How to Complete Forensic Nursing Education

Forensic nursing education is offered by all small and big schools and universities in the US today. Forensic nursing is an in demand job these days. With the excellent work that forensic nurses are doing in crime investigation and law enforcement, they have become a necessity for the crime branch of the United States. Crime rate in our society is increasing at an alarming rate which calls for new and innovative means to take on and defeat the crime and the criminals. Several criminal investigation teams and organizations want to have forensic nurses in their team and they are looking for fully trained and educated forensic nurses.

Forensic Nursing Education makes you fully trained to take up the job of a forensic nurse. You are trained to provide not only medical aid but also legal aid to the victims of physical attack, sexual abuse and mental trauma. You are also trained to provide psychiatric help to the accused and make assessments on that basis. You learn the nuances of forensic sciences like how to safely recognize, collect and preserve evidence, diagnose and examine the victims and so on.

There are different branches of forensic nursing education. You can choose what field you want to pursue. SANE or sexual assault nurse examiner is trained to help victims of child abuse, domestic violence, spousal abuse, rape, molestation or any other form of sexual abuse. This job category recruits the most number of forensic nurses. It is also preferred by the most number of students as it does not involve investigating on crime scene or diagnosing dead bodies. They teach you how to help the victims cope with suffering and trauma. You also learn to detect and collect evidence from the victim's body.

The next is Emergency Room Nursing. Most of the times, valuable evidence is lost in the chaos and confusion of emergency room, education in forensic nursing teaches you to recognize signs of violence and abuse and also take particular care that the evidence is not spoiled by any means. You can also take up the Medical legal consultant studies. It would teach you how to provide legal and medical aid to victims. Medical Legal Examiner courses will teach you how to diagnose, make examinations and assessments on the victims. Evidence collection training makes you specialized in collecting medical and other evidences from the crime scene as well as from victims. You can also learn how to work with law enforcement teams. There is another department called medico-legal death investigator. A medico legal death investigator investigates into the causes of death and determines whether the causes were natural or if there are suggestions of foul play.

There are many educational institutions offering a variety of courses in forensic nursing education. A number of students are these days interested in education of forensic nursing. You can get admitted to any big university or opt for your local one. Many employers provide educational reimbursements and scholarships. Many online courses are also available for those who have time or commutation problems. You can get all the information about the different courses offered by the various universities of the US on the internet. Forensic nursing is an evolving field and looks very promising. So if you want to go for forensic nursing education, be sure that you won't repent it.

Forensic Nursing Education - What to Do and Where to Go?

Forensic nursing is a fast increasing filed and has attracted youth towards itself. The job of forensic nurse is not only challenging but is also well paid. There have been many talks about the forensic nursing education that is required to be given to the forensic nurses. There are many universities and colleges that have come up with lots of courses related to forensic nursing and this has given the education in forensic nursing the much needed support.

There are many medical skills that are required in a forensic nurse that needs to be sharpened and for that purpose to do a course in forensic nursing the aspirant should be a well qualified nurse so that it becomes easy for her to understand the basics of forensic nursing education.

Forensic nursing education courses can be accessible as a paired graduate course or even as an individual course of study. Knowledge of the basic principles of forensic of forensic science augment a nurse's evaluation and credentials skill that are most importantly required to serve and to sustain or at times validate the suspicions that have been made towards a criminal or any particular abusive situation. Visibly, nurses well-informed in the field forensic sciences can improve and serve public in a better way as they are the ones who arrive to their bureau to seek out of help, consideration--and sometimes the most important thing justice.

Education in Forensic nursing has grown many folds since the time when forensic nursing came into existence way back in the year 1992. There is a question as to why forensic nursing education is so important, and why it is required to get the best education possible the answer is simple and lies in the need as for what the forensic nurses are required.

Forensic nurses mostly use their medicinal skills to assist police and other organizations to solve crimes, and also to advise and treat the crime victims in a better manner. They mostly are involved in work at the crime sites, and thus help to resolve if an incident can be called as suicide or a homicide, any abuse related to any person or even any accident, automobile ruin or disrupt. Some forensic nurses' can also work in Emergency Rooms and collect scientific facts for police investigators after any assault on the victim.

This can easily signify the importance of a proper system for education in forensic nursing.

There are many universities across the globe that are giving special courses and providing with many different methods of teaching the forensic nursing education. There are many online colleges also that help in giving distance education to the students who is willing to take course from them. These online classrooms are also gaining popularity among students so even they are worth a go. Options are many just go through the required information and see what is best for you and go with that be it online or any college. Education in Forensic nursing is going places and will lead you to a brighter career and a glorified position.

Computer Forensics Degree - Requirements and Curriculum

As data security and confidentiality become an increasingly important element of corporate and government communications, the demand for computer forensic scientists is rapidly increasing. In order to enter the field, you should strongly consider enrolling in a program that allows you to earn a bachelor or master computer forensics degree.

Careers in digital forensics requires a broad set of skills to allow you to analyze computer data and security, including network technologies and traffic. Computer forensics degrees allow you to develop a wide range of knowledge in computer science, criminal justice and engineering, all of which is important for a future career in forensics. In particularly, you will develop skills to understand file formats, networking protocols, cryptology, software engineering and data analysis.

Computer forensic degrees are often available as associates or bachelors degrees, as well as through professional, specialist degree training. A number of well known universities such as California State offer degree programs focused on digital forensics. These degrees are structured to enable you to earn become a Certified Information System Security Professional, the highest level of certification for forensics professionals. In addition to in-person training, a number of schools offer online distance training in forensics, including ITT Technical Institute.

Courses within a computer forensics degree generally focus on the technology and legal aspects of the career, requiring the development of a broad base of knowledge. Students are required to gain expertise in the criminal justice and law enforcement system, as well as a core set of skills in both computer science with a focus on hardware and computer security.

At leading universities course offerings include Forensics and Crime Scene Investigation, Cyber Crime Analysis, Police Investigation Techniques, Essentials of Computer Security, Computer Forensic Analysis and Cryptology and Computer Security. Each of these courses builds upon a foundation in criminal justice and computer science. As one of the fastest growing professions, the requirements for computer forensics training require a working knowledge of a range of technology from networking equipment to wireless protocols.

Forensic Nursing Online Degree Programs

If you are the one who likes challenging tasks and interested in a career in health care but do not want to spend eight years in a university then forensic nursing online degree programs are the best option for you. As a forensic nurse your job will require you to involve in criminal cases and the people who have suffered the criminal activities and are affected both emotionally and physically. You will be expected to work along with the doctors, detectives and police forces for solving the cases, collecting evidences and information. This is certainly the best choice for you if you desire an exciting career. If investigative sciences and victim encouragement grab your interest then forensic nursing is the career for you. If you are one of those who desire to work along with studying then various online nursing degree programs are available.

Forensic nurses are called at the crime scenes re accidents for teaming up with detectives, to collect evidence and blood samples. They have to treat the survivors of sexual assaults, accidents, the prey of disregard and mistreatment. The job will let you work with real issues and is both fast-paced and exciting. The online forensic nursing degree programs are a unique option for students who desire an elastic learning option. These online forensic nursing degree programs are also professional studies just like the on-campus programs.

