Discover Exciting Careers In Forensic Science
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Considering a career in forensics like the guys in CSI or Bones? What forensic science programs should you enroll in to prepare you for the job?
These days, criminal justice relies heavily on forensic science to resolve criminal cases or legal disputes. You can choose to be a forensic scientist, by pursuing four years of training, or become a forensic science technician with just a certificate or diploma. Whatever you decide on, because it is an intensely technical profession, education and training are crucial if you are to become a competent and successful forensic scientist.
Strong natural science foundation
You'd better love the sciences if you hope to make it in this profession. In particular, it requires a strong foundation in the natural sciences – chemistry, physics and biology. Thrown in math and statistics, too.
Whether you choose a diploma or certificate course or a forensic science online degree program, it will include these natural science subjects, progressing from basic to advanced levels. Excellent colleges that offer forensic science programs will necessarily give a lot of focus on these areas to produce highly qualified graduates.
It will really be to your advantage to have taken up as many advanced subjects while still in high school if your are exploring forensic science as a career possibility. When you finally decide on forensic science programs you will be confident about having some knowledge going into your training.
Minimum requirements
For the natural science core in undergraduate forensic science programs the minimum required is between 34 to 38 total credit hours. Under the guidelines crafted by the National Institute of Justice in setting the standard for education and training for forensic science, the following is the breakdown:
8 credits hours for general chemistry classes and laboratory sessions
8 credits hours for organic chemistry classes and laboratory sessions
4 to 8 credit hours for biology classes, preferably with laboratory sessions
8 credit hours for physics classes and laboratory sessions
3 credit hours for calculus
3 credit hours for statistics
Specialized courses
Beyond the core subjects in most forensic science programs, you are also required to take up special science courses for a minimum of 12 credit hours with at least two laboratory courses.
Your choices for specialized science subjects include: biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, population genetics, inorganic chemistry, analytical/quantitative chemistry, physical chemistry, instrumental analysis, cell biology, pharmacology, Calculus II and microbiology.
Why do you need these advanced level science courses in your forensic science training? Regardless of the kind of program you are pursuing, forensic science is an interdisciplinary degree that requires substantial experience in laboratory work. To continue immersing yourself in lab sessions, you need upper level coursework.
To ensure none of this is a waste of time, choose the courses that will be useful for whatever specialization you will eventually pursue later, like forensic chemistry. It does not matter if you are just aiming to complete a forensic science technician training for now, everything you will take up in school will only enhance your skills and abilities.
Foundations for the forensic science core will be your knowledge of law and the judicial system, as well as courses on ethics and professional practice. To help guide you in case you are thinking of specializing, part of the curriculum is an overview of branches in this profession that you can concentrate on.
Remember that before going into specialization you must carefully consider your personality and your strengths to determine if this is the appropriate career path for you. Would you be comfortable working in the field, or is forensic serology (working with blood and other bodily fluids) more up your alley?
Laboratory courses
It may actually surprise you to learn that forensic science programs serve to harness your critical thinking skills, which is extremely important in this profession. Applying scientific analysis to the legal system is what sets this apart from other careers that also require natural science foundations. Thus a forensic science curriculum should provide you with at least 15 credit hours of intensive forensic science courses, nine credit hours of which should actually be spent for laboratory work.
You may opt for forensic chemistry, forensic biology, physical methods in forensic science, internship or independent study or research and microscopy.
The average tuition for forensic science programs is around $19,000 to $20,000, depending on whether you are attending a public or private university. Although it may be quite expensive to get the training and education necessary to be the professional needed in the industry, the remuneration can be very rewarding especially when you have gained experience and reputation in your field of expertise.
If you seriously think you've got what it takes to be in this job, then start your search for the forensic science programs to suit your needs.
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