At the National Student Leadership Conference summer Forensic Science program, high school students unravel a mystery as they conduct an investigation and build a body of evidence. Interact with experts in medicine, law enforcement and the legal profession who will give you an insider’s view into the life of a professional forensic scientist.
Program Highlights
Uncover evidence
Conduct a crime scene investigation and analyze your findings alongside your team as you work to solve a murder.
Learn investigative techniques
Workshops in ballistics, blood splatter, tire tread impressions, fingerprinting, and DNA analysis teach you how to interpret evidence.
Meet the experts
Leading forensic scientists and medical examiners from the DEA, NCIS, and the Department of Justice share their career journeys and day-to-day experiences.
Hands-on anatomy lab
Learn the process of performing an autopsy through fetal pig dissections.
Dates & Locations
Note: Space is limited. Please login to the online application to see up-to-date session availability.

American University
- June 17 - June 25
- June 29 - July 7
- July 11 - July 19
- July 23 - July 31

Columbia University
- July 12 - July 20
- July 24 - August 1
NSLC is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Columbia University.
Hands-on Simulations
The NSLC high school program on Forensic Science uses an interactive approach to learning that gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in the challenging complexities of crime scene investigation. You and your team will work together to solve the mystery of a realistic crime scene. In this true-to-life simulation, you will gather evidence, study the clues, analyze the data and, maybe, solve the crime.
In small groups you will learn the skills of crime scene investigation.
Topics include:
- DNA Analysis
- Blood Spatter Analysis
- Skeletal Identification
- Fingerprinting
- Footwear and Tire Impressions
Meet Forensic Professionals
While at the NSLC’s high school summer forensic science program, you will meet with and learn from leaders in the fields of forensic science and law enforcement. In past years, NSLC students have heard from special guest speakers including top analysts from agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Examples of past guest speakers include:
Commander Edward Reedy
Chief Deputy Medical Examiner, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner
Special Agent Robert Fram
Scientific Analysis Section Chief, FBI Laboratory
Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr. MD FASCP
Chief Medical Examiner, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Richard Cooter
Director of Forensic Psychology, George Washington University
Dr. Jenifer Smith
Director of the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS)
Dr. Max Houck
Director, Forensic Science Initiative, West Virginia University
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
An important part of the NSLC high school forensic science program is seeing the sites around some of our nation’s greatest cities. These trips are designed as both sightseeing tours and exclusive educational trips specifically tailored to the area of Forensic Science. These trips may include:
American University
DEA - U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration | FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation | OCME - Office of the Chief Medical Examiner | ATF - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives | The Smithsonian Institution | Capitol Hill | Historic Georgetown | D.C. Monuments at Night
Columbia University
Coming soon!
Leadership Training
At the heart of each of our youth leadership programs is a curriculum designed to build concrete leadership skills that will help you succeed. Interactive lectures and small-group workshops will give you an opportunity to build upon your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
Leadership topics tailored to the Forensic Science program include:
- Personality Styles and Group Dynamics
- Conflict Resolution
- Negotiation
- Public Speaking
- Intrapersonal Communication
College Credit Option
American University (AU) and NSLC have a unique partnership that enables you to earn college credit by enrolling in a supplemental online course designed to correlate with your NSLC program’s area of study. By enrolling in this credit course, you will enjoy a stimulating, innovative, and personalized college-level learning experience that builds on your NSLC accomplishments. The course is for one credit and is taught in a self-paced, asynchronous format across six weeks, allowing ample time to complete assignments. The course is designed to work within the framework of NSLC; students are not expected to complete coursework while on campus. Students may register for college credit via their personal student portal (myNSLC) once they have enrolled in an NSLC session.
Click here to learn more about this opportunity.
Tuition
Program tuition includes housing, all on-campus meals, course materials, academic expenses, and activities. Tuition also includes chartered, air-conditioned motor coaches for off-campus briefings and tours. Note: Students are responsible for the cost of travel to and from the program as well as individual spending money for souvenirs, laundry, and a few off-campus meals during fields trips and tours.
Click here to view our cancellation and refund policy.
Location | Tuition |
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New York City, NY and Washington, D.C. | $3,995 |