Forensic science is the application of biological, chemical, and physical methods to collect, analyze, and interpret evidence in legal and investigative contexts. If you want to go beyond the dramatized portrayals of forensics on TV and explore the real methodologies used in crime laboratories, including DNA profiling, toxicology, and trace evidence analysis, summer programs will help you develop essential lab skills, learn how to maintain a chain of custody, and understand how scientific data is presented in court.
Why should you choose California for these programs?
California serves as a center for both biotechnology and advanced law enforcement training. It houses some of the nation’s most sophisticated crime labs and research centers, such as the California Department of Justice’s regional labs and specialized facilities at leading universities. As a high school student, you can gain access to state-of-the-art equipment like Mass Spectrometry and Next-Generation Sequencing, along with mentorship from experts advancing forensic DNA analysis and criminalistics.
To help get you started, we’ve compiled this list of 11 forensic science summer programs for high school students in California. You can also check out our blog on free forensic science summer programs for high school students.
1. San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Student Worker Program
Location: San Diego, CA
Cost: None; you will be paid $16.50 – $19.79 hourly
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by department needs
Dates: Varies by job posting, but usually 8–12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students enrolled full-time with a minimum GPA of 2.0
This is one of the few opportunities for a high schooler to work directly within a functioning law enforcement agency. While applying, you can select which departments you are interested in working with, such as Alcohol & Drug Services, Medical Examiner, or Emergency Services. Each department offers experience in forensic casework from different angles, including evidence-handling protocols and laboratory safety procedures. It provides a rare look at the daily operations of a municipal crime lab, giving you practical context for how evidence moves from the field to the bench.
2. Santa Clara County Student Internship Program
Location: San Jose, CA
Cost: No cost; you will be paid a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by position, though most are highly competitive
Dates: Summer, with dates varying by specific role
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (Level I Interns) enrolled in regular classes.
Santa Clara County offers a structured internship for high schoolers interested in working with county departments, including the District Attorney’s Office and the Crime Laboratory. In this role, you will support professional staff with technical and non-technical projects. You will learn about the “Chain of Custody,” an essential concept in forensics, and might help with data entry or preparing samples for larger investigations. This experience allows you to observe how local government forensic units operate and the precise documentation required for legal proceedings.
3. UC Davis Pre-College Program: Forensics
Location: Davis, CA
Cost: $6,145 (residential) | $5,145 (commuter)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 21 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This program focuses heavily on the biology and chemistry behind crime scene investigation. You will work in a laboratory setting to practice techniques such as blood typing, DNA extraction, and fingerprint lifting using standard forensic reagents. The curriculum covers the scientific method as applied to evidence collection, culminating in a mock court proceeding where you must present your findings as an expert witness. You will also work on articulating complex scientific data to a lay audience, a crucial skill for any forensic scientist.
4. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Biotech Summer Experience
Location: Livermore, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – 24
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors aged 16+ with a minimum 3.3 GPA. Must attend a Northern California high school and complete Biology and Chemistry or Integrated Science Series I and II by the end of the current school year
While this is a biotechnology program, the skills you acquire are the exact foundation of modern forensic DNA analysis. You will focus on isolating and characterizing genes, using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), restriction digests, and gel electrophoresis to analyze DNA sequences. You will also learn bioinformatics tools for comparing genetic data with international databases (e.g., GenBank). Mastering these molecular biology techniques can lay a strong foundation for anyone interested in the “Forensic Biology” track of criminalistics, where DNA profiling is the primary tool for identification.
5. UCLA Summer Springboard – Forensic Science
Location: UCLA Campus, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $6,298 (residential) | $3,298 (commuter)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – July 3 | July 5 – 17 | July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students with at least a 3.0 GPA
Hosted on the UCLA campus, this program combines classroom theory with the hands-on work of actual crime labs. You will learn the basics of crime scene investigation, performing fingerprint analysis, hair/fiber trace analysis, and DNA analysis. You’ll also apply this knowledge to process a mock crime scene and present your findings in a moot court scenario. It’s a solid option to learn how physical evidence is processed and the role of the forensic pathologist in the justice system.
