Lindsay
Do I have to study chemistry or biology in college to become a Forensic Scientist?
I have been debating over whether it will be easier to find work in this field if I major in a strictly science subject, or if I can major in criminal justice/criminology and still achieve the same goal. #science #biology #chemistry #forensic #college-majors #japan #criminology #criminal-investigations #crime-scene-investigator
2 answers
Valerie Corson
Valerie’s Answer
Yes you will have to take chemistry and depending on your specialty biology. Forensics is a science that relies on other sciences to validate it. So I would advise getting a head start and looking into programs that facilitate this. Good Luck.
Miriam Woodruff
Miriam’s Answer
Yes you need a broad scientific base to work in forensics. As previously mentioned, forensics relies on all of the other sciences to answer questions and you need to have knowledge of all of the major applied sciences to fully understand forensic analysis. I received a B.S. in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Forensic Science from Seattle University; though it is also quite common to get a B.S. in Chemistry or B.S. in Biology before pursuing the forensics track. You can get a Forensics job with an undergraduate degree though it is rare and you should heavily consider pursuing graduate coursework (i.e. masters or Ph.D.). I was required to complete all of General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, and some Psychology classes. Forensic scientists generally choose to specialize in either Biology (i.e. DNA testing, analysis of bodily fluids, etc) or Analytical Chemistry (trace evidence analysis, weapons, etc). Find a school with a good science program and plan on spending a lot of time studying and in lab. Good luck!