Forensic Science Degrees

[EmmaC]

I am currently studying for a Degree in Forensic Science at university in England. What as experts in your particular fields would you see as necessary skills to learn.

I for one am disappointed in the lack of practical application of fingerprinting methods. We have had one session that included supergluing and ninhydrin and one brief session that showed us some of the patterns that can be found in fingerprints.

Then we had one session where we had to take a latent print and try and match it to an inked print. It was very difficult with little informative instruction.

I thought there would be a whole course devoted to fingerprinting and developing latent prints.

[Cindy Rennie]

A lot of academic institutions offer more theoretical courses in the forensic sciences because they don't have the facilities to offer the practical courses. Does your prospectus indicate any science-based courses? Biology? Anatomy? Chemistry?

Ask a member of the Faculty if there is a practicum component to your degree, or if there is a way that you can expand your practical experience in the field.

If your area of interest is fingerprints, then you may find that websites such as this one are the best training ground. (There are many good sites from fingerprint examiners around the world to help you).

Police services have their own methods of training in fingerprint examination. You may have to wait until you're hired by one of them so that you can undergo their training.

Good luck!

[Jmouer]

You will find very few programs have any in-depth areas of study in fingerprints...many classes are limited to part of an overview class or are lumped together with a few other disciplines (such as QD or firearms) into one class.

If you are in fact interested in Fingerprints as an area od concentrated study I would suggest reading everything you can get your hands on, seeing if you can't intern with a fingerprint unit to get more hands-on experience and if there are any outside classes you can take - spend the money and take them. Also if you can join any of the professional organizations, like the IAI

I have an undergrad in Biology/Criminalistics a Masters in Forensic Science and I still underwent over a year of training specifically in fingerprints - (all aspects - history, biology, classification, comparison, identification, processing, etc...) AFTER receieving my Masters.