data Analysation
- Fraud Prevention
- Critical thinking within a criminal context
4. Salem University
Salem University offers an entirely online or a blended residential online hybrid Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice-Crime Scene Investigation program. This course of study dives into the concentration of crime scene investigation, teaching students the in-demand skills of crime scene analysis, gathering evidence, performing written and spoken testimonies in court, and conducting tests.
The classes for this program are offered in 4-week increments. The online courses are flexible and allow students to continue working full-time jobs while participating in the program. Students will work with expert faculty and take classes such as Ethics in Criminal Justice, Constitutional Law, Terrorism, Crisis Intervention, and Domestic Violence. In addition, students can choose to specialize in Crime Scene Investigation and take additional classes such as Crime Scene Photography, Ballistics, and Firearm Identification, as well as Blood Patterns and Crime Scenes.
Expert Instruction in:
- Ballistics
- Digital Evidence
- Impression Evidence
5. UMass Global
The University of Massachusetts Global Campus offers a Bachelor’s Degree program in Criminal Justice that can be either entirely online or in a hybrid format. There are many elements to this study path, including policing, forensics, and victim advocacy.
Because the faculty in this program are experts in the field, they will bring real-life experiences that students can learn from to the curriculum. There will be many opportunities for participants to gain skills in collaborative approaches to complex problem-solving, legal and ethical strategizing, and forensics. Many students pick this course of study if they are interested in a career in the court system or within law enforcement. New sessions begin every semester.
Expert Instruction in:
- Gangs and Gang Behavior
- Courts
- Forensics
- Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
6. Hampton University
Hampton University offers a Bachelor of Science Program in Chemistry with a Concentration in Forensic Chemistry through their School of Science. Forensic Science consists of applied sciences with a variety of nuances. This field of study requires the understanding of complex scientific theory and knowledge and the ability to use that foundation to analysis, interpretation, reporting, and examination.
Students will gain all these skills, including the ability to build testimonies supporting physical evidence. The skills learned in this program are mandatory elements necessary in the criminal justice system for it to function correctly. Forensic Scientists are needed in crime labs that work alongside law enforcement in criminal investigations. Students in this program will complete coursework in natural sciences, chemistry essential knowledge, and a foundation in forensic science.
Expert Instruction in:
- Chemistry
- Laboratory Skills
- Investigation Practices
- Forensics
7. Florida State University
Florida State University offers a Bachelor of Science program in Public Safety and Security, focusing on Crime Scene Investigation. Much of the coursework of this program can be completed online.
However, there is a requirement for hands-on lab work that can be taken over an accelerated one-week (40-hour) program offered in the summer. The labs will offer essential hands-on experiences that prepare students for this career path. This includes: death investigations, recovery of buried bodies and facial reconstruction, fingerprint processing, and blood spatter analysis.
Students can specialize in their education further and gain additional certificates in fields such as underwater crime scene investigation. Graduates can opt to continue and achieve a graduate certificate or even a master’s degree in law enforcement intelligence.
Expert Instruction in:
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Buried Body Recovery
- Forensic Lab Work
8. CSU Global
CSU Global (Colorado State) offers an in-depth Bachelor of Science Program in Criminal Justice with a degree specialization in Criminal Forensics.
This degree path will give students the necessary skills to understand law enforcement and the legal system while allowing students to gain expert skills in crime scene investigation. Some classes for this specialization include Criminal Investigation, Crime Scene Investigation, Introduction to Forensic Psychology, Investigative Forensic Photography, and Investigative Forensic Interviewing.
This is an online accelerated degree program that can be achieved entirely online. Each class starts monthly. There are no scheduled classes, meaning you can work at your own pace when available.
Expert Instruction in:
- Handling of Evidence
- Treatment of Witnesses and Suspects
- Analyzing Crime Scenes
9. University of North Carolina at Pembroke
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke has an exciting opportunity to achieve a degree focus in Criminal Justice Studies-Forensics as part of their Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
This program examines applied organization management, sociology, substance abuse, and forensics. A variety of students are drawn to this course of study. Some are interested in engaging with law enforcement from a number of angles, which may include working in the court system or on actual crime scenes. There is something for every science-minded student in this field. You may utilize the skills from this degree program in the public or private sectors.
Expert Instruction in:
- Organization Management
- Substance Abuse
- American Legal System
- Forensics
10. Oakland City University
Oakland City University has a variety of avenues that a student interested in pursuing a career in forensics may take. They have an entirely online Bachelor’s Degree Program in Criminal Justice with two concentrations.
In addition, students can choose from either a Generalist path or an Investigative Forensics track. With both concentrations, students study at their own pace while learning all the necessary skills to engage in various law force-related career paths. The Investigative Forensics concentration is a 120-credit program. It also teaches students essential concepts in basic criminal and advanced crime scene investigation.
Expert Instruction in:
- Understanding the Court System
- Law Enforcement Strategies
- Collection and analysis of Crime Scene Evidence
- Critical thinking and writing skills as they relate to the law
What Can You Do With a Bachelor’s in Forensic Science?
With a bachelor’s degree in this field, you can immediately begin working with criminal investigators by assisting them with myriad responsibilities at the crime scene. Becoming a forensic science technician, a forensic autopsy assistant, or even an assistant to a medical examiner can be accomplished by obtaining a forensic science bachelor’s degree online.
Technicians are at the front of the house when it comes to working on active crime scenes and meticulously evaluating evidence in the lab. Many of the subjects required for this degree’s foundation include but are not limited to chemistry, genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and biology.
You can enter the field as a crime scene investigator, forensic computer examiner, forensic chemist or biologist, criminalist, and digital forensic analyst, among many other possibilities. You would be allowed to specialize in many areas, including toxicology, trace evidence, DNA, fingerprints, controlled substances, or even firearms
What is the Job Outlook in Forensic Science?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts the field of forensics will grow between 2020 to 2030 by sixteen percent (16%). This is partly a result of new advances in DNA, science, and also forensic evidence technology.
What is the Salary with a Forensic Science Bachelor’s Degree?
The median income for novice forensic science technicians is just about $61,000 and the seasoned worker in the field can make more than $100,000 annually. Furthermore, the BLS reports the median annual wages for the top industries where forensic science technicians and scientists work.
- State government, excluding education and hospitals – $64,250
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals – $61,930
- Testing laboratories – $49,900
- Medical and diagnostic laboratories – $36,570
With your newfound forensic skills and a shiny degree, you may be the next real-life CSI star. Furthermore, you can earn a degree online from the comfort of your home. So, what are you waiting for?
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