CSI Program
The demand for an online CSI program is on the rise. This increased popularity is due, in part, to television shows like CSI and NCIS. These shows have put crime scene investigators in the limelight as an interesting and exciting career field. This has been causing the field to be somewhat difficult for graduates to go into.
What is Crime Scene Investigation?
A CSI program will prepare you to become a forensic scientist, a term that is used interchangeably with crime scene investigator. CSIs use science to help find criminals and investigate the evidence against them. This evidence can be the most vital piece of a criminal trial, and CSIs are occasionally asked to serve as expert witnesses. Since the career field encompasses so many different specialties, most crime scene investigators will specialize in a single area. Specializations include DNA analysis and firearm examination, just to name a few.
What to Expect
When searching the countless number of CSI programs, it is important to take a careful look at accreditation. There are many online programs accredited by the American Academy of Forensic Science. The type of coursework will vary by program and institution, but programs will typically focus on math and various sciences. Courses include calculus, chemistry, biology, and physics. Programs also require students to focus on courses specific to forensics, such as forensic microscopy, criminal evidence, and courtroom testimony.
Career Opportunities
The crime scene investigator career path was largely unheard of before the show CSI. The recent recognition has restricted the job market some, but there is still a growing need for highly specialized workers in this field. There are many different focuses in the forensic science field. Therefore, most graduates will choose to specialize in one area, such as car accidents, corpses, and general crime scene investigation. A CSI program will prepare you to work in many different environments, such as coroner offices, hospitals, universities, police departments, and independent labs.
Salary Potential
With the number of different specialties in the career field, it is difficult to determine the actual salary graduates from a CSI program can expect to make. As with all industries, the higher the education and experience a person has, the higher the salary will be. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that on average an experienced CSI may earn between $40,000 and $85,000 a year. With a PhD, graduates can become lab directors and earn more than $100,000 a year.
If you are looking for an exciting career using science to help identify criminals and solve unanswered questions in crime, a degree in crime scene investigation may be able to help you with your goals. There are many online programs available that will allow you to earn your degree with minimal disruption to your life and work commitments.