Directives/Questions to answer: 1. Name of your career. Answer: Forensic Scientist 2. Name the college degree(s) you must have (or could be helpful to have) to achieve this career goal. Answer: Bachelor of Science degree 3. How many years of college does it take to earn the degree(s)? Answer: 4-year Bachelor degree 4. Name 3 colleges you could attend locally to achieve or begin to achieve this career goal? (include the college’s web addresses) Answer: Florida State University (http://www.fsu.edu/), LaGrange College (http://www.lagrange.edu/), UGA (http://www.uga.edu/) 5. What training must you obtain to be able to begin this career (police academy, etc)? Answer: The amount of training starts with school, and then moves on to when you start the actual career. The real amount of training can go up to anywhere over a year; it honestly depends on the employer. 6. How many hours/weeks of this training are required as a minimum? Answer: A summer job or internship in a forensics lab is pretty much recommended when you are going through school. 7. Name three local academies you could go to and how many hours/weeks each requires for graduation. Answer: A forensic scientist does not need to go to an academy 8. Name 5 activities of interest to you that someone in this career does on a regular basis. Answer: 1. Analyze fluid evidence from bloodstains or saliva 2. Reconstruct crime scenes. 3. Collect/ preserve physical evidence. 4. Testify as expert witness. 5. Examine, test, or analyze physical evidence such as fibers, fingerprints, or bullets. 9. Name 5 things about this career you don’t think you would like. Answer: 1. Testify as expert witness 2. Confer with other experts about the interpretation of evidence 3. Prepare reports of findings, investigative methods, or lab techniques 4. Examine DNA samples to see if they match other samples 5. Work in a group or as part of a team 10. Name 5 critical skills you need to be successful in this career. Answer: 1. Manage the time of self and others. 2. Read and understand written information. 3. Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them. 4. Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. 5. Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material. 11. Which skill do you believe is the MOST important? Why? Answer: I think that the most important skill is being able to identify a pattern in everything. In my opinion, this skill is the most important because being able to identify patterns quickly and accurately can assist you in solving problems and any questions one might have during a case in order to solve the problem or case faster. 12. What type of training/degrees must you obtain to “move up the ladder” in this career (promotions etc.)? Answer: In order for a forensic scientist to move up the career ladder, you must have a couple years experience, and eventually hold an administrative position. It would also help to get a PhD in forensic science to move up quickly. 13. Name 3 traits you have that would make this career a good fit for you. Answer: 1.Very open minded. 2. Quick to understand materials 3. Comparing information to draw conclusions 14. What is the average annual pay for a career like this? Translate that to hourly pay. Answer: Annually- In Georgia, a forensic scientist can start out making $35,510, and can go on to make $58,730. In the United States, it is average to start out making $40,340, and can move up and make $66,240. Hourly- The hourly wage for a forensic scientist starting out in Georgia is $17.07/hour and can go up over time to $28.24/hour. In the United States, a forensic scientist can typically start out making $19.39/hour and go on to make $31.84/hour. 15. How can you move up the pay scale in this career? Answer: A forensic scientist can move up in their career by gaining both new knowledge and skills. They begin at a trainee level, and as they learn more and gain more experience, they are opened up to promotion opportunities. 16. What type of hours will you have to work? Would there be any travel involved? Answer: The number of hours would most likely be forty hours a week. However, concerning the traveling, you may be required to be on call and go to a crime scene at certain times. 17. Is this career one that is growing in the U.S.? Answer: This career is growing, but only a tiny bit. There are only a few opportunities open annually. 18. Name 3 careers that go hand-in-hand with the one you have selected. Answer: Medical Lab Tech, Toxicologist, Coroner
Summary:
From the information that I have learned and researched on the career as a forensic scientist, I believe that I would definitely like to further pursue this career. I believe this because a career in forensic science would be both eventful and a great working experience. In my opinion, doing this career is both a giant puzzle and a mystery; it would be a thrill, better yet, an adrenaline rush each and every day. Before I began my research, I knew very vague details about the actual job. However, after I began reading more and more, I slowly started to realize the true aspects.
Going in to this career, I hope to fine adventure and mystery everywhere I look. I am hoping to be able to assist CSIs, detectives, etc., in putting pieces together to solve a crime. I believe all of the schooling and training needed may not be easy, but it will be worth it in the end. I will do whatever it takes to get a PhD in forensic science.
