SURVEY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

Syllabus for Spring Semester 2008

Anthropology 311

Section 1: (MWF 9:00 Butte 319)
CLASS # 2428

Turhon A. Murad, Professor of Anthropology

Office: Plumas 104
Hours: MWF 10:00 - noon,
Office Phone: (530) 898-5492
FAX: (530) 898-6143
INTERNET: E-mail tmurad@csuchico.edu

Assistant: Melanie Beasley
Office: Plumas 115A
Hours: MW 10:00-11:00
Office Phone: (530) 898-4029
INTERNET: E-mail beasleyme@butte.edu

California State University, Chico: http://www.csuchico.edu

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 189). In addition to aiding to fulfill a requirement among Anthropology majors, this may assist Criminal Justice majors, but is also required among those pursuing the Certificate in Forensic Identification

POLICIES: Cell phones are required to be off during class. If someone's cell rings during class they should be prepared to intelligently address the class on that day's subject for the remainder of the hour.

There will be two (2) hourly exams during the course of the semester and one (1) comprehensive final exam as scheduled at www.csuchico.edu/schedule/exams0506.html . Each of the hourly exams is worth 100 points as will a student's attendance. The final exam is comprehensive and is worth 200 points for a total of 500 possible points for the semester. All the exams are primarly objective throughout 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 their exams as well as their attendance. Course grades will be curved. A single Make-up Exam is scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, May 15, 2008. 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 from Ms. Beasley in Plumas 115A.

Turhon A. Murad, 2007, MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH: My Career as a Forensic Anthropologist,

Turhon A. Murad, Spring 2007, SURVEY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE,

USE THE LIBRARY TO BECOME THOUROGHLY 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)

WEEK OF: Classroom Topic: Reading Assignment: Some links to related topics.
# 1 Jan. 28 Intro. to the Course TM Preface & 1 Forensics, AAFS,
# 2 Feb. 4 Science & Jurisprudence TM 2 & 3 Jurisprudence, Law & Order, Links to Science
# 3 Feb. 11 History of Forensics TM 4 & 5 Directory of Experts
# 4 Feb. 18 History of Agencies TM 6 Bounty Hunters, FBI
# 5 Feb. 251st Exam on Friday, Feb. 29 Review notes & readings plus ML&D Preface - 4 Exam is worth 25% of your grade
# 6 Mar. 3 Criminalistics TM 7 & 8 Fingerprints, FP Controversy, Blood
# 7 Mar. 10 Forensic Pathology TM 9 AFIP, Forensic Path
# 8 Mar. 17 - From March 17 to March 21 Spring Break - No Classes Held
# 9 Mar. 24 Postmortem Interval TM 10 Forensic Entomology, Forensic Entomology
# 10 Mar. 31 Toxicology TM 11 Forensic Toxicology
# 11 Apr. 7 2nd Exam on Fri, Apr. 11 Review notes & readings plus ML&D 5 - 8 Exam is worth 25% of your grade
# 12 Apr. 14 Odontology TM 12 Bite Marks, ABFO
# 13 Apr. 21 Forensic Anthroplogy TM 13 For. Anth, Skull Module, ABFA Home Page
# 14 Apr. 28 Questioned Documents TM 14 Questioned Docs.
# 15 May 5 The Behavioral Sciences TM 15 Serial Killers, Killers
# 16 May.12 DNA Fingerprinting TM 16 DNA Fingerprinting, DNA
# 17 May. 19 Final Exam 10:00 Monday, May, 19 Review all the notes & readings plus all of ML&D Exam is worth 40% of your grade!

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PLEASE CONSIDER: THE ANTHROPOLOGY FORUM (ANTH 497-01 Class # 2438).
It is a one (1) unit course meeting every Thursday from 4:00-5:00 pm in AYRES 120.

SEVEN GOALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT CSU, CHICO

  1. An understanding of the phenomenon of culture as that which differentiates human life from other life forms; an understanding of the roles of human biology and cultural processes in human behavior and human evolution.
  2. A positive appreciation of the diversity of contemporary and past human cultures and an awareness of the value of anthropological perspectives and knowledge in contemporary society.
  3. A knowledge of the substantive data pertinent to the several sub disciplines of anthropology and familiarity with major issues relevant to each.
  4. Familiarity with the forms of anthropological literature and basic data sources and knowledge of how to access such information.
  5. Knowledge of the methodology appropriate to the sub-disciplines of anthropology and the capacity to apply appropriate methods when conducting anthropological research.
  6. The ability to present and communicate in anthropologically appropriate ways anthropological knowledge and the results of anthropological research.
  7. Knowledge of the history of anthropological thought.

In addition to Department Goals number 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 listed above, 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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The URL for this web page is http://www.csuchico.edu/~tmurad/syllabi/SYL_anth311-s08.html

This web page was created by Turhon A. Murad

This web page is maintained by the ABFA Webmaster. See for example: http//www.csuchico.edu/anth/ABFA/
Revised: January 23, 2008