Forensic Science Areas of Specialization

Any application of a science to situations of legal significance could be said to be "forensic science."  There are many examples of fields of study that can be applied to legal issues.  The list below is not by any means comprehensive, but it does contain some basic information that may help guide you to an area of study.  Please be aware that much more information may be available by doing your own Internet searches. 

Much of the education and career planning you will embark upon involves you designing your own curriculum, unless you are at an institution that offers specific degree programs.  Here at UNCW, it is advised that you select a major that most closely approaches the area of forensic science you see yourself pursuing.  Selecting this interdisciplinary minor will allow you to sample some of the general courses in these areas so that your foundation-level education will be broad-based.  This will enable you to change your mind later about what you want to do and still have a good educational background (i.e., no "wasted" courses or time); it will also enable you to be well prepared for further study and on-the-job-training should you maintain your choice of a major or career direction.

Some of the forensic science specialties presented here include, but are not limited to:

Forensic Anthropology |  Forensic Pathology  |  Forensic Odontology
  Forensic Nursing |  Law  
  Forensic Chemistry/Toxicology |  DNA Analysis/Molecular Biology
Forensic Entomology  |  Forensic Botany
Forensic Photography |  Homicide Detective/Crime Scene Investigator

• Forensic Anthropology (courses in this area are offered at UNCW): 
  • Search and recovery of human remains, establishing the identity (biological) profile of unknown individuals from the skeleton (decomposed, mummified, burned, or otherwise unrecognizable bodies)--age at death, sex, stature (height), ancestry, pathology; also includes time since death estimations and skeletal trauma analyses to determine the manner of death.
  • Cases include individual deaths, resulting from an accident, homicide, or suicide, or multiple deaths, resulting from mass disasters (i.e., terrorist attacks, plane crashes, etc.) or  human rights violations (i.e., crimes against humanity).
  • Careers include university positions teaching, conducting research, service in the form of consulting on forensic cases or applied positions such as those at medical examiner (ME) facilities or government agencies such as the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (or JPAC:  "Jay-pack").
  • Requires the MA and PhD in anthropology
  • Focus is on human osteology (study of bones and teeth), skeletal biology, and archaeology (for methods of search and recovery--exhumation--of human remains).

   

• Forensic Pathology, Medical Examiners (pre-med; pre-professional courses offered at UNCW:  click here.)
  • Autopsying of dead bodies (decedents, pronounced "dee-see-dents") for purposes of establishing cause of death or identity if not known
  • Autopsies are performed in cases where death was sudden or unexpected:  accidents, homicides, suicides, mass disasters, or crimes against humanity.
  • Careers include positions in Medical Examiner facilities nationwide.
  • Requires the Medical Doctor (MD) degree; any undergraduate major with pre-med requirements met; after the MD degree, there is the pathology residency and then the forensic pathology residency
  • Focus is on the soft tissues of the human body

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• Forensic Odontology (Forensic Dentistry) (pre-med; pre-professional courses offered at UNCW:  click here.)
  • Examination of the human dentition or dental remains for purposes of establishing identity
  • Analyses of teeth often used in cases of mass disasters such as plane crashes, train wrecks, where multiple deaths occurred
  • Bite mark analysis:  matching dental features from a bite mark wound with a likely suspect's dental features such as tooth alignment, shape, etc.
  • Careers include private dental practice with consultation services to medical examiner facilities, military, state or federal agency consultation
  • Requires the Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Science (DDS) degree and special training in the forensic application of dentistry
  • Focus is on human teeth

   

• Forensic Nursing (the nursing degree is offered at UNCW, but choosing a minor in forensic science may require a fifth year of study)
  • Recognition of cases of abuse--child physical or sexual abuse, adult domestic violence, and rape, typically in hospital emergency room situations
  • Careers include positions as a nurse in a hospital setting, for physicians in private practice, rape crisis centers, etc.
  • Requires the BS in nursing and additional forensic nursing training
  • Focus is on living people

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• Law (pre-professional courses offered at UNCW; no website found, but contact the political science department for information on the pre-law curriculum.)

  • Attorneys by nature of what they are tie in with forensic science since they are concerned with legal issues

  • Consider a career in law tied to either criminal law or environmental law

  • Careers:  many; private practice, federal, state, and local government positions, university faculty positions, etc.

  • Requires the Jurisdoctor (JD) degree

  • Focus in on legal issues

   

• Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Toxicology (course offered at UNCW):
  • Analysis of chemicals, drugs, or poisons that may be present from bodily fluids (e.g., blood, vitreous humor from the eye socket, urine, semen) or at crime scenes
  • Identification of chemicals, drugs, or poisons contributing to the cause of death
  • Identification of chemicals used in explosives, found in fire debris, or used as accelerants
  • Trace evidence analysis:  fingerprints, soil, dust, fibers, glass, hairs
  • Careers include laboratory positions and university faculty/research positions
  • Requires the MS and PhD in chemistry
  • Focus is on human bodily tissues and fluids, crime scene evidence

   

• DNA Analysis, Molecular Biology (genetics courses offered at UNCW):
  • Analysis of DNA for purposes of human identification
  • Careers include laboratory positions or university faculty/research positions
  • Requires the MS and PhD in biology, with an emphasis on molecular biology
  • Focus is on genetics

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• Forensic Entomology
  • Time since death estimations (known as the "postmortem interval") based on insect evidence
  • Analysis of life stages and age of insects of forensic importance (e.g., blowfly larvae--maggots, beetles, and so forth) to determine how long a body has been dead or whether or not a body has been moved after death
  • Estimations of when a body died in terms of seasonality; various environments include sun, shade, woods, partial burials, surface scatter, indoor locations, aquatic locations, etc.
  • Careers include work at medical examiner facilities, crime laboratories, university faculty/research positions
  • Requires the MS and PhD in entomology
  • Focus is on insects and or other arthropods having forensic significance

   

• Forensic Botany
  • Time since death and location of death estimations based on plant evidence
  • Analysis of seeds, pods, roots, leaves, stems, and more to determine when and where a body died, if a body was moved after death
  • Careers include university faculty/research positions, laboratory work with forensic consultation provided when needed
  • Requires the MS and PhD in biology with a focus on botany
  • Focus is on plant biology

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• Forensic Photography
  • Visual documentation of death scenes, crime scenes, accident scenes
  • Includes macrophotography (of small evidentiary materials such as projectiles, blood spatter, close-ups of evidence at death scenes, the decendent, etc.)
  • Knowledge and skill in general photography, film developing, digital photography, videography, digital imaging
  • Careers include positions at medical examiner facilities, state or federal crime laboratories, or private photography business offering forensic consultation
  • Requires highly specialized and varied photography skill and understanding of the medico-legal system
  • Focus is on photography and photographic equipment 

   

• Homicide Detective, Crime Scene Investigator
  • Investigation of death scenes
  • Collection of evidence associated with death(s)
  • Processing of evidence
  • Administrative work associated with investigating deaths
  • Careers include positions in police departments, sheriff's offices, or with mobile crime units, military, federal agencies
  • Requires certification as police officer or other certification (e.g., medico-legal death investigator training, the BA in criminal justice)
  • Focus in on the death scene, crime scene, and who or what was responsible for death(s)

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