Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Master of Science - MS
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit

Accreditation

Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences

Programme Offerings

Full-Time

F2F-JMU-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

The overall aim of the MSc in Forensic Anthropology programme is to provide the framework for the students to develop the skills that are necessary for a career in a very demanding and competitive field. The programme will obtain this goal by delivering a curriculum designed to prepare graduates for work in a variety of different settings (e.g. Disaster Victim Identification, Mass Graves, Medical Examiner's offices, Private Forensic Companies, etc.). The programme will produce postgraduates who are able to play a significant role in in the search of missing people, recovery of evidence and human remains from clandestine graves, identification of unknown corpses by osteological analysis. The curriculum and approach to Teaching, Learning and Assessment aims to meet the challenges of employment in a global society through the development of intellectual, analytical and research skills relevant to this area of study. The specific aims of the programme are: 1.To provide students with specialist knowledge of biological anthropology applied to forensic contexts including both theoretical and practical aspects. 2.To enhance students' critical, analytical and practical skills relevant to the modern multidisciplinary forensic industry. 3.To enable students to extend their capacity for independent study and to make an original contribution to research. 4.To enhance students to develop their capacity for teamwork. 5.To enhance students to improve and refine their oral and written communication skills. 6.To develop those learning, IT, communication and reflective skills necessary to enable students to participate in lifelong learning.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the fundamental facts, concepts, principles and theories of forensic anthropology supported by in-depth critical knowledge of classical and contemporary literature.
2.
Critically appraise laboratory methods and the design of laboratory experiments, their implementation and interpretation of their results.
3.
Assimilate, integrate and critically discuss research findings.
4.
Apply problem solving skills to the analysis of human remains.
5.
Convey their findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences in an appropriate manner.
6.
Collect, analyse and interpret experimental data.
7.
Display autonomy in planning, design and execution of experiments.
8.
Critically evaluate current research and scholarship in the student's chosen discipline.
9.
Develop the organisational skills to manage resources and time.
10.
Communicate effectively by discussions, written materials, use of images and data to make oral, written and poster presentations. Use of IT to enable this effective communication.
11.
Collect, record and interpret numerical data.
12.
Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of forensic archaeology techniques.
13.
Exercise initiative and personal responsibility.
14.
Develop an ability to make decisions in complex and unpredictable situations.
15.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of various aspects of human identification from skeletal remains supported by classical and contemporary literature.
16.
Integrate different methods for the resolution of forensic anthropological and scientific questions.
17.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the professional and ethical responsibilities of the forensic anthropologist including relevant laws and regulations informing expert witness testimony.
18.
Critically evaluate information and data from a variety of sources.
19.
Apply planning, research methodology and analytical skills to an in-depth study of a topic in a chosen field of study.
20.
Select the appropriate tools for analysing and presenting complex concepts and ideas, communicating findings clearly.
21.
Demonstrate originality in tackling and solving problems.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Lectures, seminars, data handling workshops, case studies, research project proposal and dissertation. Intellectual skills are developed throughout the teaching and learning programme. Critical analysis and problem solving skills are embedded in all modules and are taught, developed and practised through workshops, formative assessment exercises and all forms of project work. Experimental research and design skills are further developed and practised through a broad range of coursework activities, laboratory work and all project work. Individual feedback is given on all work submitted. The expert witness statement and oral defence within the law and court room skills module assesses a range of specific practical skills. Transferable skills are embedded in the programme. Skills are learned through completion of written assignments, participating in workshops and collecting and transferring data via IT networks, and through the Dissertation. They are assessed via oral presentations (including oral defence of expert witness statement),poster presentations, portfolio, dissertation, project reports and grant proposal assessment. Most modules are assessed separately at the end of the semester in which they are delivered. The assessment may take a number of forms allowing the acquisition and development of a range of work-related skills.

Opportunities for work related learning

Students may be offered a research project in a related area of Forensic Anthropology which may be based within an institution in the UK or elsewhere. All work offers individuals the opportunity to develop their critical reasoning and complex problem solving skills further. Throughout the programme, emphasis is focused on the acquisition of new knowledge and skills that would secure future employment within the area of forensic investigation and forensic anthropology using a range of techniques, such as case studies, to deliver work related information.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

The taught component of the programme covers a period of seven months and the project five months. To obtain an MSc., students must acquire 180 L7 credits. Intermediate awards are Postgraduate Certificate (60 L7 credits) and Postgraduate Diploma (120 L7 credits). Students who achieve the full 180 credits with an … For more content click the Read More button below.

Entry Requirements

IELTS
Other international requirements
RPL
Undergraduate degree

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH15-01) sociology, social policy and anthropology