Forensics Colleges in Louisiana

The state of Louisiana (LA) is nothing if not resilient. The state’s rich and diverse culture makes it a mecca for tourists worldwide, despite hurricanes, flooding, and its fair share of crime. Forensic science might be the place to start for Louisiana residents who want to do their part in curbing crime.

Forensic scientists and technicians work alongside law enforcement officers, attorneys, and other criminal justice professionals to investigate and prosecute crimes. The term ‘forensic scientist’ can be applied to people in many different disciplines who work in labs, in the field, and in the courtroom.

So what can aspiring forensic scientists in Louisiana expect to learn through competitive degree and certificate programs in the state? According to the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), these professionals master a variety of skills and role-related responsibilities such as processing and documenting evidence methodically; performing scientific analysis on various types of evidence (e.g., bodily secretions, fibers, plants, drugs, footprints, soils, plastics, ballistics, etc); working closely with medical and legal personnel; keeping abreast of methodological and technological developments in the field; and providing expert testimony in court cases.

The AAFS states that forensic scientists typically have at least a bachelor’s degree and there is a range of specialized subfields of study, including arson, bite marks, fingerprints, firearms, DNA, child abuse, toxicology, death investigation, digital evidence, and more.

Interested students may also be able to find degrees that take less time to complete, such as a certificate in CSI, or an associate degree in forensic science. An education in CSI typically prepares students for field work, while an education in the forensic sciences usually prepares them for work in a lab, or at the upper level, even the chance to be involved in research.

For most people, the first step toward a career in forensic science is obtaining the right education. Luckily, Louisiana residents have a few options, both for on-campus and online programs. Keep reading for more information on what the forensic science career path looks like in Bayou State.

How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator in Louisiana

Becoming a crime scene investigator could be an alternative to completing a full forensic science degree and take less time in terms of academic investment, even as little as one year if completing a CSI certificate. In fact, a college education may not even be required to become a CSI when training is offered on the job. As a result, the steps needed to enter the CSI field can vary based on an individual’s goals, but some of these steps could include:

• Option 1: Complete an education program at a postsecondary college (one to two years). CSI programs can lead to a certificate or an associate degree or, in some cases, be offered as a concentration area or specialization of a bachelor’s degree. These programs may include coursework such as an introduction to criminal justice, fingerprint identification, crime scene photography, and more. In some cases, students who complete a certificate program may be able to transfer their credits toward completing an undergraduate degree.
• Option 2: Finish a bachelor’s degree (four years). Another alternative is simply to complete a bachelor’s degree in forensic science, as this is the recommendation of the BLS, particularly when an individual hopes to become a non-uniformed worker, i.e., not employed through a police force.
• Option 3: Receive training on the job (timeline varies). Many CSI workers are actually police officers who have completed training through an academy. In this case, they may receive training by working closely with fellow officers already working as CSIs or by completing internal educational programs.

The BLS reports that a college education may not even be necessary for rural areas, where someone already has on-the-job training and has learned the necessary CSI skills by working closely with others. Finally, certification (different from a certificate) is available to individuals working in CSI who want proof and validation of their skills.

Strong Demand for Forensic Scientists in Louisiana and Salary Data

There is excellent news for aspiring forensics professionals in LA: forensic science is a field on the rise. As proof of point, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) projects that openings for forensic science technicians nationwide will increase 13 percent between 2022 and 2032, much faster than the growth rate expected for all occupations during that period (3 percent). This expected addition of 2,300 positions nationally is only one career possibility for people trained in forensic science.

Some of the best job opportunities in Louisiana could be in its larger cities, simply because greater crime typically occurs in urban areas. These cities may also be home to universities and colleges with laboratories or other resources available to forensic science technicians. Two of the largest cities in Louisiana are Baton Rouge and New Orleans-Metairie. Specific data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that of 200 reported jobs in Louisiana, 50 of those are in Baton Rouge and another 90 are in New Orleans-Metairie.

According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics (May 2023), the 17,520 forensic science technicians across the nation earned an average annual salary of $71,540. The BLS does not have salary details for forensic science techs in Louisiana, however, it does have salary details for Baton Rouge and New Orleans-Metairie. Notably, the New Orleans-Metairie area is the top-paying metropolitan area for forensic science technicians in the nation.

Here is a breakdown of the salary percentiles among all forensic science technicians in the country (BLS May 2023):

The national figures were slightly different according to another source of data, PayScale (Oct. 2024), which relies on self-reported salaries. Among the forensic science techs reporting their annual salaries, Payscale found these percentiles for the US:

• 10th percentile: $30,000
• 50th percentile (median): $55,654
• 90th percentile: $73,000

Here is a breakdown of the salary percentiles among all forensic science technicians in Baton Rouge and New Orleans-Metairie (BLS May 2023):

When reviewing any state or local salary data, it is important to consider the cost of living in that area. For instance, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2024), Louisiana is the 13th most affordable state in the country, boasting particular savings in utilities and housing costs. Prospective forensic science technicians should keep this in mind.

