What Education & Training Is Needed to Be a Forensic Anthropologist?

Forensic anthropology requires extensive education and training.

Forensic anthropology, the study of the structure and evolution of human beings as it relates to the law, requires at a minimum a bachelor's degree in anthropology. Depending on your career choice, a master's degree or Ph.D. is required. Most schools require that certain prerequisites are met before allowing a student to be enrolled in an anthropological course of study. The minimum prerequisites are a high school diploma or equivalent and SAT and GPA minimums. Some universities also require classes in history, social sciences and possibly a foreign language.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements

Archaeology assistant is a job opportunity with a bachelor's degree.

A Bachelor of Arts is the most common bachelor degree in forensic anthropology. At this level of study, students will learn cultural research methods as well as observation of cultures. Academic writing, research and analysis are some of the skills acquired in the bachelor's program. Students can then use these skills to gain employment in government positions, academics and the non-profit sector. Examples include anthropology research assistant, archaeological fieldwork and an assistant curator in a museum.

Master of Arts Requirements

Crime scene investigation is available to those who complete a master's degree.

Students may continue to the Master of Arts level, as a Master of Science is only available in rare cases. Some universities will not award a master's degree continuing to earn a doctoral degree. Specific coursework and GPA requirements vary by university. Core courses are expected but students will focus on coursework pertaining to their area of interest such as forensic pathology or contemporary anthropological theory. After obtaining a master's degree, a student can find a job in forensic investigation or teaching while pursuing his or her Ph.D.

Ph.D. Requirements

With a Ph.D, forensic anthropologists can also pursue archaeology.

A student planning to become a professor will need to earn a Ph.D. The prerequisites for the doctoral program include GPA performance and a master's degree. Also, the student's area of interest must coincide with the departmental faculty of the chosen university. Students focus more on elective courses to help them complete their dissertation or research project. Either must be accomplished with anthropological study, fieldwork and other hands-on research. Some examples of employment are teaching at the college or university level and archaeological fieldwork after achieving a Ph.D.

Additional Training and Certification

Becoming board certified will help your credentials if testifying in court.

The final two steps of training and education are three years of case experience in your selected specialty and publishing your forensic research. Get certification from the American Board of Forensic Anthropology; currently there are only 75 board certified forensic anthropologists worldwide.

References

• Education-portal.com: Anthropology Degree Program Information
• Forensic Careers: Forensic Anthropology

Resources

• Forensic Sciences Foundation: Physical Anthropology Education and Training
• Forensicanthro.com: Forensic Anthropology Programs