CRIMINAL JUSTICE/ANTHROPOLOGY 322 (4 CREDITS)
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY T 2:00-3:50, NS006
SYLLABUS AND STATEMENT OF COURSE POLICY
Welcome!
Instructor Contact Information:
Dr. Misty Weitzel
Email: weitzelm@wou.edu
Telephone: 838-8520
Office: Maaske 203
Office Hours: W 1:00-4:00, TR 1:00-2:00 and by appointment
Required Texts and Other Reading Materials:
o Tersigni-Tarrant, M. and Shirley, N. 2013. Forensic Anthropology: An Introduction.
CRC Press. Boca Raton, Fl.
o Powerpoint slides will be posted at on Moodle.
If you are not familiar with human osteology ONE of the following texts are highly
recommended:
o White, Tim D. and P.A. Folkens. 2011. Human Osteology. 3rd ed. Academic Press. San
Diego, CA.
o Steele, Gentry and Claud Bramblett. 1988. The Anatomy and Biology of the
Human Skeleton. Texas A&M University Press. College Station, TX.
o Bass, William M. 1995. Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual of the
Human Skeleton. Special Publication No. 2 of the Missouri Archaeological Society.
Course Overview:
Forensic anthropology is an applied subdiscipline of bioanthropology. Using bioanthropological
methods, forensic anthropologists aid in cases of forensic or legal importance. In this course we
will examine the role of the forensic anthropologist and history of the discipline. We will become
familiar with the goals, techniques, and broader applications of forensic anthropology through
lectures, readings, labs, videos and in-depth projects.
Learning Outcomes:
From this course you will be able to:

Begin to identify human bones and teeth and some of their features

List the procedures for search and recovery of human skeletal remains

Describe and execute techniques used to assess sex, age, stature, and ancestry of human
skeletal remains

Become familiar with additional techniques used to identify an individual as well as
trauma and taphonomic agents associated with human skeletal remains