Featured Forensic Science Schools in Louisiana

Students looking to attend one of the forensics colleges in Louisiana will find that they have a limited number of options. In fact, there are currently no programs in Louisiana that have been accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC), although that accreditation does apply specifically to forensic science programs (as opposed to related ones), and relatively few schools nationally are FEPAC-accredited. In short, there are quality programs available that need to be FEPAC-accredited, as evidenced below.

Loyola University

One forensic college in Louisiana is Loyola University in New Orleans. This university offers a bachelor of science degree in chemistry with a concentration in forensic chemistry. This specialized track has been available at the university since 1999 and equips students with the analytical techniques that are used in the lab and in the field. Although many students of this program have gone on to obtain jobs in forensic laboratories, a significant number have also continued on into graduate education—some graduates of the program even go on to enroll in medical school.

This 120-credit program includes courses such as general chemistry; chemistry of the crime scene; organic chemistry; synthesis & characterization; forensic methods; biochemistry; instrumental analysis; and an internship.

• Location: New Orleans, LA
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Four years

Louisiana State University in Eunice

Louisiana State University in Eunice is one of the forensic science colleges in Louisiana that students may wish to consider. Although the school does not offer a specific forensic science degree, there are programs that are highly relevant to the career, including an associate of arts Louisiana transfer (AA/LT) degree in criminal justice that allows students to complete the first 60 credits of coursework toward a baccalaureate degree at a two-year community college. Graduates successfully completing this program will be eligible to enter a four-year public university as a junior, with all 60 credits transferring to the receiving four-year college.

Courses in this program are available in both in-person and hybrid formats. Classes in this 60-credit program include American government; police process; correctional process; introduction to criminal justice; elementary statistics; and college algebra, among others.

Notably, Louisiana State University also offers several more programs related to forensic science in an online format which have been profiled below in the online and hybrid section.

• Location: Eunice, LA
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Louisiana Delta Community College

Louisiana Delta Community College offers an associate of applied science degree in criminal justice that prepares students for criminal justice-related careers (both enforcement and non-enforcement fields) through student-centered course offerings exploring the three components of the criminal justice system: courts, corrections, and law enforcement.

Designed to enhance critical thinking skills for current practitioners and students in the criminal justice field, this program offers a concentration in forensic science.

This 60-credit program includes courses such as introduction to forensic science; forensic crime scene investigation; victimology; death investigation; bloodstain pattern analysis; criminal procedure & evidence; and police systems and practices, among others.

• Location: Monroe, LA
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Southern University at New Orleans

Southern University at New Orleans is the only Historically Black College and University to offer a bachelor of science program in forensic science. Offered through the university’s Department of Natural Sciences, this program is designed to effectively train graduates and prepare them for advanced degrees to join the workforce in areas related to forensic science, including drug chemistry, firearms, and DNA analysis.

This 121 to 124-credit program includes courses such as introduction to forensic science; introduction to crime scene investigations; introduction to forensic entomology; forensic biology; forensic DNA analysis; evidence collection and processing; witness testimony; environmental forensics; forensic drugs and toxicology; forensic microscopy; and a forensic science internship, among others.

• Location: New Orleans, LA
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Four years

McNeese State University

McNeese State University offers an American Chemical Society-approved bachelor of science program in chemistry that has a concentration in forensic chemistry. McNeese was the first state university in Louisiana to offer a concentration in forensic chemistry.

Notably, to support this program, the Department of Chemistry and Physics is home to a state-of-the-art forensic chemistry lab with more than $500,000 in sophisticated forensic instrumentation. Students in this concentration will work closely with police departments and crime labs as they study the biological and chemical aspects of crime scene analysis.

Courses in this 120-credit program include orientation to forensics; forensic testimony; applied forensic chemistry; principles of toxicology; biochemistry; theory of inorganic chemistry; introduction to criminal justice; and ethics in the sciences, among others.

• Location: Lake Charles, LA
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Four years

For more information on forensics schools and specializations, please visit the forensic programs page.

Hybrid & Online Options

In addition to on-campus forensic science programs in Louisiana, students have the option to choose online and hybrid schools. Online programs give students the opportunity to advance their education without having to commute to campus and commit to a regular course schedule, making it an attractive option for those who need to continue work, parents, and people who live far from campus.

Louisiana State University

As mentioned above, Louisiana State University has several online programs related to forensic science. One such program is an online bachelor of science program in psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology offered through the LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences and the LSU Department of Psychology.

Providing a survey of both forensic science and psychology, this online program helps students gain foundational knowledge of the integration of law and psychology, the psychological approaches to understanding cognition, and psychological disorders and human behaviors. Graduates of this program can find careers as forensic interviewers, criminal and civil investigators, judicial assistants, peer support specialists, and more.

