To enter into a career as a medical examiner,
students need to complete a Doctor of Medicine program, as well as a
residency in pathology. There is not a stipulated undergraduate degree
program for medical school; however, an online Bachelor of Science in
Chemistry or Forensic Science provides the fundamentals in biology,
anatomy and investigation needed for medical examiner careers.
Overview of a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Students who want to pursue a career as a
medical examiner
may want to consider an undergraduate degree in chemistry. Many
bachelor's degree programs in chemistry often have concentrations in
either
forensic science
or criminology. These programs instill a thorough knowledge of organic,
inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry as it pertains to forensic
science study. Students must have a high-school diploma or GED
equivalency to be accepted into the program.
The average length of a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry is 120
semester hours, and can be completed in four years. While these programs
are not available in fully online formats, many programs do offer
online courses in on-campus programs. These online courses are
administered through online learning platforms, such as Blackboard or
Moodle. Students can communicate with instructors and peers through
online discussion boards and Web forums.
In addition to a high-speed Internet connection, students need an
up-to-date computer. Course material is often delivered via streaming
videos and downloadable lectures; therefore, audio and video
capabilities are typically required.
List of Common Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Online Courses
Bachelor's degree programs have general education requirements built
into the curriculum that include courses in English, mathematics, social
sciences and humanities. Within online chemistry courses, students are
trained in the elements and compounds, as well as how these combine to
create matter.
Fundamentals of Chemistry Course
Students are introduced to the fundamental principles of chemistry.
Topics include atoms, molecules, moles, gas behavior, chemical
equations, nuclear equations, atomic structure, intermolecular
attractive forces, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, acids, bases
and electrochemistry. This course is commonly delivered over two
semesters.
Organic Chemistry Course
The primary families of organic compounds are the focus of this
course. Students study the arrangement and reactions of these compounds,
as well as the physical and chemical properties of each. Further topics
include alcohols, alkanes, stereochemistry, organic instrumentation,
aldehydes, amines and phenols.
Analytic Chemistry Course
Course topics include the analyses of measurement as it pertains to
weight, volume, electricity and light. Further course content includes
precipitate stability, solubility, quantitative precipitation, the
Beer-Lampert law and the Nernst equation.
Online Bachelor's Degree in Forensic Science Overview
Prospective medical examiners can complete a Bachelor of Science in
Criminal Justice or a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a
concentration in Forensic Science. This program prepares students to
work as forensic professionals by enabling them to identify, collect and
analyze physical evidence from crime scenes. Further concepts learned
in this program include psychology, crime reduction, law, terrorism and
social influences as they pertain to criminal behavior and justice.
Most bachelor's degrees in criminal justice can be earned in four
years, if students are enrolled in a full-time course sequence. These
programs are available in fully online formats. Course material is
delivered via websites, live lectures and downloadable multimedia.
Communication is facilitated through online discussion boards and
instant messenger.
Students need a computer and Internet connection to access online
learning platforms. Videoconferencing and real-time lectures may require
a headset and webcam. Students may also need access to a printer and
fax machine.
List of Common Bachelor's Degree in Forensic Science Courses
Within the forensic science concentration, students are taught to
examine crime scenes for forensic evidence, such as blood or DNA. They
also learn the proper techniques for presenting their findings.
Criminalistics Course
The focus of this course is on the fundamentals of criminal
investigation. Physical evidence topics in the identification,
extraction, assignment and analysis of samples are discussed. Evidence
samples include chemicals, bodily fluids, hair, fingerprints, ballistics
and serial number identification.
Legal Regulations in Forensic Science Course
This course is centered on the legal burden of proof that forensic
scientists must accumulate when investigating crime scenes. Students
examine the current regulations, as well as historical practices.
Emphasis is placed on the quality control that all forensic scientists
must exact on their work to ensure quality, legal evidence.
Electronic Crime Course
The identification and gathering of digital evidence is the focus of
this course. Topics in computer-based investigation include electronic
forensic methods, incident response policies and proper digital
documentation.
Doctor of Medicine Overview
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree programs are widely available for
prospective students who want to pursue a medical examiner career path.
Admission into these programs is usually highly competitive. Prospective
students must hold a bachelor's degree in a field of study that
encompasses chemistry, biology, physics, humanities, English or
mathematics. Prospective students also need to achieve a qualifying
score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Through developing
mastery in clinical knowledge, patient care, communication techniques,
clinical practice and cultural understanding, students are prepared to
become leaders in the medical community upon graduation.
The length of time required to complete a M.D. degree program is
typically four years not including specialized fellowships, such as
pathology. The first two years consist of standard courses, while the
final two years consist of clerkships, capstone projects and clinical
practice experience. These programs are offered in an on-campus
residency format only; students cannot complete coursework online.
List of Common Doctor of Medicine Degree Program Courses
In addition to standard coursework and clinical field practice, many
M.D. programs also offer students the opportunity to complete field
internships at area medical institutions.
Critical Thinking in Medicine Course
This course provides students with a context and structure to
organize the information that they must understand, recall and integrate
in their study and future practice. Skills developed in this course
include research, computer fluency, written and spoken communication,
biostatistics, epidemiology, evaluation and analysis of diagnoses,
decision-making and test result analysis.
This course approach is twofold; students focus on both
physician-patient relationships, as well as the relationship between
physicians and society as a whole. Students gain an understanding of the
biopsychological context of patient encounters, and the methods used to
maximize health promotion and reduce risks. Students also develop an
understanding of ethics, public health, health policy and legal
regulations that influence their future interactions with the
surrounding community.
Clerkship in Surgery
This clerkship is structured to educate non-surgical physicians to
recognize when patient conditions require surgical consultation, as well
as to instruct physicians in the fundamental practices of surgical
practice. Coursework is divided between classroom study and integrative
practice in surgical rotation.
Continuing Education
Graduates of a M.D. program who wish to pursue a career as a medical
examiner need to complete a pathology fellowship with a forensic
pathology rotation through a county medical examiner's office.
Fellowships in pathology are usually 4-year programs, and the forensic
pathology rotations can last several months. In these rotations,
students perform daily autopsies on decedents, with the exception of
homicide cases, where they survey professional medical examiners.
Graduates of these degree programs are prepared to find employment as medical examiners and coroners. According to
Payscale.com,
the salary range for a coroner was between $40,292 and $63,419 in
October 2010. The top paying industries for this profession are
government facilities, police agencies, science laboratories, public law
offices and hospitals.
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