Forensic science
Forensic science combines science and investigation in order to aid and support the prosecution or defense in criminal and civil investigations. While the profession has been widely romanticized by various TV shows, make no mistake – this job is most likely different that you expect. In contrast with popular perception, this is a highly scientific role, which often involves detailed, painstaking work. Field duties are limited to a few areas of expertise, and most often than not a forensic scientist will spend his time in the lab.
If you made it this far, though, congratulations! You’re taking the first steps in joining a very rewarding profession and itsGOV is here to guide you through what you need to know and what you need to do to join a forensic science program in Pennsylvania.
Depending on the type of forensic science practiced, different degrees and educational backgrounds may help a candidate get a job and excel in this field. Regarding formal education, requirements vary across jobs, but you should definitely have a solid background in mathematics, biology and chemistry.
The National Institute of Justice, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice, offers guidelines for model undergraduate and graduate forensic science degree programs. According to the American Academy of Forensic Science, strong programs should offer a curriculum that concentrates on scientific writing, laboratory skills, public speaking, and computer software application training.
Forensic science requirements
Forensic science is organized into a number of disciplines, all of which require specific expertise in one or more areas of the natural sciences. As scientific study becomes more sophisticated and developed, the role of the forensic scientist continues to take on a more significant role in crime scene investigation. And because of the complexity of forensic science and the many areas of study within this field, the need to establish and maintain professional standards has never been greater.
The American Board of Criminalistics (ABC), which was formed to represent the forensic scientist, now offers certification, proficiency testing, and serves as a voice for current issues and topics. The ABC was the first certification body accredited by the Forensic Specialty Accreditation Board. Individuals may achieve professional certification in comprehensive criminalistics, as well as in specialty areas and disciplines, including: molecular biology, drug chemistry, fire debris analysi and trace evidence.
Certification through the ABC can be achieved at one of three levels:
– Diplomate: To achieve diplomate status, individuals must possess a bachelor’s degree in a natural science or an appropriately related field and at least two years of full-time experience
– Fellow: To achieve fellow status, individuals must meet all the requirements for a diplomate and successfully complete the Comprehensive Criminalistics Examination.
– Affiliate: The affiliate status is not a certified status; instead, individuals are certification eligible upon filing for an ABC Request for Promotion from Affiliate to diplomate and having it approved by the Credentials Committee.
Forensic science training
Forensic science, in its simplest form, is science focused on the justice system. Therefore, any science used within the context of the law can be said to be forensic science. There is a great number of forensic science specializations, each one with its own characteristics, including:
- Forensic technicians
- DNA analysts
- Forensic toxicologists
- Forensic entomology
- Forensic anthropologists
- Forensic odontologists
- Forensic botanists
- Forensic geologists
- Medical examiners
- Coroners
- Forensic pathologists
- Trace evidence analysts
- Fingerprint examiners
- Questioned documents analysts
- Forensic autopsy technicians
Forensic science jobs are most often focused on the forensic laboratory, whereas the professionals at the scene of the crime generally fall under the field of crime scene investigation (CSI). Forensic scientists are professionals who gain valuable information regarding crime scene investigations through scientific analysis and observation.
Forensic science salary in Pennsylvania
The salaries for specific forensic scientist positions vary in this state, as well in most of the institutions in the American system. The average position in Philadelphia paid $39,520 a year, as a starting salary. Forensic scientist trainees for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania made a starting wage of $50,533 to $63,009 in 2013. According to Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry, six jobs for forensic science technicians were advertised in the state on October 7, 2013. Four were in Montgomery County, while two were in Philadelphia County.
A number of forensic science technicians work as crime scene investigators (CSIs). As part of their job, they perform their work in the field—documenting the crime scene and collecting evidence to be analyzed further in the lab. While some CSIs are civilians, others are enlisted personnel. In addition, depending on the size of the department, some CSIs are crime scene analysts—processing the whole site—while others have specific functions such as: latent fingerprint analysis, blood pattern analysis or analyzing impressions from tires or shoes.
