Forensic careers extend well beyond work dramatized in the television series, “CSI”, and continued training might be required. Opting for online college classes and online degree and certificate programs, existing forensic specialists and those seeking to enter the field or add another dimension to a profession can continue work and other responsibilities without interruption.

Online college classes and online degree and criminal justice careers require little more than a computer, making them accessible from anywhere and at times convenient for individual students. Forensic degree programs and classes, like the field itself, come in a variety of subject areas. Forensic concentrations and certificate programs, in some instances even lab work, also are offered online.

A forensic scientist is a scientist who uses science to arrive at a truth and, using that knowledge to help juries, judges and attorneys understand the science, becomes a forensic scientist, according to the Colorado-based American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Physicians, dentists, toxicologists, psychiatrists, engineers and more are among the Colorado-based group’s 6,000 members. Forensic specialists also exist in fields such as physical anthropology and digital and multimedia sciences, according to the Academy’s website. In all, traditional and online degree-seeking students these days have a choice of more than 200 undergraduate and graduate forensic degree programs and the like in colleges and universities throughout the United States.



Forensic Science classes provide an introduction to the science and its scope. Degree programs are available in Forensic DNA and Serology, Forensic Science and Forensic Toxicology, Forensic Psychology, Environmental Forensics and Computer Forensics. Where a Forensic Biology program explores blood and body fluid lab tests used in crime investigations, Computer Forensics addresses computer and network security and collecting and analyzing computer evidence. Students can also enroll in traditional or online degrees in other subject areas with forensic science concentrations, as well as in forensic certificate programs designed for those who have already obtained traditional or online degrees. Nurses enrolling in a Forensic Nursing Certificate program available online can learn to treat crime survivors and work with detectives on crime scene and accident investigations.



With the “CSI” television series, people began to view chemistry labs and criminal justice programs as “cool” and demand for the forensic degree increased, according to 2003 reports from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. One college reported that enrollment in its forensic degree program increased tenfold in four years, CBS News reported. Still other colleges and universities described forensic science as their fastest growing program or said new criminal justice degree, concentrations, majors, minors and courses had been established, according to CBS News.

Laboratory time is often associated with science classes, and online college classes and online degree programs in science weren’t as much of a growing distance learning trend into 2006 that other subject areas were, according to an article in Science Daily. Lab work is available with online college science offerings and online degree programs, scientists noted.

Simulated labs and virtual experiments are a part of some online college classes and online degree programs in science. Some students enrolled in online criminal justice degree and forensic science degree programs utilize simulated labs and conduct virtual experiments.