About the MS in Forensic Anthropology

The Master of Science program in Forensic Anthropology offers a variety of courses in forensic anthropology techniques and procedures, human anatomy, osteology, pathology, skeletal trauma, human remains recovery, death investigation, bioarchaeology, zooarchaeology, research design, expert witness testimony and crime scene investigation. Graduates from this program have continued their graduate education in a doctoral program, law school or medical school and/or work in the fields of forensic anthropology/archaeology, medicolegal death investigating, crime scene investigation or law enforcement. With highly dedicated faculty and world-class research facilities and instrumentation, students in the Forensic Anthropology program are part of a strong community that supports them in their research and professional endeavors.
Location and Facilities
The Forensic Anthropology program is located on the Boston University Medical Campus, which contains state of the art lecture halls, seminar rooms, sophisticated computerized teaching labs and Boston’s largest biomedical research park. In addition, the campus is in close proximity to Boston’s largest research park, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner for Massachusetts and the Boston Police Department Crime Laboratory.
Students receive exceptional hands-on training opportunities, thanks to our outdoor research facility that includes:
- A secure area for decomposition studies
- A mock crime scene house
- Open fields, wooded areas and a cranberry bog
Broad Training for Careers in Forensic Science
Graduates are prepared to work with scientific evidence in criminal investigations, including evidence documentation, analysis, and courtroom testimony. Forensic professionals are in high demand in multiple industries:
- Homeland Security
- Law Enforcement
- Medical Examiner Offices
- Manufacturers of Forensic Products
- Forensic Laboratories
- Academia