6. Fullerton College Forensic Science Summer Camp
Location: Fullerton, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited
Dates: June 1 – 4
Application Deadline: Early spring, usually around April
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12
While this is a shorter camp than other options on this list, it allows you to immediately process a mock crime scene using professional evidence collection protocols. You will use specific laboratory techniques to analyze trace evidence, including microscopic comparison of hair and fibers and DNA extraction for profiling. You will use real-world instrumentation to identify biological markers, mirroring the workflow of a technician at a local crime laboratory, and learn fundamental skills such as avoiding cross-contamination when handling samples. Though short, it’s a viable option if your summer is already full of other commitments.
7. Orange County Sheriff’s Department Teen Academy
Location: Tustin/Santa Ana, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 1 week in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically in the spring
Eligibility: High school students ages 16-18 residing in Orange County
This academy offers an insider’s view of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, including its Crime Lab and Coroner’s Office. You will tour the facilities where actual evidence is processed and learn about the varied disciplines within the lab, from ballistics matching to forensic alcohol analysis. The curriculum includes practical demonstrations of crime scene investigation techniques, teaching you the precise methods deputies use to document and collect physical evidence in the field. This is a direct engagement with active duty personnel, providing a realistic perspective on forensic careers in law enforcement.
8. UCI Chemistry Academy – Forensics Science
Location: UC Irvine Campus, Irvine, CA
Cost: $967; limited number of full and partial scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – July 11
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students ages 13–17
Run by the Department of Chemistry at UC Irvine, this specialized summit offers a Forensic Science track focusing on four key forensic science methods: DNA analysis, ballistics, fingerprinting, and handwriting analysis. You will work in university-grade laboratories to extract DNA from an organism, learn four different chemical fingerprinting techniques, and study the chemical properties of gunpowder. The program also features mini cases and a concluding mock crime scene, allowing you to apply everything you have learnt hands-on.
9. Grossmont College Administration of Justice Summer Session
Location: El Cajon, CA
Cost: Free for high school students via dual enrollment
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by course
Dates: Varies by course or certification
Application Deadline: Registration period is generally around late May
Eligibility: High school students, though some courses may require additional criteria
Unlike a camp, Grossmont College offers college-level academic courses (such as AOJ 148: Fingerprint Identification or AOJ 150: Forensic Evidence) where you earn transferable college credit. You will be in a classroom with college students, using professional-grade equipment to study the classification of ridge patterns and the chemistry of latent print development. The coursework is rigorous and technical, requiring you to understand the techniques used in modern forensics and the legal statutes governing evidence admissibility.
10. Saint Mary’s College of California: Forensic Science Summer Camp
Location: Moraga, CA
Cost: $995
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited
Dates: July 12 – 17 | July 19 – 24
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school girls entering grades 9-12
Hosted by the School of Science, this week-long camp has you solving a staged murder by analyzing evidence, interviewing suspects, and using deductive logic. You will work with current Saint Mary’s students and faculty to collect and analyze evidence in the college’s labs. You’ll also get to tour the local police station and crime lab, and interact with professionals in the field.
11. Bowling Green State University Forensic Science Camp
Location: Remote
Cost: $430
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: June 15 – 19
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12.
If you cannot make it to a physical lab, this virtual academy provides a rigorous home-based alternative. You will receive a camp crate with materials to conduct labs at home, including bloodstain pattern analysis and casting footprint impressions. The curriculum is led by forensic professionals and covers the physics of bloodstain pattern analysis and the chemistry of latent print development. You will learn to document a mock crime scene remotely, focusing on observation and reporting skills critical to initial crime scene response.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like forensic biology, DNA analysis, toxicology, data science in criminal investigations, and analytical chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – UC Davis