He online degree programs in forensic nursing are amongst the most popular courses available online offered by the various recognized universities and colleges. The reasons are not so mind boggling. Generally, professional working nurses have to render their services for irregular hours. Therefore, the online forensic nursing degree programs offer maximized scheduling suppleness. The rich, interactive and user friendly course substance augments better understanding and retention of the compound scientific and medical material. The online programs are expanding continuously to cope up with the regularly occurring changes in the field of health care, newly formed specializations and the increasing demand for skills in health care management.

The online forensic nursing degree programs are specially designed for the nurses at all levels who yearn to develop their qualification and skills, trail specialized areas for performance, or move forward into the managerial roles or coaching positions.

The Registered Nurses (RN) can proceed towards earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) if they have acquired a related degree or diploma certificate to develop their qualification as well as education. The online forensic nursing degree programs also qualify their students to avail the opportunity of entering programs for BSN and even MSN (Master of Science in Nursing).

In the huge lists of online forensic nursing programs you have to decide the best one for yourself. It is advised to request for all of the necessary details which would help you to distinguish between the various programs. With the respective colleges and institutions at your service, you can be confident enough about fulfilling your certification requirements applicable to the objectives of your line of business.

The Science of Criminal Investigations - What is Studied in Forensic Science?

Forensic science is one of the youngest sciences in the world. It focuses on the study of the physical evidence that is created by a crime or related event. Forensic science can lead to a number of professions that relate to the collection, examination and interpretation of physical evidence including medical examiner, crime lab analyst, crime scene examiner, forensic engineer, forensic psychologist, and technical forensic adviser.

Crime Scene Examiner

The first profession that many people think about when they think about forensic science is the crime scene examiner. This person is responsible for managing the collection and documentation of physical evidence at a crime scene. This person usually doesn't analyze the data, as this is done by another professional. They instead are trained in how to protect evidence from becoming damaged, lost or contaminated. This career requires an understanding of physics, biology and of ballistics.

Crime Lab Analyst

The next career in forensic science is the crime lab analyst. This person is responsible for processing and analyzing the physical evidence that is collected. This person will utilize a variety of tools to examine the evidence including a microscope, chemical analysis tests and ballistic tests. They will also utilize their understanding of criminology in order to draw conclusions.

Medical Examiner

A medical examiner is a forensic scientist that has a medical degree. This doctor will examine a body to determine the cause of death in cases of suspected suicide or murder. The medical examiner may also examine bodies from car accidents and industrial accidents that involve a fatal injury. Their examination often times uncovers evidence that can be used to link a suspect to the crime or to other illegal activities like drug use and rape.

Forensic Psychologist

A forensic psychologist is a forensic scientist that has a psychology degree. There are several levels of degrees that you can obtain including a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology. Forensic psychology utilizes the sciences of psychology and criminology to complete specific tasks to help solve a crime. For example, they use special techniques to questions witnesses and criminals with psychological or emotional disabilities and witnesses that are children. They also utilize their understanding of psychological theories to create profiles for criminals that are still at large.

Forensic Engineer

A forensic engineer is a classically trained engineer that utilizes their skills to examine physical evidence at structural crime and accidents scenes. For example, in the case of a train derailment a forensic engineering may be called in to see if the train or track had been tampered with or to determine the cause of the "accident." These professionals will also examine structural fires, explosion sites and industrial accident sites.

Technical Forensic Adviser

One of the newest careers to be spawn out of forensic science is the technical forensic adviser. This professional is skills in computer science. They use their computer background to find and analyze physical evidence of computer crimes like hackers and malware developers. The evidence that they collect and analyze are digital in nature and require special expertise in programming and IT systems.

Learning Facts on the Forensic Science College

In forensic science school, students study the skills they are required to work being forensic scientists and also technicians. It is vital to choose a school with curriculum that will permit someone to be employed in her/his preferred field after completion of college degree.

The initial thing to think about is the type of work someone desires to do and the location of the work. For example, medical examiners, they are forensic scientists who conduct autopsies and the requirement before entering the field is a medical degree. Someone who executes the basic work in forensic laboratory can be able to do the job by means of two years in college. While discovering forensic science professions, people must take into consideration the principles needed by the institute which recognize people at these fields, because these will speak where they go to school.

When assessing a forensic science university, a prospective student must verify that the school offers a curriculum in the field of forensics the learner is concerned in, and the course meets the necessities of the organization which attests forensic scientists in that particular field. After identifying which schools have qualified with the criteria, students may begin to trim down their choices in looking for the forensic science school or university that will suit their desire.

Requirements for entry are frequently a vital consideration just like the requirements during graduation. The school must evidently spell out the number of classes required to finish, which classes are considered necessary, the total laboratory works required and the duration of the average student to take in order to complete the course. Students might also want to think of going to the university which proposes job placement position after graduation.

Attendance at a recognized university is normally required for certification professionally and membership in skilled organization and credited colleges propose high standard of learning which is separately reviewed, Accreditation data are available from admissions division and students may also get in touch with accrediting organization to determine whether the school is accredited or not. College rankings can also be essential, because schools having good rating or ranking can offer better forensic learning.

Lastly, students must think regarding convenience if they want to apply to forensic science school, to ensure that they are capable to finish the program. Scheduling elasticity is frequently essential to students, specifically if they have children or working while studying, which indicates that the school which offers evening classes and generally flexible scheduling might be attractive. The site of the school may also be vital, people must consider about their willingness to relocate in going to forensic science school and wherein they will feel at ease relocating to.

Forensic Science Education

Forensic science is a multidisciplinary science used to provide impartial scientific evidence for use in the courts of law, drawing principally from chemistry, biology, physics, geology, psychology, social science and other subjects. In a forensic science program, one learns how to identify the boundaries of a crime scene and understand the principles of searching the crime scene for specific types of evidence, such as fingerprints, forensic identifiable material and other items of evidentiary value. Below are some universities across the United States providing courses in Forensic Sciences and Criminal Justice.

The University of Phoenix offers Criminal Justice programs in Bachelors in Criminal Justice, Masters in Criminal Justice, Forensic Science / Crime Scene Investigation, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Private/Criminal Detective and Scoping Technology.

Florida Metropolitan University (FMU) - With locations throughout Florida, the university offers Criminal Justice programs in Associates in Criminal Justice, Bachelors in Criminal Justice, Masters in Criminal Justice, Forensic Science / Crime Scene Investigation and Homeland Security.

Keiser College - Also located throughout Florida, it offers the same programs as mentioned above.

There are also many online schools offering courses in these disciplines.

University of Phoenix Online is the largest private university in the U.S, offering the largest number of accredited online degree programs of any online institution.

Kaplan University Online offers Bachelors and Associate degree programs in Criminal Justice. In addition, it also offers certificate programs in Crime Scene Technician, Terrorism/National Security Management, Criminal Justice programs in Associates in Criminal Justice, Bachelors in Criminal Justice, Certificate in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science / Crime Scene Investigation.

