Anthropology (ANTH)

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 #440A - Honors/Medicine and Culture: Science, Technology and the Body

Credits: 4

This course takes a comparative, cross-cultural approach to global medicine. Through critical readings, multimedia presentations, class discussions, and expository writing, we consider how techno-scientific developments, transnational flows, environmental transformations, and historical inequities shape how we know and experience our bodies. Key course topics include controversies surrounding new medical technologies, the intersections between Western and non-Western medical systems, and innovative responses to chronic global diseases.

Attributes: Environment,TechSociety(Disc); Honors course

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 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 #597 - Special Topics

Credits: 4

Occasional and experimental offerings on an entry level. May be repeated for different topics.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated up to unlimited times.

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 Perspectives

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, with a focus on women and children in the past. Students will explore ethical issues, controversies, excavation methods, and inclusion of indigenous communities.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

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 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 #675 - Archaeological Field School in Belize

Credits: 4

The Archaeological Field School in Belize is a hands-on course aimed at training students in all aspects of archaeological field and laboratory work. Students gain experience in field excavations and laboratory processing and analyses of recovered artifacts. The course consists of lectures 2-3 nights/week on a variety of topics related to Archaic and ancient Maya civilization, as well as lecture and class discussion on a range of topics concerning archaeological field and laboratory techniques.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

Special Fee: Yes

ANTH #680 - Africana Religions: Mobility, Power, and Material Culture

Credits: 4

Explores Africana indigenous and earth-based and ancestral practices, Islam, and Christianity to show how religion has powerfully 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

ANTH 685 - Gender, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan 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 sub-Saharan 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 #695 - Globalization and Global Population Health

Credits: 4

This course traces how political economies drive global movements of people, diseases, and health interventions. It takes a multidisciplinary approach through medical anthropology and humanities, public health, and sustainability, looking at: histories of health intervention and biomedical technologies; under-development; shifting public-private sector governance; humanitarianism, cultural knowledge, expertise, and translation; and health-related social justice approaches and liberation theologies. Topics may include: epidemics, non-communicable diseases, metabolic disorders, substance abuse, violence, injury, and aging.

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 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

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