Emily Deschanel as Temperance “Bones” Brennan, a forensic anthropologist.

Forensic anthropology is the examination of human skeletal remains for law enforcement agencies to determine the identity of unidentified bones. Over the past century physical anthropologists (those who study human remains) have developed methods to evaluate bones to figure out things about people who lived in the past. These techniques help them to answer questions about the remains they are studying. Forensic anthropology involves the application of these same methods to modern cases of unidentified human remains. Through these methods, a forensic anthropologist can help law enforcement in establishing a profile on the unidentified remains. The profile includes sex, age, ethnicity, height, length of time since death, and sometimes the evaluation of trauma seen on bones.

Education or Training

A career in forensic anthropology takes a substantial amount of higher education. Starting out, you’re looking at a bachelor’s in anatomy, biology, chemistry, or anthropology. Then a masters in either anthropology or human biology. Once those 7-8 years of school are done, you move to getting a PhD and at minimum, three years of field experience. Most average 3-5 years experience through internships and fellowships. The final step is to become board certified as a full fledged forensic anthropologist. With that length of education, one of the ways you can help yourself is to take college courses while in high school, and take summer classes in college. If you can shorten your time by a year or so, that definitely helps. Also, grab some internships while you’re in school. That will give you not only some of that field experience earlier in your education but create solid contacts you can use later.

Keys to Choosing a College:
Look for one with great research opportunities. To be a top forensic anthropologist, you’ll need to have practice with multiple remains. Great research provides that.
A good criminal justice program. While law enforcement isn’t the primary area in which you’ll be studying, its important to have a solid understanding so you can work better
Study abroad programs. Anthropology, or the study of cultures is important to your career and often study abroad programs provide fabulous opportunities for anthropological study.

Job Opportunities

Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist and novelist.

Forensic anthropologists tend to find careers in one of three areas, at a museum working on older cases, not so much current crimes, with the military as a contracted forensic anthropologist or teaching at a university and doing occasional work with the local law enforcement. As you gain experience, you’ll be able to work more on your own. But the majority of forensic anthropologists teach as well. There just aren’t that many gruesome murders. Thank goodness!

Tricks to the Trade

One of the best schools for forensic anthropology is University of Tennessee which has labs like these.

Trick #1
Education, education, education. This sounds simple but the research into the right college is very important. A good GPA at a great college is going to do more for you than a great GPA at a decent college.

Trick #2
Have a strong stomach. Seriously strong. The show Bones is pretty accurate so be able to deal with decaying, mutilated flesh. Plus, you’ll be getting up close and personal with the deceased so a strong heart is necessary as well. Crime is tough and the type of crimes that require a forensic anthropologist are even more brutal than most. A strong stomach will get you past the body but a strong heart will keep you committed.

Back to the Basics

Salary Ranges

The salary is completely varied but the average professor makes between $60,000-$120,000 a year depending on experience and tenure status. Working directly with law enforcement pays less.

Schools

Dundee University, Scotland UK
Boston University School of Medicine
Forensic Anthropology Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.