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Course Descriptions
ANTH 1010 General
Anthropology
An exploration into the study
of humans and culture(s), designed for those desiring to gain some understanding
of the nature of anthropology and its unique approach to the problem of understanding
the basic unity and the great diversity of human beings and their ways of
life.
This course represents the basic
introduction to anthropology as the discipline interested in the origins,
development, and nature of humans and their culture(s). It exposes the student
to the perspectives, methods and materials of the field through its four
major subfield concentrations: physical anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology,
and social/cultural anthropology. The primary focus of the
course is with humans, their physical and social/cultural nature. Among
the topics to be addressed are: human evolution and variation, prehistory
and culture change, human communication, social organization and structure.
The course draws on a variety of societies and cultures in an attempt to
understand human similarity and diversity.
ANTH 2045 Gender Across
Cultures: A Multicultural Examination of Gender Roles
Women's roles are as diverse as the cultures they
live in. Students in this course will look at women's political, economic,
religious and social roles in a variety of human cultures. They will analyze
the extent to which sex roles are biologically or culturally determined and
examine the ways in which the roles of women in American society fit into
the pattern of roles that women have held throughout human existence.
ANTH 2070 Introduction to Race
and Ethnic Studies
This class will provide a general
introduction of the interdisciplinary field of ethnic studies. It is
designed to help you engage with fundamental concepts that will allow you
to understand the relevance of race and ethnicity in contemporary U.S. To
achieve these objectives this class will:
- Introduce you to the basic
theories related to the study of race and ethnic relations.
- Examine the various
perspectives relevant to ethnic studies (i.e. anthropology, sociology,
history) to analyze how race relations have evolved in the U.S.
- Explain the tendencies that
contribute to foster assimilation or cultural distinctiveness among
various groups in the U.S
- Raise questions about
continuing prejudice and racism in our society, and look at applied
attempts to rectify racial distrust and alienation.
ANTH 2100 World Cultures
Through Film
Through the use of ethnographic and
documentary film as well as lecture/discussion this course will illustrate
the life ways, values and beliefs of human societies throughout the world.
This survey will include examples from native North America, Latin America,
Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa, East Asia, modern North America, and Europe.
ANTH 2150 World Cultures
This team taught course concentrates on providing
students with a better understanding and appreciation of the multicultural
and multiracial world in which they live. Both historical (traditional) and
modern influences that have resulted in the multicultural world of today will
be discussed. Organized on the model of the major culture areas of the world
(Europe, Middle East, Latin America, South Asia, Oceania and Pacific Rim,
Far East and Southeast Asia), cultural specialists in these areas will be
a regular part of the course.
ANTH 2250 Introduction
to Sociocultural Anthropology
A survey of anthropological attempts to understand
and explain the similarities and differences in human behavior, social institutions,
and total ways of life. Extensive use will be made of descriptions of cultures
from around the world.
This
course examines human culture and various concerns of anthropology in the
study of humans as cultural animals, to include the concept of culture, social,
political, economic and religious systems. In addition, students will become
familiar with the major theoretical approaches used to gain understanding
of human sociocultural behavior (e.g., functionalism, structuralism, symbolic
anthropology, and others). Significant attention will be directed at explaining
the wide range of differences between human cultures.
ANTH 2350 Cultural Diversity
in U.S. (American) Culture
Culture, cultural diversity and multiculturalism
constitute some of the most significant social issues in America today. Oriented
around the core concept of culture and cultural groups, the course is designed
to introduce the student to the basic concepts of culture and cultural diversity,
and develop an awareness and appreciation for the full range of diversity
in the American (U.S.) culture. Special time and attention will be devoted
to the origins, development and consequences of the diversity that plays
such a central role in the lives of people in this nation-state culture.
ANTH 2500 Introduction
to Archaeology
A survey of the techniques, method and theory
of archaeology. An important focus of the course will be on the reconstruction
of the culture and ecology of prehistoric societies in both the Old World
and the New World.
This course balances instruction in
the methods of archaeology and illustrative examples of their application.
The first part of the course deals with finding archaeological sites and
excavating them. Examples from Old and New World settings are considered.
The analysis of artifacts and reconstructing past environments is considered
next, with exercises using actual artifacts, pollen, animal bones, geology
and soils analysis. Dating techniques include radiocarbon, potassium-argon,
stratigraphy and artifact sequences. The synthesis of past archaeological
data is considered from perspectives of cultural ecology, with emphasis on
past economics, adaptations to past environments and cultural relations such
as trade, migration and warfare. Culture change is considered explicitly,
with examples such as domestication, origin of the state, etc.
