Forensic Degrees Online

Forensic science means using science to address matters of the law. Much depends on the precision and integrity of the forensic scientist since advances in the field have drastically changed how criminal investigations are done—now, physical evidence found at crime scenes routinely leads investigators to the suspect independent of other knowledge.

Graduates will have all of the required coursework to begin actively working in a forensic lab. Employment opportunities are found in medical examiners’ offices and in police and FBI laboratories, many locally here in New York City.

Graduate students who have completed prerequisites are placed in forensic labs in and around New York City (and are eligible elsewhere) for mandatory summer internship experience in solving and dealing with forensic issues.

Prerequisites: students with a BS in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or in other scientific disciplines may enter the Master’s degree program, but must complete some of the undergraduate prerequisite courses in Forensic Science (FOR 251, 252, 351).

Forest Health
B.S.

Introduction

Forest health is a multidisciplinary and collaborative field of study that involves the understanding, monitoring, and protection of the world’s forest resources. A solid foundation in Forest Health requires expertise in many disciplines including, but not limited to, plant pathology, entomology, ecology, dendrology, mycology, silviculture, and forest management. At SUNY ESF, we have provided expertise in these areas for decades, but they have not previously been merged in an academic major.

The forest health major prepares biology-oriented students for employment in positions that deal with maintaining the health of forest resources. The major is distinct from those in Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management and the forest ecosystem science option (Dual Option), which provides skills and preparation in forest management. Employers today have expressed a need for a deeper understanding of the science behind the trees. Positions requiring a forest health background are found in federal and state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. With good performance, the forest health major prepares students for graduate study in preparation for higher-level positions, such as forest pathologist, entomologist, or mycologist.

College Catalog: Program Details

The curriculum provides a solid foundation in mathematics and the physical sciences (chemistry, physics) followed by courses focusing on forest trees and their requirements, the basic ecological principles that shape forest ecosystems, and the management of these ecosystems. Other required courses introduce students to the identification and impact of biological agents of disease and physical damage, and to the methods by which these are monitored. The flexibility of the major will permit students to pursue more intensive training in integral forest health specialties, such as forest pathology and forest entomology, or to obtain even broader knowledge in related fields such as forestry, microbiology, mycology, and ecology. Field experience is an important element of the program, and is integral to several required courses and many of the directed electives. Two of the requirements are field courses at the Cranberry Lake Biological Station.

OVERVIEW OF THE FORENSIC SCIENCE PROGRAM

Our mission as a forensic science program is to develop professional, ethical graduates whose competence in problem-solving, legal analysis and application, quantitative reasoning, investigation, and scientific laboratory procedures can be applied to immediate employment or advanced study.

The forensic science major includes criminal justice, biology, chemistry, physics, math, and interdisciplinary courses designed to help students achieve the program goals and objectives. Forensic science majors are strongly encouraged to elect additional science courses, and a B.S. degree in forensic science with an emphasis in biotechnology is a commonly chosen degree option.

The forensic science major is housed in the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Geoscience, and students pursuing a forensic science major are assigned an academic advisor from this department and enjoy the facilities of the department. With small class sizes, innovative teaching approaches, and hands-on access to modern, research-quality instrumentation, our department supports students in developing the analytical, problem-solving and teamwork skills necessary to successfully pursue science-based careers.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS MAJORING IN FORENSIC SCIENCE

Students completing a forensic science major will be prepared for application to a variety of professional and graduate schools, including medical school, dental school, physical therapy programs, toxicology, pharmaceutical science, and forensic science graduate programs. Forensic science majors will also be competitive for laboratory positions in the biotechnology, chemical or pharmaceutical industries, or in government agencies. Recent FSU graduates have been accepted at various professional schools and have gained employment as laboratory technicians.

Highly marketable combination degrees include forensic science with chemistry, biology, math, business, foreign languages or psychology. The annual median wage for a Forensic Science Technician is $47,680.00, and the projected need for this career field is expected to increase by 21% until 2016.

