Find Forensic Science Programs in Ohio

Interested in becoming a forensic scientist and working with evidence from various types of criminal cases?

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What Can I Do with a Forensic Science Degree in Ohio?

In Ohio, forensic science has been responsible for the solving of many crimes, including many that were picked up after years of going cold. However, one unusual case in Ohio shows just how effective forensic science is.

A couple played a prank on their families by faking a murder and sending fake crime scene photos to family members (NY Daily News, 2017). Investigators were called to the scene and were able to look at the photo and identify it as fake. With the information they had, they were able to charge the couple for wasted law enforcement time and misuse of police resources.

Forensic Science Degrees in Ohio

Quite a few Ohio schools offer forensic science degrees, from two-year technical schools and community colleges to four-year private colleges and public universities. By selecting the degree that aligns with your previous education and work experience, you may propel yourself into this field and make full use of your natural skills.

Are you considering an associate’s degree? This two-year degree offers an introduction to the world of forensic science while broadening your worldview with general education classes. Approximately half of your 60 credits come from your general education classes, and the other half come from forensic science coursework.

Bachelor’s degree programs follow the same layout. A bachelor’s degree requires 120 credits, rather than 60, so you may spend four to five years completing your bachelor’s in forensic science. If you choose a forensic science major in your bachelor’s degree program, you may want to select a minor that makes you even more employable in the criminal justice industry.

Associate-Level Forensic Science Technology Classes

• Forensic Investigations: Learn about the investigative process of forensic evidence. This course walks through the entire procedure, from getting a crime report to going to the scene, gathering evidence, and solving the crime.
• Forensic Photography: Photographs used as evidence must meet very specific standards and requirements. In this course, learn how to use different types of cameras to accurately capture crime scene photos and take photos of evidence.
• Forensic Criminalistics: The field of forensic science doesn’t just figure out who is responsible for a crime; it also determines how a crime is committed. This class is focused on that part of this industry, showing you how to use clues and evidence to create a timeline for each crime you investigate.
• Forensic Laboratory Techniques: As a forensic science specialist, you may spend a fair amount of your time in the crime lab. In this class, learn the proper techniques and procedures for analyzing evidence and processing it.

Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Chemistry

• Arson, Explosives, and DNA: In this laboratory-based course, learn how to gather evidence from arson crime scenes and explosive crime scenes. You also learn how to collect DNA, process it, and compare it against other samples.
• Procedures, Drugs, and Trace Analysis: This class looks at the procedures followed in Ohio crime labs, making it easier for you to work ethically and legally at all times. You may also learn how to test for the presence of drugs and how to run tests on trace amounts of evidence.
• Forensic Biology: The tenets of biology make up much of the field of forensic science. In this course, blend your knowledge of forensic procedures with human biology to enhance your understanding of both.
• Procedures, Rules, and Test of Evidence: Students in this course learn more about the in-depth procedures of crime labs, the rules of evidence in legal settings, and how to properly test evidence in different settings.

Ready to earn your degree and begin exploring opportunities in forensic science?

Check out options now by contacting forensic science colleges in Ohio.

Working as a Forensic Scientist in Ohio

If you plan out your degree well, you should already have some work experience by the time you graduate with your associate degree or bachelor’s degree.

While not all Ohio schools require an internship for graduation, you may find that the vast majority of institutions do recommend an internship. The experience you gain in an internship may help you decide which work setting suits you and start to build your network of forensic science contacts.

Are you most drawn to the laboratory aspects of forensic science? If so, you may make a difference as a forensic science technician. The job of the forensic science technician is to process evidence, analyze it, and create reports for investigators and other criminal justice professionals. They claim an average annual income of $73,630 in Ohio (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Job openings for forensic science technicians may swell 11% through 2023 in this state (CareerOneStop, 2022).

Criminal investigators play a big role in the processing and analysis of forensic evidence, since they have other case information that may give context to forensic evidence. Consider this role if you have previous experience in law enforcement. Criminal investigators in Ohio bring in an average of $83,150 per year (BLS, 2022). CareerOneStop anticipates the creation of 150 new job openings through 2030 (2022).

Demand for coroners is also growing in Ohio. Coroners are often part of investigative teams, but they tend to take on a more independent work role. Very little communication with the community occurs in this role; in fact, you may spend most of your time working alone. Ohio coroners claim a median salary of $65,850 annually, with a 5% increase in job openings expected through 2030 (CareerOneNet, 2022).

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Ohio contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.

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