Forensics have been used for centuries dating back to prehistoric times with fingerprints being discovered on clay paintings from this period. The first record of the application of forensics was in A.D. 1248 and found in the Chinese book "Hsi Duan Yu," in which a difference between strangulation and drowning was distinguished. In 1909, the first forensics institute, he Institut de police scientifique at the University of Lausanne, was established in Switzerland. Modern-day forensics is scientifically advanced compared the past procedures; for example, DNA can be collected from crime scenes and analyzed.
There are many different colleges that offer forensic majors to students. There are schools that offer a certificate program, such as Kaplan University, which offers a certificate in Forensic Nursing that takes 12 months to complete. Most certificate programs in forensics would require a bachelor's degree or higher. There are schools that offer associate's and bachelor's degree programs in forensics, such as Chaminade University in Hawaii. An associate's degree typicallys take two years to complete, and a bachelor's degree four. There are also graduate degrees in forensics that can be earned in institutions offering higher education at the master's and doctorate levels, such as George Washington University or Florida University.
The coursework required for a forensic major varies depending upon the type of forensic major chosen. For instance, a forensic nursing program typically requires courses such as forensic physical assessment and evidence collection as well as death investigation. Majors chosen in forensic science that lead to an associate's or bachelor's degree include coursework such as genetics and crime scene investigation. Coursework for graduate degree programs includes courses like advanced criminalistics and forensic immunology.
Career options for those who have completed a degree or diploma program majoring in forensics can vary according to their field of study; for example, forensic nurses can work as sexual assault nurse examiners. This type of examiner works with victims to collect evidence. Forensic science majors can work as crime scene analysts or crime lab technicians. Those who pursue a degree in computer forensics can work as information technology technicians.