If you’re a high school student interested in crime scene investigations and forensic science, a forensic science summer program is a solid opportunity to get started. These programs let you learn from experts and explore real-world applications like DNA analysis, fingerprinting, and crime scene investigations.
You’ll explore various forensic science areas, such as working on mock crime scenes, understanding digital forensics, and learning about 3D modeling. These experiences are valuable in law enforcement, criminology, legal studies, and technology-based roles like cybersecurity and digital crime investigations.
To help you get started, here are 10 free forensic science summer programs for high school students!
8 Free Forensic Science Summer Programs for High School Students
1. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (this is a hybrid internship)
Cost: Free, with a $25 application fee (waivers available).
Program dates: June 18 – August 9
Application deadline: February 4
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who are at least 15 years old (16 for students who want to sign up for wet-lab internships
George Mason University’s ASSIP is an 8-week internship that provides a mentored research experience. You will be paired with a faculty researcher and collaborate on a project under their guidance. As a forensic science intern, you’ll focus on cutting-edge technologies such as drones, 3D modeling, and crime scene mapping. One notable previous project was “The Detection of Clandestine Graves Using Thermal Images Taken by Drones.” You can learn more about the forensic science mentor here.
2. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility:You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as forensic science, law policy, and more. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. You can apply here!
3. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Financial aid available
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
4. Department of Forensic Sciences’s Internship – STEM Track
Location: Department of Forensic Sciences, Washington DC, VA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 2 – August 8 (spring and fall cohorts are also available)
Application deadline: March 7
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors in a DC STEM program with a minimum GPA of 3.5.
Washington D.C.’s Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) offers internships, fellowships, and volunteer positions in forensic science, public health, crime scene science, criminal justice, information technology, and more.
If you’re enrolled in a local STEM program, you can apply for Track 3. In this track, you’ll assist DFS experts with lab work, research, and administrative tasks, helping you develop skills in forensic analysis, research methods, and professional teamwork.
5. CFSRE’s Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute
Location: Horsham, PA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 23 – August 9
Application deadline: April 4
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, at least 16 years old, with passing grades in algebra, biology, and chemistry.
Hosted by the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, the Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute is a seven-week program for high school students that gives you hands-on experience in forensic science. You’ll investigate and solve a simulated crime, using real forensic techniques, instruments, and labs.
The program covers forensic biology, forensic chemistry, and forensic toxicology. Activities may include DNA analysis and studying the effects of drugs and chemicals. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings in a trial setting as an expert witness. You’ll also tour forensic labs, observe professionals at work, and receive college preparatory support from your mentors.
6. Purdue University Northwest’s Forensic Science Summer Camp
Location: Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 17 – 21
Application deadline: June 10 (tentative, based on previous year dates)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Purdue University Northwest’s Forensic Science Summer Camp offers high school students the chance to investigate and solve a crime during a week-long camp. You’ll process a crime scene, collect evidence, and analyze physical evidence in labs to solve the case by the end of the program. Past camps have included virtual reality training and activities like fingerprint collection. Throughout the experience, you’ll learn key forensic science concepts and hands-on lab techniques. The program typically accepts around 30 students per cohort.
7. NYU’s Cyber Security for Computer Science (CS4CS)
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 14 – August 8
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are residents of New York City
New York University’s CS4CS is a three-week summer program for high school students focusing on cybersecurity and computer science. You will learn the fundamentals, develop programming skills, and explore topics like white-hat hacking, cryptography, and data usage. While not a standard forensic science program, the curriculum includes digital forensics and emphasizes software tools and techniques for detecting cyber threats, their origins, and purposes, which can be valuable in forensic science investigations.
8. Fullerton College’s Forensic Science Summer Camp
Location: Fullerton College, Fullerton, CA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 9 – 12
Application deadline: April 14
Eligibility: All rising high school students
Fullerton College’s Forensic Science Summer Camp is a four-day program for high school students interested in forensic science. You will work on a mock crime scene, commonly used to train Fullerton PD CSIs. As you investigate, you will handle trace evidence like hair, fibers, and DNA, and learn techniques such as lifting fingerprints, performing microscopy, conducting gel electrophoresis, and extracting and analyzing DNA samples. By the end of the camp, you will have a deeper understanding of forensic science practices and investigative procedures.
9. Tarrant County College’s Forensic Science Camp
Location: Tarrant County College, Hurst, TX
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 8 – 15
Application deadline: Applications generally close in May
Eligibility: All rising high school students
Tarrant County College’s Forensic Science Camp offers high school students hands-on experience in forensic science while exploring career pathways. You will process a mock murder scene, collect evidence, lift fingerprints, interview witnesses, and prepare a case for a mock trial. The program also includes discussions on careers in forensic science, forensic psychology, law, and criminal justice. You will visit the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, adding to your real-world exposure to the field.
10. Westchester County Forensic Laboratory’s Shadow Opportunity for High School Students
Location: White Plains, NY
Cost: Free
Program dates: Flexible, based on mentor availability
Application deadline: Rolling admissions (no fixed deadline)
Eligibility: All high school students who reside and attend school in Westchester County
The Westchester County Division of Forensic Sciences offers shadow opportunities to local high school students interested in the field. A shadow opportunity is a short-term experience designed for you to get a behind-the-scenes look at forensic science and learn what kind of lab work it involves.
During the program, you will shadow a forensic science staff member and be exposed to the division’s Forensic Biology, Trace Evidence, Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic Imaging sections.
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