Forensic Anthropology Training Courses
Courses are taught by Dr. Alexandra Klales with special guest lectures by other prominent forensic anthropologists.
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The Washburn University Forensic Anthropology Recovery Unit offers specialized training courses specifically in forensic anthropology for professionals and students. These courses range from one to five days and cover both the recovery/field component of the discipline, as well as, the laboratory components including human osteology, the biological profile, trauma/taphonomy, and pathology.
Courses can be customized and privately scheduled for groups of eight or more. All courses are taught on the Washburn University campuses in Topeka, KS unless otherwise specified. On-campus housing is available at a reduced rate, see below more information on getting to Topeka, housing options, and to register. For more information and to register, visit: https://washburn.edu/wu-faru/wu-faru-courses.html |
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Human Skeletal Profile Analysis
June 5-17, 2021- $450
ONLINE Asynchronous 
The goal of this five-day short course is to familiarize students and professionals with the current methods used to estimate the biological profile (age, sex, ancestry, stature) of unknown individuals. Participants will be introduced to the classic and newest morphological and metric methods of identification for each biological profile parameter. Some topics to be covered include osteometrics/digitizing, using and interpreting Fordisc, the Walker (2008)and Klales et al. (2012) sex methods, the Hartnett (2010) rib and pubis age methods, and newer programs like DSP, hefneR, Transition Analysis, and MorphoPASSE. The course involves extensive hands-on opportunities with real skeletal remains, supplemented by detailed lectures, presentations, and actual forensic case studies.
This course has been approved for 33 hours of ABMDI and MO POST Continuing Education Hours. |
Identifying Human vs.
Non-Human Bone June 14, 2021 - $100
ONLINE Synchronous 
This course is designed for law enforcement officers and crime scene investigators that often need to distinguish human from non-human bones. This one-day course will include lectures, hands-on practicals, and mini-quizzes that will demonstrate how to differentiate human skeletal remains from non-bone materials and from non-human bones.
No prior knowledge of human osteology is required. |
Skeletal Trauma Analysis
June 29-July 1, 2020 - $350
CANCELLED Due to COVID 
This 3-day course focuses on the analysis and interpretation of skeletal trauma encountered in forensic contexts. Topics to be covered include: 1) understanding bone biomechanics, 2) recognizing the signatures of blunt force, sharp force, and high-velocity skeletal trauma, 3) distinguishing abnormal burned body patterns and associated trauma, and 4) differentiating trauma timing in order to distinguish actual trauma from pseudo-trauma and taphonomic factors. Training will also be provided on microscopic assessment of trauma.
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Human Osteology
June 21-25, 2021 - $650
Washburn Campus 
The goal of this five-day course is to familiarize students and professionals with the identification of human skeletal remains. Emphasis will be placed on ID and siding fragmentary human bone, recognizing sub-adult remains and understanding human skeletal anatomy. Participants will be introduced to normal human variation as well as taphonomic and pathological changes. The course involves extensive hands-on opportunities with real bone fragments, supplemented by detailed lectures, presentations, and actual forensic case studies. No osteological experience required
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