Forensic science may sound like quite a daunting field to study in. But, many people aren’t sure what exactly the course entails. Perhaps you have been thinking of working in this field, but not sure if it’s the right career path to study in? This field is a growing industry, making you highly employable once qualified. Forensic science is an exciting and rewarding career that can lead to great career opportunities. We take a look at what is involved in studying forensic science to help you determine if it’s the right path for you.
While anyone can study forensic science, there are certain personal qualities that may be better suited to this kind of role. An enquiring mind is one of the keys to being able to complete the role efficiently. Having an enquiring mind means you will be more receptive to the role and wanting to investigate at times where others may lose interest. Having a high level of patience and concentration means you can focus better on studying evidence and you may pick up on evidence that others may easily miss. Therefore, being highly observant will also come in handy in this field.
Another key aspect to the role is being able to justify your findings. When challenged by others about what evidence you have found and analysed, you will need to be confident enough to stand by your conclusions. In this kind of role, there may be certain people who will not believe what you have concluded to or may tell you that you have made some kind of mistake. If you have discovered an answer to a crime based on your finding, being confident in your abilities is a must.
Those who graduate in the forensic sciences field are highly employable. The majority of job opportunities are in the forensic investigation field, but other job options include:
Your career prospects may be fast-tracked if working in a forensics related professions.
There are some skills that you will acquire just from completing studies in the field. These skills can then be used when undertaking work experience. Such skills include:
Depending on what course you choose, there will be different units to undertake in order to complete your qualification. A course such as an Executive Diploma in Forensics will allow you to study units that include:
…and much more.
Because there is so much to cover in this line of work, you will find that many of the units are varied and highly interesting. Each unit will consist of different types of information to understand and comprehend.
There are many different aspects to becoming a forensic scientist, so your role may be quite varied and different each week within your career. One of the largest parts of the job is to help solve crimes. This is done by finding evidence around a crime scene to help you determine a potential suspect.
One aspect of the role may require you going to a crime scene, which can be quite distressing or unpleasant, depending on the crime. This is why it is important to look at the crime objectively and work on the scene in this manner. This is completed by looking for a variety of evidence leads such as blood and other body fluids, textile fibres, hairs, glass fragments, tyre marks or any other areas in the crime scene that can help solve any cases that may need your assistance. You may also have to analyse areas such as blood groups and DNA profiling, analysing fluids and tissue samples and examine splash patterns and particle distribution.
Studying forensic science with ICI UK can lead to a very exciting and rewarding career. However, it does take a certain type of person. Personality traits, dedication and an ability to work in challenging situations are all traits of forensic scientist. You will likely find some challenging parts to the role, but at the end of the day, you will find yourself with a highly rewarding career that is exciting and distinct.
Gladys Mae serves as the General Manager and Head of Student Services at the International Career Institute. Gladys holds a degree in Mass Communication - Broadcast Media from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. She joined ICI in 2010 and has over the past 12 years been instrumental in providing leadership and guidance to staff and students alike. Prior to joining ICI Gladys led a multifaceted career with key roles in the banking and business process outsourcing industries.
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