If you are curious about how fingerprints are matched, how DNA is analyzed, or how investigators piece together what happened at a crime scene, forensic science summer programs are an accessible way to explore your interests. Forensic science applies biology, chemistry, physics, and data analysis to questions that show up in legal and investigative settings.
You’ll work with techniques like evidence documentation, microscopy, DNA analysis, pattern recognition, and structured case analysis. Participating in forensic science summer programs for high school students gives you early exposure to lab protocols, chain-of-custody thinking, and scientific communication.
Why choose Georgia for a forensic science program?
Georgia offers a useful mix of public research universities, medical schools, and federal institutions that support applied science education. Many forensic science summer programs in Georgia also collaborate with professionals in medicine, public health, law, and cybersecurity, giving you exposure to how forensic evidence is actually interpreted and applied. The state is also relatively affordable and accessible, making summer programs more accessible.
Below is a curated list of 15 forensic science summer programs for high school students in Georgia. If you’re also looking for remote or research options, you may also want to consider online forensic science summer programs for high school students here and forensic science research programs for high school students here.
15 Forensic Science Summer Programs for High School Students in Georgia
1. Piedmont University’s Georgia Forensic Academy Crime Scene Summer Camp
Location: Georgia Forensic Academy, Demorest, GA
Cost: $150
Dates: June 15–17
Application Deadline: Ticket sales begin on March 1 | Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates
Piedmont University’s Georgia Forensic Academy Crime Scene Summer Camp gives high school juniors and seniors a chance to explore forensic science and learn techniques used in criminal investigations. Activities include crime scene documentation, fingerprint and footwear impression analysis, crime scene photography, bloodstain pattern analysis, and reviewing case files to see how real investigations work. You’ll get hands-on experience collecting and documenting evidence from mock crime scenes, processing latent fingerprints, and practising other core skills. The camp also introduces how CSI teams solve cases, including concepts like the Law of Exchange and the Principle of Individuality. Since this is a day camp, students should be dropped off between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. and picked up between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
2. University of Georgia CSI: UGA Summer Academy Camp
Location: The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens, GA
Cost: $530
Dates: June 8–12
Application Deadline: Registrations open on December 1 | Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13–17
The University of Georgia CSI: UGA Summer Academy Camp offers students aged 13 to 17 the opportunity to experience forensic science through hands-on activities. The program will place you in the middle of a crime scene and focus on the real science used to solve cases. You will work in a professional lab at the University of Georgia and take on the role of a forensic scientist. You will work with a team to examine an unsolved case from beginning to end. You will dust for fingerprints, study simulated blood spatter, extract DNA, and use forensic chemistry to figure out what unknown substances are. The program wraps up with a final presentation where you present your findings and explain who you believe the suspect is.
3. Emory Pre-College Program — Forensics: Violence and Crime in US Public Health
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $5,510 (Residential) | $3,925 (Commuter) + $25–$75 lab fee for select courses + up to $50 for course books + $70 non-refundable application fee | Need-based financial aid is available
Dates: June 14–27 (Session A) | June 28–July 11 (Session B) | July 12–25 (Session C)
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Current high school 10th or 11th graders who are at least 15 years old by the session start date and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
The Emory University Pre-College Program is a summer academic experience for high school students that offers a look into academic and residential life at a liberal arts university. If you’re interested in forensic science, the Forensics: Violence and Crime in US Public Health course focuses on the role health care providers play in preventing and responding to violence. You’ll learn how professionals assess and intervene with both victims and perpetrators. You will study the causes and motivations behind violent behavior, patterns of victimization, and responses to crime. The course examines different types of injuries and wounds, with a focus on crime analysis and the offender’s intent. It also explores common victim-blaming myths and how society responds to crime. You will also learn about the services available to victims, including counseling, health care, law enforcement, and the court system.
4. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: David J. Sencer CDC Museum, CDC headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 23–27 | July 21–25
Application Deadline: March 7 | Applications open on February 9 | Limited to 27 students per session
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors who are 16 or older on the first day of the camp
The CDC Disease Detective Camp allows students to explore public health and epidemiology through hands-on learning. You’ll learn about disease tracking, global and environmental health, emergency response, public health law, lab technology, data analysis, and injury and violence prevention. Each session depends on available CDC facilities and may include simulated outbreaks, mock press conferences, lab work, projects, and short talks from CDC scientists. Although the camp focuses on public health rather than criminal forensics, it can help you build skills useful for forensic science, including data analysis, evidence handling, scientific investigation, and problem-solving. You’ll also learn how to track diseases and analyze evidence in ways that closely match forensic thinking used in investigations.
