Course Description
An introduction to forensic anthropology, focusing on human identification through analysis of bone and teeth. Students learn the basic information used by forensic anthropologists to recognize and evaluate sex, age, stature, genetic origin, disease, and trauma. Human skeletal anatomy, forensic case studies, relevant research, and report writing are included.
Athena Title
Intro to Forensic Anthropology
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course will introduce students to the field of forensic anthropology in the overall context of the forensic sciences. Students will learn to: 1. Describe the legal, human rights, and natural disaster applications of forensic anthropology. 2. Identify bones of the human body. 3. Identify how forensic scientists estimate sex, age, and biological affinity of skeletons. 4. Identify pathologies and trauma of the skeleton. 5. Analyze case studies in forensic anthropology.
Topical Outline
1. Definition and history of forensic anthropology 2. Basics of bone biology 3. Basics of human skeletal anatomy 4. Skull anatomy 5. Post-cranial anatomy 6. Forensic context 7. Recovery and decomposition 8. Attribution of sex 9. Attribution of ancestry 10. Attribution of age 11. Stature 12. Paleopathology 13. Minimum number of individual assessment 14. Human rights initiatives 15. Trauma 16. Facial reconstruction and DNA 17. Ethics and the law 18. Applications in archaeology
Syllabus