Anthropology (ANTH)
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Read more about the courses within this subject prefix in the descriptions provided below.
ANTH 411 - Global Perspectives on the Human Condition: An Introduction to Anthropology
Credits: 4
This course introduces students to the core concepts, methods, and research of contemporary cultural anthropology, as well as to the ways in which the discipline is relevant to their daily lives. Students will learn how anthropology approaches the study of culture, language and communication, family and kinship, gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, economic relationships, political systems, religion, social change and globalization. Ethnographic material from both the U.S. and cross-culturally, as well as a series of hands-on, experiential and interactive activities, will demonstrate anthropological concepts and questions.
Attributes: World Cultures(Discovery)
Equivalent(s): ANTH 411H, ANTH 411W
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 411W - Global Perspectives on the Human Condition: An Introduction to Anthropology
Credits: 4
This course introduces students to the core concepts, methods, and research of contemporary cultural anthropology, as well as to the ways in which the discipline is relevant to their daily lives. Students will learn how anthropology approaches the study of culture, language and communication, family and kinship, gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, economic relationships, political systems, religion, social change and globalization. Ethnographic material from both the U.S. and cross-culturally, as well as a series of hands-on, experiential and interactive activities, will demonstrate anthropological concepts and questions.
Attributes: World Cultures(Discovery); Writing Intensive Course
Equivalent(s): ANTH 411, ANTH 411H
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 412 - Broken Pots and Buried Cities: Introduction to World Archaeology
Credits: 4
Traces the history of archaeology's most spectacular finds and how those moments of adventure and glory developed into a scientific discipline. Provides an introduction to the methods used by archaeologists to recover, analyze, and interpret data in their ongoing effort to understand humanity through the analysis of those small things left behind.
Attributes: Social Science (Discovery)
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 415 - The Human Story: Evolution, Fossils and DNA
Credits: 4
This course uses an evolutionary approach to investigate human biological and bio-cultural variation in time and space. Through a study of the basics of population genetics, an evaluation of our closest living relatives, nonhuman primates, and an exploration of the biological and cultural pathways traversed by our ancestors to become modern Homo sapiens, students learn the depth and complexity of the human story. Laboratory exercises dealing with human genetics, hominin fossils, and evolution are integrated with lectures to give students hands-on learning experience. No credit earned if credit received for ANTH 413.
Attributes: Biological Science(Discovery)
Equivalent(s): ANTH 413
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 500 - Peoples and Cultures of the World
Credits: 4
Explores cultures and peoples from specific geographic regions of the world. Broadly considers social, gendered, economic, and political changes in ecological and historical context, focusing on precolonial, colonial, and contemporary societies and globalization. Sections: A. North America, B. Latin America, C. Middle East and North Africa, D. Sub-Saharan Africa, E. Southeast Asia. May be repeated barring duplication of subject.
Attributes: World Cultures(Discovery)
Repeat Rule: May be repeated up to unlimited times.
Equivalent(s): ANTH 500W
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 501 - World Archaeological Cultures
Credits: 4
Explores past peoples and societies from specific geographic regions of the worlds through archaeological material culture, such as tools, art, and architectural remains. Broadly considers social, gendered, economic, and political dynamics of ancient (premodern) societies in ecological and historical context and the role of material culture in the present. Sections: A) North America; B) Mesoamerica; C) South America; D) Near East; E) Europe; F) Asia. May be repeated barring duplication of subject.
Attributes: World Cultures(Discovery)
Repeat Rule: May be repeated up to unlimited times.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 513 - Ethnographic Methods
Credits: 4
The course introduces students to social science research and differences between quantitative and qualitative research methods, and provides a hands-on experience to develop skills in interviewing, participant-observation, life-history, surveying, socio-linguistics, fieldnotes, and ethics of the research.
Attributes: Inquiry (Discovery)
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 514 - Method and Theory in Archaeology
Credits: 0 or 4
Basic method and theory; techniques in recovering and interpreting data; laboratory exercises in ceramic and lithic analysis. Critical evaluation of archaeological literature.
Attributes: Inquiry (Discovery)
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 525 - Anthropology of the Body: Fat, Fitness and Form
Credits: 4
This course surveys the way our human bodies are valued, transformed, experienced and made subject to control in different societies around the world. It explores cultural constructions of fatness and obesity, fitness and sports as sites of politics, economics and social change, and bodily modification and dis-integration in tattooing, injury, biomedical technology, disability, aging, and extreme environments of war and outerspace. Uses anthropological and feminist theories and introduces ethnographic methods.