5. University of Georgia Cybersecurity Summer Academy Camp
Location: The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens, GA
Cost: $530
Dates: June 1–5 | June 8–12
Application Deadline: Registrations open on December 1 | Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 14–17
The University of Georgia Cybersecurity Summer Academy Camp is a week-long program run by UGA’s CyberArch that introduces students to digital security and the basics of protecting people and organizations online. You will learn about digital hygiene, data protection, and common cyber threats, as well as how to recognize and reduce risks. The camp covers industry standards such as the CIS Controls and includes hands-on work to identify vulnerabilities and improve security. You will also develop core problem-solving skills using Python to tackle real cybersecurity challenges. The week ends with a case study presentation in which you’ll suggest ways to improve a fictional business’s cybersecurity. The camp also touches on forensic science through digital forensics, which focuses on analyzing digital evidence.
6. Emory Pre-College Program — Developmental Psychology
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $5,510 (Residential) | $3,925 (Commuter) + $25–$75 lab fee for select courses + up to $50 for course books + $70 non-refundable application fee | Need-based financial aid is available
Dates: June 14–27 (Session A) | June 28–July 11 (Session B) | July 12–25 (Session C)
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Current high school 10th or 11th graders who are at least 15 years old by the session start date and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
If you’re interested in forensic science, the Developmental Psychology course looks at how children grow from infancy through young adulthood. You’ll study how kids develop skills, knowledge, and personality traits, and why development differs from child to child, using theory and experimental research. You’ll learn core developmental psychology concepts, review child development research, and create a social media post for parents or teachers explaining a concept and how to support it. The course can also help you build a strong foundation in forensic psychology, especially in areas such as child development, autism, memory, and research methods, including behavioral testing and neuroimaging. These are useful for work involving juveniles, testimony, and behavior in legal cases.
7. National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Law & CSI
Location: Multiple locations, including Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $4,499 (Residential)
Dates: June 25–July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
NYLF Law and CSI allows high school students to explore the criminal justice process through hands-on simulations and guidance from legal and forensic professionals. The program follows a case from the crime scene to the courtroom, helping you build skills in evidence analysis, legal reasoning, and forensic procedures. You’ll take part in crime scene investigations, Supreme Court case recreations, and mock trials, as well as work with attorneys, forensic scientists, and federal agents. You’ll analyze simulated evidence using real forensic techniques, including fingerprint analysis, bloodstain pattern analysis, hair and fibre analysis, and criminal profiling. You’ll roleplay as justices and attorneys in a Fourth Amendment Supreme Court case and learn how legal arguments are built. You’ll also earn 2 college credits and connect with peers and professionals in law and forensics.
8. Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP)
Location: Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 14–July 11
Application Deadline: November 11 (student nomination deadline) | January 9 (application deadline)
Eligibility: Current sophomores or juniors enrolled in a Georgia public school district, independent school, state charter school, or homeschool can apply | Students must choose one subject area for nomination and participate in the local selection process | You can find the detailed requirements here
The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program is a residential summer program for local high school sophomores and juniors. You’ll apply through a teacher nomination and go through multiple selection rounds. If accepted, you’ll choose electives and attend morning and afternoon classes in a focused area like engineering, environmental science, music, or visual arts while living on a college campus. The program also includes seminars, student performances, and time to connect with peers who share similar interests. The program focuses on science areas such as biology, chemistry, physics, agricultural research, and biotechnology, which can help you develop skills that connect to forensics. You’ll learn lab techniques, research methods, genetics, DNA analysis, chemical analysis, and concepts in physical evidence that transfer well to forensic biology and crime lab work.
9. PCOM Georgia Opportunities Academy: Suwanee Summer STEM Program
Location: PCOM Georgia, Suwanee, GA
Cost: Free
Dates: The camp takes place in June
Application Deadline: Applications are typically due in April
Eligibility: Gwinnett County high school students
The Suwanee Summer STEM Program is a free camp for local high school students interested in healthcare careers. You’ll work with PCOM Georgia faculty and student mentors through hands-on activities in medicine, clinical skills, and research. The program includes training in the PCOM Georgia Simulation Center, heart and brain studies, anatomy lab visits, taking vital signs, CPR, suturing, trauma simulations, and observing physicians and physician assistants in clinical settings. You’ll also attend college prep sessions on testing, personal statements, and applications. The program helps you develop skills useful for forensic science. You’ll also learn about human anatomy and organ structure, which connect to forensic pathology. Past activities have included DNA extraction and blood typing, which are important forensic biology techniques.
10. Augusta University: Summer Research Experiences
Location: Augusta University Health Sciences Campus, Augusta, GA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 3–July 15
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Students 16 or older can participate in lab research, while those under 16 can work in areas such as bioinformatics, population health, or computational biology | Applicants should show interest in the biological sciences, especially cancer research | Preference is given to students from Columbia, Richmond, and Aiken Counties
The Summer Research Experiences program allows high school students to explore cancer research and related careers at the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University. Over six weeks, you’ll work with cancer researchers on projects in areas like cancer immunology, bioinformatics, population health, cell and molecular biology, computational biology, and clinical outcomes. You’ll study core concepts in cancer biology and gain experience with the research methods used to study the disease. The program also includes one-on-one mentoring, professional skill-building sessions, and regular interaction with the SRE community. The program helps you develop skills that connect to forensic science, especially through biology, chemistry, psychology, and computer science. You’ll also gain experience with research methods, data analysis, and topics like DNA and digital analysis that apply to forensic and legal settings.
