If you’re interested in crime solving but don’t think detective work is for you, another very popular career choice is to go into forensics. At most universities with courses in criminal studies you can get a degree in forensic science, with degree types ranging from a Bachelor’s in Science all the way to doctorate degrees. The forensic science degree doesn’t mean you’ll be solving murder mysteries every day (although that is involved) but there are multiple parts to forensics to consider before undertaking an education with it.

There are many jobs that utilize forensic science degrees concerning criminal investigations. Medical examiners are responsible for determining cause of death and other information pertaining to the actual body of victims involved, this job usually requires more than just a forensic science degree and additional medical training is required in order to practice. Other popular positions that may have been glamorized by television programs such as CSI and NCIS are Crime Scene Examiner and Crime Laboratory Analyst. These positions are responsible for determining other factors that may be evidence involving the crime, including blood samples and fingerprints. The forensic engineer position is another option dealing less with bodies and more with car accidents and building related disasters such as fires.

Security regulations for becoming a forensic scientist for the justice system are very strict and any suspicious activity on a person’s criminal record will be held against them. It would be wise before pursuing a degree to double check your criminal records since the justice system holds most opportunities for work as a forensic scientist. One alternative if you don’t have the necessary criminal background is to work in a morgue determining the deaths of non-criminals and victims; this is a non-justice job, which utilizes a forensic degree.

The degree involves more than just scientific course work and a good majority of the classes required for graduation include legal and law enforcement curriculum. The “American Academy of Forensic Science’s” is responsible for making sure the content taught and degrees issued are accredited by their standards, so a branch was created to regulate that: the “Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission”. Most online and technical colleges offer these degrees in criminal justice making it very easy for people to pursue a degree while still maintaining a full-time job. Popular undergraduate degree’s leading into a Masters in Forensic Science degrees include: Chemistry, Biology, Criminal Justice, and Engineering (if you are pursuing a career as a forensic engineer)