Attributes: Social Science (Discovery)
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 527 - Humanities and Religion
Credits: 4
This course examines the role of religion, religious ideas and religious practice in world cultures using a combination of methodologies drawn from different humanities disciplines, with a particular emphasis on comparative approaches and investigating how religion is used to create and express cultural identity around the globe.
Attributes: World Cultures(Discovery); Writing Intensive Course
Equivalent(s): HUMA 527
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 530 - Multispecies Planet: Animals, Plants, and Landscapes Across Cultures
Credits: 4
This course takes a big-picture approach to investigating how humans in diverse cultures have related to the non-human world, placing an emphasis on landscapes and plant and animal species. Comparing our Western worldviews and practices with Indigenous approaches, we will identify the underlying assumptions with which humans and their technologies have encountered, modified, and impacted the natural world. Designed with an experiential component, the course invites us to rethink our philosophies and sustainability of the human/non-human interface.
Attributes: Environment,TechSociety(Disc)
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 550 - Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
Credits: 4
This course provides an overview of forensic anthropology, a sub-field of biological anthropology that applies knowledge of skeletal anatomy to problems of medico-legal significance (i.e., identification of human skeletal remains and interpretation of the circumstances surrounding death). This course outlines concepts underlying the recovery and analysis of human remains, the determination of the biological profile (including age, sex, ancestry, and stature), and the interpretation of skeletal trauma and pathology.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 610 - Medical Anthropology: Illness and Healing
Credits: 4
Intermediate-level introduction to medical anthropology through sociocultural and bioarchaeological approaches to describing health-related ideas and practices in cross-cultural, historical and ecological contexts. Focuses on human illness and religious experiences of disease and the end of life. Considers how suffering, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and care are shaped by: religion and ritual; symbolism and language; age, gender and sexuality; families, social movements, and governments; and the worldwide expansion of biomedical expertise and technologies.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 611 - History of Anthropological Theory
Credits: 4
Provides a grounding in the history of social thought in cultural anthropology and sister disciplines from 19th century evolutionism to the present. Course reading is based on primary sources - original essays written by theorists central to the discipline. Assessment is partly based on students' ability to apply theoretical concepts to novel contexts, as well as the ability to evaluate and compare theories on the basis of logic and evidence.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 612 - Applied Anthropology
Credits: 4
Introduces students to the ways anthropological questions, concepts, and methods are applied to real world problems. Students learn how anthropological knowledge and methods can be used in a wide range of disciplines and careers. The course includes experiential learning where students engage with professionals doing work within applied anthropology. Students gain perspective on the practical possibilities in their major and acquire skills to position themselves for future careers.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 620 - Ritual and Religion of Ancient Mesoamerica
Credits: 4
This course examines the religious beliefs and ritual practices of ancient Mesoamerican cultures, such as the Olmec, Maya, and Aztecs. Students learn about the meaning of ritual practices (like human sacrifice and burial rites) and the myths that underlie this mysterious ritual behavior from an archaeological perspective. This class is writing intensive and involves primarily in-class discussion. Students are evaluated based on their participation, oral presentations, and a number of writing assignments.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 625 - Sexuality in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Credits: 4
This course examines the ideologies and practices associated with sexuality from a broad perspective that incorporates diverse case studies from the ethnographic record. Working from the argument that much of human sexual behavior is culturally constructed rather than biologically determined, the course invites students to expand their notion of the "normal" and to consider the human condition from a cross-cultural perspective. Topics discussed include cross-cultural varieties of transgendered experience, same-sex sexualities, and heteronormative identities.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 640 - Anthropology of Islam: Muslims' Everyday Lives in Contemporary Communities
Credits: 4
This course introduces students to different ways of being Muslim in contemporary world, focusing on Muslim communities residing in Central Asia (post-Soviet independent countries, China, and Afghanistan); the United States and some parts of Europe; and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 645 - Cultural Sustainability and the Role of Public Archaeology
Credits: 4
In archaeology, the sustainability movement has encouraged increased outreach and education in an effort to make archaeology relevant to the public and to sustain past lifeways, especially cultural traditions threatened of being erased in our increasingly homogenized and globalized world. Students will be introduced to this field and experience for themselves how to translate academic archaeology to the masses through public programming, from designing museum exhibits to participating in "open archaeology" education for the public.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 650 - Anthropology of Migration and Movement
Credits: 4
This course uses an anthropological framework to gain a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of global migration and human movement. It will examine the theoretical underpinnings of an anthropological perspective on migration and movement, and will explore a variety of ethnographic case studies to explore the significant political, economic, environmental, legal, and social issues that influence global migration.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 655 - Bioarchaeology of the Human Past
Credits: 4
Bioarchaeology is the study of human remains from ancient and historical sites. Past populations can be examined by utilizing principles of skeletal and dental biology, as well as archaeological context and ethnohistory, to address anthropological questions. This course will encompass a global survey of bioarchaeological sites and research, and focus on historically marginalized groups like women and children in the past. Students will explore ethical issues, controversies, excavation methods, and inclusion of indigenous communities.