Colorado Technical University Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is a unique program. This program offers students a component of forensic study not usually available at the undergraduate level. In addition, one can earn four Professional Certificates as one works toward the completion of their degree and advance their career in the fields of Corrections Technician, Crime Scene Investigation, Law Enforcement Skills, and, Legal Studies and Court Process.

Crime Scene Forensics - Studying Soil Samples

If you are a big fan of the CSI or Forensic Files TV shows, you may have seen the TV scientists analyze soil samples that were found at the scene of a crime. These were soil samples that were perhaps found on the victim's shoes but no where else to be found in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene. They could be soil samples embedded in the tire tread of a car that is suspected to be used in a crime.

Soil is not just plain dirt. It is a conglomerate of several things. They include minerals, plants, animal matter, and tiny particulates of synthetic products like glass, paint, asphalt, cement, and other things. The contents of soil are not uniform wherever you go. They differ from one place to another. Soil found on the beach in Ocean City, Maryland has different components from soil found on the beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The first step involved in analyzing soil samples is visually and microscopically inspecting the soil to make determinations of acidity, consistency, color, and mineral content. Next, the forensic scientist looks for any foreign objects such as plant materials like leaves or animal material like hair, teeth, or nails. For instance, finding evidence of beachfront sandy soil on the carpets of a suspect's car can contradict his statement that he had never been to the beach on the day the crime was committed. Similarly, finding horse dung in a soil sample could suggest that the soil came from a horse farm and not from the suspect's backyard.

Further forensic chemical analysis can determine whether two samples share the same chemical properties. Using X-ray diffraction, the criminalist can examine and compare the minerals that are present in soil samples. Gas chromatography/Mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) can be used to identify many individual components in a soil sample. Another laboratory technique called differential thermal analysis is useful. The premise behind differential thermal analysis is that soils release and absorb heat at varying rates. In this analysis, a soil sample is heated, and the point at which the soil breaks down, melts, or boils is recorded. These results are then compared with the same thermal properties of other soils to determine whether or not they are consistent enough to be considered a match.

Top 5 Forensic Accounting Schools

Forensic accountant has played an important role in solving white collar crimes. As the demand for forensic accountants keeps increasing, forensic accountant has been selected as one of the "20 hot job tracks of the future" by US News & World Report. There are more and more universities offering this particular degree program either offline or online.

Here are the Top 5 Forensic Accounting Schools in Unites States:

1. The Florida Atlantic School of Accounting
It is the fastest growing state university with the track record of having the highest passing rate in CPA examination for the past 10 years. It is also ranked as one of the top 50 Business schools for entrepreneurs.

2. Aakers College
It has been established for more than 100 years and it is famous for its Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, State Board for Vocational and Technical Education. It offers online programs to students world-wide.

3. University of Phoenix
It is well known for providing quality online accounting courses to working adults and people who prefer home based learning. It has created opportunities for people who wish to obtain higher education at home

4. Birmingham's School of Business, The University of Alabama
It has been ranked as one of the Top 10 metropolitan state business schools, offering two levels of Accounting Degree programs, i.e. Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Accounting

5. American Intercontinental University (AIU)
It has been supported by over 400 major companies who serve as education partners. They offer dynamic virtual campus experience to students and they make the studies as practical as real world.

How to Choose the Suitable Degree in Forensic Psychology

If you plan to work in forensic psychology, then you will need a master's or doctoral psychology degree (PhD in general clinical psychology) along with specialized training. This training may include a fellowship, internship or additional course work. In addition, you will probably be involved in teaching or research in a university setting. Besides you'll provide expert testimony in court cases.

There are quite a few schools that offer programs that give the opportunity to obtain a specific forensic psychology degree at the master's or doctoral level these days. It's up to you whether to complete a traditional or online degree.

You can start a career in this field by obtaining a master's or doctoral degree in such subfield of psychology as clinical, developmental, cognitive or social psychology and by taking supplemental coursework that related to the legal system before or after graduating.

Most master's and all doctoral programs that offer a degree in this field od psychology, require you to choose a subfield within psychology in which you will specialize.

It's currently impossible to get a bachelor's degree in forensic psychology. However, you can start your education with getting a bachelor's degree in psychology, and then continue advanced training. While earning this kind of degree, you'll learn about the general theories, history and practices of psychology. And of course you should focus on a clinical or social psychology.

Nowadays there is a variety of coursework for a master's degree in those particular field of psychology. Some programs offer studies in the application of forensic psychology to areas such as organizational and legal consultation or law enforcement. Other programs give students the opportunity to become licensed mental health counselors. Since most jobs in the field of forensic psychology require a PhD, your career options may be limited with just a forensic psychology degree at the master's level. Completing a PhD program may yield the most opportunities in this field.

Before you continue your education, you should decide which degree to choose. You should consider whether you wish to work in the academic (teaching and research) or clinical (applied practice) realm. The difference between a Doctor of Psychology degree and PsyD is quite simple. As a rule the first degree requires practice training with less research than the second one. And the program, that offers a PsyD degree, usually provides more of a focus on clinical skills. As for the clinical practice both types of degrees offer similar opportunity and credential stature.

If you manage to get a forensic psychology degree at the doctoral level, them you can begin practicing. In this case no further licensure is necessary. No doubt that an additional certification may bolster your credentials in the job market.

How to Get Into Good Forensic Accounting Schools?

In times of today, forensic accounting has taken a turn and has become a fast growing field of study of all accounting fields of today. Such a career involves the use of well thought of knowledge, deft thinking, investigative skills and a whole lot of modern equipment with regards to matters of the law.

There are many forensic accounting school scattered around there world and there are many well recognized ones that are accredited as well.

Among the top ones are:

    * The Capella University
    * The Kaplan University
    * The American Intercontinental University

There are many others that you would do you good to graduate from that would lead you to a promising career as well. To get into a good school in such a field you need a few basic requirements and skills beforehand. First, you would need to be tech savvy and familiar with all computer parts and speak the language as well. this is important as the study would revolve around this sector.

Aside from that, you would need to have a solid foundation in mathematics, storage media, law and internal computer systems. This does not have to be in depth knowledge as you would acquire that in the teaching school.

Furthermore, it would help if you have had past working experience in the related field. A little hands on experience would give you a huge opportunity to see what the reality of forensic accounting is like and how your future career would be. Also, with working experiences be it a major role or a tiny one, if you've done a good job it would help to gather recommendations and references from your employers. This would boost your chances by quite a bit in securing a place in a good school.

In conclusion, if you have got the passion, interest and enthusiasm for the subject, you would be willing to go the extra mile to get a place in a good teaching school. So put in all that effort and work hard and you can get there.

Top 6 Computer Forensics Schools

If you are really interested in retrieving lost data from digital devices like hard discs and memory cards for crime investigation purpose, you can consider earning a computer forensics degree as federal agencies and other detective agencies recruited people who have knowledge about computers and trained them for specific tasks regarding to this particular field of forensics. There are many universities and colleges have started running specialized courses for this field of study.

