forensic+anthropologist

 Claimed By Hannah Domaradzki 
 * __What is the Practice of Forensic Anthropology?__**
 * The analysis of skeletal, badly decomposed, or otherwise unidentified human remains is important in both legal and humanitarian contexts.
 * Forensic anthropologists apply standard scientific techniques developed in physical anthropology to analyze human remains, and to aid in the detection of crime.
 * In addition to assisting in locating and recovering human skeletal remains, forensic anthropologists work to assess the age, sex, ancestry, stature, and unique features of a decedent from the skeleton.
 * Forensic anthropologists frequently work in conjunction with forensic pathologists, odontologists, and homicide investigators to identify a decedent, document trauma to the skeleton, and/or estimate the postmortem interval.

//Anthropologists// study the origin and the physical, social, and cultural development and behavior of humans. They may examine the way of life, archaeological remains, language, or physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. Some compare the customs, values, and social patterns of different cultures. Anthropologists usually concentrate in sociocultural anthropology, linguistics, biophysical, or physical anthropology. Sociocultural anthropologists study the customs, cultures, and social lives of groups in settings that range from unindustrialized societies to modern urban centers. Linguistic anthropologists investigate the role of, and changes to, language over time in various cultures. Biophysical anthropologists research the evolution of the human body, look for the earliest evidences of human life, and analyze how culture and biology influence one another. Physical anthropologists examine human remains found at archaeological sites in order to understand population demographics and factors, such as nutrition and disease, which affected these populations. //Archaeologists// examine and recover material evidence including the ruins of buildings, tools, pottery, and other objects remaining from past human cultures in order to determine the history, customs, and living habits of earlier civilizations. With continued technological advances making it increasingly possible to detect the presence of underground anomalies without digging archaeologists will be able to better target excavation sites. Another technological advancement is the use of geographic information systems (GIS) for tasks such as analyzing how environmental factors near a site may have affected the development of a society. Most anthropologists and archaeologists specialize in a particular region of the world.
 * __Nature of Work__**


 * __Jobs in Forensic Anthropology__**

__//What do Anthropologists do?//__ Today's anthropologists do not just work in exotic locations. They can be found in corporations, all levels of government, educational institutions and non-profit associations. Anthropologists even work in disaster areas, including, Ground Zero in New York and the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. There are not many limits on career choices for anthropologists. For example [|AAA Minority Dissertation Fellows'] research projects have focused on virtually everything from the spread of mariarchi music across the globe, to reducing the exposure of farm workers' children to pesticides. //To determine if a career as an anthropologist is for you, think about the following questions:// __//What do you want to know?//__ Anthropologists want to know why things happen. For example, we know how AIDS is spreading but do we know why? Anthropologists tackle big human problems, such as overpopulation, warfare, and poverty. __//What do you want to do?//__ Anthropological study and training provide the knowledge, skills and tools to work with people, study the past, and shape the future. //__Where do you want to work?__// Anthropologists work in practically every environment and setting imaginable. They can be found working in large corporations such as Intel and GM or studying primates in Africa. Anthropologists work in deserts, cities, schools, even in underwater archaeological sites. From the Greek //anthropos// (human) and //logia// (study), the word //anthropology// itself tells us it is the field that seeks to understand humankind, from the beginnings millions of years ago up to the present day. Anthropology considers how people's behaviors changes over time, and how people and seemingly dissimilar cultures are different and the same. There are many areas of anthropological study....
 * Sociocultural Anthropology - Seeks to understand the internal logic of societies through ethnography
 * Archaeology - Retrieves artifacts from the past and places them in context to understand our history and its relevance for today
 * Physical Anthropology - Traces our biological origins, evolutionary development, and genetic diversity
 * Linguistic Anthropology - Seeks to explain the very nature of language and its use by humans
 * Medical Anthropology - Seeks to better understand factors that influence peoples' health and well being
 * Forensic Anthropology - Seeks to identify skeletal, or otherwise decomposed, human remains
 * Business Anthropology - Helps businesses gain a better understanding of their activities and customers
 * Visual Anthropology - Documents everyday life through filmmaking
 * Environmental Anthropology - Believes that the well-being of the environment goes hand in hand with the well-being of people
 * Museum Anthropology - Interprets ethnographic and archaeological collections to the general public

