Decomposition and the Post-Mortem Interval

Catalog description

This course focuses on the trajectory and interpretation of decomposition and its effect on the reliability of post-mortem interval determination, particularly in outdoor environments. Students will learn the fundamentals of the decomposition process during the first half of the course before embarking on in-depth individual studies of that process utilizing pigs placed in various environments around the university's outdoor taphonomic research space. Lectures, readings, discussions, and hands-on activities will encourage critical scientific thinking and cover the theoretical and practical applications of taphonomic research as it pertains to death scene investigations and interpretation. Students who successfully complete this course will have a solid foundation for advancement in the fields of forensic anthropology, medico-legal death investigation, and crime scene investigation (law enforcement) as well as unique insight regarding professional application of these skills in real-world settings. Components: Field Studies, Laboratory, Class Prereqs/Coreqs: P: FORENSIC 3350 or FORENSIC 2420 or FORENSIC 3050 Typically Offered: Spring