Education in Forensic Anthropology
Updated 04/05/06This page is a reference guide to educational programs in Forensic Anthropology. If the information is found to be outdated or incorrect in any way, or if you would like to add a listing, please forward your comments and suggestions to: vcraigle@lib.med.utah.edu
California State University, Chico
http://www.csuchico.edu/catalog/anth/ma_anth.htmlFaculty: Dr. Turhon A. Murad | Dr. Patrick S. Willey
CSU Chico offers the MA degree in Anthropology. In addition, students who wish to pursue a career in forensics are provided with the opportunity to become certified in forensic identification.
California State University, Los Angeles
http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/anthro/forensic.htmFaculty: Dr. Elizabeth Miller
Forensic Anthropology at Cal State Los Angeles is a graduate track only, although undergraduate students may take courses in Forensic Anthropology. The graduate track is NOT a degree in Forensic Anthropology. It is also important for the student to realize that employment in Forensic Anthropology is rare, and a Ph.D. is generally required.
Cornell University, Ithaca NY
http://falcon.arts.cornell.edu/Anthro/Faculty: Dr. Kenneth R. Kennedy
The graduate program in anthropology aims to combine anthropologically grounded knowledge with an understanding of the history of the discipline and the development of current theoretical debates.
Dundee University, Scotland
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/admissions/newcourses/forensicanth/Faculty: Sue Black, OBE | Dr Tim Thompson
From September of 2004 Dundee University in Scotland is offering the first 4 year undergraduate training programme in forensic anthropology in the UK. This is a BSc (with honours) programme, covering all aspects of both soft and hard tissue anatomy. The program is followed by a one year Master's programme (MSc) in Human Identification. Also offered is a PhD research programme
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
http://www.ga.lsu.edu/Faculty: Mary Manhein
LSU is home of the FACES lab, the Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services laboratory. The FACES lab is a Model Age Progression Site and is a satellite for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It is the only such site affliated with a university in the country and most of the work is performed by supervised students. The laboratory offers law enforcement agencies such services as age progression of missing children and fugitives and photographic enhancement. The forensic lab has a wet lab, a very large fume hood, and an x-ray machine and processor. LSU offers courses in forensic anthropology, human osteology, human gross anatomy, and forensic entomology. Here one can pursue either a BA or an MA. The graduate program requires that one complete a thesis and comprehensive exams to graduate.
Loyola University, Chicago
http://www.luc.edu/depts/anthropology/anthro_page.htmlFaculty: Dr. Anne L. Grauer | Dr. James M. Calcagno
Loyola University is the home of BARFAA (Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology Association). Graduate degrees are offered through the Biology Department where Dr. Anne Grauer, a Forensic Anthropologist, serves as adjunct professor and advisor. Students seeking Master's degrees in Biology have the opportunity to choose Biological Anthropology as an emphasis. These students are encouraged to participate in projects associated with the Field Museum and the Physical Anthropology Laboratory as well as archaeological field schools offered through the University.
Mcmaster University Ontario, Canada
http://www.socsci.mcmaster.ca/anthro/index.cfmFaculty: Dr. Shelly R. Saunders | Dr. Edward Glanville | Dr. D. Anne Herring | Dr. Henry P. Schwarcz
Mcmaster offers both M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in physical anthropology. Some courses offered include; Advanced Topics in Physical Anthropology, Human Variation and Evolutionary Change, and Human Osteology and Forensic Anthropology. Research facilities include a physical anthropology laboratory which houses human and non-human skeletal material as well as equipment for microscopic analysis.
Mercyhurst College, Pennsylvania
http://mai.mercyhurst.edu/Faculty: Dr. Dennis C. Dirkmaat | Dr. David C. Hyland
Mercyhurst College serves as a regional center through which coroners and law enforcement officials in PA, Ohio, New York, and West Virginia can consult with forensic anthropologists on a wide variety of cases from rural searches to laboratory analyses. Students concentrating on Forensic Anthropology will have the opportunity to participate in a number of forensic projects and cases conducted by the department.
Michigan State University, East Lansing
http://www.forensic.msu.edu/Faculty: Dr. Norm Sauer | Dr. Todd Fenton
Michigan State University offers the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in anthropology with an emphasis on physical anthropology, and particular strengths in bioarchaeology, osteology and skeletal biology, and also forensic anthropology. Students can also choose to obtain a Master of Science degree in Forensic Sciences through the MSU School of Criminal Justice, with a concentration in forensic anthropology. The Forensic Anthropology Laboratory students and faculty consult on about 50 forensic cases each year. The forensic anthropology program also includes a study abroad summer course on "Forensic Anthropology and Human Identification in England."
http://www.forensic.msu.edu/
http://www.ssc.msu.edu/~anp/forensic/forensic.htm
http://studyabroad.msu.edu/programs/ukforensic.html
New York University
http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/anthro/programs/biology/index.htmlFaculty: Dr. Susan C. Antón
This program prepares graduates to apply the principles and techniques of skeletal biology and genetic research in Physical Anthropology to a variety of contexts, including those in the Forensic Sciences (i.e., Medical Examiner’s office, Coroner’s office, Armed Forces, Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Mass Disasters). The program can also be useful training for students who are preparing for admission to doctoral programs in skeletal biology and human evolution. Prospective students should hold a B.A. or B.S. preferably with an emphasis in anthropology, biological, or natural sciences.
Texas State University, San Marcos
http://www.txstate.edu/anthropology/Professor: Dr. Jerry Melbye, DABFA, FAAFS
Our program offers a B.A., B.S., and M.A. degrees in anthropology with special streams in Forensic Anthropology.
