Top 20 Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Forensic Science

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A Bachelor’s degree program in Forensic Science will teach you how to uncover and examine evidence in order to solve crimes.

Students who attend a Forensic Science program develop their attention to detail skills and learn how to find out how a crime occurred by relying mostly on physical evidence.

Forensic science degree programs typically include laboratory training as well as classroom instruction.

Nowadays, forensic scientists are very important to the crime-solving process because the evidence they collect and examine is increasingly reliable and acceptable in court.

If you’re a curious person who’s passionate about science, a degree in Forensic Science can help you turn your passion into a rewarding career.

Many schools offer online Bachelor’s Degree programs in Forensic Science for busy students who want to learn from the comfort of their homes.


Columbia College

The online Bachelor of Science degree offered by Columbia College combines different academic disciplines, such as biology, criminal justice, law, and physics.

The program is designed to prepare students for a career in the fast-growing field of forensic science.

The program’s core courses include Introduction to Forensic Science, Forensic Biology, Criminalistics Laboratory, and Physical and Chemical Methods in Forensic Science.

Students who are enrolled in this online program have the opportunity to work with local police departments.

Students need to earn 120 credit hours before graduation.

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University of Maryland

The University of Maryland- Global Campus offers an online Bachelor of Science in Investigative Forensics focused on teaching students how to apply scientific methods to solve crimes.

The program is designed to train future crime scene investigators and prepare them for employment in federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Students need 120 credit hours for graduation.

The program includes core classes in Introduction to Investigative Forensics, Criminalistics, Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Procedure, and Fingerprint Analysis.

Students enrolled in this program have the opportunity of gaining hands-on practical experience by investigating a crime scene virtually.

University of Maryland Global Campus is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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National University

National University offers an online Bachelor of Criminal Justice program with a major in Forensic Investigation.

The program aims to provide students with critical thinking, problem-solving skills and to prepare them for a career as crime scene investigators.

The 120 credit hour program teaches students how to collect and analyze data using technology and scientific methods and how to report findings.

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Liberty University

Another online program for students who want to learn the analytical and scientific aspects of crime scene investigation is the Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – Crime Scene Investigation offered by Liberty University.

The program requires 120 credit hours for graduation and can be finished in approximately four years by full-time students.

The curriculum includes classes like Introduction to Criminal Justice, Crime Scene Photography, Computer and Cyber Forensics, and Criminal Justice Ethics.

Graduates can find employment as crime scene technicians, crime scene investigators, or forensic scientists.

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Excelsior College

Located in Albany, New York, Excelsior College offers an online Bachelor in Forensic Science degree designed to prepare students for a career in crime scene investigations.

The program is tailored for working adults with experience in law enforcement or the military.

The 120-credit hour program includes core classes in Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminology, Research Methods in Criminal Justice, and Introduction to Law Enforcement.

Students have to also complete a Criminal Justice Capstone project to prove their skills and knowledge.

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Pennsylvania State University

The Online Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science program offered by Pennsylvania State University aims to arm students with the knowledge and skills that prepare them for a career in forensic science.

The online program is accredited by the American Academy of Forensic Science.

Core courses include Crime Scene Investigation Laboratory, Essential Practices of Forensic Science, Criminalistics, Scientific Approach to Crime Scene Investigation, and more.

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Virginia Commonwealth University

The online Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science program offered by the Virginia Commonwealth University is accredited by the Forensic Science Educational Programs Accreditation Commission.

Students can choose between three concentrations, namely Physical Evidence, Forensic Biology, and Forensic Chemistry.

The program requires 123-126 credit hours for graduation and includes core classes in Forensic Evidence, Law and Criminal Procedure, Professional Practices in Forensic Science, Survey to Forensic Science, and more.

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Marshall University

Marshall University provides an Online Bachelor of Science in Digital Forensics and Information Assurance.

The program aims to equip students with investigative skills and to teach them how to use science and technology to solve cybersecurity crimes.

The online program is designed to develop problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking skills and offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience using techniques, tools, and procedures that are utilized in real-life situations.

Students have the chance to use the university’s in-house laboratories and the laboratories offered through the National CyberWatch.

The 120-credit program includes core classes in Applied Digital Evidence, Computer Crime, Forensic Science, Forensic Image, Video Analysis, and more.

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Pace University

Pace University offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science that aims to arm students with knowledge in a variety of fields, including forensic chemistry, forensic biology, and criminalistics.

Students enrolled in this program have the opportunity of participating in internships in some of New York’s top crime laboratories, thus getting ready for employment in the forensic science field.

The University also offers its students access to fully-equipped state-of-the-art facilities.

Students need 128 credit hours to earn the degree.

The program includes core classes in Forensic Biology, Molecular Biology, Criminalistics, and Introduction to Criminal Investigation.

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Seton Hill University

Seton Hill University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science program.

The online program consists of 120 credit hours and combines physics, chemistry, criminal justice, and biology.

The University has several forensic science facilities and laboratories where students can gain hands-on practical experience.

Students must complete the core classes and a capstone project to be eligible for graduation.

Core classes include Forensic Science in the Courtroom, the Fundamentals of Criminalistics, Criminalistics Laboratory, and more.

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Youngstown State University

The online Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science offered by Youngstown State University includes three specializations, namely Biology, Chemistry, and Anthropology.

Students must complete 120 credit hours to earn the degree and 45 hours of on-site internship.

The students have access to the university’s labs where they can gain hands-on experience in fingerprinting and blood pattern analysis.

Graduates may find employment in medical examiner’s offices, coroner’s offices, or forensic labs.

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University of Tampa

The University of Tampa offers an online Bachelor of Science program in Forensic Science that provides students with knowledge and skills in the fields of forensic biology, crime scene investigation, forensic toxicology, and more.

