forensics is my future Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Hi,I posted this in the introduction forum, and the social sciences forum but after browsing and conducting a search, I realized this may be the better place for my questions.Thanks I am currently a high school student who is interested in forensics. I have an interest in law and science which has influenced me to consider a career in forensics. I decided to join this forum in order to get advice. I will be applying to college next year and would like to know some info about what I should be looking at (schooling, etc.) for a career in forensics. I know becoming a forensic pathologist would take about 11-12 years post high school, and am aware that this is an option (MD or DO route). What I am interested in finding out about is a PhD route. I am interested in doing forensic science for the courts, working in a lab etc. My questions are: What would a compectitive major be for applying to a graduate program in forensic science? Do most graduate schools have a forensic science program? (PhD) I would also like to add that I have a minor physical disability. I live 99% of a normal life; however, because of my disability I wear leg braces knee high, and walk with a small limp. I do not see my disability holding me back in a career in forensic science and am looking forward to my future. Any info you guys have for me, I truely appreciate. and please if I posted this in the wrong forum, I am sorry. Hopefully a moderator can move it to the appropiate forum. (Sorry I have posted this in three different places) Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modest Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Do you mean to be the fella/lady who autopsies people and weighs their liver and brain and what not looking for a cause of death? This, I think, is the 11-12 year (medical Doctor) forensics profession. If you mean to be the C.S.I. forensics collection and analysis (fingerprints, DNA, blood splatter) kind of fella/lady then you don't need the 11-12 year medical Dr. degree. I think they have very specific programs for this kind of training that are 4 years or less. But, I'm sure a PhD would land you at the top of some major city's forensics department. Actually, I think the lead forensics guy in the OJ Simpson case was a PhD... what was his name... the guy who messed up the chain of custody of OJ's blood. I can't remember, but I do remember being in middle school at the time thinking that would be a cool job. In either case- AP science, chemistry, biology and math ;) good luck -modest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
learnin to learn Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Do you mean to be the fella/lady who autopsies people and weighs their liver and brain and what not looking for a cause of death? This, I think, is the 11-12 year (medical Doctor) forensics profession. If you mean to be the C.S.I. forensics collection and analysis (fingerprints, DNA, blood splatter) kind of fella/lady then you don't need the 11-12 year medical Dr. degree. I think they have very specific programs for this kind of training that are 4 years or less. But, I'm sure a PhD would land you at the top of some major city's forensics department. Actually, I think the lead forensics guy in the OJ Simpson case was a PhD... what was his name... the guy who messed up the chain of custody of OJ's blood. I can't remember, but I do remember being in middle school at the time thinking that would be a cool job. In either case- AP science, chemistry, biology and math :) good luck -modest You are right modest. all you need is a 4-year degree in biotechnology. Biotech is the major area of forensics. But in order to get a job with any major agency you need lots of internships during those 4 years of college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Althea Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 I am a final year student. i aminterested to know more about becoming a lab analyst. i knwo i will get bored with the job soon, esp if i have to check samples ALL DAY. Will i be allowed to visit crime scenes if i am a lab analyst? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeztar Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 I am a final year student. i aminterested to know more about becoming a lab analyst. i knwo i will get bored with the job soon, esp if i have to check samples ALL DAY. If you know you'll be bored with it, why not consider something else? Will i be allowed to visit crime scenes if i am a lab analyst? I don't know for sure, but I would imagine no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Althea Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 Its not about being bored or interested. I am quite the monotonous type so boring will be fine with me. I have been interested in this field ever since i was 14! Its about how much cooler can the job profile get. Anyway thanks for the help. If u do find out more, do let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynah Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 It is a fascinating field, but definitely not for the queasy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Althea Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 yes i know its not for the queasy. But are there chances of growth in that field? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tormod Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 But are there chances of growth in that field? We can only hope that more people die of unexpected reasons, I guess. :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Althea Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Hehe...thats an optimistic way of looking at it :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralMotors Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 Remember that doing forensics might not be as hot as it looks on CSI You can always do a few courses on it before you decide on majoring in BioChem etc.. From what I know, you need quite good fundamentals in Chemistry, and its not always an exciting subject as you can see from Main Page - Chemistry. You need chemistry because of you need to know why and how you are duplicating your DNA (PCR) or how dusting for fingerprints work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isomotopes Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 In Scotland you can do a degree in Chemistry and then in your final year do a post graduate forensics science course that then allows you to go and do a phD i think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Althea Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 But there are so many fields in forensics that chosing one of them cud make it hard. Opportunity wise, are there jobs available for the mass that completes their degree?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isomotopes Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 Well forensics is very popular in Scotland so there aren't many jobs for in it but what there is is good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Althea Posted May 29, 2008 Report Share Posted May 29, 2008 A masters degree in Forensics is what i require first. Then i will think abotu the jobs. I just wish i have opportunities once i'm done cos i think thats where i'd be most content. how about becoming a cop? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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