SURVEY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

Syllabus for Spring Semester 2009

Anthropology 311

Section 1: (MWF 9:00 Butte 327)
CLASS # 1208

Turhon A. Murad, Professor of Anthropology

Office: Plumas 111a
Hours: MWF 11:00 - noon,
Office Phone: (530) 898-5492
FAX: (530) 898-6143
INTERNET: E-mail tmurad@csuchico.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 187). 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. Attendence will be taken periodically at unanounced times and will be worth 20% of a student's final grade

There will be two (2) hourly exams during the course of the semester and one (1) comprehensive final exam as scheduled at http://www.csuchico. edu/schedule/finalexams.shtml . 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 14, 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:

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

Turhon A. Murad, Spring 2009, 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 327 from 9:00-9:50)

WEEK: Classroom Topic: Reading Assignment: Some links to related topics.
# 1 Intro. to the Course SFS Preface & 1 Forensics, AAFS,
# 2 Science & Jurisprudence SFS 2 & 3, MLD 11 Jurisprudence, Law & Order, Links to Science
# 3 History of Forensics SFS 4 & 5 Directory of Experts
# 4 History of Agencies SFS 6 Bounty Hunters, FBI
# 51st Exam on Friday, Feb. 27 Review notes, SFS Pref-6 and MLD Pref, 1 & 11 Exam is worth 20% of your grade
# 6 Criminalistics SFS 7 & 8 Fingerprints, FP Controversy, Blood
# 7 Forensic Pathology SFS 9 AFIP, Forensic Path
# 8 - From March 16 to March 20 Spring Break - No Classes Held
# 9 Postmortem Interval SFS 10 Forensic Entomology, Forensic Entomology
# 10 Toxicology SFS 11 Forensic Toxicology
# 11 2nd Exam on Fri, Apr. 10 Review notes, SFS 7-11 and MLD 2-8 Exam is worth 20% of your grade
# 12 Odontology SFS 12 Bite Marks, ABFO
# 13 Forensic Anthroplogy SFS 13 For. Anth, Skull Module, ABFA Home Page
# 14 Questioned Documents SFS 14 Questioned Docs.
# 15 The Behavioral Sciences SFS 15 Serial Killers, Killers
# 16 DNA Fingerprinting SFS 16 DNA Fingerprinting, DNA
# 17 Final Exam 10:00 Monday, May, 18 Review all your notes, all of SFS and all of MLD Exam is worth 40% of your grade!

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PLEASE CONSIDER: THE ANTHROPOLOGY FORUM (ANTH 497-01 Class # 1218).
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-s09.html

This web page was created by Turhon A. Murad and was last revised on January 22, 2009.