California has strong graduate programs in forensic science and criminalistics, but relatively few are offered online. UC Davis, for example, explicitly describes its M.S. in Forensic Science as an in-person program, and Cal State LA’s M.S. in Criminalistics is built around campus laboratories and mostly evening classes. Students who need an online master’s therefore have two main choices: enroll in a California-based online program or choose an established distance program in another state.
The better option depends on what kind of forensic work you want to do. A laboratory criminalist needs a different academic foundation from a crime-scene investigator, forensic intelligence analyst, or laboratory manager. California’s own Criminalist requirements still center on the undergraduate science background: the state requires the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree with a major in a physical or biological science, including at least eight semester hours of general chemistry and three semester hours of quantitative analysis.
That means an online master’s can deepen forensic knowledge, add specialization, or support advancement, but it does not automatically turn an unrelated bachelor’s degree into qualifying laboratory-science preparation.
For a broader look at bachelor’s, master’s, campus, and online options, see our guide to forensic science colleges and degree programs in California. Students who are still comparing undergraduate and graduate distance programs can also review online forensic science degrees.
Online Forensic Science Master’s Programs Available to California Students
| School | Degree | Credits | Main Focus | Delivery | In-Person Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National University | Master of Forensic Sciences | 36 | Criminalistics or investigation | Online, hybrid, or in person depending on specialization | Some Criminalistics courses may require lab attendance |
| Alliant University | M.S. in Forensic Science, Investigation & Technology | 33 | Criminalistics, CSI, intelligence analysis | Online | Two weekend residencies |
| University of Florida | Online forensic science master’s options | 32 | General forensic science, DNA, drug chemistry, toxicology | Fully online, asynchronous | None routinely listed |
| Stevenson University | M.S. in Forensic Science | 36 | Forensic biology or chemistry | 100% online | None listed |
| University of Central Florida | M.S. in Chemistry — Forensic Science | 32–34 | Forensic analysis, biochemistry, professional studies | Online option | Varies by concentration/course availability |
| Arizona State University | Professional Science Master’s in Forensic Science | 30 | Advanced forensic practice and leadership | Online | No routine residency listed |
| Florida International University | Professional Science Master’s in Forensic Science | 33 | Forensic science management and professional practice | Online, asynchronous | No routine residency listed |
These programs are aimed at different students. National, UF, Stevenson, and UCF provide stronger routes for applicants who want graduate study tied directly to criminalistics, chemistry, biology, DNA, toxicology, or physical evidence. Alliant reaches further into crime-scene work and intelligence. ASU and FIU use the professional science master’s model, which puts more emphasis on career advancement, leadership, management, and applied professional skills.
National University — Master of Forensic Sciences
National University is one of the most practical choices for a California resident who wants to earn a forensic science master’s without relocating. The San Diego-based university offers a 36-credit Master of Forensic Sciences with two specializations:
- Criminalistics
- Investigation
The program is available online, in person, and in hybrid formats, although National notes that delivery depends on the specialization and that some Criminalistics courses may require in-person laboratory participation.
Criminalistics
The Criminalistics specialization is intended for students with a science background who want deeper training in evidence analysis. National requires an undergraduate degree in a laboratory or physical science for this route.
Coursework includes advanced criminalistics, trace evidence, forensic toxicology, forensic serology and DNA, and advanced DNA analysis. The curriculum culminates in a supervised research project.
For a California student targeting laboratory work, this is the more relevant of National’s two tracks. It still does not replace the need to check undergraduate coursework against an employer’s minimum qualifications.
Investigation
The Investigation specialization does not require a particular undergraduate major. It covers areas such as crime-scene investigation, forensic photography, major-case investigation, forensic psychology, law, and evidence.
This route serves students interested in forensic investigation more than traditional bench science. Someone coming from law enforcement, criminal justice, or investigative work may find it more accessible than the Criminalistics specialization.
National says the MFS can be completed in about 24 months on average and offers year-round starts. Current published pricing lists the degree at $683 per credit, plus a $105 course-material fee per course, with an official estimated program cost of $25,830. That figure does not represent every personal or living expense a student may incur.
Alliant University — M.S. in Forensic Science, Investigation & Technology
Alliant offers another California-based option, but its curriculum is broader than a conventional laboratory-forensic master’s. The 33-unit M.S. in Forensic Science, Investigation & Technology is offered online and can typically be completed in less than a year and a half.