As with most forensic science positions, the salaries of CSIs can vary widely. The professional’s level of education and experience has a significant contribution to determining their pay range. The average Pennsylvania crime scene investigator salary from the year preceding October 2013 as being $53,000.
Forensic science schools in Pennsylvania
Bachelor’s Programs in Pennsylvania
| University | Anna Maria College, Paxton, Pennsylvania, Criminal Justice B.S. |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Type | Full time, Part time |
| Tuition and fees | $28,752 per year |
| Program link |
Anna Maria College, Paxton, Pennsylvania, Criminal Justice B.S. Program Information
The Criminal Justice major provides students with an interdisciplinary perspective that balances both theoretical knowledge and practical application. The major prepares students for the criminal justice/human service professions and provides a solid foundation for graduate and continuing studies. Faculty grounded in the balance of theory and practice deliver a curriculum intended to develop a sense of global awareness and a commitment to social justice and responsibility while promoting respect for the dignity of all persons involved in the criminal justice system.
The integration of knowledge and practice culminates with the internship or service learning component (capstone seminar). Through the internship, students apply learning outside the classroom, helping them to build professional competence and confidence. Interns and program alumnae have found placements and employment in areas including include federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, federal and local probation, juvenile and criminal court, private security, victim/witness assistance, correctional agencies, youth programs, and investigative agencies. The core modules are:
– Crime Scene Forensics
– Response to Terrorism
– Evolving Concepts of Justice
– History of Crime
– Drugs and Society
– Cybercrime
– Victimology
– Criminal Procedure
– Information Security
– Social Issues in CJ
– Race and Crime
– Criminal Profiling
– White Collar Crime
– Organized Crime
– Federal Responses to Crime
– Physical Security
– Disaster Victims
– Forensic Photography
– Forensic Psychology
– Juvenile Justice
– Comparative CJ Systems
– Gender, Crime and Justice
– Human Diversity
– Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology
Other useful information: Students take nine core criminal justice and cognate courses in the first and second years. In the third and fourth years, students, in consultation with their academic advisor, develop a plan of study which furthers the student’s intellectual interests and professional goals through the choice of six elective courses. A minimum of four upper division electives must be taken in criminal justice. The remaining two may be from criminal justice or related fields such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, social work, legal studies, public policy, and political science. The Capstone Seminar in the Senior year allows for application of knowledge to the professional setting.
| University | University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Pennsylvania, Criminal Justice B.S. |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Type | Full time, Part time |
| Tuition and fees | $6,928 in-state, $15,057 out-of-state per year |
| Program link |
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Pennsylvania, Criminal Justice B.S. Program Information
The program is designed to give you a broadly based understanding of the diverse nature of crime and justice and its relationship with society, with an emphasis on the components of policing, courts and corrections. The program will provide you with more than 30 specialized criminal justices courses to select from, including Terrorism in a Post 9/11 World; Substance Abuse and Treatment; Islam and Social Justice; Drugs, Crime and Social Policy; Law Enforcement Operations; and Organized Crime in America.
You will be taught by professors who not only have PhDs, but also have more than 40 years of combined professional experience in criminal investigations, adult probation, corrections, substance abuse counseling and juvenile delinquency. You’ll learn to work as a team, gaining hands-on experience using some of the most technologically advanced criminal forensic equipment in the country with our Crime Scene Investigation House and Lab. You’ll take part in an internship to gain real-world experience, be provided with research opportunities to expand your leadership skills, and complete a capstone course project to bring it all together. The core modules are:
– Law Enforcement Operations
– Introduction to Forensic Science
– White Collar Crimes
– Criminal Evidence and Investigation
– Criminal Forensics
– Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement
– American Corrections
– Substance Abuse and Treatment in the Community
– Ethics in Criminal Justice
– Violence and Crime
– Juvenile Justice Systems
– International and Goal Crime
Other useful information: Students must take six additional courses (18 credits), including at least two from each of the three areas of study in criminal justice. At least three of the courses must be at the 1300/1400 level. Members of a university community, both faculty and students, bear a serious responsibility to uphold personal and professional integrity and to maintain complete honesty in all academic work. Violations of the code of academic integrity are not tolerated. Students who cheat or plagiarize or who otherwise take improper advantage of the work of others, face harsh penalties, including permanent dismissal. The academic integrity guidelines set forth student and faculty obligations, and the means of enforcing regulations and addressing grievances.