Most universities offer this particular course online, while some institutions offer traditional degree that requires candidates to attend lectures on campus. Here are the best universities that offer both online and off-line degree of this particular course:

    * The American Intercontinental University (AIU) is one of the most reputed universities offering such 

       courses. You can earn one of the most reputed Bachelor's degrees in computer forensics and a Master's    degree in Internet Security through the AIU.

    * The Kaplan University provides degrees in computer crime and criminal justice. This university does not provide a Master's degree program but they offer Bachelor's degree course in this field of study.
    * The Virginia College runs courses that would help you in earning a Master's degree in Cyber Security.
    * The University of Phoenix runs regular and online courses for associate degrees in Information Systems.
    * Similar programs are run by the Colorado State University, offering associate degree in Information Technology, Bachelor's degree in IT security and Master's degree in Information technology.
    * The Capella University also runs highly reputed online programs specializing in IT and Information systems.

Information about Nursing Degree Schools and Programs

Caring for people is one of the aspects of our society that many do not acknowledge or take seriously. However there are those special few that are dedicated to taking care and nursing others back to health. These are doctors and nurses. Becoming a nurse is fairly easy for anyone to get involved in and there is plenty of information about great nursing degree schools to enroll at.

Firstly you will need to decide what type of nurse you would like to be when looking for nursing degree schools. You can become a forensic nurse, nurse midwife, legal nurse consultant, study for a doctoral in nursing and many others. You can find lots of schools in any area you wish to study, and you can take as many programs as you would like. After you have qualified there are plenty of online resource centers that will list available nursing jobs.

Some programs allow you to travel abroad as a nurse and work at any hospital or clinic. This gives you the opportunity to explore other countries, while at the same time helping people and learning more about different health care systems and cultures. If you do not have a lot of money, but would really like to become a nurse, some nursing degree schools will offer scholarship programs which you can apply for.

Most nursing degree schools have entry level, bachelors, masters and practitioner levels as well as combinations of the above. You can choose from LVN to BSN, LPN to ASN and RN to MSN among many other programs. You can also enroll and complete your nursing degree schools online and they will send you everything you need for the program to be done long distance. So, if this is your chosen career path, then wait no longer. You can join any of the nursing degree schools straight away and start helping people no matter where you are in the world.

A Criminal Justice Degree Online Creates a World of Opportunity

The world of criminal justice will always have career opportunities for college graduates and adults who are interested in this field. Actually, with the advent of Homeland Security and the increase in border patrols and other security measures, the field of criminal justice is growing by leaps and bounds. Enrolling in a criminal justice degree online program may open up a world of opportunity for anyone with a keen interest in the field.
Those who choose to pursue a degree in criminal justice will have a wide array of career options available to them. This could be in forensics, homeland security, criminology, community corrections including probation or parole officers. Other possibilities include working in the court systems or correctional facilities, for private security agencies or in the juvenile justice system. More opportunities exist with the FBI, US Marshals, county sheriff departments and city police departments. Opportunities exist to work with children or adults, in the private sector or with the government, in crime prevention or managing criminals.
Clearly the opportunities to work in the field of criminal justice are wide ranging. Many require a college education of some level. Criminal justice degree online programs range from the associate level up to the level of Ph D. Each of the programs require a prerequisite level of education and/or experience in order to qualify. In order to pursue a masters level degree, the candidate for enrollment generally would be required to already have earned a bachelors degree, and so forth. For someone just starting their post high school education, bachelor and associate degree programs abound.

An online degree is ideal for many who have time or other constraints due to career and family responsibilities. Typically, these programs offer very flexible scheduling and the opportunity to work at your own pace. Some have a residency requirement for a portion of the coursework, but many do not. Generally, credits earned from prior university or community college education will be applicable toward the credits needed for someone to earn their degree online. Many students prefer to receive all course materials online, but many also prefer the more traditional textbook method, so you will want to make sure that the programs you are considering offer the option that best suits your study preferences.
The number of educational institutions offering criminal justice degrees online is growing as fast as the field itself. The University of Phoenix has a well established online department and is one of the best advertised programs. Capella University is another online school that offers a criminal justice program. Many other schools better known for their physical campuses are also offering online criminal justice programs, such as Boston University and Walden University. The list is impressive.
A brief search on the internet will allow a person with interest to compare the costs, features, and coursework requirements of a number of schools. For the most part, location will not be an issue, which can greatly increase the options. If you are interested in the field and the array of opportunity it offers, there is really no longer any reason not to pursue a criminal justice degree online.

Forensic School

The forensic school system at West Virginia University (frequently shorted to WVU) is often regarded as one of the most robust and comprehensive forensic school programs in the United States. In addition to the various departments at WVU which include a college of law, school of medicine, school of pharmacy, school of journalism and many others the forensic school program stands out as perhaps the most unique and least well known of the many accredited departments.

The lack of public awareness about the forensic school is surprising given the high profile nature of the partner that helped bring the program to the West Virginia University campus. A partnership between WVU and the FBI formed what became an accredited curriculum by the highly respected American Academy of Forensic Sciences. What is particularly special about the structure of the West Virginia University offering is that there is a great deal of breadth and depth with regards to the specific fields of study.

When most people think about the term forensic science their minds conjure up potentially misleading images of visuals they have seen in television shows like CSI or Dexter and in the movies. In actuality the term forensics as it is commonly used refers to a wide spectrum of applications with regards to implementing scientific scrutiny in a manner that advances the understanding of legal implications as they relate to better understanding details of alleged crimes. Trivia buffs will be interested to learn that the etymology behind the word forensics derives from the Latin "forensis" which means "before the forum." Essentially the Latin correlation relates to authenticating evidence surrounding an event before taking that information to the forum. In this context the Roman use of the word forum essentially means court or trial in modern English.

The West Virginia University forensic school options provide a great deal more than merely bloodstain analysis and toxicology report classes (although those courses are offered). The WVU offerings are as follows:

o Computer forensics (digital storage - also referred to as digital forensics)

o Toxicology forensics (chemicals, i.e. poisons)

o Odontology forensics (dentistry)

o Bloodstain analysis (spatter patterns)

o Textile forensics (cloth and clothing)

o Criminology (sociological behavior study)

o Forensic accounting (auditing and scrubbing number for court proceedings)

o Dactylography (fingerprint analysis)

o Forensic entomology (insect study as it relates to bugs decomposing flesh)

Through specially designed laboratories and staged crime scene locations students at WVU get the closest thing to real world experience available. Lab work is complimented with classroom learning which is primarily held in the Ming Hsieh Hall building on campus. Prospective students interested in majoring in any of the previously described fields are encouraged to contact the University of West Virginia and ask for additional information pertaining to their forensic school.

Forensic Science Degrees

Through forensic science, many crimes that were considered unsolvable fifty years ago are finally getting their justice. From the smallest scrap of evidence, full accounts of the crime can be deduced, and the right people can be held accountable.

In recent years, advancements in technology, such as DNA profiling, have made crime solving faster and more accurate. Forensics produces scientifically proven and supported pieces of evidences that are legally binding in court.