Students select one of three concentrations:
- Criminalistics and Technology
- Crime Scene and Incident Investigation
- Criminal Investigative Intelligence & Analysis
The Criminalistics and Technology concentration covers areas such as DNA, physical and trace evidence, toxicology, pharmacological evidence, evidence preservation, and identification methods.
Crime Scene and Incident Investigation moves toward field investigation, including violent crime, transportation incidents, arson, and identity analysis. Criminal Investigative Intelligence & Analysis focuses more heavily on geospatial methods, crime mapping, digital and open-source intelligence, analytics, identity analysis, and threat assessment.
Most coursework is asynchronous, with optional synchronous sessions. The program is not completely travel-free: students participate in two on-site weekend residencies and complete a research thesis.
Alliant currently lists tuition for the program at $580 per unit. Students should add travel and lodging for the residencies when comparing costs with fully online alternatives.
This is a flexible option for working professionals, particularly those interested in the overlap among forensic science, investigation, and technology. Applicants focused narrowly on chemistry- or biology-intensive laboratory work should compare the Criminalistics and Technology curriculum with the more science-specific programs below.
University of Florida — Online Forensic Science Master’s Programs
The University of Florida offers one of the broadest collections of fully online forensic science master’s programs available to California students.
UF currently offers four 32-credit options:
- Forensic Science
- Forensic DNA & Serology
- Forensic Drug Chemistry
- Forensic Toxicology
The first three are offered through the College of Pharmacy as Master of Science degrees in Pharmacy with a major in Pharmaceutical Sciences. The Forensic Toxicology option is offered through the College of Veterinary Medicine and carries a different formal degree designation, so applicants should check the diploma title for the concentration they are considering.
The general Forensic Science program combines required courses with electives in areas such as forensic medicine, forensic DNA, serology, criminalistics, bloodstain pattern analysis, crime-scene investigation, toxicology, and drug chemistry. Students who already know their specialty can choose the DNA, drug chemistry, or toxicology route instead.
UF describes the programs as fully online and asynchronous. The standard master’s requires 32 credits, and most students finish in two to three years, although the university allows up to seven years.
Admission to the online master’s requires a bachelor’s degree in a natural science and an upper-division GPA of at least 3.0. The GRE is not required.
UF currently lists tuition at $575 per credit, with a published master’s program cost of $18,400 plus fees. The same tuition rate applies regardless of where the online student lives.
For California students who already have a natural-science bachelor’s degree, UF offers more specialization than many general online forensic master’s programs, especially in DNA, toxicology, and drug chemistry.
Stevenson University — Online M.S. in Forensic Science
Stevenson University’s 36-credit M.S. in Forensic Science is a fully online program built specifically for students with a natural-science background.
The degree offers two concentrations:
- Forensic Biology
- Forensic Chemistry
The Forensic Biology concentration emphasizes DNA analysis, serology, immunology, and biological evidence. The Forensic Chemistry concentration moves toward chemical evidence, trace materials, toxicology, and analytical methods.
Core subjects include physical evidence at crime scenes, laboratory safety and quality assurance, serology and immunology, DNA analysis, trace evidence, toxicology, and expert-witness preparation.
Stevenson’s admissions requirements are more science-specific than those of many online programs. Applicants need a natural-science degree or the appropriate prerequisite coursework, including general chemistry I and II with labs, organic chemistry I and II with labs, biology with lab, calculus or statistics, and physics I and II with labs. The university also expects a cumulative and math/science GPA of at least 3.0.
That prerequisite list is useful for California students because it signals that the master’s is designed to build on an existing laboratory-science foundation rather than substitute for one.
Stevenson describes the program as 100% online and says it can be completed in two years or less. For 2026–27, tuition is listed at $719 per credit with no additional university fees for the online M.S. in Forensic Science.
Students who want a science-focused online master’s without scheduled campus residencies may find Stevenson’s structure easier to reconcile with full-time work than programs requiring periodic travel.
University of Central Florida — Online M.S. in Chemistry, Forensic Science
UCF places forensic science inside a Master of Science in Chemistry, which tells prospective students a great deal about the program’s orientation.
The degree requires 32 to 34 credits and offers three concentration areas:
- Forensic Analysis
- Forensic Biochemistry
- Forensic Professional
The Forensic Analysis and Forensic Biochemistry concentrations are research-based and require original research and a thesis. The Forensic Professional concentration is a non-thesis route with a one-credit independent-study capstone.
Coursework can include forensic chemistry, biological evidence, ignitable-liquid analysis, explosives, microscopy, statistics, and other scientific or professional electives.