Made up of 120 credits, the program includes courses such as introduction to forensic psychology; introduction to psychological disorders; race and psychology; statistics for the behavioral sciences; research methods in psychology; and introduction to industrial and organizational psychology.

Other online programs at LSU related to forensic science include a 60-credit associate of science degree in criminal justice; a 120-credit bachelor of science program in criminal justice; and a 120-credit bachelor of science program in criminal justice with a concentration in criminal psychology.

• Location: Baton Rouge, LA
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Bachelor’s degree (four years); associate’s degree (two years)

Loyola University New Orleans

Loyola University New Orleans offers an online bachelor of criminology & justice degree featuring a strong social science research component. Graduates will be prepared for advanced studies such as a master’s degree in criminology & justice program or to enter the workforce in a wide range of careers such as corrections officers, criminal detectives, customs officers, forensic specialists, fraud investigators, private investigators, and police officers.

This 120-credit program includes courses such as introduction to criminal justice systems; criminology: fundamentals; statistics in criminal justice; research methods– criminology; criminological analysis; victimology/victim services; administration of justice; and corrections.

Loyola University New Orleans also offers an online criminal justice master’s degree comprising 30 credits. This graduate program includes courses such as theories of criminal behavior; seminar in criminal justice; research and statistical methods; graduate statistics; selected problems in criminal justice; program planning, implementation, and evaluation; and directed readings in criminology and criminal justice.

• Location: New Orleans, LA
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Bachelor’s degree (four years); master’s degree (two years)

McNeese State University

McNeese State University also offers both a bachelor’s as well as a master’s degree in criminal justice entirely online.

The four-year bachelor of science degree helps students understand the complex nature of the American criminal justice system and includes topics such as serial killers, crime and jurisdiction, forensic science, criminology, ethics and administration, management, and corrections. Students will also have the option to minor in terrorism, preparedness, and security.

Courses in this 120-credit program include criminology; criminal law; crime and jurisdiction; criminal justice administration and management; ethics in criminal justice; and introduction to criminal justice.

The master of science program provides advanced studies in a variety of fields associated with criminal justice, such as criminology, corrections, justice administration, and ethics.

The 30-credit master’s degree includes courses such as police justice administration; court justice administration; correctional justice administration; research methods; criminological theory; selected topics in criminal justice; contemporary issues and trends in terrorism; policy analysis and criminal justice administration; and legal aspects in criminal justice administration.

• Location: Lake Charles, LA
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Bachelor’s degree (four years); master’s degree (two years)

Southern University at New Orleans

Southern University at New Orleans offers both an online bachelor of science program in criminal justice as well as an online master of arts program in criminal justice.

Providing students with a core foundational knowledge of the criminal justice system and its operations, the undergraduate program introduces concepts related to legislative, social, and legal processes and their influence on the criminal justice system. This 120-credit accelerated program includes courses in criminology; criminal justice system and juvenile justice system processes; adjudication; law enforcement; and corrections.

The graduate program prepares students for further graduate study, public justice-related agencies, the private sector, and management in the criminal justice system organization. This online degree is 36 credits and includes core and concentration courses, as well as a choice of research options.

• Location: New Orleans, LA
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Bachelor’s degree (four years); master’s degree (two years)

For more information on distance-based education at all levels and specialties, please visit the online forensic science degrees page.

Professional Certification in Forensic Science

Although professional certification is not always necessary to secure employment in forensics in Louisiana, it may be advisable for several reasons. First, certification can indicate a job applicant’s knowledge in a particular area and improve one’s resume. Second, it can enhance a person’s earning potential, opportunities for advancement, and leadership responsibilities. Lastly, a national certification can be transferable to other states across the country.

Requirements for common professional certifications in forensics vary, but they generally include having at least a bachelor’s degree in forensics, biology, chemistry, or another relevant field; having several years of verifiable experience; sending professional references; and passing an exam. There are currently nine professional certifications recognized by the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB), including:

• American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA)
• American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE)
• American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT)
• American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)
• Board of Forensic Document Examiners (BFDE)
• International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
• International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS)
• International Board of Forensic Engineering Sciences (IBFES)

Those who wish to have detailed information on credentialing within each subfield of forensics can visit our programs or careers page.

Forensic Program Accreditation

As mentioned above, aspiring forensics students in Louisiana are strongly encouraged to verify the accreditation status of their programs and educational institutions. Recognized accreditation agencies serve to gauge educational effectiveness by evaluating program faculty, student outcomes, school finances, quality of curricula, and other variables.

The Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) is the gold standard for programmatic accreditation. However, as of August 2024, none of the Louisiana schools have earned FEPAC accreditation at this juncture. Program applicants should note that several reputable forensic sciences, criminal justice, and crime scene investigation programs do not have FEPAC accreditation. In this case, the institutional accreditation of a particular school should carry more weight in the decision process.

For institutional accreditation, six regional agencies are recognized by the US Department of Labor. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the main accreditation body, offering program approvals across Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee.