California University of Pennsylvania
Guidelines for New Course Proposals
University Course Syllabus
Approved: 2/4/13
Department of Justice, Law & Society
A.

Protocol
Course Name: Forensic Archaeology
Course Number: ANT 370
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: ANT 290 or permission of Instructor
Maximum Class Size: 25

B.

Objectives of the Course:
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Correctly identify the goals of Archaeology, Forensic Archaeology and Forensic
Anthropology and their interconnections
2. Correctly identify diagnostic human skeletal elements vs. non-human skeletal remains
3. Develop a recovery plan for the location, recovery and documentation of human
remains
4. Professionally conduct/manage fieldwork leading to the location and recovery of
human remains
5. Be able to identify what is physical evidence
6. Demonstrate the ability to professionally document the recovery of human remains
and any associated physical evidence
7. Correctly describe the role of Forensic Archaeology in the investigation of Human
Rights Violation Issues

C.

Catalog Description:
Forensic Archaeology is an interdisciplinary course designed to introduce archaeology,
forensic anthropology, and criminal justice majors to the procedures associated with the
location, identification, recovery and documentation of buried human remains. The
course contains three main components: identifying human remains, strategies of locating
human remains, and procedures for the recovery and documental of those remains.
Students will obtain practical, hands-on training in each of the three areas.

D.

Outline of the Course:

I. Introduction to the subject matter of the course:
A. What Forensic Archaeology
II. Archaeological theory:
A. Paradigms
B. Terminology
C. Methods

III. Forensic Archaeology
A. Paradigms
B. Terminology
C. Methods
IV. Taphonomy and site formation processes
A. Depositional
• Primary
• Secondary
• Defacto
B. Erosional
C. Alluvial
D. Colluvium
V. Skeletal Element Identification
A. Non-human Remains
B. Human Remains
• Juvenile
• Adult
C. Field Survey and Discovery
• Use of Maps
• Pedestrian Survey Methods
o Grid method
o Transect method
• Buried Human Remains
o Witnesses
o Probes
o Cadaver dogs
o Backhoe
o Remote sensing
 Aerial imagery
 Geophysical methods
VI. Field Methodology
A. Pre-fieldwork logistics
B. Personnel/Team Membership
C. Field Survey Methods/Discovery
VII. Field Recovery of Human Remains
A. Method of Site Excavation
• Site layout/grid
• Tools
• Screening
• Stratigraphy/profiles
• Site Taphonomy
VIII. Documentation Methods
A. Forms, Film and other
B. Physical Evidence at site
C. Chain of Custody of Evidence

IX. Report
E.

Teaching Methodology (face to face or classroom)
A variety of teaching methodologies may be used in teaching this course. They include, but are
not limited to: lectures, PowerPoint images, assigned readings, case studies, multi-media
presentations, group discussions, and guest speakers. Emphasis will be placed on engaging the
learner for involvement and active participation in the learning process.
 

F.

Text
Possible textbooks for this course include:
Hunter, John and Margaret Cox, 2005, Forensic Archaeology: advances in theory and
practices, Routledge Press.
Byers, Steven N., 2008, Forensic Anthropology Laboratory Manual, 2nd edition, Pearson
Publishers, New York.
Dupras, Tosha L., John J. Schulty, Sandra M. Wheeler and Lana J. Williams, 2006,
Forensic Recovery of Human Remains: archaeological approaches, CRC Press, Florida.

G.

Assessment Activities (face to face or classroom). Individual instructors may customize
different activities.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

H.

Performance assessment tasks
 
Weekly assignments and reports
 
Exams and/or quizzes
 
Individual/Group projects
 
Case studies
 
Research Reports
 
Article/Book Critiques
 

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with disabilities:
•

Reserve the right to decide when to self-identify and when to request accommodations.

•

Will register with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) each semester to receive
accommodations.

•

Might be required to communicate with faculty for accommodations which specifically involve
the faculty.

•

Will present the OSD Accommodation Approval Notice to faculty when requesting
accommodations that involve the faculty.

Office for Students with Disabilities
Requests for approval for reasonable accommodations should be directed to the Office for Students with
Disabilities (OSD). Approved accommodations will be recorded on the OSD Accommodation
Approval notice and provided to the student. Students are expected to adhere to OSD procedures for
self-identifying, providing documentation and requesting accommodations in a timely manner.
Contact Information:
Location:
Azorsky Hall – Room 105
Phone:
(724) 938-5781
Fax:
(724) 938-4599
Email:
osdmail@calu.edu
Web Site:
http://www.calu.edu/current-students/student-services/disability/index.htm

I.

