Anthropology Department

Aerial view of hands arranging bones

Paleoanthropology & Human Osteology

Overview

Paleoanthropologists study the fossil record of humans and other bipedal primates to understand how humans evolved. Forensic anthropologists apply their knowledge of anatomy and human osteology to help identify human skeletal remains and work with law enforcement.

Career Pathways

  • Medicine
  • Dentistry
  • Allied health professions
  • Biomedical sciences
  • Forensics
  • Graduate study in biological anthropology or allied disciplines
  • Secondary and higher education

Recommended Pathway Courses

Core Requirements

  • Anth 101 Introduction to Biological Anthropology
  • Anth 102 Introduction to Archaeology
  • Anth 103 Introduction to Social/Cultural Anthropology
  • If you're earning the B.S.: Stat 244 Introduction to Probability and Statistics II
  • If you're earning the B.A.: Ling 232 Language and Society OR Ling 233 Language and Mind OR Ling 390 Introduction to Linguistics
  • Anth 304 Social Theory OR Anth 305 Culture and Power
  • Anth 345 Practicing Anthropology
  • Anth 350 Archaeological Method and Theory
  • Anth 370 Paleoanthropology

B.A. majors must also complete two years of a foreign language or demonstrate equivalent proficiency.

Recommended Anthropology Electives

  • Anth 361U The Archaeology of Europe (Alternative: Anth 368U The Archaeology of Oceania)
  • Anth 376U The Neandertals
  • Anth 379U Practicing Forensic Science (Alternative: Anth 479 Forensic Anthropology)
  • Anth 473 Primatology
  • Anth 478 Human Osteology

Recommended Non-Anthropology Electives

  • Bi 301-303 Human Anatomy and Physiology sequence
  • Bi 387 Vertebrate Zoology
  • G 430 Life of the Past (Alternative: G 203 Historical Geology)
  • Bi 450 Phylogenetic Biology

Internship Opportunities

Organization NamePaid or UnpaidLocation
American Museum of Natural History; Anthropology Internship ProgramVariesNew York, New York
Defense POW/MIA Accounting AgencyUnspecifiedUnspecified
Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State (FACTS)UnpaidSan Marcos, Texas
Forensic Anthropology Center (University of Tennessee)UnpaidKnoxville, Tennessee
Harris County Institute of Forensic SciencesUnpaidHouston, Texas
Kirtlandia Research Internship ProgramPaidCleveland, Ohio
New York State MuseumUnspecifiedAlbany, New York
Office of Chief Medical ExaminerUnpaidWashington, D.C.
Transylvania BioarchaeologyPaidTransylvania, Romania

Field Schools