Careers by Major - Forensic Science

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Careers for graduates

There are many different career options available for Forensic Science graduates. The discipline is broad and involves a number of specialities that can be distinct from each other. These specialities vary from those that are technical, to the more administrative/managerial types, to the creative. Examples of these specialities include (but are not exclusive to):

  • Criminalistics
  • Engineering Sciences
  • Jurisprudence
  • Odontology
  • Pathology/Biology
  • Physical Anthropology
  • Psychiatry & Behavioral Science
  • Document Authencity
  • Toxicology

Note: This is not an exhaustive list as there are many other careers available. Many positions require additional education or experience.

Sample Occupational Titles (not an exhaustive list):

  • Criminologist*
  • Coroner*
  • Forensics Specialist*
  • Home Economist*
  • Scientist*
  • Food Scientist*
  • Operations Research Analyst*
  • Detective*
  • Forensics Engineer
  • Administrator
  • Accountant
  • Archaeologist*
  • Artist/sculptor* (including facial reconstruction)
  • Aviation accident investigator
  • Ballistics analyst (ammunition performance and wound interpretation)
  • Chemist*
  • Computer-related crime investigator
  • Computer specialist
  • Forensic consultant
  • Crime scene investigator
  • Medico-legal investigator
  • Educator (potentially all forensic areas)
  • Image enhancement specialist
  • Marine biologist*
  • Nurse examiner
  • Photographer*
  • Polygraph examiner
  • Radiologist*
  • Researcher
  • Rehabilitation specialist*
  • Social Worker*
  • Technical Writer*
  • Speech scientist (voice identification, enhancement of recordings, validation and authentication of transcripts and/or recordings)

Note: career profiles for many of the above jobs are available in the Career Centre. Those marked with an asterisk(*) can be viewed using Career Cruising, a Cdn. electronic career guide available in the Centre

Who employs forensic science graduates?

  • Federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal government
  • Forensic laboratories
  • Medical examiners offices
  • Hospitals
  • Universities
  • Toxicology Laboratories
  • Police departments
  • Medical examiner/coroner offices, Independent forensic science consultants
  • Insurance companies

Skills developed by forensic science majors

Technical:

  • make and record accurate measurements
  • make observations, draw diagrams and take photographs
  • application of scientific method and design of experiments
  • crime scene investigation
  • ability to collect evidence
  • fundamental laboratory techniques
  • knowledge of all sciences involved in forensics; including: chemistry, toxology, serology, physical science, anatomy, dental science, psychiatry, and others
  • analyze and present data
  • use graphs and present data in tables
  • knowledge of descriptive statistics
  • select and use statistical tests
  • computer proficiency and knowledge of applicable software
  • examine, test, and analyze samples

Communication:

  • written and oral communications skills including report writing, verbal testimony and oral presentations
  • writing essays, literature surveys, reviews, and other written work
  • ability to report on practical and project work
  • knowledge and familiarity of the general aspects of scientific writing
  • understanding of cultural diversity as it relates to investigations
  • translate complex scientific evidence for specific audiences

Organizational:

  • taking notes
  • casework, teamwork, understanding legal issues related to evidence

Problem-Solving Skills:

  • use logic and reasoning to identify alternative solutions
  • evaluate information
  • interpret lab findings and test results

Research Skills:

  • accurately collect and scientifically evaluate data
  • record results of data collection and draw logical conclusions based on the evidence obtained
  • communicate results of investigative work through proper channels based on the conclusions drawn

Don't forget about U of T Mississauga alumni!

Check out our Alumni Profiles page, to read profiles of UTM alumni who have studied in this area, find out about their career path and how their experiences have affected their career direction.

How to get experience

Start early by seeking relevant summer, part-time and volunteer opportunities that will help you gain experience and develop the skills that employers want. Below is a sample of the types of temporary positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre. To access the summer, part-time, temporary and volunteer postings, register with the Career Centre Online.