| University | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Criminal Justice B.S. |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Type | Full time, Part time |
| Tuition and fees | $6,820 in-state, $17, 050 out-of-state per year |
| Program link |
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Criminal Justice B.S. Program Information
Although the Kutztown Criminal Justice Program dates back into the 1960s, the curriculum has been modified over the years in response to the changing needs of students and employers. Degree requirements include: 60 semester hours of General Education (taken by all students), 24 semester hour core of criminal justice courses and 36 semester hours of Criminal Justice electives.
Criminal Justice students have the option of completing an American Bar Association approved Paralegal Studies Program along with their B.S. in Criminal Justice through a cooperative program with Lehigh Carbon Community College. All paralegal classes are offered on the KU campus. The core modules are:
– Introduction to Criminal Justice
– Introduction to Policing
– Criminal Law
– Criminal Procedure
– Criminology
– Management of Offenders
– Research Methods in Criminal Justice
– Senior Seminar
– Introduction to Security Management
– Federal Law Enforcement
– Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
– Comparative Police Systems
– Development of Criminal Justice System
– Juvenile Delinquency
– Juvenile Justice
– Race, Crime and Criminal Justice
– Gender, Crime and Criminal Justice
– Substance Abuse and Crime
– Community Corrections
– Career Criminals and Criminal Carreers
– Ethics in Criminal Justice
– Crime and Delinquency Prevention
– Investigation & Intelligence
– Homeland Security
– Homeland Defense
– Homeland Security & Intelligence
– Evidence
– Contemporary Legal Issues
– Selected Topics
– Independent Study
– Fieldwork
Other useful information: A student wishing to participate in the field work placement must have completed at least sixty college credit hours. In addition, the student must have completed at least eighteen credits in the criminal justice curriculum.
Students who wish to obtain a field work placement must enroll in CRJ 390 and pay for six credits. Field work students must serve five weeks (a total of 200 hours) of work at their placement. The normal workload is eight hours; however, not all placements are designed around a standard eight-hour day. Some placements may require “off hours” and weekend work. If there are problems or questions regarding hours, they can be discussed and revised with your faculty internship supervisor.
Kutztown students have received field work placements with a wide range of local, state and federal agencies. Law enforcement placements have included the state police, private detectives and sheriff’s departments, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U. S. Marshals. Students interested in pursuing careers in the courts have worked with prosecutors, defense attorneys and court administrators. Many students are placed in adult and juvenile probation agencies or in adult prisons and juvenile reformatories. One student was placed in Rwanda with the war crimes court.
| University | Point Park University, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Forensic Psychology B.A. |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Type | Full time, Part time |
| Tuition and fees | $25,980 per year |
| Program link |
Point Park University, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Forensic Psychology B.A. Program Information
The psychology major offers rigorous study of human science psychology that includes existential, cross-cultural, depth psychology and post-structuralist theories. At Point Park University, we encourage critical and holistic thinking in order to respectfully address the diverse and unique lived experiences of children and adults, and foster activist perspectives that enhance the well-being of persons and their communities. Courses are designed to prepare students for continued study at the graduate level as clinicians and scholars. Students also have the opportunity to choose concentrations of study such as counseling or child development. The psychology majors have opportunities to work with faculty on original research and publish their work in professional journals. They also participate in internships and practicums at local agencies, many of which are within walking distance of campus. The core modules, regardless the concentration, are:
– Forensic Evidence
– Ethics in Forensic Science
– Psychological Foundations
– Critical Thinking in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
– The story of Psychology in Perspective
– Theories of Personality
– Abnormal Psychology
– Industrial Psychology
– Social Psychology
– Perception
– Psychology of Emotion
– Hypnosis
– Cross-cultural Psychology
– Psychology of Sexual Behavior
Other useful information: At Point Park, Pittsburgh’s only Downtown university, the students will engage in a more active, more real, more professional education. Whether they’re looking to pursue a degree in one of our 82 undergraduate programs, 17 master’s programs or new doctoral program, they’ll have professors who teach from their own real-world experience.
