California Forensic Science Colleges - Forensics Schools in CA (2023)

The Golden State—home to towering redwoods, crystalline sand beaches, and bustling cities—offers a uniquely favorable educational and professional landscape to aspiring forensic scientists. The Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) accredits relatively few programs nationally, and only those in forensic science, so this is not necessarily indicative of California program quality. As of June 2021, there are no FEPAC-accredited programs in the state.

That said, the job prospects for forensic scientists in California (CA) are promising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), California is the top-employing state for forensic science technicians at 2,270 (BLS May 2020). This figure will likely swell in the coming years, with openings for this profession expected to grow 14 percent between 2019 and 2029 (BLS 2020). Furthermore, California is among the top five highest paying states for this occupation at an average annual salary of $88,090—36 percent more than the national average.

To discover more about becoming a forensic science specialist in California, including occupational demand, featured programs, and accreditation information, read on below.

How to Become a Forensic Scientist in California

While there are several paths to becoming a forensic scientist or technician in CA, many pursue a four-year degree in the natural sciences before joining the profession. Here is one possible route to joining this growing career:

• Step 1: Graduate from high school. Successful forensic science techs typically have strong backgrounds in mathematics and physical sciences.
• Step 2: Get a bachelor’s degree in forensic science, natural science, or a subfield (four years). According to Career One Stop, a data organization sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, 30 percent of these specialists have at least a bachelor’s degree (CareerOneStop.org 2021). Some possible majors include chemistry, biology, physics, psychology, or physical anthropology. Other people may choose criminal justice, law, or an interdisciplinary approach as a starting point. Still, due to the frequent use of laboratory equipment and experimentation, most of these professionals typically receive solid scientific training.
• Step 3: Apply for professional certification through a national organization (optional, timeline varies). Some professionals in forensic science choose to get certified or licensed for their skills. While this may not be necessary for employment, it may lead to a more competitive resume, increased job responsibilities, and even higher pay, all contingent on one’s employer. The Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB) has ten professional certification organizations in various specialties, including criminalistics, forensic engineering, handwriting analysis, and more. Each of these agencies has its own educational and experiential criteria for membership and may also require an exam.
• Step 4: Get a master’s degree in forensic science or a related field (optional, two years). According to Career One Stop, 11 percent of forensic science technicians hold advanced graduate degrees (CareerOneStop.org 2021). This extra training and research experience may result in more excellent employment prospects, leadership opportunities, and higher pay.

Featured Forensics Programs in California

Not only does California boast one of the healthiest job outlooks of any state, but it also offers a wealth of forensic science programs across a range of levels and subfields. Although none of the California programs are accredited by FEPAC, as of 2021, they remain in good standing with their institutional accrediting agencies:

The University of California at Davis, with its campus located close to the Bay Area, hosts a renowned master of science (MS) in forensic science program at its scenic campus. Among its 187 graduates since the program was first approved in 2002, more than 90 percent are employed in crime labs or similar workplaces.

This program is ideal for working professionals with classes offered during afternoons and late evenings. It provides extensive training in the significant areas of the field, including DNA analysis, arson investigation, toxicology, impression identification, and other cornerstones.

California State University in Los Angeles has an interdisciplinary master of science (M.S.) in criminalistics program. With coursework in areas such as crime scene reconstruction, forensic microscopy, and trace evidence analysis, students are prepared to conduct original research for their graduate thesis and take the Forensic Science Assessment Test (FSAT) offered by the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC).

California State University at Fullerton offers a broad-based certificate program in crime and intelligence analysis, ideal for newcomers to the discipline or working professionals looking to learn the fundamentals. With coursework in investigation techniques and crime scene evaluation, this training program can help qualify people for forensic science assignments within their occupation.

The San Jose State University Department of Justice Studies has a bachelor of science (BS) in forensic science program with distinct concentrations in chemistry or biology. The interdisciplinary courses are designed not only to give students a working knowledge of the field techniques through hands-on, supervised instruction but also to provide students with an awareness of the intersection of law, ethics, and scientific investigation in criminalistics.

