Crime Scene Investigation Schools in Massachusetts
Most crime scene investigators or CSIs are trained law enforcement employees who wish to specialize in crime scene analysis, according to DegreeDirectory.org. However, there are several colleges and universities that offer specialized education that will allow you to become a CSI without prior law enforcement work experience. In the state of Massachusetts, several educational institutions offer associate, bachelor and master degree programs in crime scene investigation or forensics.
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Massachusetts Bay (MassBay) Community College offers an associate in science degree in biotechnology with a concentration in forensic DNA science. The program will provide you with hands-on experience in DNA evidence collection and analysis. It also includes instruction in mitochondrial DNA analysis, a high-demand forensic methodology that assists in identifying human remains found at crime scenes. As part of your studies, you will have the opportunity to intern with a law enforcement agency.
The program requires 73 credit hours for successful completion. If you would like to meet with students and admissions representatives face-to-face, you may attend an informational session. They are held throughout the year, so you should contact the school for details.
MassBay Community College has an open enrollment policy; however, due to the nature of the forensic science program, additional math and science coursework may be required. Therefore, you should contact an admissions representative in the biotechnology department to verify if you will need to complete additional classes and to find out if there are any other admission requirements for this particular program.
Massachusetts Bay Community College
50 Oakland St.
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
(781) 239-3000
massbay.edu
Bay Path College
Bay Path College offers several degree programs that prepare students to become crime scene investigators in Massachusetts. In its undergraduate department, you may receive a bachelor of science in forensic psychology, forensic science or forensic studies. Its graduate department offers a masters of science in forensics degree.
If you are interested in pursuing a career that involves the psychological aspects of crime and forensic science, you should enroll in the forensic psychology program. However, if you are more interested in crime scene investigation, DNA analysis, scientific analysis or genetic testing, you should consider one of the other forensic science degree programs to fulfill your career goals.
The forensic science and forensic studies programs both offer interdisciplinary studies and enable you to learn in a state-of-the-art laboratory. The difference is that the forensic science program involves genetic analysis for DNA gene sequencing; and the forensic studies program instead prepares you for work in the lab as a crime scene or forensic technician, assistant to the coroner, or medical examiner.
The college offers web-based tutorials and will require you to complete an internship in order to gain hands-on experience. Admission to the undergraduate programs will require you to complete core credits in math, biology, English and the arts. Upon successful completion, you will be awarded a bachelor of science in forensic psychology, forensic science or forensic studies.
The graduate program in forensics offers more highly advanced and intensive training that will enable you to become a forensic scientist. More specialized techniques and procedures are learned; upon completion of this program, you will receive a master of science degree in forensics.
In order to be admitted to the masters program, you must possess a minimum of a bachelor of science degree in forensics or natural science with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
Bay Path College
588 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
(413) 565-1000
baypath.edu
Suffolk University
Suffolk University offers a bachelor's degree in biochemistry with a specialization in forensic science through its chemistry department. The program is affiliated with the Boston Police Crime Laboratory and requires course work in biochemistry, molecular biology and DNA science.
Admission is approved by the forensic science committee. Therefore, you must contact the chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to find out admission requirements and deadlines.
Suffolk University
8 Ashburton Pl.
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 573-8000
suffolk.edu
Boston University
Boston University offers several master degree programs for crime scene investigation through its forensic science program in the school of medicine.
You may obtain a master's degree in forensic anthropology, which focuses on crime scene analysis and human remain identification; or biomedical forensic science, which will enable you to work as a forensic scientist, upper-level crime scene investigator or DNA analyst. If you would like to be admitted to either of these programs, you must possess a bachelor's degree in a biological or natural science field from an accredited university.
Boston University
599 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 353-7382
bu.edu
Tags: forensic science, crime scene, science forensic, Community College, degree programs, forensic science program, forensic studies
