Students of forensic chemistry programs often find the prospect of supporting law enforcement processes through scientific work appealing. This course of study investigates topics such as chemistry and DNA analysis with a focus on practical applications in a criminal justice setting.

The PhD is a doctoral degree, specifically called a "doctor of philosophy" degree. This is misleading because PhD holders are not necessarily philosophers (unless they earned their degree in philosophy!). That said, PhD recipients are able to engage in thought experiments, reason about problems, and solve problems in sophisticated ways.