California State University at Stanislaus is located just east of the Bay Area and offers a bachelor of arts (BA) with a forensic science concentration. In addition to the typical criminal justice, CSI, and natural sciences coursework, Stanislaus has some tantalizing, interest-based electives such as talking skeletons (case studies in forensic anthropology) and the psychology of criminal behavior.

There are also several training and education facilities outside of traditional university systems. For example, the California Criminalistics Institute (CCI) of the California Department of Justice enrolls more than 1000 students per year for training in digital evidence, toxicology, and other areas. Designed to keep forensic science professionals abreast of discoveries and innovative methods, these courses are open to city, country, state, and federal employees in the field.

Hybrid and Online Forensics Programs

In addition to the national hybrid and online forensic science programs, some California schools have catered their specialty certificate coursework to meet the needs of distance-based students:

California State University at Fullerton offers a hybrid computer forensics certificate program. Highlights of the training include hands-on experience with EnCase, the paramount standard in digital forensic technology, and instruction in the Forensic Toolkit (FTK), a bundle of technologies used to perform computer forensics investigations.

The University of California at Riverside has an online forensic nursing certificate program that teaches students how to summarize medical records for legal proceedings and how to act as a medical consultant in a wide range of legal settings. Graduates of this program may go on to work in medical examiners’ offices, law enforcement agencies, social service agencies, or specialized hospital units.

Forensics Program Accreditation and Professional Certification

As mentioned above, there are no forensics colleges programs in California accredited by the Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission. However, the schools featured here hold either institutional or regional accreditation from organizations recognized by the US Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

In addition to discipline-specific program approval, prospective students should look for institutions that have been accredited. The most common accrediting agency in California is the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), including its Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).

Finally, for forensic science professionals in California that have achieved academic and experiential milestones in their careers, there are some specialty-based individual certification agencies. The prerequisites for certification vary by discipline but generally involve a competitive application process and a test of competence.

The Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB) provides a list of 10 organizations approved to award individual, professional certification. Some of these specialties include:

• Toxicology
• Criminalistics
• Medicolegal death investigations
• Document examination
• Forensic engineering
• Forensic odontology

Occupational Demand for Forensics Professionals in California

Eureka! California is the most populous state in the U.S. and offers an abundance of employment options for graduates in forensic science.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), California is a top-employing state for forensic science technicians at 2,270 total (BLS May 2020). So what are the top regions? Here is a breakdown of the municipalities with the most forensic science technicians. Note that there is some overlap due to the sprawling nature of some California metro areas:

• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 1,030 employed
• Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA: 260
• San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: 220
• San Diego-Carlsbad, CA: 160
• Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA: 110

Salaries for Forensic Scientists in California

Not surprisingly, the Los Angeles area is the top-employing region of the state and is among the top-paying areas. Here are the highest paying regions for forensic science technicians in California listed with the average annual salaries (BLS May 2020):

• San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA: $106,360 average
• Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA: $95,760
• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: $94,060
• Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA: $88,420
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $83,460

Being the most populous state in the US, California metropolitan areas are also some of the top-paying regions in the nation for forensic scientists. The BLS shows that six of the top 10 paying metro areas in the United States for forensic scientists are in California (BLS May 2020):

• San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $106,360 annual mean wage
• Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA: $95,760
• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: $94,060
• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: $89,750
• Toledo, OH: $89,710
• Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA: $88,420
• Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH: $85,450
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $83,460
• Chicago-Naperville-Elgin-IL-IN-WI: $82,620
• San Diego-Carlsbad, CA: $81,530

With the healthy job outlook for forensic science technicians in California, there are also many professional organizations, resources, and networking opportunities. For example, the California Association of Criminalists (CAC) features events, training courses, biannual seminars, study groups, salary surveys, job listings, and various awards.

Another organization, the California Association of Crime Laboratory Directors, provides similar offerings with its resource lists, job posts, conferences, and other items of interest to these leaders in the industry.