FRSC 4263 - Forensic and Biological Anthropology

Forensic anthropology is the application of the theories and principles of biological anthropology to the identification of human remains in order to determine their legal significance. Forensic anthropologists are most often called to scenes when highly decomposed or skeletal remains are discovered. The main role of the forensic anthropologist is to determine if remains are human, if they are recent or ancient, who they were, and what happened to them. Using techniques derived from biological anthropology, remains are examined to ellicit age, sex, ancestry, and other unique characteristics which may be used to identify the individual. This course will guide students through the processes and techniques used by forensic anthropologists to achieve these goals. Students will gain a detailed knowledge of human skeletal anatomy and be able to distinguish human from animal remains. They will also gain an in-depth understanding of taphonomic processes such as decomposition which affect the condition and recoverability of remains.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: FRSC 2503 and any biology course

Enrollment Restrictions: Junior standing or above.