University of California, Santa Cruz
http://anthro.ucsc.edu/phys_track.shtmlFaculty: Dr. Alison Galloway
The program offers facilities for the study of comparative anatomy, osteology, forensic anthropology, zooarchaeology, ceramics, lithics, and Monterey Bay archaeology . The laboratories maintain collections in comparative vertebrate osteology, primate osteology, taphonomic specimens, and regional archaeology. The laboratories are overseen by Professors Alison Galloway, Diane Gifford-Gonzalez, Judith Habicht-Mauche, and Adrienne Zihlman and managed by Richard Baldwin.
The University of Florida, Gainesville
http://www.clas.ufl.edu/anthroFaculty: Dr. Anthony B. Falsetti | Dr. Michael W. Warren | Dr. William M. Goza
The Department of Anthropology at the University of Florida offers graduate study in Biological or Physical Anthropology. Within biological anthropology at Florida there are several sub-specialties that students can pursue, including paleoanthropology, primate behavior and ecology, skeletal biology, functional morphology, forensic anthropology, human genetic variation and biomedical studies. Read more about the program or visit their Website at http://web.anthro.ufl.edu/c.a.poundlab/poundlab.htm
University of Hawaii
http://www.anthropology.hawaii.edu/programs/subfields/phypage.htmFaculty: Dr. Michael Pietrusewsky | Dr. Nina Etkin (Medical Anthropology | Dr. Leslie Sponsel (Ecological Anthropology) | Dr. Thomas Holland (CILHI)
We offer M.A. and Ph.D. degree programs in anthropology with specialization in physical anthropology. The latter can include a further specialization in forensic anthropology.
University of Indianapolis
http://archlab.uindy.edu/humbio.htmlFaculty: Stephen P. Nawrocki
The Department of Biology at the University of Indianapolis offers a unique Master of Science degree in Human Biology that blends traditional study in biological anthropology and archeology with a solid base in anatomy and the biological sciences. The program emphasizes small class sizes, personal interaction with faculty, hands-on learning, direct and early involvement in research and fieldwork, and valuable opportunities for student teaching. Admission to the program is limited to two or three highly-qualified students per year.
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
http://www.umass.edu/anthro/Faculty: Dr. Alan C. Swedlund | Dr. Lynnette Leidy | Dr. Laurie R. Godfrey
UMass Amherst has a strong Physical Anthropology Department which offers courses in primate anatomy and skeletal analysis. The program allows students the opportunity to provide services in the identification of human remains for law enforcement agencies and has several programs in archaeology and field excavation methods.
University of Missouri, Columbia
http://www.missouri.edu/~anthwww/programs/grad/intro.htmlFaculty:
The Department of Anthropology offers graduate work leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. The M.A. degree is designed to provide broad training in anthropology with the beginning of specialization in the student's chosen research area. The student proceeds to individual specialized study at the Ph.D. level.
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
http://www.unm.edu/~anthro/Faculty: Dr. Jane Buikstra | Dr. Joseph Powell | Dr. Jeffrey W. Froehlich | Dr. Osbjorn Pearson | Dr. Anne Stone
The Anthropology Department at the University of New Mexico has produced many Ph.D.s, M.A.s and M.S.s in Biological Anthropology who are currently employed as Forensic Anthropologists. UNM is also the site for the Maxwell Museum which houses an extensive osteology collection. The curriculum covers the full spectrum of human biological diversity, offering courses from human paleontology to the taphonomy of human skeletal remains and Forensic Anthropology. The department has a diverse and accomplished faculty.
University of South Carolina
http://www.sc.edu/bulletin/ugrad/LibAnthr.htmlFaculty: Dr. Ted A. Rathbun
The M.A. degree is offered at the University of South Carolina
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Http://web.utk.edu/~anthrop/index.htmFaculty: Dr. William M. Bass | Dr. Murray K. Marks | Dr. Richard L. Jantz | Dr. Lyle Konigsberg
Forensic Anthropology is offered as a specialization within Biological Anthropology. In accordance with the aims and goals of forensic anthropology, the focus of our program is the application of skeletal biological techniques to the identification of decomposing and skeletal remains for law enforcement and medicolegal agencies and investigations.
University of Toronto, Mississauga
http://www.erin.utoronto.ca/~w3fsc/Faculty: Dr. Tracy Rogers
The Department of Anthropology offers graduate work leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. The M.A. degree is designed to provide broad training in anthropology with the beginning of specialization in the student's chosen research area. The student proceeds to individual specialized study at the Ph.D. level.
University of Wyoming, Laramie
http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/anth/Faculty: Dr. George W. Gill
The University of Wyoming offers the M.A. degree with an emphasis in biological anthropology. The forensic anthropology program headed by Dr. George Gill emphasises the use of craniometrics in the analaysis of skeletal populations. Dr. Gill provides his students with many opportunities for fieldwork in places such as Peru and Easter Island and allows the more advanced students to participate in casework with the Wyoming State Coroner's Office.
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee
http://paws.wcu.edu/forensic/Faculty: Dr. John A. Williams
The Department of Anthropology and Sociology offers an undergraduate concentration in forensic anthropology. The Western Carolina Human Identification Laboratory offers students hands-on experience with skeletal and decomposing human remains.
Western Michigan University
http://www.wmich.edu/anthropology/biological.htmlFaculty:
The M.A. degree in Anthropology is offered at WMich.