August 25, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR CHANDRA INGLIS-SMITH IN WV

What a great career choice, and a very challenging one as well.
Like in any degree, there are many specialties within just one title, so
your schooling will be based on what you are specifically interested in.
Many schools offer Anthropology degrees and Forensics degrees, but I'm not
sure how many offer both in conjunction. The only one I know offhand (in
your area) is the school I attended, Mercyhurst College in Erie Pa. It has
one of the very best Anthropology/Forensics programs in the United States
and you are guaranteed to get real life practical experience on real cases
during your undergraduate study. They always take students out to work on
the cases they get called to by the police. Even I as an archaeology
student had a chance to go out and be involved with some of the forensic
investigations.
My other suggestion would be to do an internet search for
colleges with Anthropology programs and see which ones also had Forensics as
well. Good Luck!
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August 22, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR PATRICIA MCROY IN GA
The University of Tennessee in Knoxville has a very good forensic
anthropology program:

http://web.utk.edu/~anthrop/

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A: FROM MENTOR LEE PELLEGRINO-GENSEY IN NJ
For all the mentees who ask about colleges that offer forensic science
majors, here is information from an Associated Press article. They list
several colleges that offer majors and minors, and state that although there
is a "dire need" for forensic scientists, most state or local budgets will
not allow hiring, so people who graduate with this training might have a
tough time finding jobs. Classes will most likely include chemistry and
physics, but could also include criminal justice and investigational methods
or other law-related classes. Towson University has a new forensic
chemistry program. Mansfield University in Mansfield, PA offers a forensic
science minor. Baylor, Pace, and West Virginia Universities have forensic
sciences programs. The U. of Baltimore has a forensic sciences major, and
Saint Louis University has a major in investigative medical sciences.
Syracuse U. and Chatham College are considering forensic science minors
while the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and Hilbert College
already have these minor programs. There are graduate programs at UC Davis,
Duquesne, and the U. of North Texas Health Science Center. Two books I can
also recommend for those considering forensic science are "Dead Men Do Tell
Tales" by Maples and Browning, which is nonfiction, and the novel "The Body
Farm" by Patricia Cornwell who writes crime novels with a female chief
medical examiner as the main character.