Become a crime scene investigator

If you like analysing things involving meticulous scrutiny and attention to minutest detail, then Forensic Sciences can be your option

Hyderabad: Are you fascinated by crime mysteries? If you want to find out about various aspects of crime investigation, right from analysis of a physical crime scene to the new wave of financial frauds, and how they are meticulously studied and solved, then forensic sciences can be a viable career option for you. The field has an abundance of opportunities for those who are keenly interested in criminal investigation, science and legal matters.

Forensic science is a multidisciplinary field that encompasses various subjects like chemistry, biology, psychology, and engineering for application of scientific knowledge and methodology. From DNA sampling to blood pattern analysis to firearms analysis, the world of forensic science offers various interesting career paths.

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Though much forensic work applies to criminal cases, sometimes it applies to civil proceedings as well. A forensic scientist helps to collect, preserve, and examine physical evidence during the course of an investigation. They must be methodical, accurate and unbiased.

While the field is not new in the country, the government has been taking robust steps to promote forensic science to improve its applicability in modern-day criminology. Several universities in the country have now started opening up more PG Diploma and MSc courses, as the number of students who opt to specialise in forensic sciences study is steadily increasing.

An undergraduate degree in forensic sciences may be an unusual choice for a career, but due to worldwide growth, the vast nature of the subject and advancements in this subject, there are more than a handful of options to pursue.

After a student completes XII standard with a good academic record, he / she can pursue BSc in Forensic Science. However, if you have already opted for or finished graduation in a pure science stream or chemistry, biology, microbiology, or zoology, then you can go for MSc in Forensic Science or PG Diploma in Forensic Science.

A three-year doctoral course is also being offered by several institutes in the country. The National Forensic Sciences University recently issued a notification inviting applications for admissions into the five-year integrated BSc-MSc Forensic Science programme at its Goa and Tripura campuses. The course has 40 seats each in both the campuses.

The field offers a wide range of opportunities in both the government and private sector. There is a continuous increase in the crime rate across the globe and with the emergence of cyber crime, the whole patterns and modus operandi have been changing. So, the scope of forensic science has increased and there are a lot of opportunities.

As a science, forensic has a deep connection with law, and scientists can even work in legal departments and investigation departments of government establishments.

Several government departments, including Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), State Police Departments, Defence forces and Central Government Forensic Sciences Labs, are always on the look out for experts in the field.

You can also find good opportunities at hospitals, private detective agencies, law firms and even banks. Specialising further will also enable you to work in niche fields within the forensic science arena. An expert can work as a freelancer or set up their own labs as well.

Top universities offering courses in Forensic Sciences:

a) National Forensic Sciences University, Gujarat

b) Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science, New Delhi

c) Swami Vivekananda University, Madhya Pradesh

d) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Maharashtra

e) St. Xavier’s College, Maharashtra

f) University of Madras, Tamil Nadu

g) Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, New Delhi

h) Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Madhya Pradesh

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