Supportive Instructional Materials, e.g. library materials, web sites, etc.
Blau. Sprem amd Douglas H. Ubelaker, 2009, editors, Handbook of Forensic Anthropology
and Archaeology. World archaeology Congress, Research Handbooks in Archeology. Left
Coast Press.
Connor, Melissa A., 2007, Forensic Methods: excavation for the archaeologist and
investigatory, Altamira Press.
Ferllini, Roxana, 2007, Forensic Archaeology and Human Rights Violations, Charles C.
Thomas Publishers.
Body detectives [videorecording] / a BBC production in association with Clearcut
Communications for the Discovery Channel ; director, Sophie Rolfe ; producer, Robin
Anderson, 2006.
Unearthing evil: archaeology in the cause of justice [videorecording]/ produced by Paul
Schneller; KCET, directed by Karren Ruff, 2003.
The talking Skull [Videorecording]/produced by MEDSTAR and TLC, The
Learning channel; produced and written by Diana Hunter Jones; coordinating
producer, Vince Sherry; executive producer, Paul A. Dowling, 1999.

Additional Information for Course Proposals
J.

Proposed Instructors:
Anthropology faculty members in the Department of Justice, Law & Society with the
appropriate background in Archaeology.

K.

Rationale for the Course:
Such a course does not exist and the proposed course is vital to helping students in the
anthropology and criminal justice programs develop practical skills needed within the
field of forensic archaeology and forensic anthropology.

L.

Specialized Equipment or Supplies Needed:
No specialized equipment or supplies are needed

M.

Answer the following questions using complete sentences:
1.

Does the course require additional human resources? (Please explain)
The course does not require additional human resources. Faculty within the
Department /program can teach the course.

2.

Does the course require additional physical resources?
The course does not require additional physical resources

3.

Does the course change the requirements in any particular major?
(Please explain)
No, this course will not change the major.

4.

Does the course replace an existing course in your program? (If so, list the course)
The course does not replace an existing course.

5.

How often will the course be taught?
The course will be taught every third semester.

6.

Does the course duplicate an existing course in another Department or College? (If the
possibility exists, indicate course discipline, number, and name)
The course will not duplicate an existing course in another department or College.

N.

If the proposed course includes substantial material that is traditionally taught in another
discipline, you must request a statement of support from the department chair that houses that
discipline. Forensic Archaeology is traditionally taught within the Anthropology discipline.

O.

Please identify if you are proposing to have this course considered as a menu course for
General Education. If yes, justify and demonstrate the reasons based on the categories for
General Education. The General Education Committee must consider and approve the course

proposal before consideration by the UCC. No, this course will not be considered as a menu
course Education.
P.

Provide Approval Form (electronically).

Additional Guidelines
The following are additional guidelines that you must follow which will expedite your course
proposal. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the return of the proposal to the department.
1.

Be sure that your proposal is in the correct format (Guidelines for New Course Proposals)
and that all questions have been completely answered.

2.

Be sure that you have completed and attached the Application to Establish a New Course
form and/or the Advisement Sheet Revision form and that the appropriate signatures
have been affixed. Please send through the process electronically (the preferred method)
or by paper. No items will be placed on the agenda until the Chair of the UCC is in
possession of these forms.

3.

Be sure that you include an updated advisement sheet for any course that is being
required by the department or is classified as a restricted elective. In addition, you must
include an electronic copy (MS Word or PDF) of the current advisement sheet(s) with
your proposal. Be certain that all advisement sheets affected by the proposed course
change be included with your proposal.

4.

When submitting materials for consideration by the Curriculum Committee, you must
provide an electronic copy of each item to be reviewed to the Chairperson.

5.

All completed items must be in the hands of the Chairperson of the Curriculum
Committee a minimum of one week prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

6.

Any department requesting a course name change, number change, prefix changes, credit
changes, etc. must submit this request on the Application to Establish a New Course
Form and submit electronically.

7.

New advisement sheets, major proposals, minors, LOCs, Certificates, or changes to
advisement sheets will become effective the fall semester following committee approval.
The advisement sheets must also include the committee approval date and the
effective date on the advisement page. Submit this request on the Advisement and /or
Program Changes form.

8.

New courses will become effective the semester following committee approval.

9.

Any references listed must be in the appropriate bibliographic format for the discipline.

10.

Online courses should follow the Quality Matters™ rubric and is posted on the UCC
website. Be sure that you include the online teaching methodology statement (refer E.2
above) that refers to the Quality Matters™ rubric.

11.

All course objectives must follow Bloom’s Taxonomy learning domains located on the
UCC website.