AN 360 - Forensic Taphonomy

Offered Fall: No Offered Winter: Odd Years Offered Summer: No Offered Other: No

2 Credits
Hours (Lecture - Discussion - Lab): 2-0-0
Prerequisites: AN 110 or AN 200 or BI 111 or CH 111 or CJ 110, and sophomore standing.

This course is an overview of all of the forces, human and natural, that affect a human body after death. Some of the course content focuses on the history of taphonomy research in the United States, ethics in taphonomy research, and some standard data collection methods. Students who take this course will learn about the chemical and biological processes involved in decomposition, how the body affects the environment and how the environment affects the body. Students will learn about decomposition and the effects of scavengers, thermal alteration, water, and other factors, and their value in medicolegal death investigation. This course is highly recommended for any students who wish to conduct research at the Forensic Research Outdoor Station.

Notes: This course presents images of actual decomposing and damaged human and animal remains, and various circumstances of death are discussed. It may be triggering for some students.