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 415 with a minimum grade of C.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- Develop working knowledge of common pathologies and diseases studied in bioarchaeology.
- Understand and apply biocultural anthropological approaches to bioarchaeological research.
- Develop the ability to summarize bioarchaeological research critically using relevant literature and findings from cultural and archaeological contexts, and from the principles of human osteology.
- Develop an appreciation for the wide variety of mortuary behavior and cultural variability in dealing with the dead across time and space.
- Locate and critically analyze archaeological, anthropological, and other literature regarding the "invisibility" of women and children across time.
- Be able to summarize the taphonomic and social issues that complicate the study of children in the bioarchaeological record.
ANTH 660 - Human Osteology
Credits: 4
This course will cover the study of the human skeleton (osteology) and the ethical handling and treatment of human remains. The lecture format will be followed for the first 2/3 of the course while students will participate in hands-on skeletal analysis for the last third of the class. Students will learn about the major bones of the body, common pathologies, trauma analysis and interpretation, and age, sex, stature, and ancestry estimation.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 665W - Forensic Cold Case Investigation
Credits: 4
This course introduces students to the issues involved in investigating and solving cold cases in forensic anthropology. Often, forensic anthropologists are contacted by law enforcement to assist with recovery and identification of human remains that have been discovered years after a crime was committed. In addition to covering the basics of forensic anthropology (e.g. age and sex estimation from human remains, search and recovery methods, interpretation of skeletal trauma), this course will focus on topics such as ethics in investigation, addressing media bias, forensic genealogy and new techniques in solving crimes, and understanding the "missing missing." New Hampshire cases will be discussed and students will become familiar with the processes of solving cold cases in their home state. A special focus on social justice and activism work surrounding cold cases will be pursued in this course. By the end of the course, students interested in criminal justice, anthropology, and social work will have a better understanding of the issues and problems involved in resolving long-standing cold cases.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Prerequisite(s): JUST 401 with a minimum grade of D- or ANTH 411 with a minimum grade of D- or ANTH 412 with a minimum grade of D- or ANTH 415 with a minimum grade of D- or ANTH 550 with a minimum grade of D-.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- In this course, students will learn how to identify, research, and create resource guides for missing, unidentified, and cold cases in forensic anthropology. Through a combination of forensic anthropology methods, law enforcement databases, and volunteer sleuthing, students will understand how professionals and lay persons alike can work collaboratively to resolve the identities of cold case victims. By the end of the course, students will understand how media bias and public outreach intersect with forensic anthropology and law enforcement investigation in the current American climate.
ANTH 674 - Archaeological Survey and Mapping in Belize
Credits: 4
Involves hands-on training in field reconnaissance, survey and mapping of archaeological sites, and the use of ARCGIS mapping software. This field course takes place in Belize (Central America) and will be of interest to students studying anthropology, geography and geospatial technologies, among others.
Co-requisite: INCO 589
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
Special Fee: Yes
ANTH 680 - Africana Religions: Migration, Community, and Material Culture
Credits: 4
Explores Africana indigenous and earth-based and ancestral practices, Islam, and Christianity to show how religion has shaped communities and always been on the move within and beyond the African continent, including in the Americas and Asia. Uses theories of media and material culture to survey religious environments, ritual, oral, visual, and expressive arts. Students tour virtual and local exhibits and interact with curators, heritage specialists, community members, and museum collections to curate an exhibit.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- Students will visit both local physical and virtual museum exhibits, interacting with museum and gallery professionals to understand the exhibition process and politics of displaying sacred material culture.
- Students will get hands-on practice in object analysis in studying and handling artifacts from two readily available collections to develop a collective class exhibit, using UNH collections or those of community organizations.
- Students will engage in various forms of writing - scholarly and technical - that complement each other and singly communicate a critical humanistic theme for an exhibition.
ANTH 685 - Gender, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Africa
Credits: 4
HIV/AIDS has been defined as one of the exceptional global pandemics of the Millennium. This course traces the rise and global spread of HIV and AIDS and the introduction of antiretroviral therapies and preventions in African and its Diasporas with a focus on sex and gender. Includes findings on heterosexual and LGBTIQA individuals, couples, and communities and perspectives on: kinship, marriage, love, transactional sex, reproduction, contraception, gender-based violence, and activist movements. Uses ethnographies and health sciences databases.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 697 - Special Topics
Credits: 4
Occasional or experimental offerings. May be repeated for different topics. Operates on a seminar format.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 411 with a minimum grade of D- or ANTH 412 with a minimum grade of D- or ANTH 415 with a minimum grade of D-.
