This course offers students training in the anatomy of the human skeleton and techniques used in biological profiling from skeletal remains. Students will be taught a range of skeletal biology techniques used to estimate age-at-death, biological sex, stature, and bone functional adaptation. We will cover the development, form, and function of human hard tissues (bones and teeth). Acquired skills will be of value to any students interested in skeletal studies including vertebrate biology, comparative skeletal anatomy, medicine, palaeontology, human and primate evolution, forensic sciences and archaeology.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- describe and explain the human skeletal structure: name and define hard tissues and their parts at a macroscopic (gross) and microscopic (histological) level;
- describe and explain the fundamentals of human skeletal growth and metabolic processes in a developmental and functional context;
- gain practical experience and develop skills in identification and analysis of human skeletal tissues; and
- outline the ethical treatment of human skeletal remains and be able to recall key professional documents stipulating the code of ethics, guidance on care and curation of human remains.
Indicative Assessment
- 5 x Lab tests, 15 minutes each (10% each for a total of 50%) (50) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Practical mid-semester examination, 1 hour (20) [LO 1,2,3]
- Fictive osteobiographical narrative and reflection, 3000 words (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 18 hours of lectures and 18 hours of laboratory practicals; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
None.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
WHITE TD, FOLKENS PA. 2005. THE HUMAN BONE MANUAL. SAN DIEGO, CA: ELSEVIER ACADEMIC PRESS. [Available in Library as an e book]
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4440 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6360 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2343 | 19 Feb 2024 | 26 Feb 2024 | 05 Apr 2024 | 24 May 2024 | In Person | View |
