What is Forensic Anthropology

by Web Master on May 6, 2012

What is forensic anthropology?

Forensic anthropology is the study of the remains of human skeletons for the identification of unidentified bones. It is a critical part of crime detection.  There are very few, coveted jobs available in the field of forensic anthropology that aspiring forensic anthropologists are advised to get a high education as much as possible.  Pay is quite rewarding for forensic anthropologists, especially those who have established their reputation as an expert in their field. Forensic anthropologists can work in the academe, law enforcement agencies, law firms and police departments.

Educational background
The most basic educational requirement for forensic anthropologists is a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology. It should include courses in three major subfields of the subject- archaeology, physical anthropology and cultural anthropology. In some universities, linguistics is offered as a fourth specialty.

Anthropology majors are also advised to take elective courses in different sciences like anatomy, biology, genetics and physiology.  These courses will complement the core course requirements of anthropology students during their first and second years in school.

After earning a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, an aspiring forensic anthropologist must get a specialty in physical anthropology which focuses on the physical development of human beings.  Since a lot of anthropologists study remains of human skeletons, it is also advantageous to aspiring forensic anthropologists to take further specialization in osteology or the study of bones.

Aspiring forensic anthropologists should also apply for a graduate program and pursue a master’s degree or a Ph.D. A master’s degree can take two more years while pursuing Ph.D. can go up to five years.

Work for Forensic Anthropologists

Forensic anthropologists can find themselves pursuing any of these career paths- as a curator, university faculty member, staff member of a forensic center, or working as a regular staff in crime labs.  Usually, forensic anthropologists start their career at a university or major college. With the flexible schedule that working in the academe permits, forensic anthropologists have enough time to pursue research and consulting endeavors, or apply for grant researches. When forensic anthropologists publish research results in scientific journals, they enhance their academic reputation and status as an expert forensic anthropologist.

Salary for Forensic Anthropologists

Forensic anthropologists enjoy a widely varied salary range. For starters, a lecturer or assistant forensic anthropology professor at a major college or university earns around $35,000 to $50,000 a year.  The salary may differ depending on the status of employment and should increase as the forensic anthropologist moves up in the corporate ladder. A full-time professor at a major university can earn up to $100,000 a year.

Additionally, those who get grants and research funds for their special area of interest in forensics or anthropology will help their career progress especially within the academe.

Forensic anthropologists who are hired to work in the public sector may earn around $75,000 to $95,000 a year, depending on their experience.  There is also a great earning potential for forensic anthropologists who work part-time as a consultant or expert witness for various law enforcement branches, police departments and law firms.

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Anthropology Major

by Web Master on April 6, 2012

Career paths for Anthropology major students

The word anthropology is originated from the Greek words “anthropos” and “logia”, which literally means human and study respectively. Anthropologists probe into the secrets of human existence in terms of both evolutionary time line and geographic space.

Anthropology is defined as the study of human beings and it deals with various topics related to the evolution of man and his social behavior. Anthropology comprises of many related topics including anthropological science, archeology and social and cultural anthropology among others. There are many reputed institutions that offer degree in anthropology and it has bright career scope considering its application in solving various social problems. Most job positions in anthropology require higher degrees including a master’s or a Ph.D.

Career options

Anthropology degree holders have  a range of career options in diverse fields including social work, education, health care segments, psychology, marketing, museum curator, non-profit management, publishing and many others.

You can consult a career counselor to choose the right courses and career paths in anthropology.  Some of the common job choices include but not limited to the following

Teaching:

Universities hire anthropology experts for both teaching and research works. Anthropology professors also have the opportunities to specialize in various related fields like cultural anthropology, physical anthropology and archaeological anthropology. Field research involves traveling to various places, living and  interacting with people of various cultural backgrounds and so on. The information gathered from anthropological field work is used for governmental programs and in the implementation of social welfare programs and academic publications.

Research Work

Anthropology graduates can work in various government departments, non profit organizations and multinational companies among others. An anthropology graduate  who can handle various languages can work as translators in companies, the UN or  in government organizations.

Museums

Anthropology experts are often hired as museum curators to make presentations and share information on the museum and its activities to the general public. The museum could be involved in field work or could be part of a university.

Some of the important sub sections of anthropology include cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, physical anthropology, and applied anthropology.

Cultural Anthropology is the latest branch of anthropology which involves the study of internal logic that exist in societies. The data is collected by various ways and means  including interviews, surveys and observation.   Physical Anthropology on the other hand study the origin and development of humans by studying the fossils of ancient. Archeology is the compilation and documentation of evidences of human culture to piece together the evolution of human life

The latest trends in anthropology offer ample scope for the graduates to pursue the vocations of their choice.  The average income of anthropologists was $53,460 as per the figures of BLS for the year 2009. Salaries could change as per the company, industry and the area. Anthropologists working in Federal Govt departments typically ear more than those who work in private sector.

It is expected that the Job growth for anthropologists will surge by over 22 percent by the year 2018. Anthropologists who have research experience and multiple language skills are more likely to get plum posts.

