FORSC 576 Forensic Anthropology

The course will cover the basics of forensic anthropology with the goal of teaching the students the difference between human and non-human skeletal characteristics, and what can be expected of a forensic anthropologist. Basic techniques for determining age, sex, stature, and ancestry will be discussed, and examples of non-metric osteological variation, pathology, and trauma will be shown. The course will show how a basic forensic anthropological examination is complementary to DNA analysis for identification of the deceased, and what should be expected in a forensic anthropological report.