Career as a Forensic Anthropologist
By: Andrea Cuadros
What is a Forensic Anthropologist
Forensic anthropology is the application of anthropology. The study of humans. This includes sub disciplines that investigate human culture and society (cultural/social anthropology), language (linguistics), past material remains (archaeology); and physical bodies (biological, or physical, anthropology).
What do forensic anthropologist do?
Forensic anthropologists work with law enforcement agencies and assist in processing skeletal evidence. They study bones, a field known as osteology, and profile research subjects by gathering information used to determine the individual's age at death, sex and physical condition.
Educational Requirements
Forensic anthropology is a specialization within the anthropology field. The first step in becoming a forensic anthropologist is to earn a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. Undergraduates focus on taking classes in a wide variety of areas such as archaeology, cultural and physical anthropology, and science classes such as genetics, anatomy, and chemistry. Mastering osteology, ethnobotany, and dentition is important for someone who wishes to be successful in this career. A master’s degree or Ph.D. in forensic anthropology is necessary to find a job within the field.
Job Outlook and Salary
The job outlook for forensic anthropologists is not great since most of the positions for this type of work are within universities or as consultants for cases involving unknown identity. Consultant work can consist of working in a medical examiner’s office, with local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies, or on human rights cases. The number of people specialized in this field is not large, which means getting a job may prove difficult. The average salary is around $54,000 per year with salaries of up to $75,000 per year for individuals with more than five years of experience. Forensic anthropology is the study of human remains for scientific evidence. Using just bones, a forensic anthropologist can determine information about the deceased individual, which may aid in criminal investigations. During times of disasters, forensic anthropologist can help uncover and identify the bones of missing people.
Places that employ Forensic Anthropologist
There are two main categories of forensic anthropologists, academic and applied. Those employed in the academic world work in colleges and universities teaching classes and performing individual research projects. The number of projects a forensic anthropologist works on in the academic area will depend on the university he/she works for. Forensic anthropologists working in the applied field may work with a law enforcement agency, a coroner’s office, or directly with medical examiners. Applied forensic anthropology involves visiting crime scenes and working directly with bodies to gather information about how the individual died.