For your undergrad degree, just go to a four year school with a really good science program. Take a lot of chemistry (required for toxicology, drugs, arson, etc.) and biochemistry/molecular biology/genetics (required for DNA) and a course in statistics. For a graduate (masters) program, Oklahoma Sate University Center for Health Sciences has a good, accredited program. Make sure any degree you take with Forensic in the name is accredited; a lot are just junk pandering to the current popularity. DO NOT take criminal justice. Those programs are advertised to forensic scientist wannabes, but it is one of the most useless degrees out there. You'll probably want to shoot for a masters degree as forensic science is extremely popular and competitive thanks to hit shows like CSI. I also recommend interning at a crime lab soon after you've had a few science courses. You might just spend a summer pushing a mop and washing dishes but you'll want to do so with a smile on your face and a killer, can do attitude. Doesn't sound like a career booster, but you'll have the opportunity to really see what it is about, get advice from people on the inside, and develop connections that could be helpful later when trying to get a foot in the door.
What college or anything do you need to be a forensic scientist?
- Thread starter Crayola
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