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Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - ANG6745
Tracking Number - 2636

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Current Status: Approved by SCNS - 2015-01-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: to GC 5/6/13; pending revision to objectives. Faculty emailed 5/10/13; emailed again 12/5/13. Updated 1/28/14. Approved 3/4/14. To USF Sys 3/19. to SCNS 3/27/14. Nmbr 6588 apprd as 6745. Effective 1/1/15


Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2011-10-05
  2. Department: Anthropology
  3. College: AS
  4. Budget Account Number: 120500000
  5. Contact Person: Heide Castaneda
  6. Phone: 8130742138
  7. Email: hcastaneda@usf.edu
  8. Prefix: ANG
  9. Number: 6745
  10. Full Title: Forensic Anthropology
  11. Credit Hours: 3
  12. Section Type: C - Class Lecture (Primarily)
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: N
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: N
  16. Is this course repeatable?: N
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
  19. Course Online?: C - Face-to-face (0% online)
  20. Percentage Online: 0
  21. Grading Option: R - Regular
  22. Prerequisites: none
  23. Corequisites: none
  24. Course Description: Provides a general introduction to the methods, theories, and techniques of Biological Anthropology as applied to medico-legal death investigations.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Replacing Selected Topics with Permanent number; already listed in program
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? This course is an elective for students in anthropology (both MA and PhD), and can also serve as an elective for students in criminology. In addition, this course would be central to the department of anthropology's proposed concentration in archaeology and forensic sciences

    Average student enrolment in past semesters has been 5-7 (graduate students. This is a cross-listed course that also includes undergraduates for a maximum of 25 students. The proposal is requesting permanent number for the graduate listing.

  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 3 or more times
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) Extensive theoretical and methodological knowledge in forensic anthropology

    The instructor teaching the course needs a PhD degree.

  29. Objectives: 1) To develop skills in human osteology.

    2) To introduce students to the range of methods and theory applied in the field of forensic anthropology.

    3) To develop skills in laboratory methods for the estimation of time since death, clandestine grave search and recovery, and how to build a skeletal biography through hands-on lab and field exercises.

    4) To learn how to interpret results from the various methods, focusing on quantitative methods in the area of Bioarchaeology.

    5) To apply appropriate methods to a specific, original research problem.

    6) To apply critical thinking skills through reading and discussion of literature.

    7) To develop academic writing skills through writing of a research paper on a focused topic & weekly essays.

  30. Learning Outcomes: At the end of the course students will have

    1. Basic knowledge about methods, theories, and techniques of biological anthropology as they applied to death investigations.

    2. Knowledge of how to build a skeletal biography

    3. Familiarity with ethical issues related to forensic anthropology, and to the application of forensic anthropology to issues related to human rights

  31. Major Topics: Introduction to forensic Anthropology and medico-legal death Investigations; Human osteology; Biological profiles; Issues in human identification; Human Rights Cases, War Atrocities, Mass Disasters; Forensic Archaeology.
  32. Textbooks: Byers SN (2008). Introduction to Forensic Anthropology: A Textbook. Third Edition. Allyn & Bacon Longman.

    Burns KR (2007). Forensic Anthropology Training annual. Second Edition. Prentice Hall.

  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: Additional set of articles and book chapters
  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: 50 points Exam I

    50 points Exam II

    50 points Exam III (Final Exam)

    50 points Osteology Quiz (must get >80% to pass)

    50 points Lab Methods Exam

    150 points Lab Exercices

    20 points in-class & on-line Essay Discussions

  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests: Three exams, One osteology quiz, Final exam

    Lab Assignments:

    Lab 1: Identification (10 Points)

    Lab 2: Human Osteology (20 Points)

    Lab 3: Establishing the Forensic Context (10 Points)

    Lab 4: Estimating PMI (10 Points)

    Lab 5: Sex Estimation (10 Points)

    Lab 6: Ancestry Estimation (10 Points)

    Lab 7: Age Estimation - Subadults (10 Points)

    Lab 8: Age Estimation - Adults (10 Points)

    Lab 9: Skeletal Trauma (10 Points)

    Lab 10: Forensic Archaeology Fieldwork Team Report and Presentation (50 Points) – Due 11/29

  36. Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,

    http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)

    Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)

    In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.

  37. Policy on Make-up Work: Make up work will only be available in cases of 1) a documented medical emergency or 2) major religious observances that necessitate absence from class. In the case of the latter, the student must present notice in writing to the instructor by the next class meeting.
  38. Program This Course Supports: MA, PhD, and Dual degree programs in Applied Anthropology
  39. Course Concurrence Information:


- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.