Dead Men Do Tell Tales:
Introduction to Forensic Science
Anthropology 156-281
Chemistry 224-281
Clinical Laboratory Sciences 246-281
Criminal Justice 266-281
Thursday 1:30-4:10pm
Merrill 131
This course will apply a multidisciplinary perspective to the study of forensic science and
criminal investigation. Lectures from archaeologists, chemists, biologists, geographers,
criminologists, physical anthropologists and practitioners of forensic science will explore
the many ways that physical evidence is collected, analyzed and evaluated. This course
is the gateway course to all three Forensic Science certificate programs.
COORDINATOR: Dr. Trudy Turner, Anthropology, Sabin 125b, 229-4613
Hours: Wednesday 1:30-3:00 and by appointment
trudy@uwm.edu
TEACHING ASSISTANT: Oren Segal , Anthropology, Sabin G68, 229-4019
Hours: Thursday 10-12 and by appointment
PARTICIPATING UWM PROFESSORS:
Dr. Fred Anapol, Anthropology, Sabin 125c, 229-4231, fred@uwm.edu
Dr. Bettina Arnold, Anthropology, Sabin 229, 229-4583, barnold@uwm.edu
Dr. Steven Brandl, Criminal Justice, Enderis 1115, 229-5443, sgb@uwm.edu
Dr. John Dellinger, Clinical Lab Sciences, Enderis 413, 229-6341, jdelling@uwm.edu
Dr. Benjamin Feinberg, Chemistry, Chemistry 545, 229-4169, feinberg@uwm.edu
Dr. Glen Fredlund, Geography, Bolton 454, 229-6112, fredlund@uwm.edu
Dr. Robert Jeske, Anthropology, Sabin 290, 229-4275, jeske@uwm.edu
Dr. Stan Stojkovic, Social Welfare, Enderis 1095, 229-4400, stojkovi@uwm.edu
OTHER PARTICIPANTS:
Dr. Michael Camp, State Crime Laboratory
Dr. Jeffrey Jentzen, Milwaukee Medical Examiner
Dr. Mallory O’Brien, Harvard University
Dr. G.B. Palermo, Medical College of Wisconsin
Required Reading:
Dead Men Do Tell Tales – Course pack available from the Xerox Center in the Union
Interpreting the Past: Human Remains by Andrew Chamberlain, University of
California Press, 1994
Hard Evidence: Case studies in Forensic Anthropology by Dawnie Wolfe Steadman,
Prentice Hall
Examinations:
There will be two examinations: a midterm and a final
Schedule of Classes:
September 7 Introduction
Film – Dead Men Do Talk
Reading: Steadman – Section 1, Chapter 1
September 14 Metaview of Evidence – Dr. Brandl
Reading: Forensic Evidence and the Police
September 21 Overview of the Criminal Justice System – Dr. Stojkovic
Reading: Crime and Policy: A Complex Problem
September 28 The State Crime Lab – Dr. Camp
Reading: Steadman – Chapter 4,5,6
October 5
Overview of Medicolegal Death Investigation- Dr. Jentzen
Reading: Steadman – Chapter 2,3,18
October 12
Physical and Chemical Analysis of Evidence – Dr. Feinberg
Reading: Organic Analysis
October 19
Pharmacology – Dr. Dellinger
October 26
Midterm
November 2 DNA Analysis – TBA
Reading: An Introduction to Forensic DNA Analysis
Steadman – Section IV, Chapter 15
November 9
November 16 Forensic Anthropology – Dr. Anapol
Reading: Interpreting the Past: Human Remains
Steadman – Chapters 10, 11, 13
November 16 National Violent Injury Statistics System – Dr. O’ Brien
Soils - Dr. Fredlund
November 23
Thanksgiving Recess
November 30
Prehistoric Archaeology and Forensics – Dr. Arnold, Dr. Jeske
Reading: How to Prepare a Bog Body
The Mummy’s Tale
Murders From the Past
Post-mortem at the Little Bighorn
Bones and Bureaucrats
The Man in the Ice
Bodies from the Bog
Steadman: Section II, Chapters 7,8,9 and 12
December 7
Forensic Psychiatry – Dr. Palermo
Final Exam – Saturday, December 16
12:30-2:30