Discovery Channel invites viewers to attend CRIME SCENE UNIVERSITY (CSU), which chronicles twelve forensic science students at the Pennsylvania State University taking part in a unique program created by a pioneer of forensic DNA analysis, Dr. Robert Shaler. Using long-established crime investigative techniques and advanced tools of forensic science, students analyze complex mock crime scenes that would challenge even the most experienced forensic investigators.

In this unique forensic science program, two teams of students are challenged with simulated cases in realistic settings ranging from a car accident involving a shootout to a possible robbery resulting in a double homicide. This course gets students out of the traditional classroom, providing them with authentic situations that simulate “real world” situations.

CSU invites viewers to follow these students as they work backwards to unravel the puzzles by analyzing the evidence provided in each case. Students employ techniques such as oblique lighting, electrostatic printing, blood spatter analysis, bullet trajectory, fingerprint collection and entomological forensics, which includes analyzing insects to determine the time of death of exposed remains. At the conclusion of each episode of CSU, the two teams present their findings, which are judged and compared to the actual chain of events designed by Dr. Shaler.

A Penn State professor for the past three years, Dr. Shaler has specifically designed the Forensic Science Major Program at Penn State to teach students the purpose and concepts behind the scientific methods and techniques used in forensic science and how to incorporate results of evidence in criminal trials.