Explain how time since death is estimated
Summarize and provide examples of the various applications of forensic anthropology to
historical, human rights, and mass disasters cases
Achieve a new familiarity and appreciation of forensic anthropology
Evaluation of Student Performance:
Grading
Attendance and Participation (10 labs, 5 pts. each)
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Research Paper_
Total
Points
50
10
10
30
100
Your final grade will be based on the following scale: A 93-100, A- 90-92, B+ 88-89, B 83-87,
B- 80-82, C+ 78-79, C 73-77, C- 70-72, D+68-69, D63-67, D- 60-62, F 59 and below.
Attendance and Participation:
You must be in class to complete labs and quizzes. For critical emergencies please see me prior
to due dates. It is expected that you will complete each of the 10 labs prior to the deadline. Labs
are due in class the day they are assigned unless otherwise noted. Because osteology is essential
for understanding subsequent course material, Lab 1 is particularly important. To receive full
credit for a lab you must demonstrate that you made a concerted effort to learn the material.
Quizzes:
There will be two quizzes. Quizzes will be based on all material covered in class
(lectures, videos, etc.) and required readings and made up of a combination of
matching, true/false and essay questions. Please check the schedule for quiz dates.
Assignments:
Research Paper
You will conduct relatively extensive research on a specific topic relevant to the course and write
a paper on this topic no fewer than 10 pages (A list of potential topics, guidelines for research
papers, and an assessment rubric will be provided).
Extra Credit Options Book Review (5 pts. possible):
The extra credit option is for you to expand your knowledge of the concepts discussed in class
and further advance your grade if you so choose. It is entirely up to you whether or not you
would like to take advantage of this opportunity.
You will select one of the books from the list provided and write a critical book review no fewer
than 5 pages. You will begin with a brief summary of the main ideas of the book and then
progress to an integrated and critical examination of the book borrowing from course material to
support your ideas. (Lists of potential books and guidelines for writing book reviews will be
provided).
Communication: Instructor/student communication will occur through your WOU email
account in addition to Moodle. Please check the course website and your email routinely.
If the instructor determines your performance in this class is placing you at academic risk, you
may be referred to Jesse Poole, Western’s Student Success Specialist. Jesse will offer to work
with you to address issues and develop a student success strategy. Regardless of whether a
referral has or has not been made, you are ultimately responsible for tracking your own progress
in this course. If you would like to meet with Jesse regarding any academic struggles you are
experiencing, please contact the Academic Advising and Learning Center at 503-838-8428.
Electronic items such as cell phones, laptops, iPads, iPods and e-book readers should not distract
you or your classmates during class. If you are distracting yourself or others, in any way, with an
electronic item in class, you will be asked to step into the hall until you are done with the item.
Unauthorized electronic items used on exams or quizzes will result in a score of 0 on that entire
exam or quiz.
Students with Disabilities:
If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are
encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Office of Disability Services, APSC 405, or at
503-838-8250, as early as possible in the term. Students needing medical or mental health care
can access the Student Health and Counseling Center by calling 503-838-8313, emailing at
health@wou.edu, or by walking in to schedule an appointment.
It is University policy to provide, on an individualized basis, accommodations to students who
have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meet course
requirements. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact their instructor to discuss their
individual needs for accommodation. Students needing medical or mental health care can access
the Student Health and Counseling Center by calling 503-838-8313, emailing at
health@wou.edu, or by walking in to schedule an appointment.
Veteran’s Accomodation
“Military Service Personnel (active duty or returning): Veterans, reservists or active duty
military personnel (or family members) with special circumstances are encouraged to
communicate these, in advance if possible, to me so that we can discuss appropriate
accommodations. For WOU Veteran resources; please see http://wou.edu/veterans/.”
Academic Integrity: Students must adhere to WOU’s Code of Student Responsibility.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course. I REPORT ALL INSTANCES OF
SUSPECTED DISHONESTY. Any student who violates the policy will receive 0 points on the
assignment, and MAY also be given a failing grade for the course. The case will also be turned
over to the Student Judicial Committee for further action. Examples of inappropriate behavior
includes doing assigned work for another student, sharing answers on work assigned to be done
individually, sharing or copying answers during an exam or portraying another person’s writing
as your own. If you have questions about what might be considered inappropriate, please ask
me!
Course Evaluation and Feedback: Students will be given the opportunity to evaluate this
course at the end of the term through the university-wide system of class evaluations.
Throughout the term students may offer feedback via email or by appointment.
Schedule:
Date
Week 1
Topic
__________
Introduction to the Course and Forensic Anthropology
The History and Integration of Forensic Anthropology
Osteology, Human v. Nonhuman remains
Lab 1 Introduction to Osteology
Readings
Ch. 1–5
Week 2
Search and Recovery/Forensic Archaeology
Lab 2 Search and Recovery
Ch. 6–7
Week 3
Time Since Death and Forensic Taphonomy
Lab 3 Time Since Death/Taphonomy
Ch. 16–19
Week 4
Sex Estimation
Lab 4 Sex Estimation
Ch. 8
Week 5
Age Estimation
Lab 5 Age Estimation
Quiz 1 (includes material through week 5)
Ch. 9–10
Week 6
Ancestry Estimation
Lab 6 Ancestry Estimation
Ch. 11
Week 7
Stature Estimation
Individualization: Forensic Odontology, Radiology, Facial
Reconstruction, DNA
Lab 7 Stature Estimation and Individualization
Ch. 12
Ch. 13, 20
Week 8
Trauma/Pathology, Stress Markers, and Anomalies
Historic Cases, Mass Disasters, and Human Rights
Investigations
Lab 8 Trauma/Pathology and Human Rights
Ch. 14–15, 2122
Week 9
Evidence, Court Testimony, Report Writing
Lab 9 Report Writing
Project and Extra Credit due at end of week
Week 10
Conclusions
Lab 10 Hollywood’s Forensic Anthropology
Week 11
Dec. 8, Tuesday 12:00-1:50
Quiz 2 (Cumulative)