Incase you missed it!
Hello Forensics Club Members!
We hope you are having a great week! Here is a brief article to recap our last meeting along with some updates for the forensics club!
At our last meeting we went over Careers in Forensics. There is a lot of talk when it comes to forensic science and forensic studies. What is the difference? What is the best degree for the career you want? If you have ever had either of those questions, this article is for you!
It is important to first note that different departments and agencies will have different requirements. The higher the agency, the more likely it is for them to have additional or specific degree requirements, training, and/ or certifications. For example, a federal department may require a higher/ more specific education compared to a local department.
A forensic science major provides more of a broad overview of different approaches taken within forensics such as the legal side and the investigative side. With a forensic studies major you will focus on areas such as crime scene analysis, criminal justice procedures, and legal framework. Essentially, you will be getting a mixture of forensics and criminal justice. Some careers you may be able to obtain with a forensic studies degree include a Crime Scene Investigator, Forensic Analyst, Forensic Consultant, Victim Advocate, Corrections Officer, Paralegal, Private Investigator, Crime Analyst, and more.
A forensic science major is heavily chemistry based, focusing on forensic chemistry and biology. It is required to have an advanced background in mathematics and physics since physics 1, physics 2 and up to calculus 2 are required as prerequisites. Forensic Science builds on laboratory practices from working with chemicals, to understanding the ins and outs of instrumentation. For those interested in working in the lab whether local or federal (FDLE), in biology/DNA, toxicology, and trace materials, this is your major! As for a forensic science degree, some careers that you may acquire with this degree include a Forensic Toxicologist, Criminalist, DNA Analyst, Crime Lab Technician, Medical Examiner, Crime Scene Investigator, Forensic Evidence Technician, and more.
A criminal justice major provides an extensive overview of the criminal justice system including law enforcement, corrections, the judiciary, juvenile justice, probation and parole, and international justice. The main goal of this major is to provide students with a balanced criminal justice perspective, which includes an emphasis upon the victim, the offender, the criminal justice system, and society. With a criminal justice degree, you would be able to become a Police Officer, Paralegal, Victim Advocate, Forensic Science Technician, Court Reporter, Private Investigator, Correctional Officer, Private Security Specialist, and more.
With this information in mind, there are also many other areas of forensics. For example, forensics is used a lot in the medical field. Forensic Medicine is a medical specialty that uses scientific and medical methods to analyze evidence from crime victims or patients. It is a branch of Forensic Science that combines law enforcement, criminal justice and medicine. There are many ways that Forensics tie into medicine/the medical field and one of those is forensic science. Both fields converge to present compelling evidence in courtrooms, shaping the outcomes of death investigations. Forensics Nurses are also very important as they work with the criminal justice system to provide care to victims of violent crimes. They also collect evidence both biological (like blood and semen) and physical, they provide emotional support and may also evaluate the alleged perpetrators. Some forensic medicine careers include Forensic Odontology, Forensic Nursing, Forensic Radiology, Forensic Pathology, Forensic Psychology, and more.
While there are many opportunities to use these degrees, federal careers spark many people’s interests. Why do so many people want to work for federal agencies? Federal agencies provide many benefits, access to cutting-edge forensic technology, diverse career paths in investigation, intelligence, and analysis, and much more. To work for a federal agency, you must be a U.S. Citizen, have a bachelor's degree (and/or experience in a field), pass a physical fitness test (for certain careers), pass a background check, and have a federal resume. Depending on the agency, there may be other requirements that they ask of you. To learn more about these opportunities, visit USAJOBS.GOV
If you would like more information about any of the topics above and discussed at our last meeting, feel free to contact any of the board members listed on out EagleLink homepage! We would love to help get you on the right path!
- If you enjoyed this article, there is plently more to learn about! We would love for you to join us on Tuesday, February 18th at 6:00pm in Ben Hill Griffin 215 for Feels in the Field! Ready for the tea? Get the inside scoop with the forensics board, from professor recommendations, to resume building! We’ll spill the tea as we serve it! All are welcome to attend! Food, snacks, and drinks will be provided. No RSVP is required, but it would definitely help us if you did! We can’t wait to see you all there! We will also be at Eagle Expo this Saturday, February 15th from 9:00am-1:00pm! Feel free to stop by and say hi!
- SENIORS! We want to celebrate you and your achievements! If you are graduating in the Spring 2025 or Summer 2025, please check the weekly email update or the pinned messages in our GroupMe to fill out a quick questioner!
Make sure to stay in the loop! Follow our Instagram @fgcuforensics for more updates and cool photos!
https://www.instagram.com/fgcuforensics?igsh=MXZyM3BzdGVtODdhdw==
Sign up/ RSVP for our events on Eagle Link, "Forensic Club" to stay in the know for future events!
“Forensic Club” on eagle link:
https://fgcu.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/fgcuforensicsclub
We also have a GroupMe where we send updates. Click the link below to join.
"Forensics Club" on GroupMe. Use this link to join: https://groupme.com/join_group/66040913/cVo3SdWa
Questions, comments, or concerns about the forensic club? Please do not hesitate to reach out to our secretary Rebecca Gorman!