Anthropology is considered a social science. Training in statistics and mathematics is essential for many social scientists Geographers, political scientists, and those in other fields increasingly use mathematical and quantitative research methods. The ability to use computers for research purposes is mandatory in most disciplines. Social scientists also must keep up-to date on the latest technological advances that affect their discipline and research. For example, most geographers use GIS technology extensively, and GIS is also becoming more commonly used by archaeologists, sociologists, and other workers. Many social science students also benefit from internships or field experience. Numerous local museums, historical societies, government agencies, non-profit and other organizations offer internships or volunteer research opportunities. Archaeological field schools instruct future anthropologists, archaeologists, and historians in how to excavate, record, and interpret historical sites. Many social scientists choose to teach in their field, often while pursuing their own research. These workers are usually classified as postsecondary teachers. The minimum requirement for most positions in colleges and universities is a Ph.D. degree. Graduates with a master’s degree in a social science may qualify for teaching positions in community colleges. Social science graduates with sufficient education courses can qualify for teaching positions in secondary and elementary schools.
 * __Education and Training__**
 * //Education and training.//** Graduates with master’s degrees in applied specialties usually are qualified for positions outside of colleges and universities, although requirements vary by field. A Ph.D. degree may be required for higher-level positions. Bachelor’s degree holders have limited opportunities and do not qualify for most of the occupations discussed above. A bachelor’s degree does, however, provide a suitable background for many different kinds of entry-level jobs in related occupations, such as research assistant, writer, management trainee, or market analyst.
 * //Other qualifications.//** Social scientists need excellent written and oral communication skills to report research findings and to collaborate on research. Successful social scientists also need intellectual curiosity and creativity because they constantly seek new information about people, things, and ideas. The ability to think logically and methodically is also essential to analyze complicated issues, such as the relative merits of various forms of government. Objectivity, an open mind, and systematic work habits are important in all kinds of social science research. Perseverance, too, is often necessary, as when an anthropologist spends years studying artifacts from an ancient civilization before making a final analysis and interpretation.
 * //Advancement.//** Some social scientists advance to top-level research and administrative positions. Advancement often depends on the number and quality of reports that social scientists publish or their ability to design studies.

Social scientists held about 18,000 jobs in 2006. Many worked as researchers, administrators, and counselors for a wide range of employers. About 41 percent worked for Federal, State, and local governments, mostly for the Federal Government. Other employers included scientific research and development services; management, scientific, and technical consulting services; business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations; and architectural, engineering, and related firms. Many individuals with training in a social science discipline teach in colleges and universities and in secondary and elementary schools. (For more information, see [|teachers—postsecondary] and [|teachers—preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary] elsewhere in the //Handbook//.) The proportion of social scientists who teach varies by specialty. For example, graduates in history are more likely to teach than are graduates in most other social science fields. The following tabulation shows employment, by social science specialty.
 * __Employment__**
 * Anthropologists and archeologists ||  || 5,500 ||   ||
 * Political scientists ||  || 4,700 ||   ||
 * Sociologists ||  || 3,700 ||   ||
 * Historians ||  || 3,400 ||   ||
 * Geographers ||  || 1,100 ||   ||

Overall employment is projected to grow about as fast as average, but varies by detailed occupation. Job seekers may face competition, and those with higher educational attainment will have the best prospects. The following tabulation shows projected percent change in employment, by social science specialty.
 * __Job Outlook__**
 * //Employment change.//** Overall employment of social scientists is expected to grow 10 percent from 2006 to 2016, [|about as fast as the average] for all occupations. However, projected growth rates vary by specialty. Anthropologists and archaeologists, sociologists, and historians are projected to grow [|about as fast as average]. Employment of geographers and political scientists is projected to grow [|more slowly than average], reflecting the relatively few opportunities outside of the Federal Government. Employment is projected to decline slowly in the Federal Government, a key employer of social scientists.
 * ||  || Percent ||   ||
 * Anthropologists and archeologists ||  || 15 ||   ||
 * Sociologists ||  || 10 ||   ||
 * Historians ||  || 8 ||   ||
 * Geographers ||  || 6 ||   ||
 * Political scientists ||  || 5 ||   ||

