Education for Becoming a Crime Scene Investigator
Crime scene investigator is an informal, television-inspired title for a forensic scientist or criminalist. Forensic science applies scientific knowledge and methods to the law. Crime scene investigators assist police by gathering physical evidence and analyzing these materials in crime labs. Becoming a crime scene investigator requires a college degree with a heavy amount of science coursework.
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Degree Requirement
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Becoming a forensic scientist or criminalist requires the minimum of a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry or another scientific discipline from an accredited university. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) reports that the degree title is less important than the actual coursework taken.
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Aspiring forensic scientists should include extensive coursework in math, biology and chemistry in their college degree plans. The AAFS recommends completing a minimum of 24 semester hours (the equivalent of about eight courses) in biology or chemistry. Crime scene investigators also need strong mathematical skills, including trigonometry, statistics and calculus. Noting the popularity of degrees in forensic science, the American Society of Crime Lab Directors cautions that not all forensic science degree programs are created equal and that students should ensure that a degree program includes extensive coursework in natural sciences, including biology, chemistry, organic chemistry and physics.
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Considerations
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In addition to a solid foundation of science and math, forensic scientists also need excellent written and verbal communication skills, because they must prepare reports and provide testimony about their analysis that explain scientific details in a way that police investigators, prosecutors and jurors can understand. The AAFS recommends including composition classes in a college degree plan.
Expert Insight
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Many forensic scientists work for law enforcement agencies and crime lab facilities. Therefore, college courses in criminal justice are beneficial but not required in most cases for employment, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which collects salary data and other information on all types of occupations.
Continuing Education
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As a body of knowledge, science advances with new discoveries and the development of new theories. For this reason, education is a lifelong endeavor for forensic scientists, who must complete continuing education to remain abreast of scientific developments. The website Forensic Science reports that continuing education courses help forensic scientists stay up to date on new technology and maintain any certifications. Certification from a professional organization such as the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC), while not required for employment, enables crime scene investigators to demonstrate competence in a specialty. ABC certification, for example, lasts five years and can be renewed through a combination of training, continuing education, teaching and publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals.
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