MS in Crime Scene Investigation

The Master of Science in Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) is designed for students seeking careers as crime scene investigators, special agents, medicolegal death investigators, forensic pathologists and pattern evidence specialists.

Graduates are proficient in crime scene investigation topics and techniques including photography, digital image processing, bloodstain pattern analysis, fingerprints and forensic pathology. They have had hands-on training, testimony practice, and are versed in contemporary research and critical studies. 

Coursework includes core and elective classes in topics like crime scene investigation, fingerprints, bloodstain pattern analysis and crime scene reconstruction, firearms and toolmarks, forensic pathology and mediolegal death investigation. Students acquire skills that put them in a strong position as candidates for CSI, pattern evidence and CSI-related careers.

 

Forensic Sciences Graduate Info Session: January 15

Join us online for an information session discussing the field of forensic sciences and the GW Master of Forensic Sciences, Master of Science in Crime Scene Investigation and Graduate Certificate in Forensic Sciences programs.

Register to Attend

Forensic Sciences Department Gets New Crime Scene Apartment

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 After years of using a single classroom on the Mount Vernon campus as a “crime scene room,” the Department of Forensic Sciences is excited to unveil our new “crime scene apartment”! We have been given a wing in Academic, which has allowed us to combine multiple rooms into an apartment with a bedroom, living room, kitchen, bath and hallway. This will allow us much greater flexibility in storytelling and space to present more types of evidence and more complex scenarios. In addition, we have a dedicated room for the undergraduate forensic science course, thus eliminating conflicts over scheduling crime scene space for multiple courses. We have also procured two lifelike new crime scene mannequins this year, which will improve the realism and scope of our scenes involving victims. Washington, DC, is full of apartment housing and we are thrilled to provide a relevant and realistic crime scene experience.

Program Objectives

Students who complete the MS in Crime Scene Investigation will be able to:

• Recognize, collect and preserve crime scene evidence
• Sketch crime scenes and create to scale 2D and 3D renderings
• Use digital cameras to correctly photodocument crime scenes
• Use digital image processing tools such as Photoshop to meet casework needs
• Interpret bloodstain pattern evidence and reconstruct crime scenes
• Develop and analyze friction ridge (latent print) impressions
• Testify effectively to their work

Application Requirements

In addition to the Columbian College’s graduate application requirements, applicants must:

• hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university with at least one (1) semester in chemistry and one (1) semester of biology, or
• obtain departmental permission based on work, military or other experience.

Email forscgwu [dot] edu (forsc[at]gwu[dot]edu) for more information.
 

Complete Application Requirements

Course Requirements

Suggested Electives

Students in the program have the opportunity to select 3 elective courses during their four terms here. Although they must meet with their advisor prior to registering for electives to ensure that the desired courses align with their career goals, interests, and fulfillment of pre-requisites, students are free to take any suitable class offered by the department that is not part of their required core classes to fulfill the elective requirements. Students also have the option of taking an elective from outside the department if it aligns with their career goals and is relevant to the degree.

Although we cannot list every class that could conceivably be taken as an elective, some popular choices include:

• Firearms and Toolmarks
• Questioned Documents
• Medicolegal Death Investigations
• When Forensic Science Gets it Wrong
• Forensic Biology
• Trace Evidence Analysis
• Statistics for Forensic Scientists
• Research / Independent Study
• Forensic Toxicology (strong Chemistry background needed)
• Instrumental Analysis (strong Chemistry background needed)