Forensic Anthropologist Colleges
Forensic anthropology combines the sciences of physical anthropology and human osteology -- the study of the human skeleton -- and applies it to the legal process. Forensic anthropologists often work in criminal cases, but they work in research fields as well. Most forensic anthropologists work in academic fields full-time and consult on criminal cases on a part-time basis. To start a career in forensic anthropology, students need at least a master's degree, and a doctorate is even better.
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California State University at Chico
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The Department of Anthropology at California State University offers a demanding program. Students must apply with a combined score of 1,000 on the GRE, two letters of recommendation and a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. The Master of Arts in Anthropology also has an option for students to specialize in Museum Studies. Undergraduate students can also complete a certificate program in forensic identification. To earn the certificate, students must either have a bachelor's degree or complete the degree when they complete the certificate. California residents pay $2,915 per semester as undergraduates and $3,431 as graduate students. Non-resident undergraduates pay $7,379 for tuition and $7,895 for graduate students.
Boston University
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Boston University's School of Medicine offers a Master's of Science in Forensic Anthropology. The course trains students in osteology, human anatomy, crime scene investigation, forensic anthropological techniques and procedures, and methods of human identification. Students are required to have an undergraduate degree in either anthropology or archaeology. The school prefers students have a degree specifically in physical anthropology. Admission standards to the program are stringent and require a minimum 1,000 combined score on the GRE, a 3.3 minimum GPA and three letters of recommendation. Tuition at Boston University is $1,228 per credit per semester for all students.
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University of Tennessee
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The Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee offers three areas of study through the Department of Anthropology: archaeology, cultural anthropology and biological anthropology. Students need to be earning their degree in biological anthropology in order to specialize in forensic anthropology. Admission to the program requires a minimum 3.5 GPA and a bachelor's degree in anthropology. A bachelor's degree in a related field is accepted if the student has minored in anthropology. Students at the University of Tennessee have the opportunity to work at the Forensic Anthropology Center, an institute that works closely with law enforcement to identify human remains. Tuition as of 2011 is charged per credit hour. Residents pay $457 per hour, and non-residents pay $1,310.
University of Florida
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The University of Florida, in Gainesville, has a master's degree program in biological anthropology offered through its Department of Anthropology. Students can further specialize in forensic anthropology. The program requires students to study biostatistics, radiology, human gross and functional anatomy, osteology, human evolution and genetic variation. The university emphasizes working hands-on in the forensic anthropology field and allows students to do so through the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory. A 3.0 GPA is the minimum required for entry into the program, and a bachelor's degree in anthropology is preferred. Florida residents pay $455 per academic credit while non-residents pay $1,179 per credit.
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