They’ll have access to successful, working professionals within your field. You’ll have internship and job opportunities with leading companies and organizations. And they’ll have the limitless cultural and entertainment opportunities that only a world-class city can offer.
The Downtown Pittsburgh neighborhood offers pristine parks, riverfront trails and hundreds of shops and restaurants. It’s home to Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. It’s a place where more than 140,000 people come to work each day and where more than 7,000 people (including 1,000 Point Park students) live. It’s a dynamic city center that makes a dynamic college experience possible.
| University | Seton Hill University, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Forensic Science B.S. |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Type | Full time, Part time |
| Tuition and fees | $28,752 per year |
| Program link |
Seton Hill University, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Forensic Science B.S. Program Information
Seton Hill’s Forensic Science Program combines rigorous study in biology, chemistry, math, physics and criminal justice with hands-on crime scene analysis and field experience. As a result, our graduates are uniquely suited to begin a career right after graduation, or to go on to graduate school in forensic science, law, or allied health and medicine.
As a student of the Forensic Science Program, you will: gain understanding of the scientific methods used to gather and analyze evidence from crime scenes; learn written communication and quantitative reasoning skills for the interpretation of laboratory data; analyze and interpret forensic science literature; develop an understanding and application of the crucial role that honesty and integrity play in data collection, analysis and documentation in forensic investigations; become familiar with the specialties within the field of forensic science; acquire a fundamental understanding of the criminal justice system; understand the fundamental sociological principles related to persons involved in a criminal activity. The core moduels are:
– Fundamentals of Criminalistics
– Quantitative Analysis Laboratory
– Ogranic Chemistry
– Criminalistics plus Laboratory
– Introduction to Criminal Justice
– Law Enforcement and the Community
– Sociology of Deviance
Other useful information: Seton Hill graduates who choose a career in forensic science will benefit from a strong current and projected need for qualified forensic scientists in crime laboratories (federal, state and local), state police laboratories, coroner’s offices and private forensic laboratories. At Seton Hill, the staff have a full-sized ranch-style house on campus that is dedicated to the creation of “crime” – and its solution. As a forensic science students, you will regularly use the knowledge you are gaining in the classroom and the laboratory to examine and analyze mock crime scenes constructed by your professors, and you will also have the chance to set up mock crime scenes of your own. Seton Hill’s forensic science courses are designed and taught by award-winning faculty with academic and professional experience in the justice system. They are experts in their fields, and they have dedicated their careers to preparing you for yours.
Masters Programs in Pennsylvania
| University | Program in Forensic Science Cedar Crest College, Pennsylvania |
| Duration | 24 months |
| Type | Full time, Part time |
| Tuition and fees | $27,300 per year |
| Program link |
Program in Forensic Science Cedar Crest College, Pennsylvania Program Information
Studying forensic science at Cedar Crest will prepare the students for a wide variety of career paths, such as crime scene investigation, drug chemistry, forensic DNA analysis, toxicology and trace evidence examination.
Recent Cedar Crest graduates have found employment in both public and private sector laboratories, including the the New York City Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, New Jersey State Police, and the United States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory.Other graduates have pursued careers in industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and medical research.
Since 2003 , 51% of the graduates of the graduate program have completed or are currently attending a master’s or doctoral level program Graduates have enrolled at graduate science programs at such institutions as Dartmouth University, The University of Arizona, The University of Michigan, and the University of Southern California. In addition, several graduates have stayed at Cedar Crest to earn their Master of Science degree in forensic science. The core modules are:
– Crime Scene Pattern Analysis
– Instrumental Analysis
– Trace Evidence Microscopy
– Forensic Molecular Biology
– Professional Issues in Forensic Science
– Analytical Spectroscopy
– Forensic Chemistry
– Advanced Crime Scene Reconstruction
Other useful information: The forensic science program has earned the highest accreditation possible for undergraduate and graduate studies: Both programs are fully accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. The graduate program is one of the oldest accredited forensic science programs in the nation. The faculty members have more than 50 years of professional forensic science experience, and they routinely publish in peer-reviewed publications and present original research at forensic science conferences. Also, our program director, Lawrence Quarino, Ph.D., is a former chair of FEPAC.
