George Mason University – Graduate Council
Graduate Course Approval Form
All courses numbered 500 or above must be submitted to the Graduate Council for final approval after approval by the
sponsoring College, School or Institute.
Graduate Council requires submission of this form for a new course or any change to existing courses. For a new course,
please attach a copy of the syllabus and catalog description (with catalog credit format, e.g. 3:2:1). The designated
representative of the College, School or Institute should forward the form along with the syllabus and catalog description, if
required, as an email attachment (in one file) to the secretary of the Graduate Council. A printed copy of the form with
signatures and the attachments should be brought to the Graduate Council meeting. Please complete the Graduate Course
Coordinator Form if the proposed changes will affect other units.
Note: Colleges, Schools or Institutes are responsible for submitting new or modified catalog descriptions (35 words or
less, using catalog format) to Creative Services by deadlines outlined in the yearly Catalog production calendar.
Please indicate: New___x____
Modify_______
Delete_______
Department/Unit:_COS Dean’s Office__ Course Subject/Number: FRSC 550
Submitted by:_Ann M Palkovich_________________________ Ext:__3-1448___ Email: apalkovi@gmu.edu
Course Title:_ Issues in Forensic Anthropology__________________________________
Effective Term (New/Modified Courses only): _Spring 2009
Credit Hours: (Fixed) _3___
(Var.) ______ to ______
Final Term (deleted courses only):____________
Grade Type (check one): __x__
_____
_____
Regular graduate (A, B, C, etc.)
Satisfactory/No Credit only
Special graduate (A, B, C, etc. + IP)
Repeat Status*(check one): __X_ NR-Not repeatable ____ RD-Repeatable within degree ____ RT-Repeatable within term
*Note: Used only for special topics, independent study, or internships courses
Total Number of Hours Allowed: _______
Schedule Type Code(s): 1.X LEC LEC=Lecture SEM=Seminar STU=Studio INT=Internship IND=Independent Study
2.____ LAB=Lab RCT=Recitation (second code used only for courses with Lab or Rct component)
Prereq x__ Coreq ___ (Check one): Graduate standing.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Note: Modified courses - review prereq or coreq for necessary changes; Deleted courses - review other courses to correct prereqs that list the deleted course.
Description of Modification (for modified courses):___ ___
Special Instructions (major/college/class code restrictions, if needed):__________________________________________
Department/Unit Approval Signature:_________________________________________ Date: _____________
College/School Committee Approval Signature:__________________________________ Date:_____________
Graduate Council Approval Date:____________ Provost Office Signature:_________________________________
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George Mason University
Graduate Course Coordination Form
Approval from other units:
Please list those units outside of your own who may be affected by this new, modified, or deleted course. Each of these units must
approve this change prior to its being submitted to the Graduate Council for approval.
Unit:
Head of Unit’s Signature:
Date:
Unit:
Head of Unit’s Signature:
Date:
Unit:
Head of Unit’s Signature:
Date:
Unit:
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Date:
Unit:
Head of Units Signature:
Date:
Graduate Council approval: ______________________________________________ Date: ____________
Graduate Council representative: __________________________________________
Date: ____________
Provost Office representative: ____________________________________________
Date: ____________
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Course Proposal Submitted to the Graduate Council
by
The College of Science
1. COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: FRSC 550 Issues in Forensic Anthropology (3:3:0)
Course Prerequisites: Graduate standing.
Catalog Description: Examines issues related to skeletal analyses and interpretation of forensic case reports in
determining personal identification and cause of death. Discussions include skeletal variation, age criteria,
sexing criteria, pathology, trauma, and post-mortem damage.
2. COURSE JUSTIFICATION:
Course Objectives: This course is intended for graduate students completing the graduate certificate in
forensic sciences. This course focuses on the scientific and interpretive issues that arise when analyzing
the skeletal remains in a forensic case. The objective of this course is to provide students the background
for understanding and interpreting the scientific assessments presented in forensic anthropology case
reports.
Course Necessity: This course will be one of a small suite of courses taught in support of the new graduate
certificate in forensic sciences. It will serve as an important complement to the general forensics track,
providing students with important background for their professional careers.
Course Relationship to Existing Programs: This will be an elective course in the proposed general forensic
science track.
Course Relationship to Existing Courses: This course will complement other course offerings in the proposed
forensic science track.
3. APPROVAL HISTORY: None
4. SCHEDULING AND PROPOSED INSTRUCTORS:
Semester of Initial Offering: The course will be first offered in Spring 2009.
Proposed Instructors: Ann M. Palkovich (Department of Sociology/Anthropology)
5. TENTATIVE SYLLABUS: See attached.
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FRSC 550
Issues in Forensic Anthropology
-- SYLLABUS -Prerequisites: graduate standing.
Credits: 3
Instructor: Ann M Palkovich
Course objective: This graduate course is designed as a broad introduction into the field of forensic
anthropology for the students with the background in the sciences pursing the graduate certificate in forensic
science. The goal of the course is to present the basic concepts of skeletal biology and the bases on which
forensic determination of personal identification and cause of death are made.
Course description: The course consists of three parts. The first part introduces students to the fundamental
concepts in skeletal biology. Two other parts explore specialized topics in skeletal analysis and present case
studies as example of forensic interpretation.
Part I introduces the basic notions of skeletal anatomy and morphology. Issues of age and sex distinctions as
well as variation due to growth and development will be considered. Life history analyzes will be introduced as
a scheme for understanding skeletal characteristics relative to cumulative identifying characteristics (dental
history, handedness, childbirth indicators, and the like).
Part II focuses on perimortem and postmortem skeletal indicators. Blunt force trauma, child abuse,
penetrating and performating trauma will be considered as they relate to cause of death. Estimation of post
mortem interval and post mortem events such as carnivore scavenging, cremation, weathering and
dismemberment will be discussed. Reliability and variation in skeletal indicators as reflected in forensic case
reports will be discussed.
Part III focuses on medico-legal aspects of forensic anthropology. The role of skeletal remains as evidence,
expert testimony and reliability of skeletal interpretation will be considered. The role forensic anthropology
plays in personal identification, its complement to DNA evidence and the efficacy of presenting cause of death
determinations will be discussed.
Prerequisites: Students are expected to be familiar with basic concepts of biology and human anatomy.
Grading basis: The students will be graded on the basis of course paper or final exam, homework, and
attendance.
Course materials:
1. Linda Klepinger, Fundamental of Forensic Anthropology
2. Komar and Buikstra, Forensic Anthropology: Contemporary Theory and Practice
3. Online lecture notes
Honor code: Exams, projects, and homework must reflect individual work.
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