ANTHRO X001 - Fragmentary Human Osteology
The goal of this short course is to familiarize students and professionals with the identification of fragmentary human skeletal remains. Emphasis will be placed on identifying and siding both whole bones and fragmentary human bones, as well as differentiating human skeletal remains from non-human skeletal remains. The course involves extensive hands-on opportunities with ethically-sourced real bone fragments, supplemented by detailed lectures, and exemplar presentations in forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology.
Delivery Options
In-Person: This course is delivered in a classroom or lab setting, providing hands-on learning opportunities and direct interaction with instructors and peers.
Time to Completion
This course is projected to take 40 hours to complete.
Course Completion Requirements
Successful completion of this course requires attendance at all sessions and submission of the course evaluation.
Technology Requirements
No technology requirements for this in-person course.
What You’ll Learn
- Recognize basic human skeletal anatomy and bone morphology.
- Identify and side fragmentary human skeletal elements.
- Differentiate between adult and subadult fragmentary human skeletal remains.
- Differentiate human skeletal remains from non-human (comparative) specimens.
What You’ll Earn
- Certificate of Completion from Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences Department of Anthropology.
Additional Information
Location
The location for the 5-day in-person course will be The Ohio State University's Forensic Anthropology Laboratory, 4042 Smith Laboratory, 174 W 18th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210
Registration and Pricing
Early Bird Registration
- $550 without housing.
- $975 with housing.
- Deadline: Ends February 28, 2026
Regular Registration
- $650 without housing.
- $1075 with housing.
Registration closes: Thursday, April 30, 2026
Housing
Participants can select to stay in university housing for an additional price. Housing includes:
- Single room in a campus dormitory for 5 nights.
- Air conditioning.
- Linens, blanket, towel, washcloth, pillow, pillowcase, key card.
- Breakfast at the dining hall.
- Check in is Sunday, 5/17/26
- Check out is Friday, 5/22/26
Meals
Participants are responsible for their own meals.
Participants staying in the dorms receive a complimentary breakfast.
Parking
Parking information is available here.
Refunds
Special Refund Policy: Refunds are available until Thursday, April 30, 2026, minus a 5% administrative fee. After this date there is no refund for cancellations. For refunds or transfers please contact continuinged@osu.edu.
Contact Us
For questions about enrollment, payment options, technology support, or course records, please contact our Enrollment Support team. Inquiries are typically answered within 24 business hours.
For questions about course content or learning objectives, please contact Dr. Nicholas V. Passalacqua.