Georgetown University Summer Programs Forensic Investigation Academy

Weekday classes run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Georgetown fills them with lectures, guest speakers, hands-on labs, group discussions and off-site visits. Its sample day splits the teaching into a morning block from 9:00 to noon and an afternoon block from 1:30 p.m., with a long lunch in between.

Evenings aren't completely free. After dinner, Georgetown's sample day sets aside 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. for the capstone project, then student activities with residential staff until 11:00 p.m. Outside class, Georgetown runs optional events such as movie nights, cookouts, concerts and game nights, along with off-campus outings and weekend trips.

Much of the teaching comes from people who do the job. Georgetown says you'll learn from investigators, detectives, crime scene technicians and pathologists, with guest speakers from agencies such as the DC Department of Forensic Science and the DC Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide, Sexual Assault and Cold Case Units. It also lists Anna Muckenfuss and Rodney Parks, the capstone director and curriculum advisor for its high school programs, as faculty connected to the academy.

Georgetown also says the topic list can change depending on which instructors are available, so a particular subject such as ballistics or terrorism investigations isn't guaranteed. It doesn't publish a class size.

You can apply if you're in grades 8 to 12 during the school year before the summer and have at least a 2.0 GPA. Georgetown admits on a rolling basis and weighs your grades, the courses you've taken, a school reviewer form and your personal statement.

Homeschooled students can apply, but the reviewer can't be a family member or paid tutor. International students don't need TOEFL scores, although Georgetown recommends English strong enough to follow technical discussions and talk easily with native speakers. If you plan to commute, you must live with a parent or guardian, or another responsible adult they designate, for the whole program. Georgetown can turn down a commuter request if the trip to campus would take more than 45 minutes at any time of day, rush hour included, and its decision can't be appealed.

Applications go through Georgetown's Academies application portal, and one application covers every academy.

1. 1

   Write a 300- to 500-word personal statement on why you want to attend and upload it with your application. Apply by 31 January 2027 to have the $50 fee waived. The final deadline is 15 May 2027, and applications completed after that are reviewed case by case.

2. 2

   Name your current high school counselor (Georgetown's preference), or an advisor, teacher or principal. When you submit, they get an automatic email asking them to complete the School Official Reviewer Form and confirm your GPA, and Georgetown reviews only complete applications.

3. 3

   Allow up to three weeks after your application is complete for a decision by email. You'll get a NetID when you start the application, and you'll need to enroll in Duo two-factor authentication and change your single-use password before you can register.

4. 4

   Once admitted, register for the residential or commuter section of this academy and pay the full tuition by credit card, because admission alone doesn't hold a seat and places go first come, first served.

5. 5

   Complete the Student Life Forms on CampDoc seven weeks before the program starts, then activate your GOCard ID in the week before arrival.

In 2026 the residential option cost $6,465, covering tuition, a double room on campus and 19 meals a week, while commuting cost $5,075 for tuition alone. Georgetown says all tuition and fees are subject to change, so check the 2027 price before you register.

On top of tuition there's a $50 application fee, waived if you apply by 31 January, and international students pay $90 for required health insurance. Commuters can buy an optional meal plan from university dining. Tuition is paid in full when you register, and refunds shrink quickly as the start date nears, as the table shows. The application fee never comes back, and a student dismissed for any reason gets no refund. If Georgetown cancels the course, you get your tuition back but not travel or other costs.

Georgetown offers a limited number of need-based scholarships, which cover tuition only and aren't guaranteed. You can apply only after you've been admitted, and the application asks for two essay responses. The Academy scholarship application for summer 2027 is due to open in late December 2026, with a deadline of 2 March 2027 and decisions by the last week of March.

Resident counselors live in every residence hall and supervise all students, with one on duty throughout the day, and commuters get an assigned counselor too. Floor curfew is 10:30 p.m. with bed checks at 11:30 p.m., although Georgetown says the times can change depending on the day's programming.

The program falls under Georgetown's Protection of Minors Policy, and any involvement with alcohol or drugs means immediate dismissal from the program and the halls. The Student Health Center has physicians and nurse practitioners, and campus police patrol regularly. After hours, parents can reach the staff member on duty through the university police line.