ANTH 590: Forensic Anthropology

ANTH 590-001: Forensic Anthropology
(Fall 2018)

04:30 PM to 07:10 PM T

David J. King Hall 2084

Section Information for Fall 2018

Forensic anthropology is an emerging and dynamic applied field of anthropology. This field involves the study of human remains from unknown origins within medico-legal contexts. It applies methods from human osteology, skeletal biology, archaeology, bioarcheology, paleopathology and various other allied disciplines. Forensic anthropology principally serves medico-legal purposes in the determination of individual identity and manner/cause of death from human skeletal remains. Forensic anthropologists are usually called upon when skeletal remains suspected to be human are skeletonized, too fragmentary, or too decomposed to identify or examine through normal autopsy techniques. The course will examine state-of-the art methodology, theoretical positions, and unresolved debates in the forensic analysis of human remains through lecture and discussion of the text and additional carefully chosen case studies. We will examine topics including the forensic archaeological recovery of human remains, establishment of biological profiles (including estimation of decedents’ age, sex, and ante mortem life history), analyses of traumatic injuries, taphonomy, and specialized issues surrounding human rights, mass disasters, medicolegal ethics in forensic anthropology, and courtroom testimony.

ANTH 590 001 students must also register for ANTH 591 201.

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Provides an overview of contemporary forensic anthropology. Topics include: age and sex estimation from human remains, estimation of the postmortem interval, analysis of sharp force, blunt force, and gunshot trauma, individual identification, forensic taphonomy, mass disaster contexts, and the forensic archaeological recovery of buried remains. May not be repeated for credit.
Recommended Corequisite: ANTH 591.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.