11. Columbia University’s Pre-College Online Summer Program — True Crime: Introduction to Forensic Psychology
Location: Online
Cost: $2,865–$4,015 per session + $80 application fee + around $50 for textbooks and supplies + course-specific fees
Dates: June 22–26 | July 6–17 | July 20–31
Application Deadline: February 2 (early deadline) | April 2 (general deadline)
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th-grade domestic and international students, including current seniors, can apply
Columbia University’s Pre-College Online Summer Program allows students to enrol in a one-week program, a two-week program, or both. You can choose from over 40 courses across many subject areas and take part in discussions, simulations, debates, group and individual projects, and Student Life workshops. If you’re interested in forensic science, the True Crime: Introduction to Forensic Psychology course will allow you to study the psychological ideas, research methods, legal decision-making, and behavioral concepts behind criminal investigations. You’ll work with real case studies and news stories that help explain key ideas and build familiarity with the theories, terminology, and frameworks used by professionals in the field. With a focus on core criminal justice concepts, the course serves as a solid starting point for students interested in majors and careers in psychology, social work, legal studies, or criminal justice.
12. Emory University: Summer Science Academy
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $1,000
Dates: Three two-week sessions run between June and August
Application Deadline: Registration opens on February 2 | 20–25 students per session
Eligibility: Rising 9th and 10th-grade students
Emory University’s Summer Science Academy Day Program provides students with the opportunity to explore science, medicine, healthcare, and STEM fields. You’ll explore topics like natural science, engineering, medical and scientific research, biotechnology, math, and health career pathways. The program runs Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is taught by medical students, health professions students, and experienced teachers in an interactive learning environment. While the focus is broad STEM and medical enrichment, the program includes content related to forensic science. In the natural science module, you’ll learn investigative science by working with DNA and analyzing different types of data to draw conclusions. You’ll also explore biotechnology tools such as genetic testing and discuss related ethical and privacy issues. The program will also introduce you to a range of careers in health, research, and investigative sciences.
13. Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP)
Location: Law firms, government offices, and nonprofits across Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn a $2,000 stipend
Dates: May 27–July 17
Application Deadline: March 19 | Limited to approximately 35 students
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors studying in Atlanta high schools
The Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program is a paid internship for local students interested in law. You’ll be placed at a law firm, corporation, or public office, with stipends paid by the host or the Atlanta Bar Foundation. You must attend weekly All Intern Meetings on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., which include guest speakers, assessments, and legal discussions. You’ll also complete weekly short enrichment assignments and finish the program with a 750-word essay on a U.S. Supreme Court case. While the focus is on law, some placements offer exposure to forensic science. In offices like district attorney or public defender roles, you may learn how forensic evidence, such as DNA, toxicology, or ballistics, is used in trials. You can also observe expert testimony, which may help summarize depositions that include forensic or medical examiner evidence.
14. Biomedical Engineering @ Georgia Tech
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $5,798 (Residential Tuition) | $3,298 (Commuter Tuition) + $250 course supplement; application fee starts at $99
Dates: June 14–26
Application Deadline: Admissions are rolling, but students are encouraged to apply by November 30 for the lowest tuition rate | Prices increase starting December 1
Eligibility: High school students can apply | Must have completed 8th grade by the program start date and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or the local equivalent
The Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech course introduces students to the basics of a fast-growing engineering field through hands-on learning. You’ll explore how engineering, math, chemistry, and computer science work together to improve human health and support modern medical technology. You’ll learn core engineering and problem-solving skills while exploring medical innovations such as pacemakers, artificial joints, stem cell engineering, and 3D-printed organs. You’ll also design and build a simple biomedical prototype, such as a prosthetic hand, and visit clinical labs to see advanced technologies like CardioMEMS and the Mentis system simulator. The course covers current research and career paths in biomedical engineering. The program will help you develop a strong foundation in signal processing, imaging (such as CT scans), AI and machine learning, and data analysis that apply to forensic science, especially forensic anthropology and digital forensics.
15. Excel High School Forensic Science Course
Location: Online
Cost: $325 per course for 6 months
Dates: Students have 12 months to complete the course
Application Deadline: Self-paced
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18
The Excel High School Forensic Science Course is an introductory class that helps students understand how and why forensic science is used worldwide. If you have watched crime scene investigation shows, the course breaks down the different types of evidence involved and explains how evidence is analyzed to reach conclusions. It covers a wide range of forensic investigations and reports and ends with a look at some of the most well-known forensic cases in history. You’ll learn the components of processing a crime scene and how investigations are handled. You’ll study the different types of physical evidence that can be collected and learn proper evidence collection methods, how to maintain the chain of custody, and why objectivity and evidence analysis matter. The course also explains the role of physical evidence in criminal trials and introduces many commonly used forensic investigation methods.
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, and digital forensics, 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 – Emory University