UCF encourages applicants from chemistry, biochemistry, biology, forensic science, statistics, physics, and related backgrounds. The university also explicitly directs students interested primarily in forensic psychology, anthropology, crime-scene investigation, pathology, or engineering toward other graduate disciplines.
California students need to read the online details carefully. UCF offers the forensic science track online, but the university notes that not every elective or prerequisite is necessarily available remotely. Students living outside Florida should map the exact concentration and course sequence before enrolling.
UCF publishes different resident and nonresident tuition rates, so a California resident should use the current out-of-state online rate when estimating cost rather than the lower Florida figure.
For applicants with a strong science background, UCF offers one of the more technical online graduate options on this list. It is not designed as an introductory forensic degree for someone coming from an unrelated major.
Arizona State University — Online Professional Science Master’s in Forensic Science
Arizona State University’s Professional Science Master’s in Forensic Science is a 30-credit online degree aimed more at professional advancement than at recreating a laboratory-based science master’s at a distance.
Students complete 10 classes, generally in 7.5-week sessions. The curriculum combines advanced forensic science with quantitative methods, ethics, pharmacology, and an applied project.
ASU accepts applicants with bachelor’s or master’s degrees in appropriate physical, biological, computer-science, or related fields. The university also identifies some social-science backgrounds, including criminal justice and criminology, as potentially relevant. A 3.0 GPA in the appropriate prior coursework is the standard admission benchmark, although applications are reviewed holistically.
The wider admissions range reflects the PSM’s purpose. It can work well for practicing forensic personnel, investigators, or other professionals who want advanced knowledge and leadership skills without pursuing a research-heavy chemistry or biology master’s.
For 2026–27, ASU Online lists $605 per credit for most graduate programs, before any program-specific fees.
A California applicant looking specifically for DNA-analysis or advanced forensic-chemistry preparation may prefer UF, Stevenson, UCF, or National’s Criminalistics specialization. ASU’s PSM fits better when the goal includes professional growth, interdisciplinary forensic work, or leadership.
Florida International University — Online Professional Science Master’s in Forensic Science
Florida International University’s 33-credit Professional Science Master’s in Forensic Science combines technical forensic coursework with business and public-administration training.
The online program is asynchronous and cohort-based. FIU describes it as a 16-month program aimed in part at professionals working in crime laboratories, medical examiner offices, law-enforcement agencies, and related settings.
Of the 33 credits, 24 focus on technical forensic science and nine on professional business content. FIU’s current catalog also describes multiple PSM tracks, including forensic management and newer specialized options such as AI and digital forensics.
The management orientation is central to understanding the degree. FIU’s traditional M.S. in Forensic Science is a separate, research-based degree with a thesis or report. The online PSM is designed more around operating and managing forensic organizations while developing advanced professional knowledge.
Admission requires a relevant bachelor’s degree, a 3.0 GPA, and prior science preparation that includes at least a year of biology, chemistry, and/or physics. The GRE is not required. FIU’s program page currently lists a cost of attendance of $21,566 for the PSM.
This program is a logical option for someone already working in a forensic environment who wants to move toward supervision, laboratory administration, or broader professional responsibility. A new graduate seeking intensive bench-science preparation should compare the curriculum with more laboratory-centered master’s programs before applying.
Are UC Davis and Cal State LA Available Online?
No. Two of California’s best-known graduate forensic programs remain campus-based.
The UC Davis M.S. in Forensic Science is explicitly described by the university as an in-person, research-focused program. Students can attend full or part time, but UC Davis currently says it does not offer an online forensic science degree.
UC Davis offers Forensic DNA and Forensic Criminalistics tracks and emphasizes hands-on laboratories, research, mock crime scenes, and other practical training.
The Cal State LA M.S. in Criminalistics is also built around on-campus scientific work. Most courses are offered in the evening to accommodate working students, but the program uses laboratory facilities in the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center and is not advertised as an online master’s.
Students who can attend campus should compare those programs with the online choices rather than assuming distance study is automatically preferable. For laboratory criminalistics, access to instrumentation, research laboratories, and supervised practical work can be valuable enough to justify an in-person format.
Will an Online Master’s Qualify You to Become a California Criminalist?
Possibly, but the master’s degree is only part of the equation.
The California Department of Justice currently requires entry-level Criminalist applicants to have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree with a major in a physical or biological science. The degree must include at least:
- Eight semester hours of general chemistry
- Three semester hours of quantitative analysis
California’s examination also asks applicants about coursework in organic chemistry, biochemistry, biology, genetics, molecular biology, statistics, toxicology, physics, instrumental analysis, chromatography, microscopy, DNA techniques, and other laboratory areas.