ANTH 2700 Introduction
to Physical Anthropology
Concentrates on the biological evolution and
variation of humans from the point of view of physiological and cultural
adaptation. Introduces the student to the basic materials, methods, and ideas
of physical anthropology. Prerequisites ANTH 1010 or permission of the department.
This course considers the nature and sources of variation in human
populations from both contemporary and historical perspectives. The
biological basis of life, including human genetics, population dynamics
and adaptive mechanisms are considered in detail. The evolutionary history
of the primates and human ancestors are evaluated. Modern human variation
and adaptations are reviewed, with attention to the notion of race.
Detailed study of the fossil evidence for human evolution is done with the
assistance of actual casts. Demographic and environmental backgrounds for
these events are well developed. Theories of adaptation and change are
evaluated in consideration of the fossil/archaeological data. Contemporary
primates are studied as contrasts for models of human development,
behavior and social organization.
ANTH 3100 Peoples and
Cultures
Prehistory, history and ethnography of major
culture
areas of the world; social and cultural adaptations and practices. This
course may be repeated as different culture areas are offered. Among
culture areas to be offered North American Indians, American Southwest,
Oceania, Latin America, Mediterranean Europe, Alaska, American Culture.
This course concentrates on the in-depth
study of literate and non-literate societies and traditions grouped into
loosely organized geographical areas wherein peoples have had to adapt to
similar environments. While this course is offered on a regular basis
during alternate semesters, specific culture areas are offered as faculty
and student interest dictates. The following are taught from time to time:
ANTH 3100-001 North
American Indians
When Europeans first encountered Native Americans, they found a bewildering array of life-ways and some incomprehensible
customs. Since the origin of the science of humans, anthropologists have
tried to fathom these cultures and behaviors. This course will acquaint students
with both the wide variety of cultures that once existed on this continent
and with scientific attempts to understand and explain the different
cultures, social institutions, and personality types once exhibited by Native
Americans.
ANTH 3100-002 South Asia
South Asia, a vast, culturally rich
and diverse area, is often
compared to the subcontinent of Europe in size, population, number of major
languages, and geographical and ethnic variation. This region, which actually
surpasses Europe in its diversity of peripheral peoples, is also the seat
of one of the oldest civilizations of the world - the Indus Civilization.
This course surveys the diverse cultures and traditions of South Asia, each
with its own unique history covering thousands of years. From the days of
prehistory to the present period of profound social, economic, political,
and technological changes, this course provides an in-depth background and
understanding of the peoples and cultures of this area.
ANTH 3100-003 Oceania
and the Pacific
The islands and peoples of the Pacific have always
occupied a very special place in the imagination of the world. To many,
the
islands represent adventure and escape, fantastic scenery and tropical
paradise. To speak of Polynesians, Micronesians, Australians, Melanesians,
or Indonesians is to bring to mind some of the most exotic and interesting
cultures and peoples of the world. This course will survey the diverse
cultures and traditions of the Pacific, each with its own unique style and
history covering thousands of years. A comprehensive treatment of the
geography, politics, history, ethnography and economics of each culture
group will be addressed. From the discovery of these islands to the present
period of profound culture change, the course will provide an in-depth
background and understanding of the people and cultures found in this area
and the faces which have shaped the contemporary world of the Pacific.
ANTH 3100-004 Maya
Culture
This course is designed to study the
past and present Maya culture utilizing the anthropological perspective.
The holistic understanding of the ancient Maya civilization illuminates crucial
economic, political, and ideological contemporary processes; students are
exposed to the analysis of intriguing symbolism embedded in the ancient Maya
calendar, as much as to the understanding of colonial and current Maya rebellions.
Reading material, lectures, and ethnographic documentaries provide the source
of data and information to understand the intricate cultural processes that
have affected the Maya since pre-Hispanic times.
ANTH 3100-005 Latin America
This course is designed as a general survey of
several Indian cultures in Mexico and Guatemala. Each of these contemporary
cultures is a product of a unique Indian heritage and 16th Century Christianity
as it was introduced by the Spanish Conquistadors. The readings and lectures
of this course provide the historical background for each group considered
and an examination of the contemporary cultures. Generally the course focuses
on Indian belief systems, particularly those aspects that are concerned with
cultural ideas of religion, economics, politics, magic and witchcraft, and
native medical practices. This course also includes a consideration of this
area as a third world nation and the effects of its modernization on Indians
in both rural and urban settings.
