ANTH37721GD
Forensic Anthropology
 
  I: Administrative Information   II: Course Details   III: Topical Outline(s)  Printable Version   Public
 
Section I: Administrative Information
  Credit Value: 3.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Spring/Summer 2014
Prerequisites: (ANTH16678GD)
Corequisites: N/A
Equivalents:
N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A

Course Name (short): Forensic Anthropology
School:
Community and Liberal Studies
Program(s): Degree Breadth
Program Coordinator(s): Morgan Dennis
Course Leader or Contact: Jaime Ginter
Originator: Adele Dodge
Designate: Jackie Ansara
Version:
1.01
Status: Approved - Under Rev (AREV)

Calendar Description
Students explore the foundations of forensic anthropology, an applied sub-field of physical (biological) anthropology that uses methods and theory developed in human osteology and archaeology to investigate human remains and assess cause of death in a medicolegal setting.

Typical Instructional Format

Lecture
42.0
Total hours: 42.0

Courses may be offered in other formats.

Section I Notes: N/A

 
 
Section II: Course Details

Detailed Description
Students explore the foundations of forensic anthropology, an applied sub-field of physical (biological) anthropology that uses methods and theory developed in human osteology and archaeology to investigate human remains and assess cause of death in a medicolegal setting.

Program Context

 
Degree Breadth Program Coordinator: Morgan Dennis
This is an advanced (3000- level) Baccalaureate elective in the Social Science field of study for students in Degree programs. Electives make students aware of the distinctive assumptions and modes of analysis of at least one discipline outside their main field of study and of the society and culture in which they live and work.


Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes

 
 Critical Performance
By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated the 
ability to critique forensic anthropology and osteological theories 
and methods within the context of their application to medicolegal 
issues.

Learning Outcomes
To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated 
the ability to:

1. Determine the role of the forensic anthropologist in the   
   medicolegal process.


2. Assess the historical context and contribution of forensic 
   anthropology to human rights cases and mass disasters. 

3. Identify human skeletal anatomy and methods of skeletal  
   identification.

4. Critique osteological methods of skeletal identification. 

5. Synthesize forensic anthropology method and theory through the 
   evaluation of case studies.

6. Differentiate between ante-mortem and post-mortem skeletal 
   evidence.

7. Model ethical handling and analysis of human skeletal remains. 

8. Conduct applied research through the collection and analysis of 
   primary data.

9. Create a biological profile of a human skeleton.

Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

 
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

Tests:                                     40% (2 @ 20%)
Research Project (Biological Profile)      25%
Presentation                               15%
In-class Activities                        20% (2 @ 10%)

TEST AND ASSIGNMENT PROTOCOL 

To encourage behaviours that will help students to be successful in 
the workplace and to ensure that students receive credit for their 
individual work, the following rules apply to every course offered 
within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.  
            
1. Students are responsible for staying abreast of test dates and 
   times, as well as due dates and any special instructions for 
   submitting assignments and projects as supplied to the class by 
   the Professor.
   
2. Students must write all tests at the specified times. Missed 
   tests, in-class activities, assignments and presentations are   
   awarded a mark of zero. If an extension or make-up opportunity 
   is approved by the professor as outlined below, the mark of zero 
   may be revised by subsequent performance.  The penalty for late   
   submission of written assignments is a loss of 10% per day for 
   up to five business days (excluding weekends and statutory 
   holidays), after which, a grade of zero is assigned.  Business
   days include any day that the college is open for business, 
   whether the student has scheduled classes that day or not.  
3. Students, who miss a test or in-class activity or assignment or 
   fail to submit an assignment on time due to exceptional
   circumstances, are required to notify their professor in advance
   of the class whenever possible.  A make-up test may be supplied 
   for students who provide an acceptable explanation of their  
   absence and/or acceptable documentation explaining their absence
   (e.g., a medical certificate).  All make-up tests are to be 
   written at a time and place specified by the professor upon the
   student's return.  Alternately, students may be given an 
   opportunity to earn the associated marks by having a subsequent 
   test count for the additional marks.  Similarly, exceptional 
   circumstances may result in a modification of the due dates for
   assignments.
4. Unless otherwise specified, assignments and projects must be 
   submitted at the beginning of class. 
5. Students must complete every assignment as an individual effort  
   unless, the professor specifies otherwise.
6. Since there may be instances of grade appeal or questions 
   regarding the timely completion of assignments and/or extent of   
   individual effort, etc., students are strongly advised to keep,  
   and make available to their professor, if requested, a copy of 
   all assignments and working notes until the course grade has been 
   finalized.  
7. There will be no resubmission of work unless this has been 
   previously agreed to or suggested by the professor. 
8. Students must submit all assignments in courses with practical 
   lab and field components in order to pass the course.
Provincial Context
The course meets the following Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities requirements:

 

Essential Employability Skills
Essential Employability Skills emphasized in the course:

  Communication   Critical Thinking & Problem Solving   Interpersonal
  Numeracy   Information Management   Personal

Notes: N/A

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR Contact: Morgan Dennis

Students may apply to receive credit by demonstrating achievement of the course learning outcomes through previous life and work experiences. This course is eligible for challenge through the following method(s):

Challenge Exam Portfolio Interview Other Not Eligible for PLAR
X        

Notes: N/A

 
 
Section III: Topical Outline
Some details of this outline may change as a result of circumstances such as weather cancellations, College and student activities, and class timetabling.
Effective term: Spring/Summer 2014
Professor: Jaime Ginter
Textbook(s):
Byers, S.N. (2011). Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, 4th 
edition.  Pearson.