Students can review the current requirements in the California Criminalist examination bulletin.
For someone who already has a B.S. in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or another qualifying science, an online forensic science master’s can add useful specialization. Someone with a bachelor’s in criminal justice, psychology, or another nonscience field should not assume that a forensic science master’s by itself will satisfy the state’s requirement for an undergraduate physical- or biological-science major.
The safest approach is to compare your undergraduate transcript, proposed graduate coursework, and the job specification before paying tuition.
FEPAC Accreditation and Online Master’s Programs
The Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) accredits specific forensic science programs, not universities as a whole.
This is easy to misread when researching online degrees. A university may have a FEPAC-accredited bachelor’s or campus master’s program while offering a separate online graduate degree that does not carry the same programmatic accreditation.
UCF, for example, has a FEPAC-accredited B.S. in Forensic Science, but students should not transfer that status automatically to its online Chemistry M.S. forensic track. FIU likewise operates both a traditional M.S. in Forensic Science and a separate online Professional Science Master’s.
Use the AAFS/FEPAC program directory to check the exact degree rather than relying on a university’s general accreditation language.
FEPAC status can be useful when comparing programs, but it is not the only measure of quality. For an online degree, the science prerequisites, depth of chemistry and biology, laboratory experience, research, quality-assurance training, and fit with the intended employer can be just as important.
How Much Does an Online Forensic Science Master’s Cost?
Tuition varies enough that California students should compare programs on the same basis.
| Program | Current Published Cost Context |
|---|---|
| National University MFS | $683 per credit + $105 course-material fee; $25,830 estimated program cost |
| Alliant M.S. | $580 per unit |
| University of Florida online master’s | $575 per credit; $18,400 plus fees for 32 credits |
| Stevenson M.S. | $719 per credit; university lists $0 additional online fees |
| UCF M.S. | Resident and nonresident rates differ; California students should use current nonresident pricing |
| ASU PSM | $605 per credit for most online graduate programs in 2026–27 |
| FIU PSM | Program page currently lists $21,566 cost of attendance |
Published tuition is only part of the comparison. Alliant students, for example, need to account for travel and lodging for two weekend residencies. Programs can also charge technology, materials, equipment, or other fees that do not appear in the headline tuition rate.
The least expensive program is not necessarily the one with the lowest per-credit number. Total required credits, fees, travel, transfer policies, and how long the degree takes can all affect the final cost.
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Forensic Science?
A master’s can support several different career directions, but the graduate degree does not create one standard job title.
Depending on prior education, experience, and specialization, graduates may pursue or advance in work involving:
- Criminalistics
- Forensic laboratory analysis
- Forensic biology or DNA
- Forensic chemistry
- Toxicology
- Crime-scene investigation
- Evidence analysis
- Forensic laboratory management
- Quality assurance
- Investigative intelligence
- Forensic technology
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that forensic science technicians had a national median annual wage of $72,060 in May 2025 and projects 13% employment growth from 2025 to 2035. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education, which is another reminder that a master’s is not required for every forensic position.
Graduate school is usually most useful when it adds something specific: a scientific specialty, research training, management preparation, stronger technical knowledge, or advancement potential for someone already working in the field.
A Practical Way to Narrow the List
Instead of trying to pick a single “best” online forensic science master’s, start with your current background.
You already have a chemistry, biology, biochemistry, or forensic science degree and want laboratory specialization: look closely at the University of Florida, Stevenson, UCF, and National’s Criminalistics specialization. Compare individual courses with the laboratory discipline you want to enter.
You work in forensics and want to move toward leadership or management: ASU’s PSM and FIU’s PSM are built more directly around professional advancement, administration, and applied forensic practice.
You are more interested in scenes, investigations, or intelligence than bench chemistry: National’s Investigation specialization and Alliant’s crime-scene or intelligence concentrations may fit the work more closely than a research-heavy science master’s.
California students who can attend campus should keep UC Davis and Cal State LA in the comparison as well. An online format can solve a scheduling or relocation problem, but for laboratory science, hands-on access may be more valuable than avoiding every trip to campus.
The degree title is only the beginning. Before applying, compare the curriculum with the qualifications for two or three California jobs you would actually want after graduation. If the science prerequisites, specialization, and practical training line up with those jobs, the program is doing what you need it to do.