SCIE 670/SOCS 670
SCIE670W/SOCS670W

Forensic Anthropology:
Human Remains and the Law

Jolee West

January 25, 2016 - May 6, 2016
Wednesdays, 6:30-9:00pm
Location: Science Tower 139

Information subject to change; syllabi and book lists are provided for general reference only. This seminar offers 3 credits, and enrollment is limited to 18 students. This course is open to auditors. This course is offered with a foundational course option (W).

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Professor Jolee West

Course Overview

Forensic Anthropology Banner

"Forensic Anthropology will change the way you look at people. An understanding of the human skeleton is fundamental to Forensic Anthropology, and after you learn about it, you'll look at a face and see the underlying structure, not just the color of skin and hair, and you will look at a body and understand how age, sex, handedness, habits and health history are written on the bones. “Reading” human remains is how forensic anthropologists help law enforcement put names and histories to the faceless and unidentified. In this course, we explore all this, as well as other, related forensic sciences, crime scene investigation, evidence handling, and more. Bones and CSI will never be the same." - Jolee West

  • Full Course Description
    Forensic anthropology is the medicolegal application of biological anthropological methods, generally pertaining to the identification of human remains. When badly decomposed, burned, and skeletonized remains are discovered, a forensic anthropologist is usually called in by law enforcement officials to help establish identity and aid in ascertaining time and manner of death. Forensic anthropologists maintain a skill set different from that of the average forensic pathologist, one that cross-cuts human osteology, archaeology, and comparative vertebrate anatomy.
     
    The course begins with an overview of the history of forensic anthropology and a review of human osteology, in particular, we focus on the growth, structure, and histology of the human skeleton. Next, we consider the methods used by forensic anthropologists to aid in personal identification--the determination of age, sex, stature, and ancestry, and the identification of occupational markers, evidence of medical history, and indications of perimortem trauma. The role of the forensic anthropologist in the recovery of remains and crime scene investigation are explored, and we examine the role of specialists with whom they interact, such as crime investigators, forensic odontologists, forensic entomologists, and forensic pathologists. Lastly, we consider the role of forensic anthropologist as expert witness and the laws pertaining to the treatment of human remains.
  • Assessment

    Assessment

    Students will be evaluated based the following:

    1. Classroom discussion/participation (15%)
    2. 2. Several short, written case-­‐oriented analyses (20%)
    3. 3. A 10-­‐15 page narrowly-­‐defined research paper concerning a topic relevant to this course, broken down into five separately graded assignments:
      1. Basic formulation of the paper topic, a rough outline, and a list of at least 5 references (10%)
      2. Instructor-­‐graded 1st-­‐draft (10%)
      3. Peer-­‐graded 2nd draft (10%)
      4. Student presentation of paper topic (5%)
      5. Final draft (submitted paper). (30%)

    I will provide a list of possible paper topics, or help you define your own, based on your personal interests.

    The foundational option of this course (SCIE670W/SOCS670W) provides an additional level of guidance, support, and feedback. Students enrolling in the first term of study, as degree candidates, or with the intention to apply for candidacy, are encouraged to take advantage of this option. Foundation courses focus sharply on the development of the necessary tools and skills required by graduate level research.

  • Required Reading

    Required Reading

    There will be a standard textbook, as well as a few other short readings from the primary literature.

    Tersigni-Tarrant, MariaTeresa A., and Natalie R. Shirley. 2013. Forensic anthropology: an Introduction. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

    Publisher’s website: https://www.crcpress.com/Forensic-Anthropology-An-Introduction/TersigniTarrant-Shirley/9781439816462

    ISBN: 9781439816462

  • Faculty Bio
    Jolee is the Director of Academic Computing and IT-Library Collaborations at Wesleyan University. She formerly served as the Academic Computing Manager for Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Wesleyan University and prior to that, as the Assistant Director of the Sloan Center for Asynchronous Learning Environments (SCALE), at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Jolee has been working in the field of academic computing since graduate school, where she was employed as a statistical consultant at the University of Illinois Social Sciences Quantitative Lab. Jolee holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Illinois, with a specialty in palaeoanthropology. She maintains a connection to her academic interests and the vocation of teaching through an occasional turn as lecturer in Wesleyan's Graduate Liberal Studies program.