The career of a forensics expert is segmented into three basic progressions. An expert may begin as a laboratory analyst, analyzing evidence gathered from the crime scene and preparing comprehensive reports of the findings. He may progress into a forensic scientist who identifies and gathers evidences at the crime scenes. He may process the evidences himself or pass them on to the laboratory analysts. The forensics expert is the one who, with the aid of years of experience, technical expertise and scientific knowledge, puts the pieces of evidence and analyses together to arrive at conclusions. A forensic scientist may become a reporting officer, responsible for appearing in courts, before judges and juries to present evidence and defend the findings in cross-examinations.

Students who take up forensics science take such courses as criminalistics, forensic entomology, forensic engineering, forensic toxicology, forensic psychology and psychiatry, and forensic accounting. These various fields touch on a wide spectrum of knowledge and expertise - from studying fingerprints, saliva, and other DNA evidence to identify people, to studying the effects of chemicals and toxins; from investigating machine wear and tear and durability and integrity of materials, to analyzing behavior, thought patterns, and handwriting to arrive at conclusions.

Those interested in the field of forensic science are advised to take up various courses related to the sciences before taking up the study of forensics. A solid background on the sciences will prepare the students to comprehend and better appreciate the world of forensic science.

Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology was bought into existence by William Stern in around 1901who himself was one of the greatest Psychologist. Hugo Musterberg is regarded as the first forensic psychologist. However, psychology was first applied to law enforcement in 1961 by Lewis Terman. The demand for forensic psychologist has increased rapidly over the past and currently around 2.000 psychologists are working for the American Psychology - Law society.

If you have developed a interest in forensic psychology then you are required to take psychology and criminal justice at the core of your academic studies. As there are not many universities which are offering forensic psychology degree therefore you can also go for a social, criminal investigation, development psychology and clinical degree. These will also help you get prepared to pursue a career or specialize in forensic psychology. You might as well go for some top accredited online universities as they might be offering online degree in forensic psychology.

Forensic psychology is further divided into:

o Development

o Cognitive

o Clinical forensic psychology

o Criminal investigation

As a criminal psychologist your work will be to bring together and relate psychology to criminal justice. Usually people get confused between forensic psychology and forensic science. They might sound similar but are quite different.

Being a forensic psychologist you will be required to immerse your self in the case. Studying the pattern or reasons behind it and applying psychological laws to figure out the cause behind that crime. Some frequent cases that you might come across with being a forensic psychologist will be:

o Was he forced to do so?

o Is he mentally ill??

o Was the crime performed because of excess of alcohol?

Some time people commit crime without having the intention to do so. A forensic psychologist studies the various aspects behind it. People commit crimes out of fear or they could be mentally ill. In that case they might not be referred at guilty.

You can work with the police or help selecting the jury. The job of a forensic psychologist revolves around a lot. You will always have something good and different to try your hands at.

The career of a forensic psychologist has many benefits. You have many subfields options through out your life as well as your environment keeps changing with the people you work with for instance you can be working in a prison or the juvenile offenders. For some people Self esteem or job satisfaction are the most important things therefore when you help someone it is very satisfying. You will be in one way or another very beneficial to the society.

Although a career in Forensic Science has many attractions but it has its bad side as well which you should consider before taking it up as a career.

You will be required to study through out your career. The education will be in form of conferences or seminar which you are bound to attend. It is a very stressful job and often you are not paid much in compare to the hard work you do or the time your serve. Plus there is always a risk involve as you might end up working with the police as a forensic psychologist and will get to deal it violent culprits. As every profession has it pros and cons so does this one. Though if you think you capable of getting along with all these drawbacks then it is advisable that you do pursue your career in Forensic psychology.

The career opportunities are very bright in this field as the need of forensic psychologist will never fade away. You should be hardworking and have the potential to allocate your self to your job if you are willing to practice as a psychologist. As your job is going to be very stressing and exhausting. Despite the fact that you will not get the compensation of devoting your energy and time in your work in form of money but you will get the pleasure of making an immense difference in an individual's life. Eventually with the passage of time you might even make the society a better place to live which itself is a big achievement.

Chromatography - A Powerful Tool For Forensics

The forensic uses of chromatography are varied and commonplace. With the popularity of forensic-based shows like CSI (can you believe CSI: Vegas is losing Grissom), many layman have at least a superficial understanding of forensics. Chromatography, defined as "a physical separation method in which the components of a mixture are separated by differences in their distribution between two phases, one of which is stationary (stationary phase) while the other (mobile phase) moves through it in a definite direction", is a mainstay of forensic procedures and tests.

The Russian botanist Mikhail Semyonovich Tsvet (1872-1919) is often credited with pioneering chromatography. He was born in Asti in Italy and attended the prestigious University of Geneva, where graduated with a B.S. degree from the Department of Physics and Mathematics. In 1903, while experimenting with an assortment of chemical compounds, he noticed the various compounds registered as distinctive colors under a UV lamp. Tsvet's work was initially passed by, due in large part to the fact that he only published his work in Russian, but benefited from a resurgence of interest in the 1930s.

Presently, there is a variety of chromatographic processes available. These include gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, and affinity chromatography. What this process allows, among various other benefits, is the precise separation of complex chemical mixtures using a color-coded matrix. The identification of chemicals by means of a color code has made chromatography very popular, especially at potentially messy forensic crime scenes.

Usually, the application of chromatography in a laboratory setting involves passing a mixture through a series of phases. The mixture passes from a mobile phase, through a stationary phase, and results in the isolation of the desired molecule or compound. This method can either be preparative or analytical, wherein preparative chromatography isolates compound for further study and analytical is concerned with measuring relative proportions.

An Overview of Computer Forensics Courses

Computer Forensics is a rapidly expanding field that focuses on using emerging technology to recover digital data. As an emerging career field, there is a wide variety of formal education and certifications provided by colleges, universities and technical schools which cover all sorts of computer forensics training. In general, the programs offered are computer forensics certificates, degree programs as well as related skill enhancement training programs. All these particular courses can be obtained through both online and offline.

First of all, let's look at the formal academic qualification offered. Most bachelor's degree programs focus on software engineering and computer science. These programs are leading you to become a computer forensics specialist or expert. For those existing specialists, they can further their study by pursuing master degree programs in both the computer security and law enforcement fields. The programs offered focus more on the technical tools for fraud analysis and data recovery.

On the other hand, there are many related certifications available in the market. These certifications are based upon passing an exam rather than attending any specific set of courses. Currently, among all the certifications, the most common certifications are Certified Computer Examiner (CCE) and Certified Forensics Analyst (GCFA). However, Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) is the most recognized in the job market. All these credentials may help in obtaining a career advancement in this unique field.

Besides formal education and certifications, there are also some hands-on training programs provided in the market. By participating in these training programs, you are able to learn how to create effective computer crime policy and how to utilize computer forensics tools and manual techniques through hands-on practice. The training programs are important in enhancing and sharpening your skills with latest technology.

The demand for computer forensics in the job market is high. If you have a strong interest and skills in ICT and criminal justice, you can be one of the ideal candidates for this special career.

What is the Education Requirements for a Forensic Anthropologist?

