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Is it necessary to minor in chemistry if I am interested in the criminal forensic laboratory field?

Hello,

I am a current student at Xavier University located in Cincinnati, Ohio (Go Muskies!). I am double major in criminal justice and psychology and will hope to complete Xavier University with a bachelor degree in science. With my immense passion for justice, I want to take my bachelor degree to criminal forensic lab. However, I am concern that I may or may not be on the correct path in making my way to what I want to pursue in my career option. My concern is if whether I should continue my double major with criminal justice and psychology and go forth a minor in chemistry. Another option that I had in mind was if I should consider psychology as a minor and make chemistry my actual second major? I have already proceeded to gain required hours for my psychology major is that helps with anyone answering my question(s)/concern.

I would appreciate anyones guidance, professional or not. Thank you!

-Jeremy B.

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Ken’s Answer

Congratulations on being interested in becoming involved in criminal forensics. It takes a special person to enter this field and meet the demands which this career area presents. The first step is to get to know yourself to see if you share the personality traits which make these people successful. The next step is doing networking to meet and talk to and possibly shadow people who are actually doing this work to see if this is something that you really want to do, as a career area could look much different on the inside than it looks from the outside.  

Ken recommends the following next steps:

The first step is to take an interest and aptitude test and have it interpreted by your school counselor to see if you share the personality traits necessary to enter the field.
Next, when you have the results of the testing, talk to the person at your high school and college who tracks and works with graduates to arrange to talk to, visit, and possibly shadow people doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can get know what they are doing and how they got there. Here are some tips: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Locate and attend meetings of professional associations to which people who are doing what you think that you want to do belong, so that you can get their advice. These associations may offer or know of intern, coop, shadowing, and scholarship opportunities. These associations are the means whereby the professionals keep abreast of their career area following college and advance in their career. Here are some tips: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
It is very important to express your appreciation to those who help you along the way to be able to continue to receive helpful information and to create important networking contacts along the way. Here are some good tips: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-for-writing-a-thank-you-note-thatll-make-you-look-like-the-best-candidate-alive?bsft_eid=7e230cba-a92f-4ec7-8ca3-2f50c8fc9c3c&bsft_pid=d08b95c2-bc8f-4eae-8618-d0826841a284&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20171020&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20171020&bsft_clkid=edfe52ae-9e40-4d90-8e6a-e0bb76116570&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=214115cb-cca2-4aec-aa86-92a31d371185&bsft_pp=2 ##
Here are some very interesting and helpful links that will allow you to explore the areas of engineering, including chemical engineering further. Disregard that one seems to be focused on girls, as it is the most comprehensive explanation of the various areas of engineering which I have encountered: ## https://www.engineergirl.org/ ## ## http://www.futureengineers.org/ ## ## https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43zVcmTJSKM ## ## http://stemtosteam.org/ ##
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Olivia’s Answer

Hi Jeremy! Forensic science has always been a fascinating field to me.

What exactly do you see yourself doing in your forensic career?
My first thoughts are that working in a forensic science laboratory would require a science background (degree in chemistry, biology, etc if your school does not have a formal forensic science degree), whereas a degree in criminal justice seems geared more toward policy, legislation, etc in careers like a lawyer, corrections, and law enforcement. This makes me say a major in a hard science field would be beneficial.

However, looking at your university's site, they have a forensic science minor in the chemistry department, and there is also a criminalistics concentration within the criminal justice degree. Is a major in psychology necessary for your desired career? Are you able to double minor (i.e. major in criminal justice, minor in psychology & chemistry)?
I only mention that because a double major is a lot of extra time, effort, and money added to your current load, especially if you do not need a full psychology degree for laboratory work.

At the very least, I do think a minor in chemistry would be very beneficial. It may be best to discuss with an advisor your university's specific options, after determining exactly what you want to be doing in your career. It sounds like you have a number of options that might be interchangeable towards your career goals.

Take a look at this article that describes different degrees applied to forensics: https://www.liveabout.com/what-degree-do-you-need-for-a-forensic-science-career-974627

I hope this was helpful!
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