Graduates are prepared for a career in crime labs or local, state or federal law enforcement.

The online program includes core classes in Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Investigation, Law Enforcement, Molecular Biology, and General Genetics Laboratory.

Students also have access to several internship programs.

The program can be completed after gaining 94 credit hours.

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Middle Tennessee State University

The Middle Tennessee State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science, designed for students who want to pursue careers in law enforcement or forensic science.

The online degree includes three concentrations, namely Chemistry, Biology, and Criminal Justice.

Students who enroll in this program take classes in Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Investigations, Judicial Process, and Criminal Evidence and Procedures.

The Middle Tennessee State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

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Miami University

The online Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science and Investigation offered by Miami University combines criminal justice and science.

The program prepares students for employment in law enforcement agencies, major crime labs, or private firms.

The online degree includes two majors: Forensic Investigation and Forensic Science.

The program is focused on developing problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills.

Core classes include Forensic and Crime Scene Evidence, Introduction to Forensic Chemistry, Law and Individual Rights, Forensic Trace Analysis and more.

Students need 124 credit hours for graduation.

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St. Mary’s University

St. Mary’s University provides an online Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science, designed to equip students with the skills needed to integrate professional ethics, criminology, natural and physical sciences.

The online degree includes three concentrations: Criminology, Chemistry, and Biology.

To prepare students for employment, the school also offers internship opportunities at firms and organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General of Texas, U.S. Department of Justice, the Texas Department of Human Services, and more.

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George Mason University

George Mason University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science, designed to prepare students for careers as investigation specialists, private lab examiners, or forensic anthropologists.

The program’s curriculum includes hands-on training that teaches students methods and techniques of crime scene investigation and lab methodologies.

Core classes include Social and Behavioral Science, Natural Science, and Quantitative Reasoning.

Students must also complete a writing-intensive requirement before graduation.

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Fairmont State University

The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science online program offered by Fairmont State University is an educational alternative for busy students who want to learn at their own pace from the comfort of their homes.

Students enrolled in this program learn problem-solving skills, quantitative reasoning, investigative analysis, and laboratory procedures.

Graduates usually build careers as forensic chemists, toxicologists, or forensic pathologists.

Core classes include Forensic Biology, Forensic Science, Biochemistry, Genetics, Forensic Microscopy, among others.

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West Virginia State University

The Online Bachelor of Science in Forensic and Investigative Science offered by West Virginia State University is designed to equip students with relevant skills in chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics.

Students can choose between three tracks: Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Biology, and Forensic Examiner.

By attending this program they also learn how to present forensic evidence in court.

Core courses include Forensic Biology, Forensic Photography, Biological Evidence, Blood Stain Pattern Analysis, and Court Testimony, among others.

Graduates of this program may establish careers at institutions and organizations such as the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, KPMG US, and Mylan.

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University of New Haven

Founded in 1920 on the Campus of Yale, the University of New Haven is a respected academic institution that teaches more than 6,800 students from around the world.

Its diverse educational offer includes an online Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science, designed to teach students the methodologies and concepts used to uncovers and analyze evidence in criminal cases.

Students are armed with the skills to interpret evidence and they also have the opportunity of gaining hands-on experience by working in the Henry C. Lee Institute for Forensic Science which is equipped with high tech equipment, visual displays, and crime scene labs.

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Trine University

Located in Angola, Indiana, Trine University provides a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science online program.

The program aims to prepare students for a career in forensic science by teaching them how to interpret and analyze evidence left at the scene of a crime.

Students can choose between two major specializations, namely Chemistry or Biology.

The program requires students to complete 120 credit hours for graduation.

Core classes include Criminal Procedures and Evidence, Forensic Comparative Science, and Principles of Forensic Science, among others.

Graduates may find employment as DNA Specialists, Drug Chemists, Latent Print Examiners, and Arson Investigators.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How is an online Bachelor’s Degree program in Forensic Science structured?

Bachelor’s degree programs in Forensic Science usually include two years of general education and core forensic science classes.

Students can typically choose between several specializations, including Criminal Justice, Biology, Chemistry, and Forensic Science.

After completing the core forensic science classes, students can participate in an internship to gain hands-on experience.

Online forensic science programs give students the possibility of pursuing their studies while working full time.

Students can complete the coursework and assignments at their own pace.

Q. What jobs can I find with a Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Science?

Bachelor’s degree programs in Forensic Science equip students with the investigative and technical skills needed for a career in solving crimes.

These programs typically include classes in biology, chemistry, physics and computer science, among others.

Individuals who hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Science can find employment as Fingerprinting Technicians, Bloodstain Pattern Analysts, Arson and Explosives Investigators, Accident Reconstruction Technicians but they can also work in laboratories and other investigative settings.

Those who wish to continue their studies towards a master’s or a doctoral degree can also pursue careers in psychology or psychiatry.

Q. How much does a forensic scientist make?

How much a forensic scientist makes a year depends on several factors, including the scientist’s level of experience and expertise and his or her place of employment.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for forensic science technicians was $58,230 as of May 2018.

Entry-level employees sometimes earn less than $40,000 a year while more experienced workers can make more than $95,000-$100,000 a year.

Final Thoughts

If you’re passionate about finding the truth through scientific methods, a career as a forensic scientist may be the right path for you.

If you’re a busy person who wants to harmonize family life, work-life and student life, an online program sounds like the right fit for you.

Online Bachelor’s Degree programs in Forensic Science are available at several reputable institutions and are designed to give you the opportunity of learning the scientific and technical aspects of crime scene investigation at your own pace, from the comfort of your home.

If you have read our list of the best 20 programs in this field, now it’s your turn to decide what program best suits your professional aspirations.

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