Where should I go to college if I want to be a forensic anthropologist?

Question

I really wanted to be an anthropologist but I also wanted to be a CSI. Ugh I was confused but now that I know I can do both...where should I go to college?

Answer 1

Look into Stony Brook University in NY.  The have a excellent Anthropology department there.  Richard and Meave Leakey are currently working there as professors.  You might want to get in touch with Dr. Fred Grine who works in Forensics for Suffolk County, NY.  Just go to SUNY Stony Brook University for more info.

Answer 2

Just a quick note, most anthropologists used by law enforcement agencies for examining human remains to determine s*x, age, any trauma, diseases, etc. are actually academics- that is, they teach at universities- and just do that work on  the side. Very,very few manage to make a living out of doing it full-time. You have to be THE best at what you do.

As the above poster said, the University of Chicago does have an excellent anthropology program...but NOT if you want to do forensic anthropology.  One of the best schools specifically for forensic anthropology is the University of Tennessee (which has a Forensic Anthropology Center).

When researching additional anthropology departments, just make sure at least one faculty member has an interest in forensic anthropology or at least human osteology.  The important thing when finding a school to get an anthro degree is finding one with people that do precisely, or at least very nearly, exactly what you want to do. You will definitely need to go on to get a master's degree, and most likely a doctorate as well.  But you will not get into graduate school for forensic anthro unless you have had the appropriate, relevant coursework as an undergraduate. Course offerings in anthro departments are largely dependent on the research interests of the faculty members of that particular deptartment.  Also, keep in mind getting into graduate school (which WILL be necessary) for forensic anthropology is extremely competitive.  

If you are interested in not only working with human remains, but also doing things such as fingerprinting, blood splatter analysis, etc...consider something like biochemistry (some schools offer that with a forensics focus) or even forensic science, which is offered as a major at some schools. if you are especially motivated, you could perhaps double major in, say, biochemistry and anthropology, or major in one and minor in the other.

Best of luck.

Also, just so you know, forensic anthropology is NOT how it is portrayed on the show CSI. I know you didn't actually mention the show, but I wanted to throw that in! Hopefully you already knew that:)

Answer 3

Texas State University in San Marcos has one of the best forensic anthropology programs in the nation now and they officially have the largest "body farm".  As was previously mentioned, the University of Tennessee also has an excellent program, one more established than the one at Texas State.  However, in comparison, the program at Tennessee does not offer as many courses in forensic anthropology.  Texas State also has a Master's program in Criminal Justice with emphasis in forensics.  A combination of the two programs would probably make you a really marketable individual since there are more and more forensic anthropologists who are getting away from academia and working in morgue settings.  But just know that if you are in the field of forensic anthropology, you'll always have some tie to academia since that is where the majority of your peers will be and where all the research will come from.

Answer 4

as someone above said th University of Tennessee is a great place to go if you want to become a forensic anthropologist, probably the best.  they have "the body farm" there, the only one in the country. So a lot of the developments being made in forensic anthropology is happening there.

Answer 5

Explore many options, please. CSI and Bones do NOT do proper justice to the fields of forensic science (anthropolgical or not). It's not like that in real life, and the demand for forensic scientists is INCREDIBLY LOW. Particularly for forensic anthropologists.

Keep in mind that forensic anthropology is a subdivision of anthropology, and that you must pursue an education in the field of anthropology in order to become a forensic anthropologist, and that you'll need to be active in other research regarding anthropological studies,

because forensic anthropology alone

will never put food on your table.

Answer 6

The University of Chicago has one of the best anthropology programs in the United States.