Forensic

Question: What is the difference between forensic chemistry, forensic biology, and forensic science? I'm going to be a senior in September and need help. I want to go to college for forensic but i don't understand the difference between forensic science, forensic biology and forensic chemistry. Can anyone help me? Also, which one should i major in. I loved going to chemistry everyday, i had an A average in that class. I kind of hated biology, I had an B average. I'm taking forensic science at my high school in the fall.

Answer: Forensic Science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to the legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or to a civil action. But besides its relevance to the underlying legal system, more generally forensics encompasses the accepted scholarly or scientific methodology and norms under which the facts regarding an event, or an artifact, or some other physical item (such as a corpse, or cadaver, for example) are to the broader notion of authentication whereby an interest outside of a legal form exists in determining whether an object is in fact what it purports to be, or is alleged as being. ( THE ALL AROUND SCIENCE OF FORENSICS) Forensic Chemistry is the application of chemistry to law enforcement or the failure of products or processes. Many different analytical methods may be used to reveal what chemical changes occurred during an incident, and so help reconstruct the sequence of events. ( Chemical make-up Study) Forensic Biology is the application of biology to law enforcement. It includes the subdisciplines of Forensic anthropology, Forensic botany, Forensic entomology, Forensic odontology and various DNA or protein based techniques.

Question: Do forensic toxicologists have to have the courage to face dead bodies? I really like to analyze stuff, especially working in laboratories and dealing with chemicals and stuff like human DNA, etc. It seems that forensic is the top choice for me but I'm afraid of dead bodies and my family would never support me if the job includes even having to see or deal with dead bodies. If someone wants to be in the forensic department, does he or she has to have the courage to face dead bodies? Will they be run through a test testing their ability to face bodies when they're getting their degrees or during job interviews? Please help. Thanks.

Answer: It depends on the type of work that you plan do. If you're just in the lab, you'll probably not have to deal with them (I've been a research biologist working on human-source tissue for 10 years, and the closest I've come to seeing a body in the course of my job has been chunks of biopsied tissue). If you want to rise above the lab monkey level, though, it's probably something you'll have to get over. You can do lab tests on blood and tissue samples from a pathologist, and from autopsy reports, but if you're the one making the call, there is a lot that you can determine from actually examining a body, or sitting in on an autopsy. You wouldn't be tested as part of a job interview... but if you knowingly took a job where you'd have to work with bodies, and were unable to deal with it, you could get into trouble (professionally speaking). At the very least, you'd have to make a decision on whether to tough it out or leave your job. At worst, they could fire you and it would be a black mark on your resume. Again, it might not even be an issue, since your involvement with the body would depend on the specific kind of position you're looking for.

Question: What sort of education would a forensic scientist have? I plan on going into forensics in college but I want to know what sort of education and classes a forensic scientist may need, not only that but also forensic jobs on the field, not just indoors, what sort of classes/education will I need? What types of jobs can I get as a forensic specialist?

Answer: The school I go to just started a forensic science program, and i think evenhas the first master's program in it for the state of Indiana. I don't know much about jobs afterward, but take a look at the website, i would even email a professor; they are usually very helpful at my school. The professor's work very closely with students in research.

Question: What is forensic psychology and what does a forensic psychologist do? I am a student in high school starting to look at colleges and careers. I want to know what forensic psychologist is and what does he does? Thank you.

Answer: Forensic psychologists are psychologists who specialize in performing psychological evaluations, often court ordered, such as competence to stand trial, likelihood of sex offenders to re-offend, and the like. Forensic evaluations typically include gathering information from multiple sources such as formal assessment measures (tests), interviews with the person in question and relevant others, psychosocial history, review of records, etc. Based on that information, the forensic psychologist forms professional opinion and makes recommendations informed by that that opinion. Forensic psychology is often an area of specialization within a more general program, i.e., PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Forensic Psychology. Hope this is helpful. Good luck in your studies!!

Question: What is better to do at uni, forensic science or chemistry? Im doing my a levels in chemistry at the moment and want to do forensic science when in older. I have seen on many websites that you need a degree in chemistry to go on to do forensics. Ive looked at university's on the internet and there are chemistry degrees there but there are also forensic science courses. Which do you think is better to do forensics science? Thanks.

