Forensic Science via Chemistry Major

sschoe2
Sat, 29 Jan 2011 11:02:55 +0000

Most forensic evidence technicians have a BS in chemistry, biochemistry, or biology (molecular concentration). In most cases a specific forensics degree is not required or even preferred. They have to train you for 6 months or so on how to follow their precise protocols and paperwork anyways or that would be ground for lawyers to attack the evidence.

The market for forensics stinks. There are only a few employers, usually state govts, and right now they are not doing well financially. Also thanks to shows like CSI there is huge competition for those jobs even though they are not even remotely as interesting as the TV shows suggest. That is another reason why forensics degrees are not recommended. It is simple to train a chemist to be an evidence tech but not vice-versa so you are very limited. Most forensics departments don’t prefer forensics degrees anyways.

The job is mostly very routine testing following the established protocols exactly and filling out hordes of paperwork with absolutely no mistakes as lawyers love to attack that stuff in court. It is actually insanely boring from what I understand. It is running an assembly line of DNA tests or GC-MS for drug residues.