Verified answer

The classes needed are dependent upon which field of forensic science you decide to pursue. A "criminalist" is a general term which can be applied to lab staff working in Biology, Drug Analysis, Firearms, Latent Print Analysis, etc... Due to the high degree of specificity of each discipline, there are very few people who are generalists, performing analysis in multiple disciplines.

Since I work in the Biology Section of the lab, I can most readily tell you about this Section.

In order to work at a lab that is nationally accredited, you need the following:

There are the "FBI Quality Assurance Standards" that forensic labs must abide by in order to utilize the national DNA database.

Included in these standards are minimum requirements for analysts:

"STANDARD 5.4 The analyst shall be an employee of the laboratory and meet the following qualifications:

5.4.1 Minimum educational requirements: The analyst shall have a bachelor’s (or its equivalent) or an advanced degree in a biology-, chemistry-, or forensic science-, related area and shall have successfully completed course work (graduate or undergraduate level) covering the following subject areas: biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology; and course work and/or training in statistics and/or population genetics as it applies to forensic DNA analysis.

5.4.1.1. The specific subject areas listed in Standard 5.4.1. shall be an integral component of any coursework for compliance with this Standard.

5.4.1.2. Analysts appointed or hired after the effective date of these revisions shall have a minimum of nine cumulative semester hours or equivalent that cover the required subject areas.

5.4.1.3. Analysts who have completed course work with titles other than those listed in 5.4.1 above shall demonstrate compliance with this Standard through a combination of pertinent materials, such as a transcript, syllabus, letter from the instructor, or other document that supports the course content. The technical leader shall document approval of compliance with this Standard."

Do not pursue a degree in "Criminal Justice" if you wish to work in the lab. This degree is not a science based degree and as such will not qualify towards meeting the Standards as quoted above.

As for salary, the starting salary in the Mid Atlantic region for a forensic scientist is about $45,000.

I am unsure of the schools listed in your question, but here is a list of some other ones that I am sure do offer degrees in Forensic Science:

John Jay College of Criminal Justice (New York)

George Washington University (Washington DC)

University of Mississippi, forensic chemistry program

University of New Haven (Connecticut), forensic science program

Towson University (Maryland), "forensic chemistry" program

University of Central Florida

An excellent website for more information is the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (http://www.aafs.org/choosing-career)

(http://www.aafs.org/colleges-universities)

(http://www2.aafs.org/yfsf/index.htm)

your going to could choose technology to comprehend forensic technology. take highschool chemistry a million and 2 and biology and physics. all forensics is only particular utility of technology. see in the event that they grant criminal justice training in college at provide up in and chat with the faculty counselor.