Crime Scene Investigation Colleges

CSI & Forensic Scientist: What’s The Difference?

As with many careers, crime scene investigation (CSI) and forensic science jobs have some overlapping responsibilities. CSIs collect and document evidence from a crime scene and draw conclusions to solve one or a series of related crimes.

On the other hand, an individual with law enforcement and forensic science backgrounds may be responsible for collecting and analyzing crime scene evidence and serving as a key witness in a legal case.

One distinctive difference between these two positions is education. According to O*NET OnLine (2025), an occupational data source sponsored by the US Department of Labor, becoming a crime scene investigator requires graduating from a police academy and, for some leadership positions, earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

According to the BLS, forensic scientists typically need a bachelor’s degree in natural science and on-the-job training in law enforcement and laboratory procedures. Licensing and certification are optional but highly recommended to help forensic scientists earn the highest credibility in their profession.

The time spent outside or in an office is a second consideration between CSIs and forensic scientists. The BLS showed that criminal investigators split their time between desk and fieldwork, while forensic scientists work almost exclusively in laboratory settings. Because crime happens at all hours of the day, so too does the work of CSI professionals who can be called in when needed to investigate a crime scene.

And while it’s true that forensic scientists and intelligence analysts work more regular hours, by comparison, forensic scientists may have to be on call to collect evidence if a CSI is not available and perhaps also analyze it if the testing needed is time-sensitive (BLS 2024).

Salary is the final difference between CSI and forensic scientists. The BLS (2024) shows that the median annual salary for private detectives and investigators is $49,540 per year compared to $64,940 for forensic scientists.

It’s important to note that while these two positions are distinct, they share some responsibilities and work environment settings. The certificate and degree programs featured here provide professionals with many career pathways to pursue one or both of these CSI careers.

Online Certificates in Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)

Luckily for people with employment, familial, or other time commitments, there’s a growing array of online certificates and degrees for aspiring CSIs. These programs have more flexible scheduling for courses since students can log in from anywhere with a decent internet connection for lectures, assignments, case studies, and exams.

Becoming a crime scene investigator (CSI) involves hands-on empirical experience and rigorous didactic instruction. The International Crime Scene Investigators Association (ICSIA) reports that while some CSIs start as police officers, others may pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a field such as criminal justice, forensics, crime scene investigation, or a related field. ICSIA adds that only the largest (and busiest) police departments typically have full-time CSIs. In contrast, smaller, more rural areas may have other law enforcement personnel taking on the CSI responsibilities as they arise.

Who should enroll in an online CSI certificate program?

The entry-level certificate programs can be ideal for those interested in CSI work who have graduated from high school or completed their GED. Online certificate programs can also behoove police officers working in smaller, more rural departments far away from college campuses.

For more advanced or specialized certificates, programs may have additional admissions requirements, including years of work experience (e.g., on a police force); an admissions essay; official transcripts of previous schooling; and a background check. Since these are not degree-awarding programs, they typically do not require any tests such as the SAT. Finally, these programs can assist CSIs in seeking certification since many certifying agencies need between 48 and 144 hours of approved coursework (e.g., International Association for Identification).

Featured Online CSI Certificates

Columbia College in Missouri provides an online CSI certificate program comprising 18 credits of courses such as criminal investigation, crime scene photography, fingerprint evidence, forensic anthropology, and bloodstain evidence.

Please note that this certification is offered as part of an associate’s or bachelor’s degree plan, and students must complete courses with a grade of “C” or higher. Required courses include an introduction to criminal justice administration, crime scene investigation, and crime scene photography. Elective courses include forensic anthropology, bloodstain evidence, fingerprint evidence, and shooting incidents.

• Location: Columbia, MO
• Duration: Two years
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

National University offers an online and on-campus graduate certificate in crime scene investigation with 31.5 quarter-units of courses such as forensic pathology, advanced criminalistics, and digital evidence. This training can be helpful for law enforcement personnel, criminal investigators, nurses, and other professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of CSI.

Upon completing this program, students will be trained in death investigation techniques, evidence collection and preservation, investigative techniques, and tools used in forensics, and fingerprinting.

• Location: San Diego, CA
• Duration: Two years
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Online Degrees in Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)

There is also an abundance of degree programs for those interested in becoming a CSI.

Who should enroll in an online CSI degree program?

These programs can be ideal for busy law enforcement, forensics, or criminology professionals looking for more formal instruction (and subsequent credentials) in crime scene investigations. Typical prerequisites to online degree programs may include submitting official transcripts with a minimum GPA (e.g., >3.0, especially in science courses); letters of recommendation; a personal statement; and test scores (e.g., SAT or GRE).

Please note that some programs, especially at the more advanced levels, may also include specific coursework or experiential requirements.

Featured Online CSI Degree Programs

Stevenson University offers a 120-credit online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice to people with at least two years of work experience. In courses such as the juvenile justice system, criminology, corrections, victimology, and civil liability, students are prepared to confront the moral, sociological, and legal issues of the administration of justice worldwide. Graduates from this program pursue careers as forensic investigators, private detectives, and lawyers.

• Location: Owings Mills, MD
• Duration: Four years
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Purdue Global hosts several online programs including a crime scene technician (CST) certificate, as well as an associate of applied science (AAS), a bachelor of science (BS), and a master of science (MS) in criminal justice. The BS program features five distinct emphases: forensic psychology, homeland security, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and CSI. The CSI track offers classes such as forensic fingerprint analysis, supervisory practices in criminal justice, and forensic chemistry & trace evidence analysis.

• Location: Lafayette, IN
• Duration: Four years
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

The University of California at Irvine (UCI) provides a renowned 52-credit online master’s program (MA) in criminology, law and society. With exciting coursework in crime & social deviance, hate crimes, and leadership, this comprehensive graduate program typically takes two years to complete, requiring only one on-campus, five-day intensive at the beginning of the fall quarter for the introduction to criminology, law, & society class.

• Location: Irvine, CA
• Duration: Two years
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Crime Scene Investigator College & CSI Program Accreditation

Prior to enrolling in any college, it’s important to check the accreditation status of the program and school as a whole. Being accredited by a recognized entity demonstrates that the institution meets expected educational standards in the field. There is a wealth of accreditation organizations that measure factors such as student outcomes, program facilities, comprehensiveness of curricula, faculty effectiveness, and other variables in their evaluation process.

Institutional Accreditation

There are a number of institutional accreditation bodies based on the state in which a program is located. The six recognized agencies include:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)