Anthropologists and archaeologists will experience the majority of their job growth in the management, scientific, and technical consulting services industry. Anthropologists who work as consultants apply anthropological knowledge and methods to problems ranging from economic development issues to forensics. As construction projects increase, more archaeologists also will be needed to monitor the work, ensuring that historical sites and artifacts are preserved. Political scientists, sociologists, and historians will mainly find jobs in policy or research. Demand for political science research is growing because of increasing interest about politics and foreign affairs, including social and environmental policy issues and immigration. Political scientists will use their knowledge of political institutions to further the interests of nonprofit, political lobbying, and social organizations. Likewise, the incorporation of sociology into research in other fields will continue to increase the need for sociologists. They may find work conducting policy research for consulting firms and nonprofit organizations, and their knowledge of society and social behavior may be used by a variety of companies in product development, marketing, and advertising. Historians may find opportunities with historic preservation societies or working as a consultant as public interest in preserving and restoring historical sites increases. Geographers will work advising government, real estate developers, utilities, and telecommunications firms on where to build new roads, buildings, power plants, and cable lines. Geographers also will advise on environmental matters, such as where to build a landfill or preserve wetland habitats. Geographers with a background in GIS will find numerous job opportunities applying GIS technology in nontraditional areas, such as emergency assistance, where GIS can track locations of ambulances, police, and fire rescue units and their proximity to the emergency. Workers in these jobs may not necessarily be called "geographers," but instead may be referred to by a different title, such as "GIS analyst" or "GIS specialist." People seeking social science positions may face competition for jobs, and those with higher educational attainment will have the best prospects. Many jobs in policy, research, or marketing for which social scientists qualify are not advertised exclusively as social scientist positions. Because of the wide range of skills and knowledge possessed by these social scientists, many compete for jobs with other workers, such as market and survey researchers, psychologists, engineers, urban and regional planners, and statisticians. Some people with social science degrees will find opportunities as university faculty rather than as applied social scientists. Although there will be keen competition for tenured positions, the number of faculty expected to retire over the decade and the increasing number of part-time or short-term faculty positions will lead to better opportunities in colleges and universities than in the past. The growing importance and popularity of social science subjects in secondary schools also is strengthening the demand for social science teachers at that level.
 * //Job prospects.//** In addition to opportunities from employment growth, some job openings for social scientists will come from the need to replace those who retire, enter teaching or other occupations, or leave their social science occupation for other reasons.


 * __Places of Employment__**
 * JOB || WHERE THEY WORK || QUALIFICATIONS ||
 * Police Officer,Deputy,Highway Patrol Officer || Police or Sheriff's Department or Highway Patrol || H.S. Grad, 20/20 with glasses, 11- 14 weeks police academy, background check, psych check, drug screening ||
 * Police Detective,State CIB, NIB, etc. || Police or Sheriff's Department || Police Officer plus experience & training ||
 * FBI Agent || FBI Office || BA/BS in some discipline, FBI Academy ||
 * Coroner || Sheriff's Office || None - Elected Office ||
 * Accountant, Artist, Photographer || Police Dept., Private, Crime Lab || BA/BS in appropriate discipline plus special training. Sometimes Police Academy required. ||
 * Criminalist || Crime Lab || BA/BS in Chem, biochem, biology, physics, geology, chemical engineering, forensic science, pharmacology, microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, entomology or criminalistics; general chem; quantitative analysis ||
 * Fingerprint Examiner, Firearms Examiner, Toolmark Examiner, Questioned Document Examiner || Crime Lab || Criminalist plus training & experience ||
 * Serologist || Crime Lab, Private Lab || BA/BS as for criminalist, coursework in biochem, stats, genetics, & molec biol. ||
 * Toxicologist, Chemist || Crime Lab, Private Lab || BA/BS or higher degree in Chem, Biochem, Toxicology, or Pharmacology ||
 * Pathologist/ M.E. || Crime Lab, Hospital, Private || MD, Residency in Pathology, & special training in Forensic Pathology ||
 * Audiologist, Digital Image Analyst, Engineer || Private, Private Lab, Crime Lab || BA/BS in appropriate field, special training, experience ||
 * Knot Examiner || Private or Crime Lab || Training & Experience ||
 * Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Botanist, Computer Scientist, Entomologist, Geologist, Linguist, Mathematician, Phylogeneticist || College or University || PhD in appropriate subject, experience ||
 * Odontologist || Clinic, Private || DDS or DMD plus special training & experience ||
 * Psychologist || Psychiatric Hospital, Police Agency,College, Clinic, Private || PhD in Psychology or MD with residency & internship in Psychiatry. ||
 * Nurse || Hospital, Doctor's Office, Private || RN or BA/BS in Nursing, special training or experience ||
 * Pharmacist || Private, Hospital || PharmD or other Doctorate in Pharmacy ||
 * Attorney || Private, Government || JD or Other Degree in Law, Member of the Bar ||
 * Judge || Government || Elected or Appointed Office. Most are required to be an Attorney ||

