Forensics Degrees

Forensics is the application of science, math, and medicine to determine and verify facts within the larger legal system. You're probably already familiar with crime scene investigators (thanks to the hit TV show CSI), but there are also forensic accountants, forensic health care professionals, and even forensic IT specialists. These professionals use records and data to uncover inconsistencies, violations, or crimes. Accountants audit financial statements. Forensic health care specialists rely on patient records and medical exams. IT professionals help recover destroyed or deleted data in the form of emails, documents, and financial statements.

Forensics Degrees

The level of certification and training varies depending on your intended career path. Forensic science technicians, for example, usually need at least an associates degree, while those who specialize in biology and medicine often require bachelors training or above. Accountants and auditors usually do well with bachelors training plus certification as a CPA. Regardless of your training, you should be sure to supplement your education with coursework in legal studies and criminal justice. It is important that you understand the jargon, needs, and requirements relevant to court cases.

Career Outlook in Forensics

The data suggest that jobs should be favorable for forensics specialists in the coming decade. Opportunities for accountants are expected to grow faster than the national average. And when you consider our growing reliance on digital information and technology, it is reasonable to assume that more specialists could be required to sort through all of these data. Financial, medical, and personal records that used to fit in filing cabinets are now stored in terabytes of information. Obviously, this means that whatever forensics training you receive should include extensive exposure to information technology and computer science.