Some community colleges in Michigan offer an associate degree in forensics. Other states present this degree as a credential for an entry level job, such as a lab technician, but Michigan schools, such as Lake Michigan Community College, refer to it as a pre-forensic degree that can be applied toward a bachelor degree. Associate degrees in forensic science usually require biology, chemistry and organic chemistry courses, and generally provide an introduction to the criminal justice system.
In Michigan, undergraduate degrees in forensic science take different approaches. At Marygrove College in Detroit, the forensic science program offers students a foundation in biology, chemistry and math and an overview on different aspects of crime and the criminal justice system. At Northern Michigan University in Marquette, the forensic biochemistry major is an interdisciplinary science program with little emphasis on criminal justice. Ferris State University has launched a forensic science minor that provides criminal justice students an overview of the science involved in criminal investigations.
Michigan State University offers master's degrees in forensic science with a choice of three concentrations: biology, chemistry and anthropology. Students study the legal and technical aspects of forensic science before beginning more specialized course work. The chemistry concentration covers the art and science of analyzing physical trace evidence, while the biology program focuses on serology and DNA testing and analysis. Forensic anthropologists are trained to analyze skeletal remains for identification purposes.
Walsh College, a Detroit-based business school, offers a graduate certificate in computer forensics. The one-year program trains students who have a degree in an information management field to work with companies and organizations on investigations of their computer systems. Students study cryptography, cyber crime investigation, digital crime, forensics and law. The program prepares students for the certified fraud examiner exam.
The University of Michigan offers a one year fellowship to students interested in pursuing a career in forensic pathology. The program is open to students who have completed medical school and are eligible for a license to practice. Students work with two forensic pathologists who perform hundreds of autopsies each year. Other forensic topics, such as toxicology and odontology --- the analysis of dental remains --- are also covered.