According to Crime Scene Investigator Network, more than a dozen schools offer online programs resulting in an associate's degree in criminal justice or forensic science, including online-only schools such as Strayer and American Intercontinental universities as well as schools with brick and mortar campuses like Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Many students who earn associate's degrees in criminal justice or forensic science choose to move on to a four-year degree program.
The website Universities allows interested students to search for traditional, on-campus schools offering associate's degrees in forensics and criminal justice, and lists the example coursework necessary to graduate -- classes such as biology, chemistry, and introduction to criminal justice. Earning a two-year degree at schools such as Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland, and Grayson County College in Denison, Texas, can give you the tools to transfer to a school that offers a bachelor's degree.
Bachelor's degree programs can fall into one of two categories: bachelor of science (B.S.) or bachelor of arts (B.A.). Both degrees incorporate the same basic courses and philosophies, but the B.S. will include more science-based courses compared to the B.A., which is a liberal arts-based program. The largest private university in the US, University of Phoenix, offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Classes can be taken either online or at one of the school's more than 200 campuses nationwide.
The study of forensic science requires laboratory courses, so pursuing a bachelor's degree on campus--where you can conduct hands-on experiments and research under the guidance of a professor--may be a better option for some students. Many traditional, four-year schools offer programs in forensic science and criminal justice. In the forensics arena, it's important to look for accredited programs that have earned the approval of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, such as Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, and West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Criminal justice programs aren't subject to the same accreditation as forensic science. The website Education Portal ranks the top three criminal justice schools as Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York; Drury University in Springfield, Missouri; and the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky.
Once you've earned your undergraduate degree in forensic science or criminal justice, you can pursue an advanced degree--either a master's degree or the Ph.D. These degrees can be completed online or on campus, but there are more options on traditional campus settings than over the Internet. In the online category, only National University offers a graduate-level degree in forensics, while several schools--including Everest University and University of Phoenix--offer graduate degrees in criminal justice. Some traditional schools--like Saint Joseph's University, University of Cincinnati and Bowling Green State University--also offer master's degree programs in criminal justice online as well as on campus.
Education Portal lists some of the country's best schools for graduate-level coursework in forensics, including Penn State University, which offers a master of professional studies in forensic science, and Boston University, which offers a master of science in biomedical forensic science through its medical school.