The educational programs will take the students from the crime scene to the courtroom. Here, the students will receive instruction in subjects as diverse as DNA analysis, toxicology, trace evidence examination, and how to testify as an expert witness. This generalist approach will prepare you to compete for a wide array of careers. Students present at major forensic science conferences, serve in a leadership capacity in the Forensic Science Student Organization (FSSO), and host the College’s annual forensic science symposium, which takes place every spring.
| University | Pennsylvania State University, Eberly College of Sience, Department of Forensic Science |
| Duration | 24 months |
| Type | Full time, Part time |
| Tuition and fees | $19,882 in-state; $33,386 out-of-state per year |
| Program link |
Pennsylvania State University, Eberly College of Sience, Department of Forensic Science Program Information
The master’s program in Forensic Science is an exciting and innovative curriculum that offers students advanced, hands-on training in crime scene investigation techniques and crime laboratory methodologies. State-of-the-art crime scene training facilities and crime laboratories are used to train students in the practices of modern forensics. Students will conduct research relevant to the field of forensic science working under the guidance of the program’s faculty.
The Pennsylvania State master of professional studies in Forensic Science is rooted in scientific methodology and concepts. The students may choose an area of emphasis for their degree: biology, chemistry, or criminalistics. These rigorous programs incorporate a comprehensive knowledge of criminalistics and an abundance of hands-on training in our state-of-the-art facilities and labs. The core modules are:
– Courtroom Proceedings and Testimony
– Crime Scene Investigation
– Non-Biology Criminalistics (Trace Evidence, Microscopy, Materials Analysis, Pattern Evidence)
– Biology Criminalistics (Forensic Biology)
– Crime Scene Investigation Laboratory
– Forensic Science Seminar
– Drug Chemistry and Toxicology
– Forensic Seminar Series
– Ethics in Forensic Science
– Criminalistics III (Adv Scene, Laboratory & Problem Solving Concepts: Prep for the Forensic Science Aptitude Test, the FSAT)
– Research Projects in Forensic Science
Other useful information: The Professional Science Master’s (PSM) is an innovative, new graduate degree designed to allow students to pursue advanced training in science or mathematics, while simultaneously developing workplace skills highly valued by employers. PSM programs consist of two years of academic training in an emerging or interdisciplinary area, along with a professional component that may include internships and “cross-training” in workplace skills, such as business, communications, and regulatory affairs. All have been developed in concert with employers and are designed to dovetail into present and future professional career opportunities.
| University | Drexel University of Pennsylvania, School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, Department of Forensic Science, Forensic Science M.S. |
| Duration | 24 months |
| Type | Full time, Part time |
| Tuition and fees | $24,882 per year |
| Program link |
Drexel University of Pennsylvania, Department of Forensic Science, Forensic Science M.S. Program Information
The School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies offers the Master of Science in Forensic Science. The MS in Forensic Science is designed to provide students with a solid foundation within the forensic sciences, while at the same time encouraging growth and leadership in new and emerging applications within the field. The program offers students the opportunity to concentrate within one of three major areas of forensic science: criminalistics; molecular biology; or clinical forensic medicine.
In the past few years film and television has introduced our entire society to the once closed world of forensic science. One of the elements that the entertainment industry has correctly identified as shedding light into the field is that a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to allow our criminal justice system to run properly.
