2023 Best Online Crime Scene Investigator Degrees

While forensic sciences is a competitive field, the career outlook is promising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the median pay for forensic science technicians was $57,850 per year in 2017. In California, the state with the highest number of forensic science technicians in the country, the median annual salary was $82,650.

They then collect and document the evidence, preserve it, and send it off to a lab for analyzing. Many undergraduate students can qualify for federal, state, and local financial aid. To see if you qualify, you can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid . Enrolling in an undergraduate program that’s accredited is an important factor.

Forensic Science: Investigative Processes Classroom Escape [Print & Digital]

Once the application period ends, you will not be able to submit an application. Failure to disclose correct information or the provision of incorrect/inaccurate information will result in denial of application or immediate dismissal from the program without refund. The last day to drop from the program without penalty is 30 days before the first module. Drops made less than 30 days before class will be charged 1/2 the tuition. No shows or failure to cancel your enrollment will result in a forfeit of your full tuition.

This may involve on-campus attendance or attending at an affiliate center. In addition to a strong background in Forensic Investigator Lessons and criminal justice, you will need several soft skills, such as attention to detail, which helps them search for and find key evidence at various crime scenes. You will also need critical thinking skills and superior judgment in order to recognize which materials may assist in solving crimes. Standards and credentials for investigators vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, so there are no common licensure requirements to become a CSI.

Courses

NU’s crime scene investigator training teaches students about the various types of evidence they might encounter in the field. The BLS reports that crime scene technicians typically have extensive on-the-job training before they are assigned to work cases independently or testify in court. They normally work under the purview of more experienced crime scene technicians, investigators, and law enforcement professionals to learn the laboratory specialties and reporting methods. They may be required to complete proficiency exams or seek approval from an accrediting body for certain subfields of crime scene investigations.

I laminated the activity cards and students will use overhead markers to record their data and write the answers to the questions. During this lesson students learn about the use of chromatography in crime investigations and use paper chromatography to test black markers. At the end of the unit, I use four of the tested markers to create a Mystery Pen challenge.

Lesson Plan: Crime Scene Investigation

All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below. Florida International University offers an online program for a Bachelor of Science in Crime Science. Crime scene investigators who work in medial and diagnostic laboratories tend to make the least, with a median salary of $38,870.