what are advantages of being a forensic scientist?
465289
If you commit a murder you'll know just how to prevent the detectives from solving it.
684824
There are a large number of schools that offer Forensic Science graduate courses, but they're not all great.  A good place to start your search is at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences website www.aafs.org they have an education link.  Some of the best known programs are:\nJohn Jay in New York, University of New Haven in Connecticut, Univerisity of Michigan...\nAs far as undergraduate, non-forensics courses...I would try to take at least 24-36 credits in chemistry.  Many labs require a strong chemistry background, because entry level scientists usually start in the drug chemistry sections of labs.  Another good group of courses would be molecular biology, due to the advance of DNA technology.
1026754
I am finishing my minor in forensics this summer. My best advice is to not get behind in studying and take every opportunity that comes your way, ie internships and jobs, they can always help you in the future when getting ou tin the work force
480387
Looking on the web, I would suggest that you look towards doing a College/University course in Forensic Science, as this appears to be the general requirement of the job.
520071
Diatoms. A benefit is that in criminal investigations it can link someone to a crime scene. Also, for example, if you drown someone in a bathtubs and then throw them in a lake forensic scientists can examine the lungs full of water, observe there are no diatoms in her lungs, and conclude she did not drown in the lake but was murdered and place there. Drawbacks of diatoms is most people would prefer they are removed from the water they drink, and this is why there's a water purification process, expensive, but it works.\n\nAlso amoebas can be in water and produce amoebic dysentery, a drawback. The only benefits to an amoeba are keeping the ecosystem of the pond or lake healthy, perhaps consuming harmful bacteria or what not.\n\nAlgae are an organism that lives in the water to provide food for fish. drawbacks are when nitrogen farm run off hits the water it accelerates its growth causing oxygen depleted water and deaths of many fish.\n\nLastly, fish live in the water to provide us food, but some fish eat us as food too!
283046
I just graduated from ITT in Indianapolis with a Forensic Science degree and the only thing I can tell you is find a good (and accredited) school to study.  A lot of schools are starting these programs but find one of the best ones available.  You'll be in good shape otherwise!
274016
Without doubt DNA - (de-oxy-ribo-nu-cleic-acid) has become the greatest aid to police investigation since the formulation of finger-printing.  Not only does it prove beyond doubt that a person was responsible for a crime but more importantly it can prove that the suspect is innocent.  Only the tip of the iceberg has been touched so far and the process will continue to become even a greater aid in the future.  Air samples from the scene of a major crime will in the future be able to be analyzed and DNA extracted from the air.   As the National Data-base for DNA gets larger there will be no hiding place for those responsible for some of the most serious crimes that are currently hardest to prove.
1115587
a major in forensic sciences and u need to be pre-med if im not mistaken, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry (the class that makes or breaks ppl), biology, umm and a whole assortment of sciences
648187
If you want to go to the crime scene and collect evidence, you'd pretty much need to become a police officer and major in criminal justice.\n\nIf you want to work in the lab and analyze the data, you'd want to major in forensic chemistry (usually offered as a separate chemistry major, sometimes with a biology department)\n\nIf you want to do autopsies, you need to go for your M.D.\n\nNo job will have you do everything, probably because it's inefficient to have an M.D. doing all that work AND there is a conflict of interest. (It's easier to prosecute if 5 independant people analyze the evidence)
767900
Homicide Detectives are plainclothes investigators who specialize in gathering facts and collecting evidence for criminal cases involving murder.\n\nMost of the work involves conducting interviews, examining records, monitoring the activities of suspects, and participating in raids or arrests.\n\nCases are assigned on a rotating basis and homicide detectives work on them until they result in an arrest or conviction, or until the case is dropped. They may be assigned to interagency task forces, when, for instance, a murder incident involves other areas of crime investigation, such as narcotics.\n\nCareer Description for a Homicide Detective\nWhile contributing to an investigation to solve a case, the homicide detective may carry out the following duties:\n\nExamining the scene of crime to obtain clues and gather evidence. \nQuestioning witnesses. \nQuestioning individuals linked to homicide victims or to suspects. \nInvestigating and interviewing suspects. \nInvestigating known or suspected criminals to detect criminal activity or clues. \nInvestigating particular facts of the case to identify salient leads. \nVisiting known haunts and mixing with criminals to obtain information relevant to the case. \nWriting reports for submission to the officer in charge. \nConducting arrests or assisting in the arrests of criminals and suspects. \nPreparing cases for court, in line with formal procedures. \nTestifying before courts or juries. \n\nWould a Homicide Detective Career Suit You?\nA police detectice career can be very dangerous and stressful. Officers need to be constantly alert and ready to deal with a range of threatening situations, including violence from suspected criminals. The experience of being present at murder scenes can be acutely stressful.\n\nThis kind of career can have a strong impact on the individual's personal life. Hours can be unpredictable and irregular, with paid overtime being common. Shift work is necessary. Junior officers frequently work weekends, holidays and nights. Detectives are required to work at any time, with especially long hours during investigations. Officers are frequently expected to be armed and to exercise their arrest authority whenever necessary, including outside working hours.\n\nOutstanding personal characteristics required are honesty, good judgement, integrity, and a sense of responsibility. An interest in people is essential, together with the ability to relate at all levels. The ability to withstand pressure and make sound, objective judgements and decisions in difficult circumstances is critical. Credibility as a witness is vital, as are good communication skills. The willingness to confront and resolve problems, coupled with good observational skills, is also important. Good physical health is a requirement.\n\nSalary and Prospects for a Detective Career\nPolice officers usually become eligible for promotion after a probationary period ranging from six months to three years. In a large department, officers are promoted to detective and are assigned to investigative work after completing the appropriate selection and training. As they gain experience, they may gain further promotion and become responsible for controlling, planning and organizing the work of others.\n\nCompetition is keen for higher paying jobs in affluent areas. Career opportunities for a homicide detective are more widespread both in local and special police departments that offer relatively low salaries, and in urban communities with relatively high crime rates. College training in police science or military police experience gives an applicant a distinct advantage.\n\nFurther career promotion to higher ranks usually depends on the detective's position on a promotion list, which is determined by scores on a written examination and on-the-job performance.
