Varying topics covering current discoveries, research, theories, fieldwork, etc., in biological anthropology. Topics vary with instructor.

If you love archeology, human biology, and skeletal anatomy, and also have a penchant for true crime/forensic cases, this course is for you! Using a scientific approach, we will extensively cover the basics of forensic anthropology: the history of the discipline, the fundamentals of osteology/skeletal anatomy and bone identification, forensic archaeology/excavation techniques, forensic taphonomy - the processes behind the decomposition and skeletonization of the body -, some elementary statistics, how to construct the biological profile - age, biological sex, stature and population affinity - from skeletal remains, skeletal trauma analysis, and a little bit of skeletal pathology (among other things!).

After taking this course, you will know a lot about the human skeleton, the vast range of information we can learn from it, how we can use that information to help with positive identifications of unknown persons from their skeletal remains - and how to fact-check media portrayals of forensic anthropologists!

Specs: A background in biological anthropology/biological sciences such as having taken Anthro 1 or equivalent is highly recommended, but not mandatory.

Repeat Rules

Requirements class fulfills