Career in Forsenics - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Dadiliusv.2 · 09-07-2004, 12:45 PM

Well after years of trying to decide what the hell to with myself I think I have narrowed the field down to this, Forensic Science. I have done a ton of searches everywhere I can think of and not much comes back.

I have talked to school counselors in the past, but I figured someone on OT would know something about this. A friend of a friend offered me some advise on the schooling because he was going to do this but changed to law instead. So, any ideas on this subject. Here is the break down of what he thought as far as degrees go.

I will be attending the local Community College for the first couple years to keep costs down.

Associates of Science Degree in Biology before transfer to a major college. There I will major in Anthropology and minor in some type of Criminal Justice degree.

Hopefully that should give me a start with some type of job in the forensics field.

Any input on this or help you can offer?

Thanks.

*Nikki* · 09-07-2004, 03:14 PM

I have taken some criminal justice classes. All I can say are they are REALLY dry and you got to really want to go into law. It's not something for everyone. I think you need a real passion.

EROK81? · 09-07-2004, 06:34 PM

Sorry posted under the wrong user name.

Anyway, I actually enjoy doing that type of stuff. That is why I want to get into that profession. I just can't find any information about what type of degree to go for so I can do some type of forensic work after college.

Kepage23 · 09-07-2004, 10:15 PM

I went through the police acadamy a couple years ago and we visited a crime lab in our area. There they told us about the different degrees to get into forensics. Most of them required a degree in biology, but there were a few that looked for chemistry. Biology would be a good start, but I would look for a crime lab in your area and ask the experts.

The Phenomenon · 09-07-2004, 10:36 PM

Well you will have to decide which area of Forensic Science you want to get into, since you will have to specialize in an area to get a job.

Physics, Biology and Chemistry will all be important. My Uni has a degree specifically for Forensic science, I am sure your uni must be able to help you. And with the science you will also need maths I suppose.

I don't know if it is necessary to study law though, but I might be wrong. If you do it would probably just be the basics.

bermuDa · 09-08-2004, 12:32 AM

get ready for a LOT of work, but it would be a cool career

EROK81? · 09-08-2004, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Phenomenon

Well you will have to decide which area of Forensic Science you want to get into, since you will have to specialize in an area to get a job.

Physics, Biology and Chemistry will all be important. My Uni has a degree specifically for Forensic science, I am sure your uni must be able to help you. And with the science you will also need maths I suppose.

I don't know if it is necessary to study law though, but I might be wrong. If you do it would probably just be the basics.

Yeah, after thinking about it I don't really see a need for a lot of law studies. I seached around all last night on the internet and found a few things. One of the universities in my area had a few forensic classes, but no degrees. So I think I'll complete the Assocites of science in Biology then at the university I'll ask them what I should do after that.

I am sure it will be a ton of work. But like you said, it would be a pretty cool career.

fhqwhgads · 09-08-2004, 01:14 PM

What aspect of the field are you looking to get into? Are you interested in the collection of evidence, or are you looking to analyze evidence? Most police departments (read: the departments that I've worked for) have units that collect evidence and then send it to a larger lab for analysis. The lab is a neutral party, which helps in court proceedings....

Anyways, I'm getting off on a tangent here. I would think that criminal justice classes would be useful for some getting into the collection aspect, and science classes would be a prerequisite for working in a lab type environement.

Then again, I have a BA in Criminology/Criminal Justice, and I can't think of how it has helped me as an officer. Here's what I told the panel during my interview. "The fact that I have a degree basically tells you that over a four year period, I sat down in front of approximately 40 different professors and did what they asked me to do to their satisfaction."

Good luck to ya...

Lock~Down · 09-08-2004, 04:36 PM

I'm going to be going into Forensic Science too.

I'll be going for the toxicology side of it. Basicly doing testing for drugs and poisons. Anything on the chemistry side of it.
My Uni offers this as a certificate which is about the same as a minior. My major is chemistry, so the two are closely related.

Since its a certificate, I need to go through all the classes required to receive it. That includes criminal justice classes and many other classes that are somewhat related but won't be used to often.

I'm only a second year student and have only worked on the classes for my major. I doubt I will be able to get it all done in four years so will probly be taking an extra year or two. And with the extra time, I might also be able to get two or three more classes done and get double certificates.

My thoughts on forensic science: I think its a good field to go into, but if you got the idea from CSI or some show like that then it probly isn't the job for you. Its long boring and dull. You really need to just have a joy of doing labwork if your going into the lab side of it. Even if you don't use the degree, it still looks damn good on a resume.

Goodluck to you.

EROK81? · 09-09-2004, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fhqwhgads

What aspect of the field are you looking to get into? Are you interested in the collection of evidence, or are you looking to analyze evidence? Most police departments (read: the departments that I've worked for) have units that collect evidence and then send it to a larger lab for analysis. The lab is a neutral party, which helps in court proceedings....

Good luck to ya...

I think either way would be fairly interesting, lab work or collecting. I think if I had a preference I'd rather be out there taking the pics, measuring, and gathering evidence ect. But the lab side of it would also be fun. I have a while to think about it anyway. I think which ever way I go the first associates in Biology would be a good thing either way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lock~Down

I'm going to be going into Forensic Science too.

