Quite often I am asked by young adults (and sometimes older adults looking for a career change) on how to become a Forensic Scientist. After all, it is a very trendy job right now and watching an episode of CSI can make it seem so glamorous.
Before I begin with my advice towards education, I just want to say that the career of forensic science can be very disgusting. As a Serologist, I received evidence that was covered with blood, semen, brain tissue, bone, feces, urine, sputum and decomposing flesh. Crimes scenes may contain all of the same plus deceased and badly decayed people or animals. Some aspects of this job are not for the faint of heart.
There are so many schools/colleges offering degrees in Forensic Science right now due to the latest interest in this field. Even my nephew has asked me for advice. And I will tell you exactly what I told him. Don’t get talked into pursuing an undergraduate degree in Forensic Science. With all the hype, these schools are making a lot of money by attracting students to their schools by offering this degree. My advice is to stay away and here is why. When you earn a degree in Forensic Science you have, in essence, specialized in that field. This specialization can be great if, at the time you graduate, their is a plethora of Forensic jobs just waiting for you. With the way things are going in the economy right now, I wouldn’t count on it. At this time, I know for sure that in Pennsylvania there is a hiring freeze on State Employment which includes Forensics jobs. So there you are with a new degree in Forensic Science and no job prospects. Since your degree is so specialized, are you really qualified for any other type of science oriented or law oriented work? Maybe, but more likely, maybe not.
When I went to school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career. I did know that I liked science and so I pursued a degree in Biology. It turns out that a Biology degree works just as well at getting you a Forensic Science job. As a matter of fact, until recently, no one I worked with had a Forensic Science degree. The people I worked with had degrees in Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry. Some critics of this writing might say “but Forensic Science degrees give you more specialized training and so therefore you are better prepared to work in the field when you do get a job”. I completely disagree. As a new Forensic Scientist Trainee you will get in depth, intense on the job training for months, even years before you are allowed to touch casework. There is your specialized training!
It is better to have a good base knowledge in a science degree such as chemistry or biology because you WILL be an expert or you WILL be expected to be an expert in this field when you testify in a court of law. These forensic science degree programs have you take classes in aspects of law. What you need to know about law pertains to courtroom proceedings/conduct and statutes of limitations on different types of cases and laws regarding the rights of the victims and the defendants. These laws may change frequently. You also may get a little bit of every kind of science while pursuing a Forensic Science degree. What kind of doctor would you go to if you had cancer? Would you rather have an Oncologist or a General Family Practitioner look at you? This is the difference between someone who has a solid foundation in science (Biology, Chemistry or Biochemistry Degree) and someone who has had a little bit of everything (Forensic Science Degree). Some schools Forensic Science degree programs do focus more on the science than the law but I would still advise against these programs as you will receive all the law training you need on the job.
There are many fields in Forensic Science. At my lab, we had Drugs, Serology, Ballistics, DNA, Latent Prints, Trace, Computer Crimes and Handwriting specialists. A chemistry degree will get you a job in all of these except Computer Crimes. If you wanted to do forensics in computers then get a computer science degree. If the forensic science job does not work out or you can’t find a job, you are still well equipped for an IT job of which there are many. My advice about this career is not necessarily to put down schools offering a Forensic Science degree but it is more to make you aware and prepare you for what you may experience in pursuing this career path. So many people go to school and never use the degree that they or their parents paid dearly for. That is such a shame. I never wanted to be one of those people. I was determined to get a job that utilized my degree regardless of how much it paid. Your degree in Biology or Chemistry can lead you to so many other career paths should the Forensic Science one not work out. Heck, you might not even like Forensics once you work in it for awhile. Then what?
Additional advice would be to eventually get a graduate degree. Since you will be considered an EXPERT you may want some more expertise. But my advice would be to wait to get this degree until you have acquired a position in forensics and have determined whether or not you like the field as a lifetime career. Soon enough it will be a requirement to have a Master’s degree to be considered for a Forensic Science position. A lot of positions already do require it. The science and the people performing the science is constantly up for criticism and rightly so. I mean we are dealing with peoples lives here. Something you say in court could alter the juries decision to say guilty or not guilty. What you have done in the lab and how you are perceived by the jury has an effect on their decision. However, I still would not recommend a graduate degree in Forensic Science. At this point, I guess it couldn’t hurt but it would probably be more beneficial to earn a graduate degree in whatever field of forensics you are currently working (ie. Molecular Biology if you are a DNA analyst).
And finally, I will give you some websites that have listings of Forensic Science positions available throughout the United State and abroad. Some of these websites will have learning opportunities regarding Forensic Science but usually you have to already be working in the field or a student pursuing your degree to qualify for such instruction. These websites are: www.maafs.org, www.aafs.org and www.iabpa.org. Good luck. I hope this helps you in your pursuit of a career in Forensic Science!
