 The CSI effect has influenced the manner in which forensic scientists are educated and trained . In the past , those who sought to enter the field of forensics typically earned an undergraduate degree in a science , followed by a master 's degree . However , the popularity of programs such as CSI has caused an increase in the demand for undergraduate courses and graduate programs in forensic science . In 2004 , the forensics programs at Florida International University and the University of California , Davis doubled in size , reportedly as a result of the CSI effect . However , many students enter such programs with unrealistic expectations . Vocational interest in forensic science has proliferated among students in countries besides the United States , including Australia , the United Kingdom , and Germany . The increased popularity of the forensic science program at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland has also been attributed to the CSI effect . 