You have seen them on your favorite Bones or CSI TV show. They are the crime scene investigators who study bones derived from a crime scene. They are the forensic anthropologists. Have you ever wondered what a forensic anthropologist does and what the educational requirements are to become one?

If you have a knack for the biological sciences, anthropology, archaeology, and history, then the field of forensic anthropology may be the career choice for you. Your job description requires that you help the medical examiner or coroner with the collection and identification of human remains. You must know how to determine biological profiles such as age, sex, race, height, etc. of skeletal remains. You must determine the cause of trauma to the skeleton. You may have to visit the burial site, help dig it up, and scrutinize soft tissue or skeletal remains with the intent of identifying the dead person and helping to ascertain the approximate time and cause of death.

It takes a great deal of education to prepare to become a forensic anthropologist. You need a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, or anthropology, and a graduate-level degree in anthropology or human biology. Then you need a PhD and a minimum of three years of experience in forensic anthropology before applying to the board to become board certified.

It is possible to work in this particular field with fewer educational requirements. However, many forensic laboratory employers will favor your application if you have a doctoral level degree. Upon getting a job as a forensic anthropologist, you will be working at universities and operate as a consultant to medical examiners and the courts.

Experts such as forensic anthropologists use their varied educational background to help solve a crime. Their efforts help bring an offender to justice and bring closure to the families of the victims.

Who Else Wants to Study a Forensic Nursing Online Degree? Discover Your Options

Nursing careers can take many forms. Some nursing careers center on health care and holistic medicine, while others center on finding out what caused a death and working in the office of a medical examiner. Studying a forensic nursing online degree would heighten your chances of working in such a capacity.

Curious to Know More?
If you are of a curious mind and enjoy mysteries, you may like the work that takes place in the offices of the medical or forensic examiner. Forensic nursing online degree studies can see you conducting forensic or medical-legal investigatory work on cases which come in to the medical examination offices. Your degree from a forensic medical nursing program will see you well prepared for a career in the medical examiners offices when you get forensic nursing online degree programs from accredited online universities.

When you study nursing with a specialty in forensics you're going to get the right kind of skills and knowledge that you need to work in the medical offices of your local area.

A Wide Knowledge Base Required

Forensic nursing is partly medicine and health care and partly investigatory tactics. You must study not only health care but also some legal aspects and your career training for forensic nursing will see you helping to examine the patients and to determine their exact cause of death.

Typically for a career in forensic nursing you will need your ADN or RN degree and you may want to have a BSN as well. Over two years ago there were more than 700 online universities which offered online degrees in nursing and about 30 which offered specialty paths such as forensic nursing.

Moving from your LPN to RN or your ADN to BSN using an online degree is the best way to accomplish a career change while still being part of the work world.

Learning more about forensics while you study your RN program means that you will be well prepared to offer treatment and to advocate the victims as well as to help investigations in criminal matters.

Unique Career Opportunity

A career in forensic nursing can be rewarding, interesting, and one of the most altruistic ways to use your nursing skills is to help others. For example, determining the causative factor of the death of a loved one may be the way in which you can help them to gain closure in their family loss.

Forensic nursing online degrees are available for those who are an ADN or higher graduate, but if you have not yet attained that status, you are eligible to seek out forensic training as you move from your LPN to your ADN in your online university.

If investigations and procedures, and/or puzzles and mysteries intrigue you, you will want to consider what a career in forensic nursing might hold for you. The positive impact that you could have on the medical field by the study of forensic medicine and the great mobility that your career could gain by your additional studies may be exactly what you're looking for.

What Can I Do With a Degree in Forensic Science?

Should I become a Forensic Scientist?

Thinking of forensic science careers? Are you:

o Detail oriented
o Good with putting pieces of a puzzle together
o Curios
o Analytical

Is so, a career as a forensic scientist may be perfect for you. Forensic science careers focus on the use of science for the purposes of law. Forensic scientists study crimes, crime scenes and make connections to explain crime. They provide information to investigators, attorneys, judges, and juries with the overarching goal of determining innocents or guilt.

It takes teamwork to solve a crime and thus forensic scientists work together with police officers, sheriff's deputies, attorneys, DEA, CIA and FBI agents as well as crime scene investigators.

Some forensic scientists work in laboratories, others directly on crime scenes while some teach in colleges and universities. They work for federal, state and local government, medical examiners offices, hospitals, police departments or independent forensic science consultants.

Forensic Science Specializations

There are a number of disciplines within forensic science. Depending on your area of interests, you will be able to chose from a number of exciting careers. For example, criminalists analyze, compare, identify and interpret physical evidence. They examine physical evidence such as hair, fibers, blood, seminal and body fluid stains, drugs, foot prints and bullet marks. They are trained to separate important evidence from irrelevant or those of little value.

Another specialization in forensic science is forensic engineering. Forensic engineers apply the science of engineering to law, civil as well as criminal matters. They take part of accident reconstruction, causes and origins of fires and explosions, design review as well as evaluation of quality of construction or manufacturing.

Odontology, or forensic dentistry, is yet another exciting specialization within this field. This career path involves the application of dental science to physical and biological dental evidence. Odontologists participate in autopsy examinations, conducting dental examinations that use both physical and biological evidence. This specialization is critical in identifying missing persons, identifying victims of major catastrophes or accidents as well as solving cases of assault, rape or homicide.

Out of all the forensic science careers, forensic pathology is probably the most widely publicized and depicted in television shows and movies. While pathology is the study of disease, forensic pathology is the application of the principles of pathology to legal issues.

Forensic pathologists spend their days investigating and examining the cause of deaths due to homicide, suicide or sudden deaths. All forensic pathologists are medical doctors. In addition to medical training, an apprenticeship in pathology is required. Since forensic pathology is a subspecialty of pathology an additional year of training is required focused specifically on forensic pathology. Forensic pathologists work in city, county or state medical examiners offices, hospitals, state and federal government agencies.

Finally, forensic psychologists and psychiatrists deal with a wide range of legal issues, either criminal or civil. In criminal trails they evaluate competency and if a person is fit to stand trial or testify. Juvenile delinquency, child custody, domestic abuse, adoption and foster care are just some of the family issues frequently dealt by forensic psychologists and psychiatrists. Providing expert testimony as well as advising judges and lawyers are common tasks of this career path.

Additional specializations within forensic science careers include physical anthropology, questioned documents and toxicology. As you can see, the number of career paths within the field of forensic science is quite impressive. Given the scope of work and the required training and education for most career paths, the number of jobs to choose from is encouraging. If any of the topics listed above have intrigued you, consider investigating some forensic science degree programs to determine if you should pursue this career path further.

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How Forensic Laboratory Information Management Systems Work

The Justice system has made several advances in the technology of forensics. Forensics, or the science of discovery of the facts of criminal cases, has been a staple of criminal investigators for decades. The use of specialized equipment and personnel trained for this specific discipline is necessary for developing the facts in truth for a criminal case. Tracking the information acquired for this requires specialized informational and database handling. Laboratory Information Management Systems allow for the cataloguing, tagging, and sorting of the information brought forth by the forensic investigating team.

