The Best Graduate Schools Offering Forensic Anthropology
Higher Education Articles March 2, 2017Overview of Schools offering Forensic Anthropology Programs
Master’s programs with a focus on hands-on research in forensic anthropology are available at Mercyhurst College and Boston University. Boston University offers the program through its medical school, where students can use numerous medically-related research facilities. The Mercyhurst College offers the program under the aegis of its archeological institute and affords students the choice of concentrating in biological and forensic anthropology.
In this article, we take a look at some top forensic anthropology graduate schools in the United States that are ranked highly by the U.S. News and World Report:
Boston University School of Medicine in Massachusetts
In 2010, the U.S. News and World Report ranked Boston University School of Medicine 34th on its list of best medical schools in the United States. A forensic anthropology master’s program is available at the school. Students can practice skeletal remains recovery, mapping techniques, investigation skills, and forensic photography at the school’s human gross anatomy lab and 32-acre outdoor research facility. Students can also perform their thesis research at these facilities. Students enrolled in the program are required to complete 42 credits, including 13 required courses with a primary focus on human anatomy, procedure and technique, death investigation, osteology, witness testimony, and research.
Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania
In 2010, the U.S. News and World Report ranked Mercyhurst College 67th on its list of regional universities in the North. A Master of Science (M.S.) in Anthropology with a forensic and biological anthropology concentration is available at Mercyhurst’s Archaeological Institute. Enrollees in this traditional 2-year master’s program are required to pass a comprehensive exam that is three days at the culmination of their first year. They must complete a thesis by the end of the second year.
The two years of instruction enable students to gain expertise in the program’s five educational objectives; these include forensic osteology, forensic archeology, biostatistics, skeletal trauma analysis, data analysis, and forensic taphonomy. Laboratory training and field experience help reinforce these objectives.
Top Schools offering Forensic Anthropology Programs
| School Name | Institution Type | Location |
| Boston University | Private, 4-year | Boston, MA |
| California State University – Chico | Public, 4-year | Chico, CA |
| University of Florida – Gainesville | Public, 4-year | Gainesville, FL |
| Mercyhurst University | Private, 4-year | Erie, PA |
| Michigan State University | Public, 4-year | East Lansing, MI |
| Western Carolina University | Public, 4-year | Cullowhee, NC |
