FSC-40021 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module is designed to develop your knowledge of forensic anthropology and taphonomy, allowing you to demonstrate an understanding of human variation and how this can be applied to forensic casework. You will practice the techniques used to build a biological profile for identification purposes, and develop critical analysis skills allowing you to apply the most appropriate methods to specific death scenarios. As well as developing your microscopy skills, you will gain confidence in trauma analysis and antemortem conditions. You will spend time studying postmortem changes to the body, as well as learning how to identify and apply environmental evidence, such as botany, diatoms, entomology and animal scavengers to casework. There will also be opportunities for you to practice the methods commonly used to locate clandestine graves, as well as experience a mock grave excavation, which encompasses all of the skills and knowledge gained throughout the module.

This module will focus on the examination of the human skeleton in a forensic context. Students enrolled on this module will build on the basic themes of forensic anthropology and taphonomy gained at the undergraduate level. They will study advanced osteology, making use of microscopy and analytical methods during the analysis of skeletal remains, as well as more specialist subjects related to victim search and recovery, forensic botany and entomology, commingling analysis and virtual anthropology. Students will gain hands-on fieldwork experience in the form of grave excavation (singular and mass graves), insect sampling, and body recovery. The module also encourages students to be critical of the current methods currently used by anthropologists, both in the laboratory and out in the field, and to develop an appreciation for the ethics associated with this subject.

Intended Learning Outcomes

identify, side and name individual bones and teeth in the human skeleton (intact and fragmented) and the landmarks upon them: 1
differentiate between human and animal remains using macro and microscopic methods: 1
critically assess the methods commonly used in forensic anthropology with an appreciation for ethics in the field: 1
compare the efficacy of traditional methods and virtual analyses of skeletal remains: 1
diagnose and interpret antemortem conditions and trauma: 1
make use of associated environmental evidence when processing and interpreting death scenes: 1
recover and identify insect evidence from a death scene, applying it to casework for time of death estimates: 1
critically assess and successfully implement appropriate search and recovery methods for buried human remains: 1

Study hours

Active Learning Hours (total 60 hours):
Lectures - 22 hours
Practical classes - 30 hours
Tutorials -3 hour
Collaborative activity online - 5 hours
Independent study - 90 hours

School Rules

Successful completion of a forensic anthropology module at undergraduate level

Description of Module Assessment