A CAREER IN FORENSIC SCIENCE

FORENSIC SCIENCE IS THE APPLICATION OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM.  IT CAN INCLUDE SPECIALTIES IN CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY, PATHOLOGY, DENTISTRY, NURSING, PSYCHOLOGY, GEOLOGY, ENTOMOLOGY, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.  CORE TRAINING IN FORENSIC SCIENCE IS TYPICALLY CENTERED ON THE NATURAL SCIENCES AND INCLUDES COURSEWORK IN FORENSIC CHEMISTRY AND FORENSIC BIOLOGY. 

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCE FIELD ARE DIVERSE.  THE NEED FOR HIGHLY-TRAINED FORENSIC SCIENTISTS TO RECOVER, ANALYZE, AND INTERPRET FORENSIC EVIDENCE IS IN CRITICAL DEMAND IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY AND WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY SO IN THE FUTURE.  JOB PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH A FORENSIC SCIENCE DEGREE INCLUDE WORKING IN LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE, OR PRIVATE CRIME LABORATORIES OR CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION UNITS, WORKING AS A CHEMIST, BIOLOGIST, BIOTECHNOLOGIST OR BIOCHEMIST IN VIRTUALLY ANY OTHER SCIENCE-BASED LABORATORY (E.G., TOXICOLOGY, GENOMICS, QUALITY ASSURANCE, INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES LABS), WORKING FOR THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, OR HOMELAND SECURITY, OR ENTERING LAW SCHOOL, MED SCHOOL, OR GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES.

ACADEMIC TRAINING IN FORENSIC SCIENCE REQUIRES COURSEWORK IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES AND RELATED DISCIPLINES.  COURSES AT RU TO SUPPORT A FORENSIC SCIENCE FOCUS ARE CURRENTLY OFFERED ACROSS THREE COLLEGES AND AT LEAST SIX DEPARTMENTS.  THEY INCLUDE:

ANTHROPOLOGY:

ANTH 120 (INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY)

ANTH 230 (INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY)

 ANTH 232 (FORENSIC ARCHAEOLOGY)

 ANTH 320 (HUMAN OSTEOLOGY)

 ANTH 420 (ADVANCED FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY)

 BIOLOGY:

 BIO 221 (GENETICS)

 BIO 222 (CELL BIOLOGY)

 BIO 334 (MICROBIOLOGY)

 BIO 337 (IMMUNOLOGY)

 BIO 450 (MOLECULAR BIOLOGY)

 BIO/CHEM 471/472 (BIOCHEMISTRY)

 FORENSIC BIOLOGY (UNDER DEVELOPMENT)

CHEMISTRY:

 CHEM 201 (QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS)

 CHEM 216 (INORGANIC CHEMISTRY)

 CHEM 301, 302 (ORGANIC CHEMISTRY)

 CHEM 401, 402 (PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY)

 CHEM 424 (INSTRUMENTAL METHODS)

 FORENSIC CHEMISTRY (UNDER DEVELOPMENT)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE:

 CRJU 320 (CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE THEORY)

 CRJU 341 (INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCE)

 CRJU 360 (CRIMINAL LAW AND EVIDENCE)

 CRJU 481 (FORENSIC EVIDENCE)

HEALTH:

 HLTH 451 (DRUG USE AND DRUG ABUSE EDUCATION)

PSYCHOLOGY:

 PSYC 405 (FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY)

 PSYC 439 (ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY)

FORENSIC SCIENCE CONCENTRATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED IN SEVERAL OF THE ABOVE DISCIPLINES—CONTACT THE ABOVE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

RESEARCH AND INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES IN FORENSIC SCIENCE ARE ALSO AN IMPORTANT PART OF TRAINING IN THESE DISCIPLINES.  THE RUFSI OFFERS SUCH COLLABORATIVE FACULTY-STUDENT RESEARCH AS WELL AS INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT DR. CLIFF BOYD AT (540) 831-5948 OR CLBOYD@RADFORD.EDU.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CAREERS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE, GO TO WWW.AAFS.ORG (THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FORENSIC SCIENCES).