Forensic Science Degrees in West Virginia

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 West Virginia.

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 in West Virginia

Forensic science is one of the fastest-growing fields in the U.S. with a predicted job growth of 20 percent by 2018. Most forensic science jobs are within the criminal justice system, including state/local government, the FBI, the DEA and the U.S. military. However, private laboratories and educational institutions also employ forensic scientists.

West Virginia is home to six schools with forensic science degree programs, including master’s degree programs, which graduate approximately 85 students every year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, forensic scientists in West Virginia earn an annual mean wage of $37,800. However, persons who live in the northeastern end of the state and work in the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area, tend to earn roughly twice as much, or an annual mean wage of $74,500

There are currently over 50 forensic scientists employed in West Virginia. The general requirements that must be met for a forensic science job are:

Bachelor’s degree in forensic science or a natural science from an accredited four-year college/university
Successfully pass a background check
No criminal record
No use of controlled substances

Forensic Science Training in West Virginia

Located in South Charleston, the fully accredited WVSP crime lab offers full-service analyzes of evidence collected from criminal investigations free of charge to all law enforcement/criminal justice agencies in West Virginia. Services provided include:

Drug Identification – Identification and analysis of controlled substances
Toxicology – Analysis of blood alcohol content; examination of blood and urine for presence of drugs
Trace Evidence – Identification and comparison of hair, fiber, paint, glass, etc.
Biochemistry – Analysis of biological substances
Latent Print – Analysis, comparison and verification of friction ridge skin impressions
Firearms/Toolmarks – Identification/comparison of firearms, ammunition components and Toolmarks; distance determinations
Questioned Documents – Analysis and comparison of questioned documents

Information regarding employment with the WVSP forensics laboratory is available from the state employment office, 304-766-2600.The WVSP digital forensics laboratory is located on the third floor of the Marshall University Forensic Science Center in Huntington, WV. The state-of-the-arts facility specializes in mobile forensics in order to fill the needs of WV law enforcement officers in relation to digital evidence, cell phones or internet-based crime. The lab utilizes “imaging” which creates an exact duplicate of the digital information for analysis. The lab currently processes about 30 pieces of evidence every week; roughly 80 percent of the evidence is related to child exploitation. The Marshall University Forensic Science Center in Huntington, is not just a top-notch facility for forensic science students, but it also provides critical assistance to the West Virginia criminal justice community. The nationally accredited DNA laboratory accepts samples from state and local law enforcement/criminal justice agencies which are analyzed and compared on CODIS, the national DNA database. The labs staff, all of whom have master’s degrees in forensic science, process testing samples for both criminal and civil (paternity testing) cases. The center is also involved in various innovative DNA projects.

Forensic Science Salary in West Virginia

Fifty forensic science technicians were employed in West Virginia in 2012 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Workforce West Virginia projects that there will be a 1.62% increase in the availability of these jobs per year in the period from 2010-2020. They also indicated that twelve establishments reported employing forensic science technicians in 2011.

The BLS indicates that the average annual salary for these scientists was $37,800 a year in West Virginia in 2012. Those in the 90^th percentile of their wage bracket made an average of $50,100 that year.

Forensic analysts working for the state of West Virginia make a range of salaries depending on their level of experience and job responsibilities. There are five categories of this job type with level I being the starting position and level V employees being head of a section. Their salary ranges for 2013 are listed below:

Forensic analyst I: $29,400 – $54,396
Forensic analyst V: $39,372 – $72,840

The state’s two forensic labs are major providers of forensic scientist positions in the state. The West Virginia State Police have a forensics lab in Charleston that provides services to law enforcement agencies throughout the state and handles about 3500 cases a year. In addition, the forensic science center at Marshall University in Huntington works with the state police to analyze DNA profiles through the CODIS (combined DNA index system) database.

One category of forensics is handling evidence at the scene of the crime. Such work is done by crime scene investigators (CSIs) who can be either civilian employees or sworn officers. West Virginia provides both types of crime scene investigator positions.

CSI services are provided by the scientists of the forensic lab in Huntington. In other cases, detectives with forensic training process evidence at crime scenes. The average CSI position in West Virginia paid $55,000 in the year leading up to October 2013 according to Indeed.com.

