Identifying Human vs. Non-Human Bone

1-day course offered in 2 modalities (in-person $150 and synchronously online $100)

In Person: 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, mini quizzes, and question/answer sessions 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.

Online: This online, synchronous 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 live lectures/Q&A sessions with Dr. Klales, online laboratory 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.

Course requirements:

1. device (tablet, smartphone, computer, etc.) with reliable internet, microphone, and camera (only required for CE credits)
2. free Zoom account (available here: https://zoom.us/)
3. valid email address to be added to the online course module hosted via the Washburn website (Brightspace Desire2Learn)

This course has been approved for 6.5 hours of ABMDI and 7.5 hours of MO POST Continuing Education (CE) Hours in the past.

Human Osteology

4 day course offered in-person ($550)

The goal of this short course is to familiarize students and professionals with the identification of human skeletal remains. Emphasis will be placed on identifying 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; however, you may want to consider (i.e., optional) purchasing the following reference text: White & Folkens (2005) The Human Bone Manual (~$30)

This course has been approved for 35 hours of ABMDI and 38.35 hours of MO POST Continuing Education (CE) Hours in the past.

Fatal Fire Recoveries

5 day course offered in-person ($650)

This course is designed to familiarize participants with the forensic anthropological methods employed to effectively and efficiently recover victims from fatal fires. The course will contain lectures focused on tissue and skeletal modifications created by fire and on state-of-the-art forensic archaeological recovery techniques. Participants will partake in a mock recovery of a burned vehicle fire using an animal proxy to gain experience in the search, documentation, and recovery of fatal fire victims. Note: a portion of the course will occur off-campus at a designated burn site- travel to and from the site will be provided.

Forensic Archaeology

5-day course offered in-person ($650)

This intensive, field-based short course is designed to familiarize participants with the forensic archaeological methods used to recovery human remains at outdoor crime scenes. Participants will learn how to search for, document, and recover human remains via lectures and simulated scenes involving surface scattered and buried remains. Various state-of-the-art mapping and documentation techniques will be presented and applied during recovery. Lectures will also cover specialized techniques for mass fatalities, plane crashes, and fatal fire scenes. Note: a portion of the course will occur off-campus at a designated burn site- travel to and from the site will be provided.

Human Skeletal Biology: Estimating the Biological Profile

5-day course offered in 2 modalities (in-person and synchronously online) ($650) and 2 week course offered asynchronously online ($450)

This either short course is designed to familiarize students and professionals with the current methods used to estimate the biological profile (age, sex, ancestry, stature) of unknown individuals from their skeleton. 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. This course does not require previous osteological experience, but participants will get the most out of the course if they have some familiarity of the bones and features beforehand.

In-Person: This hands-on course will contain lectures and structured laboratory modules that utilize real human remains from the Washburn Osteology Collection for participants to learn and apply the methods covered in the course.

Online Synchronous: This course requires synchronous web-delivery of lectures, breakout sessions/discussions, and Q&A sessions. Laboratory modules are completed asynchronously online at designated times using 3D bone models, real forensic case photos, and simulations. Dr. Klales will be available via online chat or Zoom to answer questions during the asynchronous lab modules.

Online Asynchronous: The course involves asynchronous web-delivery of readings and lectures videos recorded by Dr. Klales. Online laboratory modules allow for practical application of the materials using 3D bone models, real forensic case photos, and simulations. Dr. Klales will be available via online chat or Zoom calls at pre-determined times for assistance throughout the course; however, the course is designed so that participants in any time-zone or region can complete the course at their own pace over the two-week offering.

Online Course requirements:

1. device (tablet, smartphone, computer, etc.) with reliable internet, microphone, and camera (only required for CE credits)
2. free Zoom account (available here: https://zoom.us/)
3. valid email address to be added to the online course module hosted via the Washburn website (Brightspace Desire2Learn)

This course has been previously approved for 33 hours of ABMDI and MO POST Continuing Education Hours- 2021 CE hours in the past.