Forensic science – the application of the methods of science to legal matters – is an exciting, complex and multidisciplinary program of study. In it one employs the principles of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics, as well as social science theory and law, to help solve crimes and serve justice. Forensic science offers students who have a bachelor’s degree in a natural or physical science an opportunity to apply their knowledge to serve justice. The program includes courses in criminal justice, forensic science, and law. Research in the forensic sciences takes place throughout a student’s tenure.

Michigan State University has long been recognized as a premier institution for research and education in forensic science. The School of Criminal Justice first offered a major in forensic science in 1946, and administers the oldest continually functioning educational degree program in forensic science in the United States. Michigan State University is home to a number of excellent resources for the study of forensic science. The School of Criminal Justice maintains modern laboratory facilities containing equipment and instrumentation for the analysis of virtually any type of physical evidence, from chromatography equipment for drugs, explosives, and arson evidence to microscopy techniques for trace evidence analysis, to genetic analyzers for the analysis of DNA.

The Forensic Science Masters program at Michigan State University is designed to give students a broad theoretical and practical background in the scientific, legal, and investigative aspects of forensic science while providing the opportunity to study one of the major disciplines in depth. There are three concentrations offered: Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Biology, and Forensic Anthropology.

Forensic Chemistry
Focus is on trace evidence, including glass, paint, soil, and fibers, drugs and alcohol, explosives, and arson evidence. Current research in the forensic chemistry lab ranges includes developing methods for the detection of gunshot residue in tissue samples, investigating surface chemistries that affect fingerprint detection, and profiling illicit ecstasy tablets based on both the organic and trace metal impurities present. More information can be found at www.forchem.msu.edu.
Forensic Biology
Involves DNA analysis and serology. Research in the laboratory focuses on designing and perfecting techniques that help advance the fields of forensic biology and forensic molecular biology. We also strive to develop a better practical and theoretical understanding of methods currently used in state, federal and private forensic laboratories. Research encompasses both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, and while the primary focus is on the human species, work is performed on trace evidence from domestic animals that may exist at a crime scene, and wildlife species that are endangered, threatened, or otherwise at risk. More information can be found at www.forbio.msu.edu.
Forensic Anthropology
Focus is on skeletal analysis, human identification, trauma, and evidence recovery.
Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice has some of the most modern research and teaching forensic science laboratories in the country. Housed in the Chemistry Building, the Ralph Turner Laboratory Complex contains state-of-the-art equipment including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, FTIR, capillary electrophoresis, HPLC, fluorescence spectrophotometer, and polarized light microscopy. Additional laboratory instrumentation is available in the chemistry department. The DNA laboratories, located in Giltner Hall, include PCR and genetic analysis equipment (ABI 310 and Beckman CEQ 8000 genetic analyzers), electrophoresis equipment, digital photography equipment, and multiple thermocyclers. The forensic anthropology labs, located in Fee Hall, are equipped with bench space for osteological exams, a stereozoom microscope, an image superimposition center, and a GE portable X-ray unit.

The laboratory headquarters of the Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division is conveniently located near the MSU campus. This full-service laboratory is available as a source of research resources and internship placements. Faculty in the Forensic Science Program and elsewhere on the campus regularly consult with the state police and conduct joint research projects with the help of forensic science students.

Through its career development and internship offices, the School of Criminal Justice provides internship opportunities for forensic science students, giving them a chance to learn firsthand how a crime lab works. Many interns carry out research projects under the auspices of laboratory personnel. Academic credit is awarded for successful completion of internship placement.

Although the Master of Science degree in Forensic Science is administered by the School of Criminal Justice (College of Social Science), several colleges and departments cooperate in offering this interdepartmental degree. These include the colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Human Medicine, and Natural Science, as well as the departments of Anthropology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radiology, Resource Development, Statistics and Probability, and Zoology. Also participating are the Center for Advanced Microscopy, the Genetics Program, and the Medical Technology Program.