Laboratory information management systems, or LIMS, are an essential part of forensic medicine and forensic scientific study. Maintaining control of specific investigative details securely is part of this discipline, and needed in a court of law. During a criminal investigation, the flow of discovery material can be overwhelming, from field analysis to laboratory scrutiny of police confiscated materials. Providing a database of the results of these investigative principles is needed for the compiling of a set of facts being used in the court system.

LIMS comes in a variety of formats and brands, but the fundamental usage of this in forensic investigation is for the maintaining of the information acquired. Currently, the framework being used for the more common LIMS is based on the.NET framework. This software execution framework is specifically designed to run Microsoft product lines and applications. It is a stable platform for database management systems, so is favored for software involving LIMS.

There are important factors when determining the best LIMS for a particular forensic laboratory. A great LIMS does not govern the laboratory that it is installed in; rather it should greatly aid in the organization and maintenance of data and methodologies as well as reinforce policy issues. The LIMS should be an integral part of the entire laboratory information system, and used as a watchdog for all the data streaming into the database, as well as making sure the intricate processes and policies are being followed discernibly.

Criminal cases are having more and more revealing evidence coming forward due to forensics and the investigative team. Most of this information will be used in a court of law, and can determine the outcome of a particular case. Having confidence in the LIMS product to maintain this information and present it in an easily understood format is so essential that most investigative bodies would be lost without it.

LIMS products should also have compatibility issues solved for all types of hardware and software used in the forensic investigations. The product Interfaces with chemistry, hematology, and microbiological systems, as well as microscopic imagery hardware should be seamless and without data corruption. A case could easily be dismissed if there is any doubt of the reliability of the forensic investigative teams' performance.

A reliable forensic LIMS product should also have a support system that is unrivaled. A good system should have support personnel that are trained in the forensic methodologies so they have knowledge to better aid their customers. Any type of discrepancy that may come up during the software or equipment connected to the operating system should be easily and helpfully handled by the support personnel.

LIMS are in the forefront of forensic database maintenance and revelation management. Without this vital system integrated within a forensic laboratory, reliable systems and data management would become corrupted and useless for court findings.

Forensic Science For Insect Lovers

Students pursuing a forensic science degree will need to be equipped with some knowledge in entomology. It is possible to be full majors of entomology specialists resulting in their being forensic entomologists. Entomology is the study of insects and is a branch of zoology. Students aiming to specialize in entomology will need to be equipped of the knowledge of the myths involved with the subject.

One myth you may encounter in the course of a forensic science degree is that forensic entomologists are able to make an accurate estimate of a person's time of death. As a matter of fact, it is the medical pathologists that do time of death estimates and not the forensic entomologist. All forensic entomologists can do is make a very precise estimate of postmortem time. This is because forensic entomologists have a concrete knowledge of the growth and lifespan of insects.

For the development of these specific species of insects, many variables affect its rate of growth. Under optimum conditions, growth rate of insects are very fast. Students and professional forensic entomologists create a baseline for insects development time in order for them to be able to estimate how long a dead body has been deceased. For instance, a colony of insects that have grown upon a corpse and was able to reproduce would give a specific time span.

Specifically, insects that feed on human tissue only feed on dead human tissue. For example, the Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis or the flesh fly prefers the indoors and grows as it feeds. It also has the capacity to give live birth, which has generated theories on the spontaneous generation of life.

Enodia port-landia butterflies also known as the Southern Pearly Eye which are plentiful in the South East United States are commonly found at human death situations because they feed on body fluids which are abundant in sugar. Wasps and bees are also important as their existence in a crime scene indicate many clues to the forensic entomologist.

Insects are now used to determine levels of toxicity due to drug use when no other source is present. When there is no blood, tissue or urine, insects are used to detect the presence of narcotics or other drugs. Students of a forensic science degree specializing in entomology need to be equipped with enough knowledge of toxicology for cases involving drug use. Certain fly larvae do not grow as fast as a result of a certain type of narcotics.

Future forensic science degree holders as well as Forensic entomologists are also consultants for major beverage or food corporations. In cases regarding contamination of products with insects, forensic entomologist are the ones who state the degree of contamination and if it occurred after the customer purchased the product or while the product was being created in the plant. A forensic scientist is also called in to court cases regarding emotional trauma caused by such structural or business related bug infestations such as bed bugs in hotels, which feed on animals as well as human blood.

Forensic Science History

The "Eureka" legend of Archimedes (287-212 BC) can be considered an early account of the use of forensic science. In this case, by examining the principles of water displacement, Archimedes was able to prove that a certain crown was not made of gold, as it was being fraudulently claimed, by its density and buoyancy. The earliest account of using fingerprints to establish identity was during the 7th century AD. According to Soleiman, an Arabic merchant, a debtor's fingerprints were affixed to a bill, which would then be given to the lender. This bill was henceforth, legally recognized as a proof of the validity of the debt.

The first written account of using medicine and entomology to solve criminal cases is attributed to the book Xi Yuan Ji Lu, translated as "Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified", written in 1248 China by Song Ci (1186-1249). In one of the accounts, the case of a person murdered with a sickle was solved by a death investigator who instructed everyone to bring their sickles to one location. Flies, attracted by the smell of blood, eventually gathered only on a certain sickle. In the light of this, the murderer eventually confessed. The book also offered advice on how to distinguish between a drowning (water in the lungs) and strangulation (broken neck cartilage).

In sixteenth century Europe, medical practitioners in the army and university settings began to gather information on the cause and manner of death. Ambrose Paré, a French army surgeon, systematically studied the effects of violent death on internal organs. Two Italian surgeons, Fortunato Fidelis and Paolo Zacchia, laid the foundation of modern pathology by studying the changes that occurred in the structure of the body as a result of diseases. In the late 1700s, various writings on these topics began to appear. These included - "A Treatise on Forensic Medicine and Public Health" by the French physician Fodéré, and "The Complete System of Police Medicine" by the German medical expert Johann Peter Franck.

In 1775, a Swedish chemist by the name of Carl Wilhelm Scheele devised a way of detecting arsenous oxide, simple arsenic, in corpses, but only in large quantities. This investigation was expanded, in 1806, by a German chemist Valentin Ross, who learnt to detect the poison in the walls of a victim's stomach, and by English chemist James Marsh, who used chemical processes to confirm arsenic as the cause of death in an 1836 murder trial.

Two early examples of English forensic science in individual legal proceedings demonstrated the increased use of logic and procedure in criminal investigations. In 1784, in Lancaster, England, a person called John Toms, was tried and convicted for murdering Edward Culshaw with a pistol. When the dead body of Culshaw was examined, a pistol wad, basically crushed paper used to secure powder and balls in the muzzle, which was found in his head wound, matched perfectly with a torn newspaper found in Toms' pocket. In 1816, in Warwick, England, a farm laborer was tried and convicted for the murder of a young maidservant. She had been found drowned in a shallow pool and bore the marks of violent assault on her body. The police, upon investigating, found footprints and an impression from corduroy cloth with a sewn patch in the damp earth near the pool. They also found scattered grains of wheat and chaff from the scene of crime. The breeches of a farm laborer, who had been threshing wheat nearby, were examined and later corresponded exactly to the impression in the earth near the pool.

