subject: Online Students Investigate Careers In Forensics [print this page] Do you love television shows like Law and Order or CSI? Does learning the details of how a murder was committed and how the victim died keep you glued to the TV? Maybe you would be interested in a criminal justice online. Forensic science is the application of natural sciences to the law. It uses physics, chemistry, biology, and other scientific principles to resolve legal questions. Many students are choosing to join this growing field by getting a degree in criminal justice online.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics listed forensic scientists as one of the fastest growing careers in 2008. That year the bureau reported a 30% increase in the number of forensic science technicians. Federal and state crime labs are the largest employers of forensic scientists. Private lab work may also be available. A forensic scientist can expect to earn an annual salary between $35,000 and $50,000.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though. Before you get a job as a scientist, you'll need a bachelors degree. This four year degree could be in physics, biology, genetics or chemistry. Some colleges offer a forensic science degree. More schools are responding to interest in the field by adding forensics programs. There are now more than 130 forensic science programs being taught at colleges around the country. The opportunities for criminal justice master degree are closer than ever before.
