Online Forensic Science Degree

Forensics supports the work of the police, lawyers, doctors and the government in collecting and analyzing evidence. A wide variety of fields rely on forensics to evaluate crime scenes and deaths.



10 Strange Forensic Cases That Puzzled The Pros



How do you draw someone’s else blood from the convict’s arm?

  • Ask Dr. John Schneeberger, convicted of two counts of sexual assault in 1991
  • How did he do it? He saved blood from his patients and implanted this blood in a thin rubber under his forearm skin next to his vein
  • Outsmarted by forensics – sentenced to six years in prison

When one Person is Two Persons

  • “Zoo Man” Thomas Dee Huskey, charged with murdering 4 women is also the British Philip Daxx whose role is to protect Huskey from his alter ego, Kyle
  • Confused? So was the jury, resulting in a mistrial
  • But the forensic evidence that led to Huskey in the first place eventually got him a 44 year sentence for 3 separate rape cases

Trash bags and a floral duvet

  • John Taylor put in an uncanny amount of effort to wrap the body of his murder victim
  • Plastic bags, dog collar, zip ties, trash bags, twine and the weirdest final wrap, a floral duvet
  • Thanks to the idiotically large number of wrappings, forensics were able to trace the murder back to Taylor

Are Bite Marks like Finger Prints?

  • According to a certain bite-mark expert Michael West, yes. He even has a name for it: The West Phenomenon; a procedure only he could perform while wearing yellow protective goggles
  • James Earl Gates was arrested for the murder of Kathy Mabry based on West’s theory. He has since been found innocent and the authenticity of the West Phenomenon, remains a mystery

When a DNA Test Points Towards the Wrong Guy

  • Yes, that is possible. A woman was gunned down on July 18, 2008 and her car was stolen. Eventually the car was found and the saliva from a cigarette butt found under its seat led to the wrong guy
  • The right guy was the wrong guy’s twin. Thanks to fingerprints found on the car, the DNA test and security footage were able to lead to the true criminal’s arrest

The Curious Case of Mary Rogers

  • 1841: The body of Mary Rogers was found floating in the Hudson River with brutal markings on her body.
  • That, her last known whereabouts, combined with her clothes and personal items found hidden in a bush AND an eyewitness who saw her entering the same woods with six men on the night of her disappearance, could lead to no conclusion. Forensics remain baffled at the overwhelming amount of evidence, and no conclusion.

The Highway of Tears

  • This is an actual piece of road in British Columbia that is known for the disappearance of 50 women in 30 years
  • Sounds like the work of a serial killer, right? So everyone thought. Bobby Jack Fowler was linked to three of the murders via DNA sampling, and was subsequently, arrested.
  • But the murders continued even after Fowler was imprisoned in 1996. No progress has been made on the case, and the highway remains in tears.

The Boy with Newspaper Organs

  • Kendrick Johnson, 17, was found dead in his high school’s gym; cause of death: falling headfirst into a rolled up gym mat and suffocating
  • The family wasn’t convinced. A second autopsy performed revealed that the brain, lungs, heart, liver and all essential organs between the pelvis and the skull were gone, the hollow spaces filled with newspaper
  • The funeral home owner believed that the organs were destroyed naturally but the presence of newspapers continues to perplex forensics

The 1864 Dead Body that Refuses to Decompose

  • William M. Shy was shot in the head in 1864 during the American Civil War
  • In 1977, a forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Bass was put in charge of investigating a case of vandalism at Shy’s grave – only to conclude that it cannot be Shy’s body since it still had some flesh bits on it and joints held in place, whereas according to the timeline, his body should have been complete ashes
  • Weird, right? Not quite. It was the cast-iron coffin which kept all insects, oxygen and moisture out, making the decomposition extremely slow

Feet Fetish

  • Starting March 2007, tennis shoes started washing up on the shores of Georgia Strait – 5 years, 11 shoes, some with feet still in them
  • Even though one of the shoes led to an identifiable man’s death, the coroner concluded that it was probably a weather related death
  • And the forensics were left thinking: What of all the shoes?


Forensics is a technologically oriented field requiring in-depth knowledge of chemistry. Those working in forensics need to learn how to perform laboratory science and analysis. Often you may have only trace amounts of evidence at your disposal and must use it without destroying. As you need to use that shred of evidence to make very critical decisions, forensics thus provides training in techniques that are able to take advantage of minimal data.

Commonly offered degrees in the field of Forensics

  • The standard degree to enter the field of forensics is an undergraduate degree in this discipline which is offered by many institutes.

  • Community colleges generally offer associate degrees in the discipline of forensics

  • Other people with a background in chemistry and medicine are also able to work in the forensics field.

Specializations available in Forensics

The field of forensics is broad enough to offer specializations based on the sector in which you plan to work. Many forensics professionals wish to work in the medical sector. This involves studying corpses to determine causes of death. Forensics experts with this training are relied upon to state the official cause of death and help doctors collect relevant information.

Some forensics experts are more interested in working in the legal sector. They are provided more training in the use of evidence to evaluate criminal cases. They are thus trained on how to assist lawyers, the police and government. While this may be a more dangerous line of work, forensics experts in this sector are also likely to be involved in unpredictable yet challenging projects that take advantage of cutting edge research and state-of-the-art technology and instruments.

Careers opportunities and salaries available to those in Forensics

Forensics is a very technical field and is thus open only to those who have the specialized training it requires. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of 2012, professional working in forensics were earning a median wage of $52,840.

There are also chances for advancement in careers in forensics. This depends on the experience you acquire and your performance. The BLS, the top ten percent of forensic scientists earn over $ 85,210. To be able to take advantage of the better salary and career opportunities in forensics, you are encouraged to keep expanding your skills and learning new techniques. One of the best ways to do this is to enroll in part-time courses that can even be conveniently completed online. These courses in continuing education will expose you to emerging methods that will improve your performance in forensics.

