Forensic Science Programs in North Carolina
Considering a degree in forensic science? You’re not alone. Since this is one of the fastest growing specialties in the field of criminal justice, many students are interested in learning how to become a forensics scientist.
You may be perfect for this field if you have a strong aptitude for natural sciences, you can handle gruesome or bloody crime scenes, you work well as part of a team, and you work well under tight deadlines. Whether you join a criminal justice team as a forensic scientist, an investigator, or a science tech, you may use your skills in a number of ways.
Find out more about careers in forensic science and what it takes to get started.
Reach out to North Carolina schools today.
What Can I Do with a Forensic Science Degree in North Carolina?
While North Carolina is considerably smaller than many other states, it still has its fair share of crime. The evidence you gather as a forensic scientist may be used in particularly disturbing or unusual crimes.
A case that caught national attention involved an 18-year-old man who was accused of murdering his mother (NY Daily News, 2017). After allegedly killing his mother with a butcher knife, he was found by law enforcement professionals walking around outside carrying her head. While these situations may cause ordinary people to turn away, you are required to look even closer when you go into forensic science.
Forensic Science Degrees in North Carolina
Which type of degree is right for you? While comparing forensic science degrees in North Carolina, you may come across both associate degree programs and bachelor’s degree options. Look into an associate degree if you have never studied at the postsecondary level and you’re interested in entry-level forensic science jobs. This degree only lasts two years and results in the completion of 60 credits.
You may be interested in a bachelor’s degree if you are ready to put a bit more time into your education. Since bachelor’s programs are twice as long as associate options and result in 120 credits, they may help you qualify for more diverse job openings. To find the school that’s right for you, compare admissions requirements and course options.
Associate-Level Degree in Latent Evidence
Crime Scene Processing: Learn how to follow protocols when you arrive at the scene of a crime. This course covers the collection of evidence, photography, and keeping crime scenes intact.
Forensic Chemistry: The interaction of chemicals is a big part of the analysis of evidence. This course looks at the core tenets of forensic chemistry.
Law Enforcement Operations: Find out how your work in forensic science fits into the field of law enforcement as a whole. You may learn how to work as a police officer or investigator with a focus on forensic science.
Trace Evidence: With today’s technology, even trace amounts of evidence can be used to place perpetrators at the scene of a crime. Learn how to handle and process trace evidence in this class.
Investigative Principles: Crime investigation is one of the most important uses of forensic science principles. Delve into this process in this class.
Bachelor’s Degree Coursework
Forensic Professional Practice: At all times in this field, you must conduct yourself with professionalism and decorum. Learn how to maintain your professionalism even when you are handling difficult or disturbing criminal cases.
Legal Aspects of Criminal Justice: The laws surrounding criminal justice are extremely strict, limiting how evidence can be stored, analyzed, and used. Become familiar with these laws as a student to ensure you maintain the integrity of evidence as a professional.
Forensic Microscopy: Learning how to analyze tiny traces of evidence may help you make or break a case. Learn about the foundations of forensic microscopy in this introductory course.
Technical Writing in Forensic Science: A major part of your job in this field may be the creation and distribution of reports. This course shows you how to structure a report, write it in the appropriate language and terminology, and edit it.
Ready to learn more about earning a forensic science major or pursuing an associate degree?
Explore options now by contacting North Carolina forensic science schools.
Working as a Forensic Scientist in North Carolina
Putting in long hours as a student may benefit you when you graduate and it’s time to start your job search. As a general rule, the harder you work as a student, the easier your job search may be.
For example, completing an internship as a student may take a lot of extra time and require a lot of discipline. However, when you start looking for jobs, you have a built-in professional network of people you can consult for advice, recommendations, references, and job openings. Keep this in mind as you choose your forensic science courses and explore different work environments.
Forensic science technicians use essentially every skill you gain in a forensic science degree. While there is no job outlook data available for North Carolina, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that North Carolina forensic science technicians earn an average of $44,340 per year (2017).
You may choose to work in law enforcement, particularly if you live in a rural part of North Carolina. In rural areas, the work of forensic scientists is often combined with other roles to fit tight budgets. You may become a criminal investigator and follow cases from start to finish. On average, North Carolina criminal investigators earn $55,710 per year (BLS, 2017). Job openings in this specialty may swell 5% by the year 2024 (O*Net, 2017).
Those who prefer precise, independent work often go on to become coroners. While your work is still used by a large criminal justice team, you typically conduct your work alone. North Carolina coroners bring in an average income of $68,670 per year (BLS, 2017). An 11% increase in job openings may take place between 2014 and 2024 (O*Net, 2017).
There’s no time like now to start preparing for your future career.
Get started right now by requesting information on forensic science degrees from North Carolina schools.
