what is the difference between a major of forensics in terms of chemistry and that of biology?
I would love to know the difference in terms of studies and forms of employment. THANK YOU MUCH!
Ohio Forensic Guide
Ohio Forensic Guide Law Information
In its simplest terms, Forensic Science is the application of science to law. Forensic science can involve various scientific fields: medicine (Forensic pathology), Toxicology, Chemistry, biology and physics. Most forensic scientists majored in one of the more specific scientific disciplines. Very few colleges or universities offer degree programs in “Forensic Science” and even fewer offer Graduate studies in Forensic Science. I have been a police officer for almost 40 years and spent years as a Homicide detective anda crime scene detective. Most “criminalists” (Forensic Scientists) that I have known were chemistry majors, who learned other scientific disciplines on the job.
The difference is on the area which you want to specialize in. Most forensic scientists have a Science degree in Chemistry or Biology. With the new technological advances more sophisticated degrees are now found like Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, etc.
If you want to go into the DNA area you need your base degree in a biology related science. If you want to specialize in Drug Analysis then your science degree should be Chemistry. As a chemist myself I’ll tell you that in this times the Biology related fields are in more demand than ever. Most pharmaceuticals are looking for molecular biologists and related science because of the new high demand for biological drugs. In forensic it is the same way for DNA analysts are the most in demand of the different areas. Of course things could change and something else will be the it degree in some years.
My advice would be to specialize on what you will really like. Forensic Science can be a very routine, demanding, stressful (because of the backlogs) job so if you don’t like what you are doing you wouldn’t be happy.