Forensic Science Schools and Colleges in West Virginia

Bachelor’s Degree Programs in West Virginia

University	Fairmont State University, Forensic Science B.S.
Duration	4 years
Type	Full time, Part time
Tuition and fees	$16,200 per year
Program link

A number of educational elements must be covered in a Forensic Science program. The Forensic Science curriculum at Fairmont includes courses in criminal justice, biology, chemistry, physics, math and interdisciplinary courses. Students should also expect to take classes like English, criminal investigation, genetics, molecular biotechnology and statistics. A Forensic Science degree is ideal for immediate employment or advanced study. Combining a Forensic Science degree with degrees in chemistry, biology, math, business, foreign languages or psychology makes graduates highly marketable. The core modules are:

Biological Principles
Intro Physics
Principles
Chemical Principles II
Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry II
Forensic Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Criminal Investigation
Criminalistics
Forensic Criminalistics Laboratory
Capstone Seminar in Forensic Science
Forensic Internship

The School of Business at Fairmont State University is committed to delivering a quality business education through effective teaching in a caring learning environment that is responsive to the shared needs of students, employers, and the community.

In accordance with our mission statement, the School of Business is committed to the following core goals: Quality Programs. Provide rigorous and relevant programs that are intellectually and ethically grounded, innovative, integrative, technologically advanced and global in perspective; effective Teaching and Scholarship. Collaborate with stakeholders to align our teaching, scholarship, and service with the needs of the community; improved Community. Serve as a primary source for creating and applying business knowledge to promote regional economic development; the Fairmont State University mission and vision statements and full institution description can be found on the site.

University	Fairmont State University, Forensic Science B.S.
Duration	4 years
Type	Full time, Part time
Tuition and fees	$24,500 in-state; $28.020 out-of-state per year
Program link

Digital Forensics, or computer forensics, is an emerging forensic discipline. Though not a traditional physical science, digital forensics incorporates methodical procedures-based investigations to obtain digital evidence usable within the criminal justice system. Digital workstations, laptop computers, and mobile devices store a wealth of digital information including text, images, audio, and video, which can serve as digital evidence. Precise recovery of digital evidence is critical for use in legal proceedings in any technology-based society.

The need for highly-trained digital forensics investigators has never been greater. To meet this need, within law enforcement and the private sector, MUFSC established the Digital Forensics Emphasis, as part of our Forensic Science Graduate Program, along with a Graduate Certificate in Digital Forensics. Our digital forensics programs are the first in the nation to be FEPAC accredited.

Digital Forensics is a multi-faceted discipline in which students learn from an array of topics concerning digital evidence extraction and examination. The Digital Forensics Emphasis andGraduate Certificate programs were created to include topics from three core areas; Digital Forensics, Information Security, and Electronic Discovery. The core modules are:

Network Forensics
Forensic Digital Imaging
Digital Evidence Search & Seizure
Foundation & Fundamentals of Digital Evidence
Advanced Digital Evidence Detection & Recovery

The Marshall University Forensic Science Center has state-of-the-art digital forensics facilities including a dedicated Digital Forensics Laboratory and four distance-learning capable classrooms. Two classrooms, each with a twenty-student capacity, have individual computer workstations pre-loaded with digital forensics software. This allows instructors to demonstrate key concepts while students follow along, further enhancing the educational experience. The Digital Forensics laboratory enables students to gain hands-on experience with tools used in professional forensic examinations. The laboratory also acts as a digital forensics research center, where graduate students perform equipment validations and related studies. The laboratory includes a Radio Frequency (RF) screening room allowing investigators to address the unique challenges of cellular and mobile device investigations in a secure environment. MUFSC is committed to providing technical assistance to law enforcement. As part of this commitment MUFSC houses one of the West Virginia State Police Digital Forensics Units (WVSP-DFU) in our Annex building. The WVSP-DFU actively perform investigations on cases involving child exploitation, fraud, narcotics, homicide, and sexual predators in a high-technology laboratory. This partnership allows our graduate students real-world apprenticeship opportunities and the ability to interact with law enforcement professionals in this burgeoning field.