Repeat Rule: May be repeated up to unlimited times.
Equivalent(s): ANTH 697W
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 699 - Senior Thesis
Credits: 4 or 8
Thesis-driven course consisting of independent work in the library, collections, or field sites. Recommended for, but not confined to, majors intending to pursue graduate studies or anthropological or archaeological career. Contact a faculty member to obtain approval and arrange supervision prior to senior year. Thesis will be taken over the course of 2 semesters for 8 credits total. As a continuous course, an IA grade will be given at the end of the first semester.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- Develop a written thesis or multi-media thesis that incorporates a significant writing component and comprehensively and persuasively uses anthropological and or archaeological data, literatures, and analyses.
ANTH 699H - Honors Senior Thesis
Credits: 4 or 8
Independent work in the library or field; recommended for, but not confined to, majors intending to pursue graduate studies; required for honors candidates. Contact staff to obtain approval and arrange supervision prior to senior year. 4 or 8 credit 2 semesters, 8 credits required for honors; an IA grade (continuous course) given at end of first semester.
Attributes: Honors course; Writing Intensive Course
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.
Equivalent(s): ANTH 699
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 700 - Internship
Credits: 1-4
Provides student with supervised practical experience in anthropology in one of the following areas: A) professional or community support work within an academic or applied anthropology setting; B) teaching; C) museum work; D) archaeological laboratory or fieldwork; E) research on a faculty research project; F) editorial work on a journal or faculty book project.
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 750 - Islam and Gender: Gendered Lives of Muslims
Credits: 4
This seminar focuses on the lives of Muslims. While critically questioning some existing ideas about and representations of Muslims, it introduces students to practical and historical aspects of gender politics in different Muslim communities.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- Students will learn new material about Islam, Gender, and Anthropology when it comes to understanding Muslim communities.
- They will learn how to synthesize this information.
- Students will develop critical and reflexive perspectives, helping each individual to form her/his/their opinions and enhance their communication skills. By critical I mean that students will not take for granted authors' and instructors' opinions. They should be willing and able to evaluate those opinions and claims considering their own knowledge and experiences. By reflexive I mean that students will be able to understand the role that their socio-cultural context and experiences play in the formulation of their opinions about the world in general and Muslim communities (gender, religion, and politics) in particular. Students will be able to get several perspectives on gender dynamics in Muslim communities and thus challenge their opinions and expand their knowledge about Muslim and other faith-based communities. They will be critical and reflexive towards their own opinions since they will question the opinions of others.
- This is a writing intensive seminar, which improves students' writing skills. More than 50% of the final grade is based on students' assignments. Through writing workshops, feedback from the instructor and peers, and a semester-long research project, students explore the most important components of academic writing, including a thesis statement, annotated bibliography, peer review, presentation of the main arguments, and a complete research paper. In addition to in-class and online discussions, students' writing assignments allow them to express their opinions about the assigned materials and present their views more accurately than possible during the class discussion. All course assignments aim to enhance students' ability to read and write critically and thoroughly.
ANTH 785 - The Anthropology of Dreams and Dreaming
Credits: 4
This course emphasizes the "dream theories" of indigenous societies and how beliefs and practices associated with dreaming are integrated into cultural, ontological, political, economic, and religious systems. Western theories are also examined from within a comparative perspective--from basic Freudian models to contemporary scientific debates about the neurological origin and significance of dreaming.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 795 - Reading and Research
Credits: 1-8
A) Cultural/Social Anthropology; B) Anthropological Linguistics; C) Archaeology; D) Physical Anthropology.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 796 - Reading and Research
Credits: 1-8
A) Cultural/Social Anthropology; B) Anthropological Linguistics; C) Archaeology; D) Physical Anthropology.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
ANTH 797 - Advanced Topics
Credits: 4
Advanced or specialized courses presenting material not normally covered in regular course offerings. May be repeated, but not in duplicate areas. Course descriptions on file in the department office during registration. A) Social Organization; B) Economic Anthropology; C) Anthropology of Religion; D) Political Anthropology; E) Social Impact Analysis; F) Cultural Ecology; G) Prehistoric Archaeology; H) Historic Archaeology; I) Cultural Resources Conservation; J) Lithic Analysis; K) Ceramic Analysis; L) Faunal Analysis; M) Human Evolution; N) Human Variations; O) Anthropological Theory. Operates on a seminar format.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 411 with a minimum grade of D- or ANTH 412 with a minimum grade of D- or ANTH 415 with a minimum grade of D-.
Repeat Rule: May be repeated up to unlimited times.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading