What Fields of Science Are Required to Become a Homicide Detective?
Believe it or not, not all police detectives have college degrees. While you need at least a high school diploma or GED, a lack of experience in the law enforcement field can be partially compensated for through advanced education. With that in mind, the aspiring investigator would be wise to take extensive coursework in science-related fields at the college level.
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General Science
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Part of the job of being a detective is testing ideas, which is the premise of science. This can lead to various outcomes and analysis based on the case, followed by more exploring, preferably followed by discovery. In short, beginning science courses are based on the concept of gathering data and then interpreting it. The same applies to detective work.
Science of Society
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It's important for detectives to understand different levels of society and varied cultures, simply because these are two ways the people and cases they are investigating are influenced and shaped--by the people around them. Sociology isn't a requirement for police work, but could prove to be helpful when a detective begins his research.
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Science of the Mind
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Entry-level psychology is a good place to start for budding detectives, as the job consists of dealing with people to find information. Being able to understand a person's psyche--regardless of whether he is a perpetrator--enables detectives to read people and gain hints on their way to solving the crime. Psychology courses are also valuable when it comes to learning habits and trends.
Science of the Body
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To solve a crime, it will be helpful to be able to determine the cause of deaths or injury should they occur. While detectives don't need to be experts in medicine, courses in basic science and anatomy will be help them have a better understanding of the physical aspects of the case on which they're working. Studying these areas will be particularly important for someone who wishes to become a homicide detective.
Advanced Sciences
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Detectives don't need to be particularly well-versed in any field outside of criminology (another science-related course), but should have a basic understanding of many areas. A course in applied science would be instrumental in helping an aspiring detective learn how to apply knowledge in one field to solve a case involving another field. Applied science is particularly useful when it comes to learning the basics of research--something every successful detective needs.
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