Summer Positions

To assist you develop the skills you need for Forensics related careers, look for summer jobs that help you develop the key skill of the area of forensics that interest you. For example, if you are interested in working in Forensics labs, positions such as these samples listed with the Career Centre Online may be of interest:

  • Forensic Chemistry Student Technologist, Centre of Forensic Sciences
  • Transmissions Electron Microscopy Technician, U of T, Department of Cell and Systems Biology
  • Junior Lab Technician, University Health Network
  • Botanist, Ecologist, Biologists, Ontario Ministry of Health

If your interests are related to other areas, the following examples listed with the Career Centre Online may be of interest:

  • Protective Services Officer, CN Tower
  • Summer Student, Compliance, TD Bank Financial Group
  • Assistant Probation Officer, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
  • Patent Searcher, I.M. Hughes

You may find related summer opportunities with the federal and provincial governments:

Professors may also hire summer assistance for their lab; talk to your professors early in second term to see whether there may be paid or unpaid opportunities. Private sector companies may also hire for the summer; check Career Centre Online for available positions. Also see the Accessing Forensics Related Opportunities section of this document for some helpful websites.

Work-Study

The following are some sample Work Study positions available at the University; the Work-Study program is for those students receiving OSAP who want to gain career-related experience and have further financial need. For more information, please check the Career Centre website.

  • Herbarium Assistant, UTM Department of Biology
  • Fruit Fly Lab Assistant, U of T Cell and Systems Biology
  • Laboratory Assistant, UTM Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences
  • Undergraduate Research Assistant, UTM Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences
  • Research Assistant, UTM Department of Biology
  • Bioinformatics/Genome Research, UTM Zoology
  • Insect Lab Research Assistant, U of T Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Recycling Coordinator, UTM Environmental Affairs Office
  • M. Biotech Assistant, UTM Master of Biotechnology Program
  • Animal Lab Assistant, UTM
  • Scientific Illustrator/Preparator, UTM Zoology
  • Environmental Chemistry Lab Technician, U of T Department of Chemistry
  • IsoTrace Lab Assistant, U of T Isotrace Laboratory

Volunteer Positions

Some sample volunteer positions listed with the Career Centre that relate to areas of forensics:

  • Volunteer, Erindale College Special Response Team (ECSpeRT)
  • Data Entry Clerk, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

In addition, participants at the Career Centre’s annual Get Experience Fair, may be of interest. Some past participants include the Distress Centre of Peel, Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre of Peel, Walk Safer program, and the Youth Assisting Youth program.

Field courses & internships

Field courses

Complete a credit and gain experience by taking a field course offered through the UTM Anthropology department (e.g., ANT 306H- Forensic Archaeology; ANT 318H- Archaeological Fieldwork). Field experience can further the development of your skills and it is a valuable experience which you can highlight on your resume. Click here for a description of these field courses.

For more information on Field Schools and Fieldwork Opportunities, click here.

Internship Course in Forensic Science - FSC481Y

This internship offers potential placements at forensic unites such as the Centre of Forensic Sciences, the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, as well as local, provincial, and national police and private agencies. Students may hold positions involving a research project or part-time work and will be teamed up with an expert in their field of interest. This is required for Forensics Specialists, although Forensics Majors might also be accepted into the course, space permitting. Interested students must get in touch with the Internship Support Office in November or December of the year before their placement to make the appropriate arrangements. For more information, please click here.

Accessing forensics-related opportunities

There are a number of other websites that may also be useful when looking for opportunities to gain experience in the field. Some organizations will have established internship programs, while others may or may not list specific opportunities. Students can use these websites to help gain information on advertised and potential opportunities.

For more information on other potential opportunities and how to access them, please consult the Career Centre package “Forensic Science: Finding Opportunities in Ontario, Canada and the U.S.,” available on our website.

Professional associations

Each industry has affiliated associations. There are many benefits of becoming a member of an association, such as stating your affiliation on your resume. In addition to your experiences and the completion of your university degree, a student membership in an association is one ay to get an edge in the job market. It also furthers your knowledge of a particular field.

American Academy of Forensic Sciences
“As a professional society dedicated to the application of science to the law, the AAFS is committed to the promotion of education and the elevation of accuracy, precision, and specificity in the forensic sciences.”

Associations Canada – accessible electronically through the UTLibrary system; go to Catalogue search, enter “Directory of Associations Canada” and through the Proquest system you can access this resource.

