Introduction to Forensic Anthropology

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Introduction to Forensic Anthropology provides a broad overview of one of the applied fields of biological anthropology. Forensic anthropologists use knowledge of skeletal anatomy to answer questions of medico-legal significance, and students will gain an understanding of what this requires. This includes the identification of human skeletal remains and the interpretation of the circumstances surrounding their death. While this course does not teach laboratory proficiency in the techniques of forensic anthropology, it outlines the concepts underlying the recovery and analysis of human remains, the determination of the biological profile (including age, sex, ancestry, and stature), and the interpretation of skeletal trauma and pathology. Course material will be presented in lecture format, supplemented by videos, daily in-class discussions, team-based activities and projects, and collaborative student presentations.