ANTH 3100-006 Africa
This course is this course is designed to explore the diversity of African people and culture through a variety of sources — ethnographies, films, literature, and narratives. We will address both the reality of life in contemporary Africa as well as the way it has been portrayed by anthropologists, explorers, historians, and the media. While this is an anthropology course, the subject of the course is Africa, not the history of anthropology in Africa. This means that we’ll look in detail at the continent’s rich geography, environment, history, politics, religion, economics, and ethnicities, as well as the challenges that current events in Africa pose for the rest of the world.
ANTH
3100-007 Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia presents a bewildering array
of cultures that some observers call a paradise for anthropologists. The
people who live in the hills and valleys of this culture area are striking
for their cultural diversity and similarity of adaptation to the monsoonal
tropics. From this context has emerged some of the leading theoretical thrust
in anthropology. This course presents a cultural survey of mainland and insular
areas which spans the prehistoric periods and the development of indigenous
cultures, the period of empires influenced by India and China, the merger
with the Islamic world, Western colonialism and emerging nationalism, and
the modern period of seeking its global identity.
ANTH 3100-008 Middle East
This course focuses on a culture area that is
perhaps the most unstable and volatile region within the world today. The
Middle East is perhaps one of the most unusual areas of human adaptation
and at the same time, is an area full of cultural diversity and similarity.
The course will review the prehistory and history of this region. Special
attention will be given to the Colonial and religious history of the area
that underlie most of its current problems. Its unique role in the developing
world economic system will be addressed, as well as those current phenomenon
which make it such a volatile area.
ANTH 3100-009 Indian Cultures of the American Southwest
This course provides the student an in depth
study of the Indian cultures in the Southwestern culture area of North America
which includes all or portions of the states of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and
New Mexico as well as northwestern Mexico. The course begins with the study
of archaeological traditions of the Anasazi, Hohokam, Mogollon and Patayan
and
proceeds with the study of the four major cultural traditions of the area,
the Pueblo, Apache, Uto-Aztexan speakers and Yuman speakers. Case studies
of several societies will provide the student with a look at the richness
and depth of these life ways.
ANTH 3100-010 Far
East
This course presents an overview of cultures and
contemporary issues in societies in the Far East, in the context of social
and political change and development. Students will compare anthropological
and ethnographic studies of the Peoples' Republic of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan,
and Japan, supplemented by selected research from sociology, history, and
political science. The course will focus on specific areas of cultural and
social change in each society, including kinship and family, ethnicity, economic
and political development, industrialization, urbanization, and health and
social policy.
ANTH 3100-011 Mesoamerica
This course uses anthropological theory
and perspectives to examine the indigenous, colonial, and mestizaje cultures
of Middle America from prehistoric to contemporary times. Beginning with
the peopling of the Americas and concluding with a review of the current
issues and politics of the Nation-States that now comprise this geographic
region, the student will explore the dominant culture groups that have comprised
this region. Focusing primarily on Mexico, the course will also examine
the specific issues of colonialism, imperialism, and neo-colonialism including
synchronized Catholicism, peasant rebellions, class and ethnic differences,
migration, and globalization. The class will finish with a brief introduction
to Chicano and other Latino groups in the United States.
ANTH 3100-012 Latinos in the US
This is a course about a people known today as
Hispanics, Chicanos, Tejanos, Latinos, Mexican Americans, among many other
names. The course provides a foundation in identity and resistance theories
that allow the exploration of the various constructions of Mexican American
ethnicity and race from an anthropological perspective; a review of the historical
constructions of race and ethnicity and how these two categories of difference
are synonymous at some times and analogous at other times; and an insight
into the historical and social constructions of Mexican and Mexican American
identity; and allows critical analysis of the social and political implications
of being "Mexican American" today.
ANTH 3331 Forensic Anthropology
Forensic Anthropology is a one semester course
in human identification techniques. The main emphasis is upon identification
from human skeletal remains. Fundamental biology of osseous and dental tissues
is included. Other topics include forensic botany and entomology, the genetics
of human variability, stereotyping, the major histocompatibility systems,
analysis of hair and dermatoglyphic lines, and DNA fingerprinting.
