If you are interested in solving crimes using science as a backbone after your high school diploma qualification, you can opt to enroll in any of the best forensic science courses after 12th.
Every day, crimes are committed, and most of the time, the perpetrators of the crimes go scout-free without proper investigation. Even in high schools, petty crimes are also committed which may go investigated and all these produce deviant youths due to the inability to curtail these deviant behaviors.
But recent advances have made it possible for these crimes to be investigated and the perpetrators reprimanded. There are even schools for troubled youths to enroll in and learn to behave properly, and they can even be enrolled into boarding schools later on.
These crimes committed daily can be curtailed if students can become interested in learning some forensic science courses after 12th to be able to help out in crime investigation. They can even learn the basics of how to get a forensic science degree. Some can also take courses on cyber security to augment their forensic science knowledge.
Forensic science is a scientific method that involves gathering and examining information about the past which is then used in the court of law. Forensic science is used to identify and incriminate suspects of a crime by studying fingerprints, blood types, or DNA profiles for example.
It can be used to prove and disprove claims made by suspects about an incident. For example, if a suspect claims he was never at a crime scene, but unique fibers, debris, or even fungal spores turn up on the suspect’s clothes, possessions, or in their ear, then the police can prove that the suspect is lying.
A forensic medical examination is a top-to-toe examination, looking for injuries and taking samples that can be used as evidence in a police investigation and any subsequent prosecution.
As a high school graduate, you can decide to enroll in any of the forensic science courses after 12th and learn all the basics. There are other short-term courses you can also learn. All these courses can be learned on different popular online platforms such as Alison, Coursera, Udemy, edX, and others.
Since this article is focusing on forensic science courses after 12th, let me go straight into it. In your spare time, you can look up some vacation courses after 12th. Also, this article on leading major courses in criminology can be of great help to you too.
Forensic Science Courses after 12th
I will be discussing the forensic courses that you can enroll in after high school graduation here. You can learn them either as a certificate, diploma, bachelor’s, or master’s course. They are as follows;
- Cyber Forensics and Law
- Analytical Chemistry
- Instrumental Chemistry
- Forensic Pathology
- DNA Isolation
- Forensic Ballistics
- Questioned Documents
- DNA Profiling
- Forensic Photography
- Forensic Toxicology
1. Cyber Forensics and Law
Cyber Forensics and law is a course that deals with the process of extracting data as proof for a crime that usually involves electronic devices while following proper investigation rules to catch the culprit by presenting the evidence to the court. This course can be studied as a forensic science course after 12th.
2. Analytical Chemistry
Analytical chemistry is a course that is used to identify components in an unknown mixture. For example, in forensics, drugs are often found in various colored powders which are analyzed to determine their content. You can venture into analytical chemistry if you want to study any forensic science courses after 12th.
3. Instrumental Chemistry
Instrumental chemistry is a part of analytical chemistry that uses instruments to analyze particles and molecules. No matter how minute the particles may be. It can be studied as one of the forensic science courses after 12th because when a single strand of hair is collected from a crime scene, it can be analyzed using instrumental chemistry, and the culprit apprehended.
4. Forensic Pathology
Pathology is an aspect of science that deals primarily with the cause, origin, and nature of a disease. In relation to forensic science, forensic pathology is the science involving and dealing with the investigation of non-natural and suspicious deaths. It is used to determine the cause of death by examining a corpse.
A post-mortem examination is performed by a medical examiner or forensic pathologist, usually during the investigation of criminal law cases and civil law cases in some jurisdictions. You can study this course if you are interested in a forensic science course after 12th.
5. DNA Isolation
DNA isolation is a process of extracting a desired DNA of a living organism and purifying the DNA from the sample by using a combination of physical and chemical methods. DNA carries the genetic information of all living organisms and it is found in the cells of all living beings.
When any bodily fluids, stands of hair, nails, or any other components of the body are found at the scene of a crime, they can be taken to a laboratory, examined and the DNA extracted, purified, and isolated for easy identification of the culprit. It is a good forensic course to study after high school graduation.
6. Forensic Ballistics
Forensic ballistics involves the study or examination of evidence from firearms that may have been used in a crime. Some culprits of crimes make use of guns or rifles to commit murder and most of the careless ones leave the firearms at the crime scene with their fingerprints on them. This is when forensic ballistics will come in and examine these rifles to apprehend the criminal in the court of law.
7. Questioned Documents
Questioned documents are documents that are usually related to matters involving criminal or civil litigation, in which the originality, authenticity, or background is disputed.
Questioned material may consist of identification cards, contracts, wills, titles and deeds, seals, stamps, bank checks, handwritten correspondence, machine-generated documents (such as those from photocopiers, fax machines, and printers), currency, and electronic documents.
8. DNA Profiling
DNA profiling also known as DNA fingerprinting comprises any DNA-based techniques that identify the DNA from a certain individual or group of individuals within a community of organisms. The DNA obtained undergoes some processes where it is extracted, quantified, amplified, and undergoes capillary electrophoresis.
DNA profiling can be done in a situation where different evidence from different people where left on a crime scene. This evidence is collated, and identified through the various processes of DNA profiling.
9. Forensic Photography
Forensic photography has to do with the visual documentation of different aspects that can be found at a crime scene. When a crime is committed, before the evidence at the crime scene is tampered with and collated, photographs of the crime scene are taken for documentation and reference purposes. This is very important and useful in a court of law.
10. Forensic Toxicology
Toxicology is the study of toxins also known as poisons. Toxins are very harmful substances to living organisms when consumed in specific amounts. Forensic toxicology involves the analysis of biological samples for the presence of toxins, including drugs.
In forensic science, when a crime such as rape is committed and a bottle of alcohol is found on the crime scene, the alcohol content is examined for the presence of drugs or other toxic substances. In the case of food poisoning, the food samples are examined for the presence of toxins.
Conclusion
All these courses are forensic science courses after 12th that anyone interested in becoming a forensic scientist can venture into and make their dreams a reality.
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