765232
If you want to work in forensics, you need biology, anatomy, and chemistry.  Check with a counselor at your college or university, to see what your major should be.  Good luck.
637916
Eastern Kentucky University offers a 4 year BS in Forensic Science, either a chemistry or biology option.  I Go to school there.
1100935
http://www.aafs.org/default.asp?section_id=resources&page_id=colleges_and_universities#fepac\nColleges and unversity approved by the american academy of forensic science http://www.aafs.org/\nhttp://www.forensicdna.com/careers.htm\n# You will need, at a minimum, a Bachelors degree (or coursework equivalent) in a physical science such as chemistry, biology or physics. Coursework should be heavy on chemistry and ideally include microscopy and statistics.\n# Whether or not you pursue a graduate degree or a degree specifically in forensic science should be based on your personal situation and preferences. There is no general industry standard. If you are interested in a specific lab, call the director to ask what they are looking for.\n# Schools offering degrees in forensic science can be found through these Forensic Education Links\n# You may be interested in one of the non-accredited forensic science courses we offer on-line or through the Univesity of California at Berkeley Extention. For more information go to Classes in Forensic Science\n# The following articles contain information about educational requirements for jobs in forensic science.\n\nWhat should look for is a BS in biology or chemistry
1151637
The Forensic Science Degree can take you anywhere from 2-4 years, depending on if you are going for a BS or a MS. You could not do both jobs because a) the time each job takes and b) there could be a conflict of interest depending on what kind of law you were doing. Crime scene investigations and forensics are linked. The forensics portion usually requires you to have some science background (Biology, Chemistry). CSI's don't necessarily need this. Hope this answers your question.
520876
problem with forensics is there is hardly any jobs in it, only a handful come out every year, and universities pump out lots of graduates in forensics every year, saturated market.\n\nI dunno where u live, but in the UK a doctor can make an uncapped salary, which means if you are on call 6 days a week and are good at what u do, and are prepared to perhaps work in a rural area there is nothing to stop u getting £250k per annum.  \n\nDon't do a job you don't want to do, like pharamacy, thats a waste.\n\nGrad school will probably involve some form of lab work, demonstrating ect, it is average pay in the UK, 32-36K.\n\nYour question is what can you do with a chemistry degree?\n\nWhat can't you do with a chemistry degree?  it's one of the best degrees to get, every employer will fall over backwards to get someone who has analytical skills, team work skills, time management skills, practical thinking.\n\nThere are more chemistry graduates work in the london stock exchange than people with economy degrees.\n\nIf you fancy getting away from chemistry a bit, try for another sort of job, which i don't think you have by the sounds of it, you'll be surprised and i'm pretty sure you'll easily be able to get above your target earnings.
1042848
It's tough to break into pretty much any role in forensics, over here now.\n\nI wonder what the international opportunities are like. If there's a shortage and you can get a visa...\n\n\nIf you're set on working in this country, I'd suggest you may need to be willing to start in a smaller role and build your career up.\n\n\nAlso, send speculative application letters to as many prospective employers as possible.\n\n\nIf you're confident of your abilities and have decent credentials, maybe freelance as an expert witness?\n\nThere's a register of expert witnesses you can get listed on - sort of a yellow pages. I'm not sure how you'd get into it though, maybe start by contacting the CPS.
1007716
look into majoring in forensic anthropology (dead people) or forensic archeology (crime scene) search for Forensic Science in your favorite search engine.  I think you're interested in what they do on CSI, right?