Answer: I can't imagine how a Forensic Science course could be considered any worse than a Chemistry course if you want to pursue Forensic Science, BUT Chemistry is a broader subject choice. I know lots of people who regret taking extremely specialised degree courses. What if in 3 or 4 years time, you're completely sick of Forensic Science and wish you could do something else? I think a Chemistry course would probably keep far more options open for you.

Question: What is the difference between Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology? I am currently enrolled in school studying for my B.S. in Psychology, and I really don't know what career path I'd like to take. Im narrowing it down to the Forensic field, but there are some differences in Psychology and Psychiatry. If you are either a FORENSIC Psychologist or FORENSIC Psychiatrist, your experiences and job description would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: a psychiatrist is a medically trained doctor, a psychologist isn't. So you couldn't be a forensic psychiatrist without studying medicine

Question: What is the best forensic science degree for being a detective? I was thinking of possibly becoming a detective. Should I study forensic biology or psychology? What is the differences? Any other forensic sciences you want to suggest?

Answer: Most detectives work their way up within the police department. A degree is usually not necessary. A detective is not a forensic scientist. Detectives spend most of their time interviewing people. Forensic scientists spend most of their time in laboratories.

Question: are forensic psychology programs more or less competitive than others? I want to do forensic psychology, is it harder to get into than other kinds of psychology?

Answer: Yeah, not in terms of the difficulty level but the demand. Forensic psychologists often work in prisons and police stations (each police station would probably have either one or none and prisons very few) so there really aren't very many though they are often portrayed in movies a lot. It would definitely be easier to find a job as a clinical or educational psychologist who works in clincs/schools/in some government organisation.

Question: What forensic profession is better in all aspects: Forensic pathologist or Forensic medical examiner? I am a high school senior who is looking to study a major/ subject in the forensic field. I am going to attend the University of Redlands in Redlands, CA . I am wondering what careers is better so I can focus on one of them and not be too overwhelmed because no one in my family has graduated or attended university. I am a bit scared. Thanks.

Answer: In most jurisdictions, and in my experience, there is no difference between a forensic pathologist and a medical examiner. Both are forensic experts and both have medical degrees (MDs usually). The best certification for a forensic pathologist or ME is to be board certified in forensic and anatomical pathology. Although MDs can get by with training in these areas and no board certification, the better docs go the extra mile. At your stage, if you want to go this route, you must get into medical school, which means getting serious after your first year of college, getting into a pre-med curriculum (lots of science courses - a pre-med advisor will tell you what med schools require). Get through med school and THEN you begin focusing on a subspecialty such as forensic medicine or pathology. If you are more interested in a less demanding career path, there are many technician/assistant like jobs in a medical examiner's office. This usually requires a Masters degree in forensic science, anatomy and physiology or related experience. In either case, you are looking four years out from now. For the time being, stay focused in college, get yourself settled and then start taking science courses (again, meet with a pre-med advisor. btw, college advisors are MUCH more helpful than most high school advisors, particularly in pre-med, which has a fixed course of study. Forensic science is an interesting field. Good luck.

Question: How long does it take to become a forensic psychiatrist? I am an upcoming senior in High-School and I am about to apply to colleges in the fall. I would to know if I wanted to become a forensic psychiatrist would attending the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities be a good choice for my 4 yr degree? How long it takes to become a forensic psychiatrist? Also, what is the difference between a forensic psychologist and a forensic psychiatrist and what do each of them earn annually?

Answer: Psychologists most commonly have a doctoral degree. A doctoral degree generally requires 5 to 7 years of graduate study, culminating in a dissertation based on original research. Courses in quantitative research methods, which include the use of computer-based analysis, are an integral part of graduate study and are necessary to complete the dissertation. The Psy.D. degree may be based on practical work and examinations rather than a dissertation. In clinical, counseling, and school psychology, the requirements for the doctoral degree include at least a 1-year internship. Earnings for psychologists vary by setting, experience, and license. On average, a Psy.D. will earn between 50 - 70,000 year. Some earn a lot more than that. Forensic psychologists specialize in criminal behavior. This is a specialty they can choose in school and it will not necessary tack on any additional time. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor first then completes training in psychiatry. A psychologist does not earn an MD, unless they decide to go to medical school as well. To become a psychiatrist, one must first get accepted to and pass medical school. At that point you would complete a rotation in psychiatry. You will also have to pass the psychiatry boards to become Board Certified. It takes approximately 8 years of college plus a residency in order to become a medical doctor. A psychiatrist will complete an additional residency in psychiatry. You are looking at the better part of ten years. The rewards are helping people and incredible earnings potential. A psychiatrist earns 100 to 200,000 a year, but many earn even more than that. I would suggest that you talk with your school's guidance office to make sure you are on track for either medical school or for acceptance to graduate school to earn the PsyD. Good luck to you.