University	Fairmont State University, Forensic Chemistry B.S.
Duration	4 years
Type	Full time, Part time
Tuition and fees	$24,500 in-state; $28.020 out-of-state per year
Program link

Courses offered by the Department of Chemistry provide a program of studies that allows the individual to: obtain high quality instruction in chemistry as a scientific discipline; otain a sound background in preparation for advanced studies; meet the qualifications of professional chemists and accrediting agencies; prepare for a professional career in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, medical technology, engineering, nursing and other fields. High school students planning to major in chemistry are advised to take one year of high school chemistry, one year of high school physics, and at least three years of high school mathematics (including geometry, algebra, and trigonometry). This major is intended for students who wish to pursue a career in fields involving forensics. Students are strongly encouraged to engage in a Forensic Chemistry related Capstone Experience. The core modules are:

Chemistry
Upper Division Chemistry Electives
Capstone Experience – Chemistry
Mathematics
Biology
Integrated Science and Technology

Master’s Degree Programs in West Virginia

University	Marshall University, Forensic Chemistry M.S.
Duration	4 years
Type	Full time, Part time
Tuition and fees	$11,712 in-state; $15,992 out-of-state per year
Program link

Forensic science is a rapidly evolving discipline, which applies a wide variety of scientific principles to enhance our legal system. In the past, most forensic science laboratories were staffed primarily with graduates of chemistry and biology programs. Once hired into a forensic science laboratory, they were trained through workshops and courses offered by various agencies.With the increasing introduction of scientific results into court testimony and the demands for formal training which includes hands-on experiences, the Marshall University Forensic Science Graduate Program satisfies national standards and guidelines to enable its graduates to enter this fascinating field. The goal of the Marshall University Master of Science in Forensic Science degree program is to provide the forensic science community with graduates who possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities sought by crime labs, law enforcement, and private entities. Providing knowlegdeable and skilled employees directly from our forensic science graduate program assists agencies in reducing the requirement for employer-based on-the-job training. Our graduate students receive instruction using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, preparing them for a bright future and exciting careers.

A summer internship between the first and second year provides our forensic science graduate students with real-world experience in a variety of specialty areas. On-site internships are offered in Forensic DNA Analysis, Forensic Chemistry, and Digital Forensics. For specialty areas not offered within MUFSC facilities, students have interned in crime laboratories throughout the nation. Our Technical Assistance Program (TAP) offers a unique opportunity for students to serve as a well-trained technical assistant in crime labs across the country in meeting their DNAvalidation goals. The core modules are:

Forensic Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Criminal Investigation
Criminalistics
Forensic Criminalistics Laboratory
Capstone Seminar in Forensic Science
Forensic Internship

There are four areas of emphasis. The Marshall University Forensic Science Graduate Program is a FEPAC accredited two-year academic program leading to a Master of Science in Forensic Science degree.The forensic science graduate program includes a five-semester core curriculum with both thesis and non-thesis options. In addition to the core curriculum, four areas of emphasis are offered to graduate students for more in-depth education and training in specific forensic science disciplines. While one area of emphasis is required, students may complete all four areas of emphasis during their course of study.

Forensic DNA Analysts serve as faculty and mentors for various DNA-based courses while providing select students with real-world experience, training, and exposure to the inner workings of an accredited Forensic DNA Laboratory. The DNA emphasis exceeds the DNA Advisory Board standards by requiring a total of 12 graduate level credit hours addressing the DNA guidelines.

Forensic Chemistry: Graduate students pursuing careers in forensic drug analysis, toxicology, and trace evidence will benefit from the completion of the Forensic Chemistry emphasis. As some agencies may require 30 or more hours of chemistry coursework, the Forensic Chemistry emphasis provides additional education and hands-on training to meet these federal and state guidelines.

Digital Forensics: Graduate students participate in hands-on exercises and mock investigations with real-world investigative tools as they prepare for careers in this exciting discipline. Digial Forensics software is used to image digital storage media, the images are then analyzed using a variety of digital investigation software. Mobile forensics is an area emphasized in the Digital Forensics courses, as well as investigation of personal computers and gaming devices.

Crime Scene Investigation: The Crime Scene Investigation emphasis provides graduate students with the tools and hands-on experience to excel in this field. The Forensic Science Graduate Program has its own Crime Scene House which allows students to obtain real-world experience through the completion of mock crime scene exercises. Upon completion of this emphasis, students qualify to sit for the IAIBasic Student Knowledge in Crime Scene examination.

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Forensic Science Degrees in West Virginia