Forensic Scientists Solve Criminal Cases

Anyone who has ever watched one of the many popular crime investigation programs on television has probably thought how interesting it would be to work in such a field -- helping solve crimes through science, piecing together the tiniest of details to form a larger picture, and nailing criminals based on scientific deductions.

This isn’t solely the stuff of fiction -- there are real forensic scientists who make their day-to-day living using science to help solve crimes. The forensic scientist is responsible for collecting physical evidence at a crime scene and analyzing it in the lab. Most forensic scientists choose to specialize in a particular area of forensic science, such as firearms or DNA testing. It is up to the forensic scientist to analyze items such as weapons, ammunition, bodily fluids, glass, hair, tissue, or fiber, and determine where -- and if -- the results fit in to the criminal investigation.

Requirements to become a forensic scientist include earning a bachelor’s degree in this field of study. Enrolling in and earning this four year degree means passing courses in the classroom and in the lab, studying topics such as microbiology, scientific analysis, mathematics, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and more. Forensic scientist requirements may also include an understanding of the law and legal procedures. After meeting these requirements to become a forensic scientist, you will have an understanding of what it takes to work in this important field. Without a diploma that proves you have completed forensic scientist requirements, it will be quite difficult to score a position as intriguing as the ones we see on television.