Educational requirements are often set by the hiring agency. Some require a two-year degree, while others demand a bachelors or even masters degree with extensive study in both scientific subjects and criminal justice.
If you are interested in becoming a CSI, start asking questions now. If you want to work as a CSI in a specific city or county, contact the police department or sheriff’s department and ask whether the local CSIs are trained as police officers or civilian CSIs. In many areas, police officers “double duty” as CSIs, spending the rest of their time doing police work.
In college
- Major in chemistry, biology, physics, molecular biology, or a related science
Some colleges offer degrees in forensic science. Make sure the program requires at least 24 semester hours of either chemistry or biology and math.
- Take elective courses in law enforcement, criminal justice and crime scene processing
After college
- A master’s degree in forensic science is increasingly required to qualify for jobs in certain jurisdictions. Look for a program that emphasizes laboratory science and research, with coursework in crime scenes, physical evidence, ethics and quality assurance as well as interaction with working forensic laboratories.
- To become certified, the criminalist must study for and pass an exam administered by the American Board of Criminalistics
Below are some examples of the courses required for this major.
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CSU San Bernardino
Criminal Justice - Crime Analysis
ADMJ 101 or 110
ADMJ 103, 116
GEOG 102, 101 & 111
MATH 100 or 135
CSU East Bay (Hayward)
Biology B.S. Forensic Science Option
BIOL 101 and 102, 120 and 121
CHEM 101 and 102, 103
MATH 102 or 110 or 103
PHYS 105 and 106
ADMJ 116
Chemistry - Forensic Science Option
BIOL 101 and 102
CHEM 101 and 102, 103
MATH 103 and 104 and 105
PHYS 105 and 106
ADMJ 116
CSU Sacramento
Chemistry - Forensic Chemistry
No courses articulate for this major.
CSU Fresno
Criminology - Forensic Behavioral Science |
San Jose State University
Forensic Science - Emphasis in Biology
CHEM 101 and 102, 103
PHYS 105 and 106
MATH 103, 136
ADMJ 101
ENGL 102 or 104
Forensic Science - Emphasis in Chemistry
CHEM 101 and 102, 103
MATH 103, 104, 136
PHYS 101, 102, 103
ADMJ 101
ENGL 102 or 104
UC Davis
Chemistry B.S. Applied Chemistry Forensic Chemistry
CHEM 101 and 102, 105 and 106
PHYS 105 and 106 or 101 and 102 and 103
MATH 112 or 103, 104 or 103, 104, 105
BIOL 101
MATH 136
CSU Stanislaus
Criminal Justice - Forensic Science
No courses articulate for this major |
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