7/17/202 Syllabus for ASM 275: Forensic Anthropology (2021
1 Summer - B)
Course Syllabus
To print: MAC users press "⌘" + "P". PC users press "CTRL" + "P".
ASM 275: Forensic Anthropology
Course and Faculty Information
Course Description: Discusses the role of the forensic anthropologist in medico-legal investigations
involving skeletonized human remains. Includes forensic recovery techniques, identification of
decedents through skeletal and dental analysis, and reconstructing the crime scene through analysis
of trauma patterns. Covers the legal aspects of forensic practice and considers historical case studies
and the contributions forensic anthropologists make to mass disaster investigations and human rights
abuses.
Credits: 4 Credit Hours, this class counts toward the CLAS Science and Society requirement as well as
an SB or SG general studies designation.
Prerequisites: None
Instructors: Andrew Seidel, PhD
Christopher Stojanowski, PhD
Contact Info: (mailto:) (Dr. Seidel will be your primary contact for this
course)
Office Hours: By appointment
Course Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this course, students will be
able to:
1. Identify the different scales of data used in science and measurement
2. Identify sources of error in forensic science
3. Distinguish accuracy and precision and apply these concepts to forensic data sets
4. Visually identify the bones of the human skeleton and describe basic anatomical terminology
https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/83629/ 1/1
,7/17/202 Syllabus for ASM 275: Forensic Anthropology (2021
1 Summer - B)
5. Describe the role of the forensic anthropologist in crime scene investigations
6. Outline the methods of forensic body recovery
7. Estimate time since death using multiproxy indicators
https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/83629/ 2/1
, 7/17/202 Syllabus for ASM 275: Forensic Anthropology (2021
1 Summer - B)
8. Define the biological profile and visually assess skeletal criteria for the major components of the
profile, which include age, sex, ancestry, and stature
9. Evaluate forensic methods of estimating the biological profile with respect to current rules of
evidence and the Daubert standards
10. Document the sources of variation in the human skeleton and how they are useful in forensic
casework
11. Describe the nuances surrounding ancestry assessment in forensic contexts, and in particular
define “race” and debate whether or not the human species has racial characteristics
12. Differentiate the major types of trauma that impact bone based on visual indicators
13. Identify different types of postmortem body alterations, including natural and intentional
14. Describe the techniques used for establishing a positive identification
15. Debate the benefits and weaknesses of forensic odontology, in particular, bite mark analysis
16. Define the role of the forensic anthropologist in recreating activities at a crime scene
17. Differentiate cause and manner of death
18. Evaluate how forensic anthropologists contribute to human rights investigations
19. Debate the ethics of biohistorical research projects
Textbooks
Required
Introduction to Forensic Anthropology Lab Manual, Stojanowski, ISBN: 9781773303857, Publisher:
Tophat.
https://app.tophat.com/e/150067 (https://app.tophat.com/e/150067)
JOIN CODE: 150067
Note: this is a required purchase for this course because the labs are done online through the Tophat
platform. NEW: Starting this semester Tophat has changed how their system work. In addition to the
text/manual you also need to purchase Tophat classroom.
The book can also be purchased directly from the ASU bookstore. They will provide you with a code to enter
online at tophat.com. The bookstore should also have the codes for Tophat classroom
NOTE: This is an online lab manual/text. Between this and the lectures you will learn everything you need to
do well in this class.
Recommended
Some students may prefer a hard copy of a printed textbook. I do not assign a text in this class
because the relevant content is covered in the lectures and online manual listed above. However, I
have provided a list of optional texts and placed copies of some of these on reserve in Hayden Library.
There are many forensic anthropology texts on the market. Most are very similar in content and cover
the same material as provided in the lectures. If you feel you need a full written text to learn the
material please consider these in the order they are presented below. For each of the six optional texts
listed the table below provides which chapters correspond with my lecture modules.
1. Byers, Steven. Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, 4th edition. Routledge.
2. Christensen, Angi, Passalacqua, Nicholas and Eric Bartelink. Forensic Anthropology: Current
Methods and Practice. Academic Press.