Question: What exactly do you need to do to become a Forensic Psychologist? What courses do i have to take? What do i have to major in specifically? What are places that employ Forensic Psychologist? What colleges are good to go to, to become a Forensic Psychologist?

Answer: Depends on what you want to do. Are you wanting to do clinical or experimental FP? If you want to do clinical I would suggest doing your u/g in psychology and possibly doing a minor in criminology, sociology or criminal justice. Then, depending on your GRE score and grades you can go straight to your PhD/PsyD or obtain a masters. There are many schools that offers masters programs in FP. If you don't want to go to one of those, then I would suggest finding a grad program in clinical psychology or counseling that will allow you to obtain licensure (just in case PhD doesn't pan out). Then, you can either find a doctoral program that has an emphasis in Forensic Psychology or any Clinical Psy program. While completing practicums, field observations and internships find a psychologist that specialized in FP or go to some type of correctional facility. If you do obtain your PhD/PsyD there are many pre-doc internships in correctional facilities and other forensic facilities. There are also several places that offers post-doc fellowships in FP. If you want to do more experimental FP, there are programs that tailor to this. If you want to do this, I would suggest doing your u/g in psychology and if want to soc/crim/CJ- but, I would suggest having training in research methodology and data analysis. Then I would either go straight to my doctorate or get a masters in general/experimental Psych. You could also specialize in other experimental psych disciplines (social, cognitive, developmental, so forth) and specialize in its application to Forensics.

Question: What is the average salary for a forensic anthropologist in the UK? And also where would be the best place to work for a forensic anthropologist in the UK?

Answer: Most forensic anthropologists work in universities and focus on teaching/research most of the time. There are very few full-time forensic anth jobs and pay is generally decent, but nothing spectacular (i.e. around $70k/£40k per year). Further, you generally need a PhD to be a forensic anthropologist.

Question: How do I become a Forensic Toxicologist? I am in college and am taking criminal justice courses with a track in forensics. Originally I wanted to continue college and become a Forensic Pathologist or Medical Examiner but I no longer feel that will be a possibility. Any information on acquiring either would be helpful. And please only serious suggestions this is dealing with my life. Thank you in advance.

Answer: You want a BS in chemistry or biology to start with. Toxicology is all about science. Criminal Justice is more the people aspect. If you are too far along, see if you can minor in chemistry. Also it may depend on the state... What state are you in?

Question: How long would it take to study Forensic ballistics in college? How long would it take to study Forensic ballistics in college? Thanks in advance.

Answer: This course would usually be taught at a police academy or the FBI academy. It would be very unusual to find it at a university. Good luck.

Question: Whats the difference between a forensic scientist and a pathologist? I have always wanted to be a forensic scientist, but now i am a bit older (17) i have realised that what i actually want to do is found out how the person was murdered etc by looking at the body. So what does a pathologist do and what does a forensic scientist do? Which profession do you think i would prefer? do you also need a strong stomach if you are a forensic scientist ?

Answer: Forensic Scientist is the general term for practitioners who use scientific principles in solving problems which arise in the administration of justice. A Forensic Pathologist is a forensic scientist (in the field of forensic science) who is trained to determine the exact cause of death based on medical, pathological, biological and even physical conditions of victims of crimes. You can be a pathologist if you are a medical doctor and will specialize in the field of pathology. You can also be a forensic scientist in the field of chemistry, criminology etc...

Question: What is the income potential of a forensic scientist in Maryland or nearby states? Just on average how much can a forensic scientist make in this state and what is the need for them here in Maryland?

Answer: The pay range for entry level forensic scientist at the Maryland State Police, Forensic Sciences Division ranges from approximately $50,000 up to approximately $80,000. This pay grade requires at least a Bachelor's degree, and preference is for the applicant to have a Master's degree. It is not expected that anyone would be hired into this position at the top of the pay scale, but with yearly increases in pay, eventually the position would reach the maximum pay. There is certainly a great need for them, but the better question is "what is the availability of open positions?" There currently are a lot of applicants for forensic positions, and some people are willing to take Technician positions at an even lower pay scale just to "get in the door" and prove themselves so that when a more advanced position opens up they may be able to be reclassified. The number of positions available is limited. Since the majority of these positions are with government agencies, they are funded out of the State budget. With the economy in a bad state of affairs, the State spending may need to be reduced, and therefore the State is not able to hire as many analysts as are really needed to analyze the number of criminal cases that happen.