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Forensic Anthropology Salary

by Web Master on February 6, 2012

Forensic anthropology is unique profession, which mixes together both forensic and physical anthropology, osteology (a fancy way of saying the study of the human bone structure) and biological mechanisms, and then uses these skills in the legal realm to mainly help resolve criminal cases. If you’ve ever watched any of the CSI shows on television, you’ve no doubt seen how these forensic anthropologists utilize their specialized skills to identify dead bodies; ones that may have been mutilated, burned or in a state of decomposition. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart.

The word “forensic” in the job title is what positions the job in the law realm. Forensic anthropologists many times collaborate with homicide investigators and forensic pathologists (the branch of medical science that uses medical knowledge for legal purposes), which are also crime fighting entities, to discover trauma evidence or figure out how long a human may have been dead.

So, what does it take to become a forensic anthropologist? Well, it requires a whole lot of education. You will first need to earn a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, physiology, chemistry, biology or anatomy.  While a Master’s level degree may be enough to land you a forensic anthropology position, the majority of those in the field also have PhDs. One big reason for the extensive education necessary is the fact that there just aren’t that many forensic anthropology jobs out there. In fact, there is also a lot of specialization in this field. Some of these practitioners focus on skeletal studies, while others work primarily on facial reconstruction, just to give you a few examples.

The amount of money you can earn as a forensic anthropologist varies, of course. Those that are employed in the public sector by, say, a federal or state public health service, can expect to earn somewhere from $75,000 to $95,000 and up. Keep in mind that there are also positions as educational forensic anthropologists. Assistant professors or university lecturers can make somewhere between $35,000 and $50,000 a year. Full time full professors makes much more, with a salary range between about $90,000 and $100,000 annually.

To find a job in forensic anthropology, you may need to keep an open mind and look in, perhaps, unexpected places. For instance, you may seek a position at an FBI laboratory or a private firm. You might also find yourself working along with a medical examiner. Furthermore, there are positions as consultants at law firms, as expert witnesses in court cases and various law enforcement agencies.

A majority of forensic anthropologists are employed at major universities or colleges, as these positions allow them the flexibility to also be consultants and do research. Also, as college professors, these folks are then in positions to apply for research grants. Once the results of these research projects are published, these professors can then further advance their professional statuses.

Much as with doctors, if you don’t faint at the sight of blood, and if human remains don’t make you sick, perhaps you have some of what it takes to become a forensic anthropologist. Also, if you enjoy studying and like to be in either a crime scene or educational environment, forensic anthropology might just be for you.

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Forensic Nursing Salary

by Web Master on January 6, 2012

Information about Forensic Nursing Salary

Forensic nursing is a relatively new specialty field that promises a lucrative and satisfying career. Forensic nurses apart from dealing with dead bodies, also deal with victims of assault, rape, and abuse. Apart from caring and treating such victims, forensic nurses also help law enforcement agencies to collect physical evidence, and help in developing programs for preventing violence.

Forensic nursing is highly specialized field and a candidate must be a Registered Nurse (RN) first before taking up studies in forensic nursing. To become a RN, the candidate must complete the required state requirements, pass the Bachelor of Science in nursing exam, and obtain a RN license. An RN can apply for a specialist forensic nurse program only after completing three years practice as a registered nurse in USA. Many universities offer various specialized courses and programs in forensic nursing, which the candidate can successfully complete. ACFE (American College of Forensic Examiners), and IFAN (International Association of Forensic Nurses) are two of the popular certifying authorities for CFN (Certified Forensic Nurse) credentials.

Forensic nursing salary depends on many factors, including experience, abilities, and the place of work. Metros and major cities offer much better pay scales compared to other places. Many CFNs are paid on an hourly basis, while some even receive payments per case. Most forensic nurses do not work for hospitals, except the ones who are Emergency Room Examiners. The hourly rate of a forensic nurse having one to four years experience would be $26.45 to $38.88. However, nurses having more experience of up to ten years and more can expect to earn $31.44 to $50.87 per hour. Employment at hospital might involve hourly salary, over and above the regular salary of RN, for the time worked in the capacity of forensic nurse. This hourly pay can range between a dollar to four dollars per hour, according to experience and place.

When an employer pays a forensic nurse per case, then the fees might range from $150 to over $400 per case. According to Pay Scale, the average salary earned through forensic nursing ranged from $54,171 to $78,506 per annum. The pay scale is usually higher than of RN, as this is a specialty career after completing a registered nurse degree. According to a report of American Forensic Nurses Inc., it can be difficult to estimate earning capacity of forensic nurses precisely, as private hospitals in urban areas pay much more compared to public healthcare centers and rural areas.

The field of forensic nursing is evolving rapidly and there are many employment options. Forensic nurses can find employment in corrections departments, law enforcement agencies, morgue, emergency rooms, or attorney’s office. To get the best jobs in this field, it is best to join professional organizations like IAFN that provide various educational options and other resources to its members. Members can take advantage of professional directories and listings, and access important information from the organization’s publications. Certain high posts in this field will require continuing education, and there might be renewal requirements as well. All such information and more can be got from professional organizations.

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