Less Common Aspects of the Forensic Work

In previous articles we explored some of the most commonly known areas in which forensic experts carry out their daily duties. Among these, we mentioned forensic anthropology, forensic pathology, forensic dentistry, forensic nursing and forensic chemistry or toxicology. Forensic Science, however, is a very broad field of study and involve many other disciplines that on a daily basis contribute to solve crimes. Let us now take a brief survey of other, less known aspects of Forensic Science.

Forensic Entomology: Even though mostly disregarded (at best), insects can result highly informative and even critical for certain forensic investigations. Many insects develop through a complex series of stages from egg to adult, but most important is that these life cycles are highly consistent, the different stages occur always in the same way and take the same time to complete. Knowing this, an entomologist (someone who is expert in insect biology) can make a number of useful observations and establish conclusions based on the insect larvae and adults that are present in a corpse. Insect evidence can provide estimations of the time passed since death. It is also possible to determine how long a body has been dead or whether or not a body has been moved after death.

Forensic Botany: Plants or certain vegetal matter can often be very informative about the decaying process of human bodies and their surroundings. Botanists can analyze seeds, pods, roots, leaves, stems, and more to determine when and where a body died, if a body was moved after death. Under certain conditions they can also establish estimates of time since death and location of death estimations based on plant evidence.

Forensic Photography: Although it has changed a lot since the golden age of police TV serials and movies, photography is still a crucial component of forensic work. A forensic photographer must carry out meticulous and comprehensive visual documentation of death scenes, crime scenes and accident scenes. This include the general scenario but also many details that are often disregarded at first glance but can result very important at later stages of the investigation. The intuition of the photographer is very important in this case. Forensic photography makes use of special equipment and techniques such as macrophotography when it is necessary to record images of small evidentiary materials such as bullets or other projectiles, blood spatter, or any sort of close-ups of evidence at death scenes. These professional exhibit profound knowledge and skill in general photography, film developing, digital photography, videography, digital imaging and other, more focused techniques.

Homicide Detective, Crime Scene Investigator. This is a less defined but important part of the forensic work. These workers are usually in charge of organizing the investigation of death scenes and performing collection of evidence associated with death(s). They also conduct or supervise further stages such as processing of evidence and all the administrative work associated with investigating deaths and crimes. In some institutions or departments, these positions are occupied by sworn officers that have received the appropriate training to supervise the scientific aspects of resolving a criminal case and can be under the jurisdiction of a senior officer or an attorney.

Online Computer Forensic Course

Tech savvy and tech savvy wannabes alike can now learn more and more even at the comforts of their homes and couches. Those who already have a bachelor's degree in computer or Information Technology related courses can further expand their expertise with an ease through a higher computer course online. Similarly, non-IT professionals or career people who are in need of basic or advance IT training constrained by distance or busy schedule can opt for the online education option.

Working in an IT-based or IT-intertwined company means continuous upgrading, learning, and exposure to the latest trends and knowledge on computer technology and all its related facets. In the IT world, innovation, competency, and modernity are essential for survival and longevity. With the advent of more sophisticated internet, expanding skills and competencies in information technology has become easier and more constraints-sensitive. An online computer course is now just clicks of a computer away.

For those who have just stepped inside the world of information technology, a number of beginner's courses are available. Starters usually have to begin learning various computer programs and applications. Many software and computer companies, like Linux, are now offering online computer training and programming courses. For *Microsoft applications*, training courses on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, MS Project, MS Office 97, MS Office 2000, Windows operating systems basic, and Windows NT Workstation are mostly taken up by beginners. MAC OS9 and MAC troubleshooting training courses are the ones mostly sought by MAC starters. These online training courses mostly come in packages priced based on extensiveness and promotions campaign by the manufacturers.

Web design, web development, web management, web graphics and animation training, HTML courses, and many others are available for people already equipped with basic computer applications training. For more advanced IT enthusiasts, online training and full blown computer courses are also abundant. There are online courses on telecommunications, technology and security, search engine positioning, wireless technology, networking, systems design, and systems management.

In a more complex note, there is already an online course on computer forensics. The High-Tech Crime Network now has an online training center providing computer forensic training. The training program is especially intended and designed for professionals in the field of network administration, IS and MIS specialization, auditing, investigation, and fraud examinations. The program trains them in handling computer sources that potentially contain pieces of evidence and pertinent data pertinent to the cases they are handling.

The computer forensic training course trains a forensic person in recovering, retrieving, and analyzing data from disk operating systems, Windows operating system (with concentration on Windows 9.x), and even from NTFS structures used by Windows NT, 2000, and XP operating systems. Data gathered from these sources are then studied for their potential use in legal investigations or even court hearings and other investigative proceedings.

The program is very time-flexible, giving its students enough time to fully comprehend the principles and procedures of modern forensics method. It is also lenient in terms of workshops and practical applications, allowing the trainer and trainee to have more time in digesting the data at hand. The program allows the students to proceed to the next level of training in the time most convenient for their schedules.

The program employs advance methodologies in forensic investigation like recovery of pieces of evidence from a magnetic source and transforming these raw data into accurate translations. This is followed by practical exercises on data presentation and analysis. These exercises are aimed at training the students in conducting sterile examination on various media, creation of forensic boot storage devices, replication of various media into forensic forms, and recovery of erased, altered, hidden, and even lost data. The exercises prepare a student to learn unlocking passwords, formatting data, accessing mail, and other private web-based information storage media, collating internet related files and cookies.

For about four months or so, a student in this program will be able to formulate sound analysis on technology-based pieces of evidence. Graduates of this program are expected to aid in more expedient and accurate investigations of hard-to-solve frauds and felonies. This program boasts of a partnership with Kennesaw State University.

Top Ten Leading Forensic Science Schools

Becoming a crime scene investigator is a very prestigious job. Many aspire to witness a crime scene investigation because they all think it's a very cool job. But before you become an expert on forensic science, you need to have proper education which is dedicated to this field of study. And to have an idea on where you should enroll yourself and be assured of landing a very stable forensic science career, the list below shows the leading forensic science schools.

The following institutions will teach you what DNA testing is all about and how it is being conducted. Anything that you need to know about forensic science will be taught to you in the following schools, namely:

    * University of Mississippi
    * University of Central Florida
    * Loyola University, New Orleans
    * Michigan State University
    * Arkansas State
    * Baylor University, Texas
    * Oregon State University
    * University of Central Oklahoma
    * Ohio University
    * Colombia College, Missouri

With the choices given above about the leading forensic schools, it doesn't necessarily follow that the other schools are no good. There are schools that offer this field of study although in the most generalized curriculum. For those schools that offer preparatory study on forensic science, you can still avail of that and enroll at a school that specializes in this field later. That is to widen your knowledge.

Although there are those who hire employees based on where he had studied, there also those who doesn't really care as long as you know your job and you are qualified to do what you are required to do. Be it a school that is within your financial means or one of the expensive leading schools in the country.