This is a discipline that has made significant contributions to the resolution of medico-legal issues domestically and internationally. Students will become acquainted with a range of theories and techniques used to identify skeletonised human remains; have an appreciation and understanding of a wide range of factors modifying a body and a crime scene over time; and have a set of skills necessary, and appropriate in terms of the requirements of the Australian medico-legal professions, for the practical management and excavation of a body/crime scene. Numerous 'real-life' case-studies illustrate the theory and ideas presented in this course.

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:-

1. Meet the stipulated course aims.
2. Develop a basic knowledge of the practical skills required for forensic scene management.
3. Become familiar and comfortable with a broad sample of scholarship in this disciplinary area.
4. Augment their ability to think critically about basic assumptions and conceptual frameworks in this field.
5. Develop skills in oral presentations, including debate, and in writing.

Forensic excavation/crime scene management report (50%) [Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 5]

Literature-based research and essay (50%) [Learning Outcomes 1, 3, 4, 5]

Two hours of lectures, one hour of laboratory/practical work and seven hours of private study each week, averaged across the semester (but may be in block form).

12 units of 1000-level Anthropology (ANTH), Archaeology (ARCH) or Biology (BIOL) courses.