I'll be going for the toxicology side of it. Basicly doing testing for drugs and poisons. Anything on the chemistry side of it.
My Uni offers this as a certificate which is about the same as a minior. My major is chemistry, so the two are closely related.

Since its a certificate, I need to go through all the classes required to receive it. That includes criminal justice classes and many other classes that are somewhat related but won't be used to often.

I'm only a second year student and have only worked on the classes for my major. I doubt I will be able to get it all done in four years so will probly be taking an extra year or two. And with the extra time, I might also be able to get two or three more classes done and get double certificates.

My thoughts on forensic science: I think its a good field to go into, but if you got the idea from CSI or some show like that then it probly isn't the job for you. Its long boring and dull. You really need to just have a joy of doing labwork if your going into the lab side of it. Even if you don't use the degree, it still looks damn good on a resume.

Goodluck to you.

I was thinking about doing the same thing, the major with a minor in Criminal Justice. Although, after the first degree (associates) I might look into some of the few schools in America that specifically focus on forensics. It's just a matter of which one is better than another I guess. Although I didn't really want to move out of state for school, I might have to.

Haha, that is one down side to asking about this type of degree. Everyone kind of laughs it off because you saw it on tv and it looked like a fun thing to do. But no, I actually just started watching those type of shows every once and a while.

Sorry for the huge post. I figured I'd get it all in on one post.

09-07-2004, 12:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dadiliusv.2 Upright Location: Salt Lake City Utah	Career in Forsenics Well after years of trying to decide what the hell to with myself I think I have narrowed the field down to this, Forensic Science. I have done a ton of searches everywhere I can think of and not much comes back. I have talked to school counselors in the past, but I figured someone on OT would know something about this. A friend of a friend offered me some advise on the schooling because he was going to do this but changed to law instead. So, any ideas on this subject. Here is the break down of what he thought as far as degrees go. I will be attending the local Community College for the first couple years to keep costs down. Associates of Science Degree in Biology before transfer to a major college. There I will major in Anthropology and minor in some type of Criminal Justice degree. Hopefully that should give me a start with some type of job in the forensics field. Any input on this or help you can offer? Thanks.

09-07-2004, 10:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kepage23 Upright Location: MN	I went through the police acadamy a couple years ago and we visited a crime lab in our area. There they told us about the different degrees to get into forensics. Most of them required a degree in biology, but there were a few that looked for chemistry. Biology would be a good start, but I would look for a crime lab in your area and ask the experts. __________________ Just a TFP Rookie trying to make a name for himself.

09-08-2004, 12:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
bermuDa don't ignore this--> Location: CA	get ready for a LOT of work, but it would be a cool career __________________ I am the very model of a moderator gentleman.

09-07-2004, 03:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Nikki ~~~~~~~ Location: Charleston, SC	I have taken some criminal justice classes. All I can say are they are REALLY dry and you got to really want to go into law. It's not something for everyone. I think you need a real passion.

09-07-2004, 06:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
EROK81? Upright Location: SLC, UT	Sorry posted under the wrong user name. Anyway, I actually enjoy doing that type of stuff. That is why I want to get into that profession. I just can't find any information about what type of degree to go for so I can do some type of forensic work after college.

09-07-2004, 10:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
The Phenomenon Psycho Location: I think my horns are coming out	Well you will have to decide which area of Forensic Science you want to get into, since you will have to specialize in an area to get a job. Physics, Biology and Chemistry will all be important. My Uni has a degree specifically for Forensic science, I am sure your uni must be able to help you. And with the science you will also need maths I suppose. I don't know if it is necessary to study law though, but I might be wrong. If you do it would probably just be the basics.

09-08-2004, 01:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
fhqwhgads Junkie	What aspect of the field are you looking to get into? Are you interested in the collection of evidence, or are you looking to analyze evidence? Most police departments (read: the departments that I've worked for) have units that collect evidence and then send it to a larger lab for analysis. The lab is a neutral party, which helps in court proceedings.... Anyways, I'm getting off on a tangent here. I would think that criminal justice classes would be useful for some getting into the collection aspect, and science classes would be a prerequisite for working in a lab type environement. Then again, I have a BA in Criminology/Criminal Justice, and I can't think of how it has helped me as an officer. Here's what I told the panel during my interview. "The fact that I have a degree basically tells you that over a four year period, I sat down in front of approximately 40 different professors and did what they asked me to do to their satisfaction." Good luck to ya...

09-08-2004, 04:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lock~Down Upright Location: Brookfield, WI	I'm going to be going into Forensic Science too. I'll be going for the toxicology side of it. Basicly doing testing for drugs and poisons. Anything on the chemistry side of it. My Uni offers this as a certificate which is about the same as a minior. My major is chemistry, so the two are closely related. Since its a certificate, I need to go through all the classes required to receive it. That includes criminal justice classes and many other classes that are somewhat related but won't be used to often. I'm only a second year student and have only worked on the classes for my major. I doubt I will be able to get it all done in four years so will probly be taking an extra year or two. And with the extra time, I might also be able to get two or three more classes done and get double certificates. My thoughts on forensic science: I think its a good field to go into, but if you got the idea from CSI or some show like that then it probly isn't the job for you. Its long boring and dull. You really need to just have a joy of doing labwork if your going into the lab side of it. Even if you don't use the degree, it still looks damn good on a resume. Goodluck to you.