Find solution
What is the main goal of the Forensic Anthropologist?

What job lets me be a forensic anthropologist AND a forensic pathologist?

  • I have researched both careers and I want to work as a Forensic Anthropologist to study ancient bones and determine how they died, but I also want to be a Forensic Pathologist to go to the crime scenes and study the body and how they died. The one main thing I am a little worried about is the 'skin' part of it. I mean literally. An Anthropologist would only have to deal with bones and possibly decomposed flesh (and I am fine with that by the way), but a Pathologist would deal with bodies and the skin. I don't know what it is about the skin still on the body, but it just scares me. I'm afraid that they are going to spring back to life or something and someone told me that I don't like the skin part because it seems as though that when the skin is gone, it is not 'real' anymore. For example, when I dissected a rat, I was too scared to touch it until it was cut open. :) I know this sounds immature, but the best way to describe what I want to be is what 'Temperance Brennan' does. She is the character on the TV show 'Bones'. She classifies herself as a Forensic Anthropologist, but she deals with the skeletons and decomposed flesh of recently murder victims, because she also works with the FBI. And just while I'm on the subject, can you help me find a university in Melbourne, Australia that offers me a course. Because I can't find any. So if you have any answers to what can get me even close to what I am trying to describe, that would help A LOT. Oh yer, and I live in Australia so I can't exactly work for the FBI. :) So thanks.

  • Answer:

    In addition to Katty's excellent answer ... there are about 6 forensic anthropologists in Australia, in total. They are all full-time academic anthropologists, or retired anthropologists, who work on a contract basis from time to time. The situation is similar even in the US - there are about 100 forensic anthropologists there, in total; mostly part-time. A pathologist is a type of doctor; so if you wanted to be a pathologist, the first thing you need is a medical degree. Obviously you'd need a very good HSC, and be ready for ~6 years of Uni, followed by a few years training as a specialist. As part of the course you would need to dissect cadavers, handle lots of pretty gross human tissues etc. I used to have anthropology classes in a lecture room next door to the dissecting room at Sydney Uni. Looking in through the door on the way past was pretty nightmare-ish .. 10 or 12 dead bodies laid out on benches waiting to be cut up. I'm told by medical buddies that most students toughen up pretty quick, though - even those squeamish at first. You could try watching the TV reality show "RPA" a few times, that would give you a better sense of surgery and medicine in real life. University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has a degree course for Bachelor of Forensic Science. This is oriented towards chemistry, which is a much more frequently used area of forensic investigation. And at least you won't have to pick up lumps of decomposing human bodies. I remember hearing one of the professors saying once, their biggest problem for the Forensic Science course is lots of kids enrolling after watching crime shows on TV ... which give a very misleading impression of what it is like to be a forensic scientist! As Katty said, don't look at TV shows, look inside yourself ... decide what it is that you *love* doing, and follow that dream. If that leads you to be a forensic pathologist or anthropologist, great! Hope it helps a bit.

Bones4Li... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

Sorry but this is an unrealistic aim. Firstly there are no Forensic Anthropologists in Australia. The closest are Anthropologists who study Aboriginal remains and are university professors. To get into this field you need to study for a PhD and to do that you need to find a supervisor to take you on who is able to supervise your project. Bones is only one part of what you have to do - pottery, soil dating etc are the main parts of your skill set. To get to a professor level will take until your mid-40s. Then, if you are lucky, you may be asked for a consultation 1-4 times in your career to look at "fresher" bones. For the most part the general coroner is able to deal with all cases without a FA brought in. Then there is the Forensic Pathologist - we call that a Coroner. You have to get a medical degree, inter, postgrad years and then be accepted as a registrar. There are less than 10 coroners in NSW which gives you an idea of how hard it is to get into the profession. Again you will be in your 40s to complete this. To get both qualifications - starting at 19 - you will be over 60 before you start your first day at work - UNREALISTIC The TV shows Bones is not a reflection of the job market - just like CSI is not how a lab works. All these shows have done is increase the number of people who have skewed impressions of what the jobs are like. There are no course in unis because it is not a realistic job. You do not create a course for a profession that takes only 1 applicant every 5 years (who most likely will come from interstate or overseas). Stop looking to the media for an interest. Look within yourself. .

Katty

Hi, a forensic pathologist must train as a doctor first and then specialise (in forensic pathology). Forensic anthropology is looking at skeletal remains and the decomposition of the body - you can do a master's in this field. In addition, you will have to deal with soft tissues at some point. Perhaps read some journals and articles to get an idea of the research involved in this field. Also check out the University of Tennessee's anthropology department. I am an osteoarchaeologist and live in England so I cannot help you with finding a University but I am sure there will be league tables you can check out. Forensic anthropology is not the same as a television programme - it is not the best way to choose a career. Good luck.

K-Dizzle

You have some good information about your question as far as Australia. This could be done in America in a way. Major in anthropology but take required premed prerequisites along the way. Several good schools in this country have strong anthropology departments that have good forensic facilities, with close ties to medical examiner offices, and help them look at bones in forensic cases. Then you would have to get into medical school (the hard part, you have to have a high GPA, 4.0 or very close to it, and very good MCAT scores). Once you complete medical school you do a training residency in Pathology, then a one year fellowship in Forensic Pathology. Then in your practice of Forensic Pathology, you can handle all the anthropology that comes into your office, as long as you have kept your anthropology skills up to date. We see a few Forensic Pathologists do this with medical subspecialties of Pathology, such as Neuropathology, or Ophthalmic pathology, instead of having to consult these specialists, which we often have to do, they do those cases themselves. You could do the same for anthropological cases. I bet there is a way to do the same thing in Australia. PS there are some great Forensic Pathologists in Australia, find one and see if he will mentor you.

Forensic Pathologist

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.