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Criminology and Criminalistics Degree Review - Bachelor Degree Information

Published Dec 19, 2006

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A Bachelors degree in Criminology and Criminalistics will teach you the investigative skills you need to begin your career. With a Bachelors degree, graduates will have their choice of working in a variety of areas in law enforcement ranging from police laboratories to district attorney's offices and federal agencies.

Summary of the a Criminology and Criminalistics Degree Program

A Bachelors Degree program of Criminology and Criminalistics focuses on laboratory science. You will learn about laboratory procedures. Your focus will be in criminology and police science. Graduates will be expected to have acquired skills in evidence handling and storage. The most valuable skill you will learn is how to interpret the results of test so that the actual time a crime occurred can be identified. You may also be called on to be a support witness. A large part of being a Criminalist is to provide written reports and expert testimony to the legal system.

Specific Skills You Will Learn

In a Bachelors Degree program of Criminology and Criminalistics you will learn the application of clinical and criminal laboratory science. You will be a leader in using investigative techniques and will be able to reconstruct crimes through the analysis of physical evidence. As a criminalist you will sort, compare, and identify evidence. You will develop skills in scientific methods and prepare useful information for an investigation or trial.

Typical Coursework

Though coursework will vary depending on the college you choose, common areas of study in Bachelors degree programs include:

  • Toxicology
  • Crime Scene Investigation
  • Microscopy and Trace Program
  • Firearms and Impression Evidence Program

Career Related Information

Career Fields You Will Be Prepared to Enter

In your Criminology and Criminalistics degree program you will gain firsthand experience with the databases and forensic tools the US government uses every day. Graduates in the field of Criminology and Criminalistics will acquire specialties in various areas of law enforcement such as security, forensics, hand writing analysis and evidence handling.

Occupational Outlook For Criminology and Criminalistics Including Salary Information

According to swz.salary.com, the national annual median wage for a person graduating with a Bachelors in Criminology and Criminalistics varies from $35,000 to $50,000. Your salary will depend on the branch of the criminal justice system and the region in which you are employed. Criminology and Criminalistics careers are projected to be one of the fastest growing occupations in the law enforcement industry, says bls.gov.

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