Do you plan on naming your firstborn son Gil, Horatio, or Warrick? If so, then you must be a fanatical fan of CSI, the hugely popular TV program that has spawned three hit series.

However, if your firstborn son with the funny name decides to become a forensic scientist, that wouldn't be so unusual.

In fact, the popularity of the hit series has spurred great interest in the career field of forensics and criminology, which involves much more than crime scene investigation. According to Education and Training in Forensic Science: A Guide for Forensic Science Laboratories, published by the U.S. Department of Justice, criminalistics and forensics are the science and profession that deal with the recognition, identification, collection, and interpretation of physical evidence and the application of the natural sciences to law-science matters.

From matching a spent bullet to a particular gun to using DNA samples to identify a suspect in a crime, forensic specialists perform analyses that help determine the facts of a legal case. Forensics includes analytical chemical methods that ascertain controlled substances, fibers, glass, soil, paint, and other materials. It also includes fingerprint analysis, toolmark and firearms identification and document examination. Specialists work with evidence in both civil and criminal cases and in every step of the legal process, and their evidence is often crucial in determining innocence or guilt.

Qualifications/Characteristics of a Good Candidate
Most forensic scientists are employed in crime labs associated with law enforcement or other government agencies. Education should include a bachelor's degree (at minimum) in the natural sciences, plus completion of written and practical tests. Other factors considered may include drug tests, criminal history, medical or physical exam, past work performance, and polygraph test.

More than 20 colleges or universities in the U.S. offer a bachelor's degree program in forensic science; more than 10 additional schools offer a bachelor's of science in chemistry, biochemistry or genetic engineering with an emphasis on forensic science; a few additional schools offer a bachelor's of science degree with an emphasis in a specialty area, such as criminalistics, pathology, jurisprudence, odontology, toxicology, or forensic accounting.

Other necessary skills required in the job list include critical thinking, decision-making, good lab practices, observation and attention to detail, computer proficiency, interpersonal skills, and time management. Of course, understanding and knowledge of legal procedures can be helpful.