Projections data from the National Employment Matrix ||~ Occupational title ||~ SOC Code ||~ Employment, 2006 ||~ Projected employment, 2016 ||||~ Change, 2006-16 ||||~ Detailed statistics || In May 2006, anthropologists and archaeologists had median annual wage-and-salary earnings of $49,930; geographers, $62,990; historians, $48,520; political scientists, $90,140; and sociologists, $60,290. In the Federal Government, social scientists with a bachelor’s degree and no experience often started at a yearly salary of $28,862 or $35,572 in 2007, depending on their college records. Those with a master’s degree could start at $43,731, and those with a Ph.D. degree could begin at $52,912, while some individuals with experience and an advanced degree could start at $63,417. Beginning salaries were higher in selected areas of the country where the prevailing local pay level was higher. The duties and training of these social scientists are similar to other social scientists, including [|economists], [|market and survey researchers], [|psychologists], and [|urban and regional planners]. Many social scientists conduct surveys, study social problems, teach, and work in museums, performing tasks similar to those of [|statisticians]; [|counselors]; [|social workers]; [|teachers—postsecondary]; [|teachers—preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary]; and [|archivists, curators, and museum technicians]. Political scientists often research the function of government, including the legal system, as do [|lawyers]; [|paralegals and legal assistants]; and [|judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers]. Many political scientists analyze and report on current events, as do [|news analysts, reporters, and correspondents]. Geographers often study the Earth’s environment and natural resources, as do [|conservation scientists and foresters], [|atmospheric scientists], and [|environmental scientists and hydrologists]. Geographers also use GIS computer technology to make maps. Other occupations with similar duties include [|surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying technicians]; [|computer systems analysts]; and [|computer scientists and database administrators].
 * __Projected Job Outlook__**
 * ~ Number ||~ Percent ||
 * ~ Social scientists, other || -- || 18,000 || 20,000 || 1,800 || 10 || -- || -- ||
 * ~ Sociologists || 19-3041 || 3,700 || 4,100 || 400 || 10 || [|PDF] || [|zipped XLS] ||
 * ~ Anthropologists and archeologists || 19-3091 || 5,500 || 6,400 || 800 || 15 || [|PDF] || [|zipped XLS] ||
 * ~ Geographers || 19-3092 || 1,100 || 1,200 || 100 || 6 || [|PDF] || [|zipped XLS] ||
 * ~ Historians || 19-3093 || 3,400 || 3,700 || 300 || 8 || [|PDF] || [|zipped XLS] ||
 * ~ Political scientists || 19-3094 || 4,700 || 4,900 || 300 || 5 || [|PDF] || [|zipped XLS] ||
 * NOTE: Data in this table are rounded. See the discussion of the employment projections table in the //Handbook// introductory chapter on [|//Occupational Information Included in the Handbook//]. ||
 * __Earnings__**
 * __Related Occupations__**


 * __Photos__**

__**Bibliography**__
 * Skelton, Randy. "So You Want to Be a Forensic Anthropologist?" __The Department of Anthropology, The University of Montana - Missoula__. March & April 2009 [].
 * ABFA. "What is the Practice of Forensic Anthropology?" __ABFA - American Board of Forensic Anthropology__. March & april 2009 [].
 * Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, //Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition//, Social Scientists, Other, on the Internet at **http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos054.htm** (visited //April 20, 2009//).
 * American Anthropology Association. "What do Anthropologists do?" __American Anthropological Association (AAA)__. 20 Apr. 2009 [].
 * FOTOSEARCH. "Human bone Stock Photos and Images. 1700 Human bone pictures and royalty free photography available to search from over 100 stock photo brands." __Stock Photography - Search 4.9 Million Stock Photos, Stock Footage Video Clips, Royalty Free Images, and Illustrations__. 20 Apr. 2009 .