One of the most popular types of programming on television today is anything to do with forensics and crime scene investigation. Many colleges and universities in and outside the United States now offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in forensic chemistry or forensic science. This fall, Northwest Mississippi Community College will begin offering a new Pre-Forensic Chemistry program on its Senatobia campus that will prepare students to participate in the scientific aspects of law enforcement and criminology.

According to Dr. Stacy Jones, newly named director of the division of Science at Northwest, the program was developed in cooperation with the University of Mississippi. Jones stated that the curriculum was developed with the help of Dr. Murrell Godfrey, director of Forensic Chemistry at Ole Miss. The program requires an aptitude for science and mathematics, according to the program description outlined in Northwest's college Bulletin. Students are required to score a minimum of 22 on the Enhanced Math section of the ACT, or if needed, take additional courses to overcome any math deficiency.

Students who successfully complete the program at Northwest will be entitled to receive the Associate of Arts degree. Three area schools offer degrees related to forensics. Ole Miss offers bachelor's degrees in forensic chemistry, and the University of Southern Mississippi offers a degree in Chemistry with an emphasis on forensics. Christian Brothers University in Memphis offers a Forensic Science degree. "We designed our program so that students have some flexibility to choose where they want to continue their education," Jones said.

So what do forensic scientists really do? According to Jones, although there is a renewed interest in forensic science due to the popularity of such television shows as "CSI" and "Forensic Files," the actual career is quite a bit different from what is seen on television. "It is different than criminal justice," Jones said. "The focus is on analyzing the evidence instead of gathering it," he added.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "forensic science technicians investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. Forensic science technicians also prepare reports to document their findings and the laboratory techniques used, and they may provide information and expert opinion to investigators. When criminal cases come to trial, forensic science technicians often give testimony as expert witnesses."

For more information about this or other science majors at Northwest, contact Jones at (662) 562-3409 or e-mail sjones@northwestms.edu.