Tracey Said:

Forensic Science Career- Criminal Justice vs. Medical, which is more appropriate?

We Answered:

There is no real standard as to which department the program you want will be in. As you have discovered, criminal justice departments are first devoted to the legal/justice/penal system, and may or may not encompass forensic science.

You may find a forensic science program in the criminal justice, biology, chemistry, or other departments. I would recommend a BS at least, and you may want to pursue a master's degree as well. Sometimes with the BS, and usually with the MS, you have to pick a subspecialty. Like biology or chemistry. Biology-based programs are going to be focused on DNA analysis. Chemistry-based programs are focused on trace evidence analysis, especially chemical tests. Between the two, it sounds like you are more interested in the chemistry side.

For the BS, you can usually find a general degree in forensic science or criminalistics that would also teach ballistics and fingerprinting. However, a lot of that stuff is often learned on the job as well. I would strongly recommend an in-person course of study at a university or college, rather than the online degrees that are offered. You want to be very careful to avoid shady programs and go with one with a good reputation.

As for the actual job... There are many jobs available for civilians, but also many jobs in police crime labs are reserved for people who are actually police. So you may consider going that route, as well.

My recommendation to you would be to contact your local state police station and ask to meet with somebody or even tour the crime lab. Just be aware that many states have centralized facilities, so you may have to travel. It would be good to ask them what degree you should pursue and what are some of the reputable programs in the area.