Forensic Science Scholarships
Become a CSI
With the advent of the very popular suite of CSI television programs forensic experts and investigators are the new "cool" of crime stopping. Now every kid dreams of cracking tough cases CSI-style.
If you're pursuing this field you may choose from undergraduate, graduate or certificate programs. The field is extremely competitive and top scholars receive the most lucrative scholarships and the preferred positions in the leading forensic science programs. Expect to study a range of disciplines from chemistry to criminal law and microbiology. Individuals with an aptitude for details and analysis will likely excel. While the hot television shows make it look as though a CSI does everything from A-Z, most professionals only specialize in one facet of the field, such as firearms or victim identification. Most of the work is laboratory work, as opposed to the glorified fieldwork.
Available Scholarships
The Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE) Scholarship provides funding for students pursuing a degree in Forensic Science. Applicants must be able to craft an essay explaining why they chose the field for their career. Preference is given to students with the highest academic records. The award is $1,000. The AFTE is representative of a very important facet of the forensic science field: the study of firearms and their identifying marks that often are crucial to connecting a weapon to a crime.
Annual student scholarships are available from the American Society of Crime Lab Directors. Students must be at least in their junior year of undergraduate study and must provide a letter of recommendation from faculty in their forensics program. Applicants are also required to write an essay on their career goals and career choice. Maximum award is $1,000.
The Emily R. Murphy Scholarship in Forensic Science from Virginia Commonwealth University is named in memory of a student in the program who died in a car crash. The scholarship in her name is awarded to a graduate student who is a top academic performer in the program.
Each year the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists awards scholarships to regional students enrolled in a Forensic Science program. Applicants may be undergraduate or graduate students and a student member of the organization. Top-notch students win these awards.
Students attending C.W. Post Forensic Science Scholarship is open to undergraduate students enrolled in the forensic science program at C.W. Post College on Long Island. Applicants with the highest GPAs will be considered first as well as those who are able to articulate in an essay the importance of the scholarship to attaining their career goals.
The Chesapeake Bay Division of the International Association for Identification funds the George Robinson Memorial Scholarship. Students or professionals in the field are welcome to apply for the $500 awards. Qualified applicants must be members of the organization and possess superior GPAs.
The A.F. Wentworth Fellowship in Forensic Medicine Fund provides qualified students enrolled in the University of Florida funding for their forensics studies.
Top Forensic Science Programs
Colleges such as Marshall University, Arcadia University and Virginia Commonwealth University are all some of the leading forensic science programs. If you are enrolling in any of the schools with a reputable forensics program, do not overlook the general scholarships provided by the institution.
