Career Paths
- DNA Examiner
- Evidence Specialist
- State Police Laboratory Manager
- Crime Scene Analyst
Forensic Biology educates students in innovative methods and approaches to collect and analyze crime scene evidence. Students graduating with this concentration solve crimes using modern cellular and molecular biology tools necessary for the analysis of forensic DNA and other biological evidence.
The forensic science program will bridge the gap between biological evidence and criminal justice proceedings by training students with needed skills and knowledge in genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry. There is increasing demand in the areas of criminal investigation for professionals who can contribute to solving complex criminal cases using modern histopathological (changes in tissue related to disease) and biochemical techniques. Therefore, graduates in biological forensics will have the needed skills and expertise in these areas for successful careers in investigative research, forensic labs, and law enforcement, both in the private and government sectors.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), positions for forensic science technicians across the United States are projected to grow 13 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. An estimated 2,600 openings for forensic science technicians are projected each year, on average, over the next decade.
A recent report in the Bureau of Justice Statistics showed the 326 publicly funded forensic crime laboratories in the United States received 3.3 million requests for service in 2020; the result is high employment opportunities in both the public sector and the private sector as the state crime labs often need to outsource some analyses. Public crime labs employ over 15,000 full-time employees and have approximately 1,500 unfilled vacancies each year.
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