Careers for a Forensic Science Degree

Forensic Careers

The Forensic Science Program at Penn State strives to be an international leader in forensic science education, and produce graduates who will become future leaders in the field. We offer a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes a strong science foundation, ensuring our students will be well prepared for careers in forensic science, criminalistics, and other science-based professions.

Career Opportunities with a Forensic Science Degree

After graduation, our students can find work as criminalists in the crime lab, crime scene investigators, and general scientists in labs of all kinds. They can also go on to earn advanced degrees in forensics or another scientific field, or attend a professional school to prepare for a career as a doctor or lawyer. Potential career field include:

• Criminalistics/Investigative Science
• Controlled substances
• Biology/Serology
• DNA
• Fire Debris/Explosives
• Trace Evidence
• Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction
• Firearms/Ballistics
• Chemistry
• Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
• Toxicology
• Medicine/Medical Examiner/Pathology
• Criminology/Criminal Justice/Law/Legal Studies
• Law Enforcement

Students who are interested in a career in Forensic DNA should be aware that forensic DNA labs may require applicants meet the FBI DNA criteria: a degree in a natural science plus successful completion of four classes - statistics, genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Completion of Penn State's BS in Forensic Science with a concentration in Molecular Biology will meet these criteria.

Students who are interested in a career in Forensic Chemistry should be aware that forensic chemistry labs may require applicants meet the DEA Forensic Chemistry criteria: a four-year degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the physical sciences, life sciences or engineering including 30 semester hours of chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. Completion of Penn State's BS in Forensic Science with a concentration in Chemistry will meet these criteria.

Background Checks and Getting Hired

Students should be aware that a career in the forensic field is likely to mean a higher level of scrutiny than most other jobs when it comes to the hiring process. Careers in forensic science often require a lengthy background check that can be intensive and dive deeply into your criminal, financial, and personal history. Some may include a polygraph, depending on the policy of the hiring agency. Failure to successfully complete the background check or polygraph may cause you to be ineligible for employment in the forensic field or prevent you from being eligible for certain types of jobs.

A background check can take several months - sometimes years for federal-level work - to be completed, which can result in a gap on your resume from graduation to employment. Many of our students choose to take jobs in which they can utilize and improve their lab skills immediately after graduating while applying to and going through background checks for career-path jobs in forensic science. The charts and lists below can give you a better idea of the length of time it typically takes for our forensic students to find employment after graduating. The data used was taken from surveys sent approximately six months after graduation to alumni who graduated in Spring 2023, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024. 

What Careers Do Our Students Choose After Graduation?

Master of Forensic Science Students

Since 2007, our Master of Professional Studies in Forensic Science program has graduated 107 students, 76% of whom have gone on to careers in crime labs and non-forensic science labs around the world. 16% of our graduates have gone on to obtain additional degrees or now work in higher education. 1% have gone on to work in law enforcement or crime scene investigation. 1% have chosen work in another field, including law, medicine, secondary education, and non-forensic areas of criminal justice. 6% did not know what their post-graduation job would be at the time of the survey.

Bachelor of Forensic Science Students

Since 2007, our Bachelor of Science program has graduated 456 students, 42% of whom have gone on to careers in crime labs and non-forensic science labs around the world. 16% of our graduates have gone on to obtain additional degrees or now work in higher education. 3% have gone on to work in law enforcement or crime scene investigation. 5% have chosen work in another field, including law, medicine, secondary education, and non-forensic areas of criminal justice. 35% of students did not know what their post-graduation job would be at the time of the survey.

Investigate the Possibilities

Our students find employment in both the public and private sectors. Our graduates become forensic scientists, criminalists, lab technicians, research scientists, CSIs, law enforcement personnel, and more. Those who choose to continue their education are accepted into Masters and PhD programs at prestigious universities around the world.

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