Forensic Science also known as Criminalistics is an interdisciplinary discipline that involves the application of several scientific techniques concerned with gathering and analysing evidence from a criminal case. Using evidence such as fingerprints, footprints, blood splatter, traces, and remains, forensic scientists try to identify offenders and piece together all the details of criminal incidents. It is also crucial in situations where no crime has been committed but someone is being accused of civil wrongdoing as well as in the prosecution and conviction of crimes including kidnapping, murder, and drug trafficking.

Forensic Science draws from several branches of study like medicine, physics, chemistry, engineering, computer science, psychology, law and many others to recognize and analyse physical facts. In addition, to reconstruct the full picture of a crime scene, forensics professionals put together interdisciplinary teams of subject matter experts and use sophisticated scientific procedures.

Students interested in pursuing a degree in forensic science can obtain useful skills that will aid in their investigation of facts, such as analytical and critical thinking, computer training, and scientific writing from practical classes and lab work.

Study levels:

Different colleges and universities offer a wide variety of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in Forensic Science or Criminalistics via degrees, certificates and diplomas and these include:

• Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science
• Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science and Criminology
• Bachelor of Science in Forensic Psychology
• Bachelor of Science in Forensic Biology
• Bachelor of Science in Digital Forensics
• Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Science
• Master of Science in Forensic Science
• Master of Science in Forensic Science and Criminology
• Master of Science in Cybercrime
• Master of Science in Analytical and Forensic Chemistry
• Master of Science in Digital Forensics
• Master of Philosophy
• Postgraduate Diploma
• Doctor of Philosophy in Forensic Science

Specialisations:

Interested students can choose to specialise in a variety of fields thanks to the scope and variety of Forensic Science. Every specialisation option has a unique curriculum and set of prerequisite skills.

The different areas of specialisation included in this discipline are:

• Trace Evidence Analysis
• Forensic Toxicology
• Forensic Psychology
• Forensic Podiatry
• Forensic Pathology
• Forensic Optometry
• Forensic Odontology
• Forensic Linguistics
• Forensic Geology
• Clinical Forensic Medicine
• Forensic Serology
• Cyber Forensic and Information Security
• Forensic Chemistry
• Forensic Entomology
• Forensic Engineering
• Forensic DNA Analysis
• Forensic Botany
• Forensic Archaeology
• Forensic Anthropology
• Forensic Accounting
• Digital Forensics
• Criminalistics
• Cytology
• Criminalistics
• Forensic Ballistics
• Dactyloscopy

Employability:

Graduates of forensic science are highly employable in the specialised field of forensic investigation as well as in many other professions that call for an inquisitive, scientific, and legal mind. They can work in forensic and medical diagnostic laboratories, medical examiners' offices, prosecutor's offices, hospitals, clinical chemistry laboratories, forensic laboratories, law enforcement, education, and criminal defence.

According to their field of expertise, graduates in Forensic Science can join in as any of the following titles:

• Forensic Expert
• Crime Scene Investigator 
• Crime Reporter 
• Handwriting Expert 
• Forensic Linguist 
• Forensic Technician 
• DNA Analyst
• Forensic Toxicologist 
• Forensic Entomologist
• Forensic Anthropologist 
• Forensic Odontologist
• Forensic Botanist 
• Forensic Geologist 
• Medical Examiner 
• Forensic Pathologist
• Coroner
• Trace Evidence Analyst 
• Fingerprint Examiner
• Questioned Documents Analyst 
• Forensic Autopsy Technician
• Forensic Scientist
• Investigative Officer 
• Law Consultant 
• Forensic Engineer 
• Forensic Chemist
• Forensic Photographer 
• Forensic Artist/Sculptor
• Professor