Given how technical the field of forensics is becoming particularly with the use of computers and other digital technologies, there is growing demand for those with advanced science degrees to work in the field. Few institutes offer advanced degrees in forensics but most offer degrees in laboratory sciences that can be pursued.

Forensic psychology is the study that connects psychology and the criminal justice system. This involves understanding how criminal law works in the related jurisdictions in order to be able to cooperate with judges, attorneys and other such legal professionals. One of the most vital aspects of forensic psychology is the capacity to testify in court. It is compulsory to reformulate the psychological findings into the legal lingo of the courtroom and also provide information to the staff in an understandable way. Ever since the improvement in the judicial systems the world over, there has been a strong demand for Forensic Psychologists. Many renowned universities and schools offer Forensic Psychology courses. The Forensic Psychology programs are also available online if you wish to study from home.

Frequently Asked Question(s)

Q:Where can I find Forensic programs?

A:You can find a list of top universities and institutes offering Forensic programs at our website.

Q:What is the prime focus of any forensics program?

A:A Forensics program mainly focuses on the medical and chemistry sector.

Q:What does a forensic program require from the student?

A:A forensic program requires intense knowledge of chemistry from the student.

Q:Are there any online forensic programs offered?

A:Yes, there are many universities listed on our website that are offering online forensic programs.

Q:Which universities offer courses in Forensic Psychology?

A:The colleges that offer courses and programs in Forensic Psychology include Walden University Online, Ashworth Career School, Strayer University You can get enrolled in online or regular bachelor's and master's level degree programs offered by these colleges.

Q:How long does it take to become a Forensic Psychologist?

A:The Introductory program to be a professional Forensic Psychologist is the Bachelors in Criminal Justice Forensic Sciences. The Bachelor's degree in forensic sciences is a four year degree program followed by the professional master's degree, that can be completed in two years. The Masters in Forensic Psychology is offered in a bunch of specialization areas. Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology is the top most educational milestone in the field and it takes 3 years plus to complete the program. Moreover, the Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology requires extensive research work, hence it takes more time for completion.

Q:What are the areas of work for forensic psychologist degree holders?

A:Forensic Psychology degree holders have a positive career outlook. They can work on criminal cases, in policy making, on criminal trials, criminal research, police psychology, investigation or any other field relating psychology and criminal sciences. The profession of forensic psychology is on an increase and is expected to grow at an even higher pace.

Q:Which is the most prestigious degree program amongst all Forensics Degrees?

A:The most well reputed forensics degree is the Doctor of Philosophy in Forensic Studies. The program can only be pursued upon completion of the master's degree program with a specified GPA requirement. The PhD. in Forensics Studies involves rigorous theoretical coursework and research study. The program can easily take up to three years or more, depending on the time taken to complete the thesis.

Q:How long does it take to get a degree in forensic psychology?

A:The time duration for each degree program in forensic psychology varies. A bachelor degree in forensic psychology takes around four years to complete. On the other hand, a master's degree in forensic psychology takes two years to complete. Short courses in this field can be completed in 6 to 8 months.

Q:Can you define computer forensics for me?

A:Computer forensics is a branch of forensic science that deals with examining digital data found from computers and media for legal evidence. With the rise in cyber-attacks and online digital fraud, the demand of computer forensics analysts has increased. Many individuals are pursuing this field for career purposes. Take a look at our page for more information about computer forensics.

Q:Can you give me some information about computer forensics training?

A:Computer forensics training courses are geared towards providing students with practical skills and knowledge about the field. The program will entail plenty of practice-based courses that teach students about collecting digital evidence. Key areas covered include: network forensics, reverse-engineering malware, memory forensics, forensics investigations, and disciplines of investigations. Browse through our page for more detail.

Q:What type of Forensics degree is required to enter the field?

A:The most common degree to enter the field is to get a bachelors degree in forensics. Many community colleges generally offer associates degrees in the discipline of forensics. Other people with the background in medicine and chemistry are also usually able to work in forensics or a field related to it.

Q:Why is an online forensic science degree affordable?

A:By enrolling in an online forensic science degree, you no longer have to worry about extra costs related to travelling or books. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. Online learning has proved to be affordable for many individuals. The exact tuition fee will depend upon which school you enroll in. Browse through our page for more detail.

Q:What is a forensic science degree online aimed at?

A:Individuals who wish to become a part of the forensic science or crime unit will need a degree in this field. Forensic science degree programs cover numerous topics such as investigation techniques, scientific analysis, evidence collection, and more. Students not only build the necessary theoretical understanding of the field, but also develop critical skills.

Q:What career statistics are available for a forensic science technician?

A:According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual median salary of forensic science technicians was $52,840 in 2012. BLS also projected that from 2012 to 2022, the number of people employed as forensic science technicians would rise by 6 percent. The official website also added that this growth rate was slower than the average employment growth rate of all occupations.

Q:What are the admission requirements for undergraduate online forensic science degrees?

A:An undergraduate online forensic science degree requires at least the completion of a high school diploma or an equivalent GED qualification. Aside from this, most schools have a set GPA requirement as well as recommendation requirements. You can find out more by visiting the admissions page of the university you will be applying to.

Q:What is Online Forensic Science Degree?

A:An online forensic science degree would revolve around the studies of a wide variety of scientific disciplines to answer important questions within the legal system. Relevant directly to crime scene analysis, this degree would involve science, technology and the chemistry related to forensic evidence and the subsequent prosecution of criminals. Courses are offered via online channels, through video conference live classrooms, written assignments and online quizzes.

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