White T.D, and P.A. Folkens (2005) The Human Bone Manual, E-book. 
Academic Press (available as an E-book through the Sheridan Library 
system)

Recommended Reading:
Buikstra, J.E. and Ubelaker, D.H. (1994) Standards for Data 
Collection from Human Skeletal Remains. Arkansas Archaeological 
Survey Research Series #44.

Komar, D.A. and Buikstra, J.E. (2008).  Forensic Anthropology: 
Contemporary Theory and Practice. Oxford University Press.

Maples, W.R. and Browning, M. (1994). Dead Men do Tell Tales: The 
Strange and Fascinating Cases of a Forensic Anthropologist. Doubleday.

Matshes, E., Burbridge, B., Shur, B., Mohamed, A., Juurlink, B. 
(2005).  Human Osteology and Skeletal Radiology. CRC Press.

Nafte, M. (2009). Flesh and Bone, 2nd edition. Carolina Academic Press

Ramey Burns, K. (2013). Forensic Anthropology Training Manual, 3rd 
edition. Pearson.

Rhine, S. (1999). Bone Voyage: A Journey in Forensic Anthropology. 
University of New Mexico Press.

Wolfe Steadman, D. (2009). Hard Evidence: Case Studies in Forensic 
Anthropology, 2nd edition. Prentice Hall

Applicable student group(s): Degree Breadth
Course Details:
Module 1 - Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, Ethics
Readings: Byers 1, 19, Human Bone Manual 3
Topics:
-  Introduction to the course
-  Historical background of forensic anthropology
-  Forensic anthropologists and the medicolegal community
-  Ethical responsibilities

Module 2 - Recovery and Lab Procedures
Readings: Byers 4, 6, Human Bone Manual 18
Topics:
-  Locating, mapping and securing remains
-  Forensic anthropologists' involvement in mass disasters and 
human rights cases
-  Preparation, reconstruction, and recording of remains

Module 3 - Establishing the Forensic Context
Readings: Byers 3, 5, Human Bone Manual 5
Topics:
-  Human vs. nonhuman remains
-  Contemporary vs. noncontemporary
-  Decomposition and skeletonization
-  Postmortem skeletal modification

Module 4 - Human Skeletal Anatomy: skull and teeth
Readings: Byers 2; Human Bone Manual 7 & 8
Topics:
-  Identification of the cranial elements and major features
-  Identification of the different categories of teeth 
In-class activity (10%)

Module 5 - Human Skeletal Anatomy: upper limb & thorax
Readings: Byers 2; Human Bone Manual 9-13
Topics:
-  Identification of the bones of the thorax (vertebrae, 
sternum, ribs, clavicle and scapula)
-  Identification of the bones of the upper limb (humerus, 
radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals and phalanges)

Module 6 - Human Skeletal Anatomy: pelvis & lower limb 
Readings: Byers 2; Human Bone Manual 14-16	
Topics:
-  Identification of the bones of the pelvis (sacrum, coccyx 
and os coxae)
-  Identification of the bones of the lower limb (femur, 
tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals and phalanges)
In-class activity (10%)

Midterm test (20%)

Module 7 - Methods of Forensic Identification: Sex Estimation
Readings: Byers 8; Human Bone Manual 19 p. 385-387
Topics:
-  Methods used to estimate sex  (pelvis, skull, 
miscellaneous) 

Module 8 - Methods of Forensic Identification: Age Estimation
Readings: Byers 9; Human Bone Manual 19 p. 363-384
Topics:
-  Methods used to estimate age at death for subadults 
(skeletal vs. dental)
-  Methods used to estimate age at death for adults 

Module 9 - Methods of Forensic Identification: Population Affiliation
Readings: Byers 7, Human Bone Manual 19 p. 400-404
Topics:
-  Methods used to estimate population affiliation 
(anthroposcopic vs. metric)
-		
Module 10 - Methods of Forensic Identification: Aspects of 
Individualization
Readings: Byers 15, 17, Human Bone Manual 17
Topics:
-  Skeletal pathology
-  Dental pathology
-  Skeletal anomalies
-  Indicators of habitual activity

Module 11 - Methods of Forensic Identification: Death & Trauma
Readings: Byers 11-14
Topics:
-  Cause and manner of death
-  Forces causing trauma 
-  Projectile trauma
-  Blunt force trauma
Sharp force and miscellaneous trauma
Presentations (15%)
Research Project due (25%)

Module 12 - Biological Profile
Readings: Byers 18
Topics:
-  Positive vs. probable identification
-  Reaching conclusions based on demographic information about 
the human skeleton
Presentations (continue) (15%)

Final Test (20%)


Academic Honesty
The principle of academic honesty requires that all work submitted for evaluation and course credit be the original, unassisted work of the student. Cheating or plagiarism including borrowing, copying, purchasing or collaborating on work, except for group projects arranged and approved by the faculty member, or otherwise submitting work that is not the student's own violates this principle and will not be tolerated. Instances of academic dishonesty, including assisting another student to cheat, will be penalized as detailed in the Student Handbook.

Students who have any questions regarding whether or not specific circumstances involve a breach of academic honesty are advised to discuss them with the faculty member prior to submitting the assignment in question.

Discrimination and Harassment
Sheridan is committed to provide a learning environment that respects the dignity, self esteem and fair treatment of every person engaged in the learning process. Behaviour which is inconsistent with this principle will not be tolerated. Details of Sheridan's policy on Harassment and Discrimination are available in the Student Handbook.
 
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