3. Langley, Natalie and MariaTeresa Tersigni-Tarrant. Forensic Anthropology. A Comprehensive
https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/83629/ 3/1
1 Summer - B)
Course Syllabus
To print: MAC users press "⌘" + "P". PC users press "CTRL" + "P".
ASM 275: Forensic Anthropology
Course and Faculty Information
Course Description: Discusses the role of the forensic anthropologist in medico-legal investigations
involving skeletonized human remains. Includes forensic recovery techniques, identification of
decedents through skeletal and dental analysis, and reconstructing the crime scene through analysis
of trauma patterns. Covers the legal aspects of forensic practice and considers historical case studies
and the contributions forensic anthropologists make to mass disaster investigations and human rights
abuses.
Credits: 4 Credit Hours, this class counts toward the CLAS Science and Society requirement as well as
an SB or SG general studies designation.
Prerequisites: None
Instructors: Andrew Seidel, PhD
Christopher Stojanowski, PhD
Contact Info: (mailto:) (Dr. Seidel will be your primary contact for this
course)
Office Hours: By appointment
Course Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this course, students will be
able to:
1. Identify the different scales of data used in science and measurement
2. Identify sources of error in forensic science
3. Distinguish accuracy and precision and apply these concepts to forensic data sets
4. Visually identify the bones of the human skeleton and describe basic anatomical terminology
https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/83629/ 1/1
,7/17/202 Syllabus for ASM 275: Forensic Anthropology (2021
1 Summer - B)
5. Describe the role of the forensic anthropologist in crime scene investigations
6. Outline the methods of forensic body recovery
7. Estimate time since death using multiproxy indicators
https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/83629/ 2/1
, 7/17/202 Syllabus for ASM 275: Forensic Anthropology (2021
1 Summer - B)
8. Define the biological profile and visually assess skeletal criteria for the major components of the
profile, which include age, sex, ancestry, and stature
9. Evaluate forensic methods of estimating the biological profile with respect to current rules of
evidence and the Daubert standards
10. Document the sources of variation in the human skeleton and how they are useful in forensic
casework
11. Describe the nuances surrounding ancestry assessment in forensic contexts, and in particular
define “race” and debate whether or not the human species has racial characteristics
12. Differentiate the major types of trauma that impact bone based on visual indicators
13. Identify different types of postmortem body alterations, including natural and intentional
14. Describe the techniques used for establishing a positive identification
15. Debate the benefits and weaknesses of forensic odontology, in particular, bite mark analysis
16. Define the role of the forensic anthropologist in recreating activities at a crime scene
17. Differentiate cause and manner of death
18. Evaluate how forensic anthropologists contribute to human rights investigations
19. Debate the ethics of biohistorical research projects
Textbooks
Required
Introduction to Forensic Anthropology Lab Manual, Stojanowski, ISBN: 9781773303857, Publisher:
Tophat.
https://app.tophat.com/e/150067 (https://app.tophat.com/e/150067)
JOIN CODE: 150067
Note: this is a required purchase for this course because the labs are done online through the Tophat
platform. NEW: Starting this semester Tophat has changed how their system work. In addition to the
text/manual you also need to purchase Tophat classroom.
The book can also be purchased directly from the ASU bookstore. They will provide you with a code to enter
online at tophat.com. The bookstore should also have the codes for Tophat classroom
NOTE: This is an online lab manual/text. Between this and the lectures you will learn everything you need to
do well in this class.
Recommended
Some students may prefer a hard copy of a printed textbook. I do not assign a text in this class
because the relevant content is covered in the lectures and online manual listed above. However, I
have provided a list of optional texts and placed copies of some of these on reserve in Hayden Library.
There are many forensic anthropology texts on the market. Most are very similar in content and cover
the same material as provided in the lectures. If you feel you need a full written text to learn the
material please consider these in the order they are presented below. For each of the six optional texts
listed the table below provides which chapters correspond with my lecture modules.
1. Byers, Steven. Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, 4th edition. Routledge.
2. Christensen, Angi, Passalacqua, Nicholas and Eric Bartelink. Forensic Anthropology: Current
Methods and Practice. Academic Press.
3. Langley, Natalie and MariaTeresa Tersigni-Tarrant. Forensic Anthropology. A Comprehensive
https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/83629/ 3/1
