SURVEY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

Syllabus for Fall Semester 2009

Anthropology 311

Section 1: (MWF 9:00 Butte 319)
CLASS # 1174

Turhon A. Murad, Professor of Anthropology

Office: Plumas 111
Hours: MW 10:00 - 12:00 & By appointment
Office Phone: (530) 898-5492
FAX: (530) 898-6143

INTERNET: e-mail: tmurad@csuchico.edu
California State University, Chico: http://www.csuchico.edu

UNPRESEDENTED INFORMATION: Due to the budget crisis, the State of California has imposed unprecedented furloughs on university faculty, staff, indeed, most all state employees. Thus, this syllabus is subject to change and modifications during the semester. However, every attempt will be made to sure that this class is disrupted as little as possible. Be assured overall course structure and educational expectations will be maintained without sacrificing intellectual rigor and course material. You will be notified if necessary of changes in syllabus schedule of assignments prior to the days and times that are stated here.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: A survey of the relationship between science and society by noting the history and nature of the role of the expert witness and forensic scientist in aiding to resolve various legal issues.(2007-2009 Catalog, Page 187). In addition to aiding to fulfill a requirement among Anthropology majors, this may assist Criminal Justice majors and is required among those pursuing the Certificate in Forensic Identification

POLICIES: Cell phones are required to be off during class. If someone's cell phone rings during class they should be prepared to intelligently address the class on that day's subject for the remainder of the hour. Attedance is required and is worth 100 points (20% of the final grade). Moreover, there will be two (2) hourly exams during the course of the semester plus a comprehensive final exam as scheduled by the University on the WEB at Final Exam Schedule for 2009-10,

Each of the hourly exams is worth 100 points (20%) as is a student's attendance (20%). The final exam is worth 200 points (40% of the final grade). All the exams are primarly objective. The exams and attedance provide for a possible total of 500 points for the course. Grades will be assigned as A, B, C, D, and F with plus and minus modifiers. A course grade will be based upon the student's average grade for all assignments and attendance. Grades will be curved. A single Make-up Exam is scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. The make-up is only for those who have missed one previous hourly exam. Also, no extra credit work will be accepted!

REQUIRED TEXT: Available in Plumas 111

Turhon A. Murad, 2008, MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH: My Career as a Forensic Anthropologist, See the instructor.

Turhon A. Murad, 2007, SURVEY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE, See the instructor.

THE LIBRARY:

Use the library to become thourghly familiar with one article in The Journal of Forensic Sciences for each hourly exam.

WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULE For ANTH 311-1 (MWF Butte 319 from 9:00-9:50)

>/b> Serial Crime, Killers
WEEK OF: Classroom Topic: Reading Assignment: Some links to related topics.
Aug. 24 Intro. to the Course TM Preface & 1 Forensics, AAFS,
Aug. 31 Science & Jurisprudence TM 2 & 3 Jurisprudence, Law, Links to Science
Sept. 7 History of Forensics TM 4 & 5 Directory of Experts
Sept. 14 History of Agencies TM 6 Bounty Hunters, FBI
Sept. 21 1st Exam on Fri, Sept. 25 Review notes & readings plus ML&D Preface thru #4 Exam is worth 25% of your grade
Sept. 28 Criminalistics TM 7 & 8 Fingerprints, FP Controversy, Blood
Oct. 5Forensic Pathology TM 9 AFIP, Forensic Path
Oct. 12 Postmortem Interval TM 10 Forensic Entomology, Forensic Entomology
Oct. 19 Toxicology TM 11 Forensic Toxicology
Oct. 26 2nd Exam on Fri, Oct. 30 Review notes & readings plus ML&D #5 thru #8 Exam is worth 25% of your grade
Nov. 2 Odontology TM 12 Bite Marks, ABFO
Nov. 9 Forensic Anthroplogy TM 13 For. Anth, Skull Module, ABFA Home Page
Nov. 16 Questioned Documents TM 14 Questioned Docs.
Nov. 23 - From Nov. 23 to Nov. 27 Thanksgiving Break - No Classes Held
Nov.30 Behavioral Sciences TM 15
Dec. 7 DNA Fingerprinting TM 16 DNA Fingerprinting, DNA
Dec. 14 Final Exam on Mon. 10:00 Review all notes & readings including ML&D Exam is worth 40% of your grade

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PLEASE CONSIDER: THE ANTHROPOLOGY FORUM (ANTH 497-01 CLASS # 1182).
It is a one (1) unit course meeting every Thursday from 4:00-5:00 pm in AYRES 120.

THE SIX GOALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT CSU, CHICO

    The goals of Anthropology 311 are consistent with all six of the Department's Goals and include the following:

  1. Understand from an anthropological perspective the phenomenon of culture as it differentiates human life from other life forms. Understand the roles of human biology and cultural processes in human behavior and evolution.
  2. Develop an ability to critically address ethical and moral issues of diversity, power, equality, and survival from an anthropological perspective.
  3. Know substantive data and theoretical perspectives in the subdisciplines of anthropology. Know the history of anthropological theory and be conversant in major issues in each area.
  4. Be familiar with the forms of anthropological literature and basic data sources. Know how to access, interpret, evaluate, and apply such information, using a range of sources and information technologies.
  5. Grasp the methodologies of the subdisciplines of anthropology. Be able to apply appropriate methods when conducting anthropological research.
  6. Be able to present and communicate the results of anthropological research.

    In addition to addressing all the Department's Goals, Anthropology 311 addresses the Univerity's stratgic goals of: 1.) creating and enhancing an innovative, student-centered learning environment; 2.) enhancing academic programs by building a state-of-the-art technological learning environment; and 3.) reaffirming the role of CSU, Chico as an anchor institution to the region as well as to the world-wide community.

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    ANTH DEPT HOME || CATALOG || SCHEDULE || LIBRARY ||

    The URL for this web page is http://www.csuchico.edu/~tmurad/syllabi/SYL_anth311-f08.html

    This web page was created and is maintained by Turhon A. Murad, the ABFA Webmaster. See for example: http//www.csuchico.edu/anth/ABFA/
    Revised: August 12, 2008