The Master of Science in Forensic Sciences program provides an introduction to both the scientific and legal aspects of the field, which will then be followed by more in-depth study of specific forensic science fields. The program progresses to allow students the study of one of three current areas of concentration: molecular biology, criminalistics, or clinical forensic medicine. Opportunities for overlapping study within these disciplines are also available. Students will be exposed to both the intricacies of problem solving as well as to the real-world application of the related disciplines within the field of forensic science. A collaborative network of municipal agencies, private enterprise and allied professional programs within the University has been built to prepare professionals who can confront the forensic challenges of the new millennium. The core modules are:
– Biological Aspects of the Forensic Science
– Human Function
– Structure of the Human Body
– Principles of Forensic Pathology
– Forensic Sciences Summer Practicum
– Forensic Anthropology and Topics in the Human Identification
– Drug Chemistry
– Instrumental Analysis
– Criminal Law and the Court
– Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation
– Latent Fingerprint Analysis
– Basic Techniques of the Analysis of Biomolecules
– Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
– Forensic Research
– Introduction to Criminal Law and Trial Process
– Genetics for the Forensic Scientist
– Principles of Immunology
Other useful information:The program is not limited to only those students with undergraduate degrees in criminal justice and topic related fields. The program is designed to attract students at a multidisciplinary level. Students with coursework in the natural sciences, pre-medicine, engineering, computer science, psychology and the social sciences are only a few of the disciplines which will find this program beneficial.
The Master of Science in Forensic Science program is designed to allow students exposure to both the intricacies of problem solving and the real-world application of forensic science. The curriculum provides students with a solid foundation within the forensic sciences while encouraging growth and leadership in new and emerging applications within the field.
| University | Drexel University of Pennsylvania, School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, Department of Forensic Science, Criminalistic Science, M.S. |
| Duration | 24 months |
| Type | Full time, Part time |
| Tuition and fees | $24,882 per year |
| Program link |
Drexel University of Pennsylvania, School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, Department of Forensic Science, Criminalistic Science, M.S. Program Information
The School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies offers the Master of Science in Forensic Science. The MS in Forensic Science is designed to provide students with a solid foundation within the forensic sciences, while at the same time encouraging growth and leadership in new and emerging applications within the field. The program offers students the opportunity to concentrate within one of three major areas of forensic science: criminalistics; molecular biology; or clinical forensic medicine.
In the past few years film and television has introduced our entire society to the once closed world of forensic science. One of the elements that the entertainment industry has correctly identified as shedding light into the field is that a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to allow our criminal justice system to run properly.
The Master of Science in Forensic Sciences program provides an introduction to both the scientific and legal aspects of the field, which will then be followed by more in-depth study of specific forensic science fields. The program progresses to allow students the study of one of three current areas of concentration: molecular biology, criminalistics, or clinical forensic medicine. Opportunities for overlapping study within these disciplines are also available. Students will be exposed to both the intricacies of problem solving as well as to the real-world application of the related disciplines within the field of forensic science. A collaborative network of municipal agencies, private enterprise and allied professional programs within the University has been built to prepare professionals who can confront the forensic challenges of the new millennium. The core modules are:
– Firearms and Toolmark Analysis
-Techniques of Interview and Interrogation
– Vehicle Accident Reconstruction and Analysis
– Footwear and the Firetrack Analysis
– Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
– Ethics for the Forensic Scientist
– Genetics for the Forensic Scientist
– Forensic Photography
– Principes of Immunology
– Human Osteology and Calcified Tissue Biology
– Introduction to Forensic Radiology
– Forensic DNA Analysis
– Criminal Investigative Analysis
– Cyber Crime
Other useful information: The School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies offers the Master of Science in Criminalistic Science. The Master of Science in Criminalistic Science is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of Criminalistic Science while also providing opportunities to pursue either more traditional and/or more innovative concentrations of study.
Criminalistics is defined as the scientific study and analysis of crime scenes and the evidence within those scenes to solve a crime and apprehend the perpetrator of the crime. The disciplines within criminalistics are science based, with most using multiple combinations of the natural sciences to conduct examinations and analysis of evidence and crime scenes.
In addition to required courses in criminal law, trial process and the use of evidence, the Master of Science in Criminalistic Science program offers courses in fingerprint science, forensic engineering, motor vehicle crash reconstruction, firearms and tool mark analysis, fire and explosion analysis, footwear and tire track analysis, bloodstain pattern analysis, trace materials and forensic geology and botany, and nuclear, biological, chemical terrorism/mass disaster management.