Intro to Criminal Justice Career Pathway Project
1. Name of your career.
Answer: Forensic Scientist
2. Name the college degree(s) you must have (or could be helpful to have) to achieve this career goal.
Answer: Bachelor of Science degree
3. How many years of college does it take to earn the degree(s)?
Answer: 4-year Bachelor degree
4. Name 3 colleges you could attend locally to achieve or begin to achieve this career goal? (include the college’s web addresses)
Answer: Florida State University (http://www.fsu.edu/), LaGrange College (http://www.lagrange.edu/), UGA (http://www.uga.edu/)
5. What training must you obtain to be able to begin this career (police academy, etc)?
Answer: The amount of training starts with school, and then moves on to when you start the actual career. The real amount of training can go up to anywhere over a year; it honestly depends on the employer.
6. How many hours/weeks of this training are required as a minimum?
Answer: A summer job or internship in a forensics lab is pretty much recommended when you are going through school.
7. Name three local academies you could go to and how many hours/weeks each requires for graduation.
Answer: A forensic scientist does not need to go to an academy
8. Name 5 activities of interest to you that someone in this career does on a regular basis.
Answer: 1. Analyze fluid evidence from bloodstains or saliva
2. Reconstruct crime scenes.
3. Collect/ preserve physical evidence.
4. Testify as expert witness.
5. Examine, test, or analyze physical evidence such as fibers, fingerprints, or bullets.
9. Name 5 things about this career you don’t think you would like.
Answer: 1. Testify as expert witness
2. Confer with other experts about the interpretation of evidence
3. Prepare reports of findings, investigative methods, or lab techniques
4. Examine DNA samples to see if they match other samples
5. Work in a group or as part of a team
10. Name 5 critical skills you need to be successful in this career.
Answer: 1. Manage the time of self and others.
2. Read and understand written information.
3. Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
4. Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
5. Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
11. Which skill do you believe is the MOST important? Why?
Answer: I think that the most important skill is being able to identify a pattern in everything. In my opinion, this skill is the most important because being able to identify patterns quickly and accurately can assist you in solving problems and any questions one might have during a case in order to solve the problem or case faster.
12. What type of training/degrees must you obtain to “move up the ladder” in this career (promotions etc.)?
Answer: In order for a forensic scientist to move up the career ladder, you must have a couple years experience, and eventually hold an administrative position. It would also help to get a PhD in forensic science to move up quickly.
13. Name 3 traits you have that would make this career a good fit for you.
Answer: 1.Very open minded.
2. Quick to understand materials
3. Comparing information to draw conclusions
14. What is the average annual pay for a career like this? Translate that to hourly pay.
Answer: Annually- In Georgia, a forensic scientist can start out making $35,510, and can go on to make $58,730. In the United States, it is average to start out making $40,340, and can move up and make $66,240.
Hourly- The hourly wage for a forensic scientist starting out in Georgia is $17.07/hour and can go up over time to $28.24/hour. In the United States, a forensic scientist can typically start out making $19.39/hour and go on to make $31.84/hour.
15. How can you move up the pay scale in this career?
Answer: A forensic scientist can move up in their career by gaining both new knowledge and skills. They begin at a trainee level, and as they learn more and gain more experience, they are opened up to promotion opportunities.
16. What type of hours will you have to work? Would there be any travel involved?
Answer: The number of hours would most likely be forty hours a week. However, concerning the traveling, you may be required to be on call and go to a crime scene at certain times.
17. Is this career one that is growing in the U.S.?
Answer: This career is growing, but only a tiny bit. There are only a few opportunities open annually.
18. Name 3 careers that go hand-in-hand with the one you have selected.
Answer: Medical Lab Tech, Toxicologist, Coroner
Summary:
From the information that I have learned and researched on the career as a forensic scientist, I believe that I would definitely like to further pursue this career. I believe this because a career in forensic science would be both eventful and a great working experience. In my opinion, doing this career is both a giant puzzle and a mystery; it would be a thrill, better yet, an adrenaline rush each and every day. Before I began my research, I knew very vague details about the actual job. However, after I began reading more and more, I slowly started to realize the true aspects.
Going in to this career, I hope to fine adventure and mystery everywhere I look. I am hoping to be able to assist CSIs, detectives, etc., in putting pieces together to solve a crime. I believe all of the schooling and training needed may not be easy, but it will be worth it in the end. I will do whatever it takes to get a PhD in forensic science.Works Cited
Career Cruiser
GCIS
http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/JobDetails.aspx?LoginID=c95eb01c-9715-4ffc-a258-7d3b568f458f-&OccNumber=570&field=CareerPath
http://www.gcic.peachnet.edu/GCISWeb/info2.aspx?FileID=Occ&FileNum=100326&TopicNum=10