Canadian Identification Society
"The mission of the Canadian Identification Society is to provide a venue which brings together persons in the forensic professions, encourages research in their respective fields and provides a means of distributing their findings."

Canadian Society of Forensic Science
"The Canadian Society of Forensic Science (CSFS) is a non-profit professional organization incorporated to maintain professional standards, and to promote the study and enhance the stature of forensic science."

Centre of Forensic Sciences
"Ontario's Centre of Forensic Sciences is one of the most extensive forensic science facilities in North America. The central laboratory is located in Toronto, the Northern Regional Laboratory in Sault Ste. Marie. The two laboratories conduct scientific investigations in cases involving injury or death in unusual circumstances and in crimes against persons or property."

Forensic Sciences Foundation
"The Forensic Sciences Foundation, Inc., founded in 1969, is a nonprofit organization studying the application of science to the resolution of social and legal issues. In 1973, the Foundation became affiliated with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, a professional membership organization of forensic scientists. The Foundation is the educational, scientific, and research arm of the Academy. "

International Association for Identification
"The International Association for Identification is a professional membership organization comprised of individuals worldwide who work in the field of forensic identification. With over 6,500 members from 77 countries, the IAI remains the oldest and largest forensic science/identification association in the world."

International Association of Forensic Toxicologists
"TIAFT groups over 1400 members from all regions of the world who are actively engaged in analytical toxicology or allied areas with the aims of this association are to promote cooperation and coordination of efforts among members and to encourage research in forensic toxicology. TIAFT members come from the police force, medical examiners and coroners' laboratories, horseracing and sports doping laboratories, hospitals, departments of legal medicine, pharmacology, pharmacy and toxicology."

Royal Society of Medicine
"The Royal Society of Medicine is an independent, apolitical organisation, founded over 200 years ago. It is one of the largest providers of continuing medical education in the UK. It provides accredited courses for continuing professional development, which is so vital in allowing doctors, dentists, veterinary surgeons and other healthcare professionals their continuing freedom to practise."

Society of Forensic Toxicologists
"The Society of Forensic Toxicologists, Inc. is an organization composed of practicing forensic toxicologists and those interested in the discipline for the purpose of promoting and developing forensic toxicology. Through its annual meetings, the Society provides a forum for the exchange of information and ideas among toxicology professionals in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. SOFT sponsored programs such as workshops, newsletters, proficiency testing and SOFT sponsored technical publications constantly improve the forensic toxicologists' skills and knowledge. The Society fosters friendship and cooperation among toxicologists and advocates a high level of professionalism by sponsoring certification programs for its members."

Young Forensic Scientists Forum
"The Young Forensic Scientists Forum (YFSF) is a group within the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) that is dedicated to the education, enrichment and development of emerging forensic scientists and future leaders of the field. The participants of the YFSF are drawn from all sections and membership levels of the AAFS. The YFSF provides an avenue for new forensic scientists to interact with and become part of the established forensic science community. This is accomplished through meetings and educational sessions at the annual AAFS conference, a semi-annual newsletter, a mentorship program, informational databases and this website."

Career Centre resources

Panel Packages (available online and in the Career Resource Library):

  • Career Opportunities and Educational Pathways in Canadian Forensic Science (2002)
  • Forensic Science: Finding Opportunities in Ontario, Canada and the U.S.
  • Forensic-related Careers in Science, Business, and Technology
  • Careers in Crime, Law and Deviance

Books

  • Careers for Mystery Buffs, Camenson 1997
  • Opportunities in Forensic Science Careers, Camenson 2001

Online

  • Career Cruising, a Canadian electronic career guide available through your Career Centre job postings account

Binder

  • Career Information Binder: 211 - Forensic Science

The Career Centre Resource Library is located in DV 3094. For more information please visit us, call 905-828-5451 or e-mail: careers.utm@utoronto.ca

What's your next step? Take a look at our Sample Career Plan to see suggested steps that you can take towards developing your career-work search plan. Check our Events Calendar regularly for upcoming career related events (we offer several networking events and panels throughout the year). Watch for our Get Experience Fair (held annually in September), the Graduate and Professional School Fair (held annually in late September or early October), and the Summer Job Fair (held annually in January).