Question: How does one become a Forensic Psychiatrist? I am a junior in high school and I am considering becoming a Forensic Psychiatrist. What are the best classes for me to take in high school? What about afterwards? I'm curious about the entire process of becoming a Forensic Psychiatrist and also how much money they make on average annually, specifically in South Carolina.

Answer: High School: Psych, Math, Sciences (Biology and Chem) If you have any type of Law class, i would look into that. (Forensics is basically just 'Law') College: Pre-Med (Psych option) You do know that you have to become a Medical Doctor to be a Psychiatrist, right? Pre-Med: Basic Science courses, plus Psych and Law courses. Medical School: Regular Medical School courses, plus Psych and Law courses. Also Clinics and On the job trials. Post Med-School : USA requires one year of 'Forensic Psych' training to be certified as a Forensic Psychiatrist. You can make anywhere from 70,000 to Millions, per year. Probably around 80,000 to start, but it can go high fast. You can work independently or with a government agency or law firm. Private will get you more money ($100s per hour) but you will get more work through the government.

Question: What are the qualifications to be a forensic scientist? Hi i'm thinking about being a forensic scientist when i'm older and I wanted to know what I need to have for GCSE's and A levels. Also, I want to know if I have to be a doctor.

Answer: To be a forensic scientist you need a degree (a 2:2 or above). The minimum requirements for a degree are Five GSCEs at grades A*-C (including Maths and English, and I would presume you would also need some science). Then you'll need at least two A Levels including a science. However these are just the minimum requirements and because the subject is so popular you usually need more than this. http://www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/index.cfm?pid=61&catalogueContentID=615&render=detailedArticle If I were you, I would take as much science as possible at GCSE and then made sure I got a good maths and English grades. If you can take triple/separate science then you should definitely consider that (it's where you take biology, chemistry and physics as separate subjects), otherwise dual science (made up of 2 GCSEs called Core Science and Additional Science) are usually fine. For A-Levels you'll probably want to take a few science subjects (which I guess depend on what area of forensics you're interested in). I would strongly suggest searching UCAS and looking up what the requirements are for individual universities. For a degree in 'forensic science' you usually need biology and chemistry but not always. And you can be a forensic scientists with a differnet degree which is related to biology or chemistry which may have differnt entry requirments. So like I said you should search UCAS and look as some specific cousrses: http://www.ucas.com/students/coursesearch/ You do not have to be a doctor (although you can get a doctorate in forensic science if you wanted to). Unless you're thinking of a coroner (the people who cut up dead bodies, to put it bluntly) who must either have been working as a doctor or soliciter for 5 years) http://www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/index.cfm?pid=53&catalogueContentID=383

Question: What majors to study in order to become a Forensic Anthropologist? I know I want to get into the Forensics field, and I want to study to become a Forensic Anthropologist. What major or main major-category (i.e. chemistry, biology,social sciences) to look under in order to find a major? Is Forensic Science/Technologies the best and only major for Forensic Anthropology? And what main category does it fall under?

Answer: You definitely want to study Anthropology. Forensic Anthropology is a specialty of it. Anthropology is awesome. I took a class in it and I'm wishing I'd known it was so great before I got this far in my current degree. Once you're in Anthropology, you can decide which if the 4 "branches" of it you want to head in. Contact the university you're concidering and talk to the person in charge of the Anthropology department. They'll be able to tell you exactly what you should do to get where you want to go.

Question: Is there another way to becoming a forensic pathologist other than medical school? Do i really really need to do medicine if i want to become a forensic pathologist? or is there another route.. like let's say i get a bachelor's in forensic science and do some minors in biology or so.. could i then move on to specializing in pathology and then become a forensic pathologist?? oh... and is the alternate route easier?

Answer: Not really. A pathologist has done a residency in pathology. Normally one has to have an MD or a DO to do a pathology residency. You might consider becoming a pathologists' assistant. See link below. Some medical school also offer graduate programs in experimental or research pathology. These programs train persons to teach pathology or do pathology research at a university or in industry.