Skeletal Death Investigation

FSA109 – 40.00 Hours

Schedule

Price shown is for commissioned Texas peace officers or non-commissioned personnel employed by a Texas law enforcement agency. Additional fees will apply for out of state and others.

Details Buttons Dates Location Class Price Register Buttons
05/19/25 – 05/23/25 San Marcos, TX LS FSA109 16 $1750.00 Register

This schedule is subject to change without notice. If you have not received confirmation of the class prior to the class start, please contact the division at (800) 423-8433 or [email protected] to get the latest schedule.

Course Description

Skeletal Death InvestigationClandestine burial sites and scattered human remains pose serious issues for criminal investigators. This course is designed for those responsible for death investigations, including cold case death investigations dealing with skeletal remains. Participants will be introduced to the field of forensic anthropology and receive instruction in the recovery and analysis of human remains. Participants will have the unique opportunity to excavate a cadaver while at the body farm at Texas State’s Freeman Ranch. Course instruction is through lecture, case review, and field application.

This course meets Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) requirements Texas Forensic Science Academy Skeletal Death Investigation Course #40060.

Participant Testimonials:

  • Excellent class for law enforcement personnel tasked with criminal investigations.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Enrollment Requirements

Participants enrolling in this course must meet one of the following employment statuses. Please ensure the affiliation on your student account reflects one of the following:

  • Licensed or certified peace officer with a current commission employed by or attached to a law enforcement/investigative agency
  • Civilian employed by a law enforcement/investigative agency conducting investigative tasks or duties
  • Nurse employed by a medical facility tasked with conducting forensic examinations

Participants will be contacted via email to confirm approval and admittance into the course.

Course Completion Requirements

Participant Must Provide

  • A photo identification on the first day of class. See the Participant Handbook for approved forms of identification and additional guidelines.
  • Laptop or tablet

Note: A phone is not considered a sufficient replacement for a laptop or tablet for this class.

Attendance Requirements

Class attendance is an essential part of the education process, and participants in TEEX courses are expected to attend all class sessions and field exercises. The course requires participants to attend a minimum of 100% of the class hours as a component of successful course completion. During the course, your instructor will review any additional attendance requirement, for example a field exercise that cannot be missed.

In some cases, make-up work will not be available (due to equipment/facility needs and/or safety/teamwork components or activity setup/facilitation/requirements).

Participants in a TCOLE credit eligible course must complete the class in its entirety to receive a TEEX Certificate of Completion and be reported for TCOLE credit.

If you have additional questions, please refer to the TEEX Participant Handbook.

Course Attire/PPE

  • Participants will be conducting field exercises, including excavation of a human cadaver, throughout the week. Dress appropriately with gear for outdoor field work in various types of weather conditions.
  • Comfortable closed toe footwear
  • Sun protection
  • Insect repellent

Upon successful completion, you will be able to:

  • Basics of forensic anthropology
  • Biological profile
  • Decomposition and taphonomy
  • Human osteology
  • Photography and mapping
  • Recovery of scattered surface and buried remains
  • Site identification

Suggested Audience

  • Law enforcement and non-commissioned personnel assigned to investigative tasks and duties such as crime scene investigators, detectives, medicolegal death investigators, patrol officers, corrections officers and forensic nurses

Continuing Education And Professional Credits

Note: Live Online Instructor-Led (webinar) courses are not eligible for TCOLE credit.

  • 40.00 hours – Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)
  • 3.00 hours – American Council on Education (ACE)
  • 40.00 hours – Nebraska State Patrol
  • International Association of Identification (IAI)

Other Information

Course Disclaimers

  • Participants will be working with human cadavers
  • Participants will be subject to the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State (FACTS) policies concerning cameras and external devices

International Association for Identification

You are responsible for contacting International Association for Identification (IAI) after successfully completing the TEEX course to submit the necessary documentation for your desired certification. IAI credit hours are currently available for the following credits:

  • Crime Scene Certification (issued 4/3/2024), Initial (40 hrs) or Recertification (40 hrs).

Contact Information

Law Enforcement and Protective Services
Phone: (979) 845-6677 | Toll-Free: (800) 423-8433
Email: [email protected]

Payment Info

  • Credit Card – Complete online registration or call (979) 845-6677
  • Purchase Order – Complete registration form and send to [email protected] or fax to (877) 289-9715
  • Check – Complete registration form and mail to: TEEX – LAW, P.O. Box 40006, College Station, TX 77842