ANTH 3350 Anthropology of American Culture and Society
Anthropologists have increasingly turned their
attention to the study of American culture and society using the same methods
and theory that have proven so valuable in the study of the small-scale,
exotic or "primitive" culture. What they have found is both enlightening
and interesting. There is an American culture, just as rich, deep, and frequently
bizarre or irrational as Americans tend to perceive other cultures of the
world to be. Through lecture, film, observations and interviews within the
local community, students in this course will examine American culture through
the eyes of the anthropologist. By focusing on American beliefs and values,
rites of passage, communication systems, culture transmission and acquisition,
marriage and mating patterns, myth and curing rites, ritual and ceremony,
business, religious, and social organization of American society, the student
will gain insight about their own culture and society. Through this course,
students will gain a conscious understanding of the American way of life.
More importantly, students will become aware of the difference between ideal
culture and real
culture, between what Americans think they do and believe, and what Americans
really do in their daily lives.
ANTH 3650 Origins of
Civilization
The comparative study of the cultural,
technological and ecological patterns of change leading to urban civilizations. Surveys the
archaeological evidence of the domestication of plants and animals, and the
emergence of villages. The art, architecture, economic, and sociopolitical
characteristics of early civilizations in the Near East and Mesoamerica are
examined.
ANTH 4010 Language and
Culture
This course focuses on language and all other
forms of human communication within the context of culture and society, human
thought and behavior. Special attention is paid to the relationships between
culture and language, the social uses of language, language as a model for
interpreting culture, language and all other forms of non-verbal communication
within speech interactions. Extra-linguistic communication (e.g. proxemics,
kinesics, and the use of such things as territory, body ornamentation and
dress as communication), usually meaning out-of-awareness communication for
most speakers, will be addressed as cultural communication.
ANTH 4020 Applied Anthropology
This course is concerned with the development,
theory, methods and approaches of what has been referred to as applied or
practical anthropology. Through extensive case materials, the course will
examine both the current and historical roles and contributions of the various
subfield specialists in the application of anthropology perspectives,
methods and techniques, of substantive findings to problems of culture (e.g.
culture change, public policy, medical anthropology, cultural resource management,
forensics, community development, urban planning, organizational and business
culture, transnational activities, etc.).
Special attention will be directed at developing some understanding and
appreciation of the problems and ethics involved in such applied or practical
activities, and to developing the necessary skills for assuming such a role
as applied or practical anthropologist.
ANTH 4030 African-American
Culture
The present-day descendants of human beings seized
in Africa and forcibly brought to the North American continent as slaves
have a "double consciousness" (W.E.B. DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk,
1903). They understand themselves as inheritors of a rich culture
which emerged out of cultural elements from two Old Worlds - African and
Europe - but which developed uniquely in the New World context. They also
understand themselves as part of a larger entity - "American culture."
This course explores this double consciousness through anthropology.
It begins with an examination of the historical roots of
African-American culture and then goes on to cover topics including (but not limited
to): representations of Black culture in classic anthropological
literature, social structural aspects of African-American life [delete
culture, use life instead] through the lens of political economy, "Black
English," and representations of Blackness in American popular culture.
ANTH 4050 Contemporary Ethnic Groups
In this course the students will examine the complexities
and intricacies involved in the definition of 'ethnic group' in the contemporary
world. Different case studies will be used to gain understanding and data
for the definition of the term. The approach of the course is empirical and
multidisciplinary, that is socioeconomic organization, political systems
and ideological creations will be taken into account in order to analyze
ethnic groups and the role they perform within national and international
contexts. The role and performance of the anthropologists in both the analysis
and the creation of images regarding the ethnic groups existing today is
also emphasized.
ANTH 4250 Development
of Anthropological Thought
An overview of the history of Anthropological
thought from its origins to the contemporary schools of Anthropology, with
emphasis on the scientific, intellectual, and sociopolitical causes and consequences
of changes in major conceptual orientations to man and culture. Prerequisites
ANTH 2250 or permission of the institute.
Recommended for students in their third
(junior) year, since the course lays a theoretical foundation for other upper
division courses. The purpose of this
course is to develop appreciation and understanding of the origins and development
of the major theoretical and methodological orientations of anthropology
from its foreshadowings in the Enlightenment to the crystallization of most
of the major anthropological points of view in the early twentieth century.
Students will be acquainted with the specifically anthropological, and the
wider extra-anthropological, intellectual and sociopolitical influences and
the implications of the various anthropological conceptions of society, culture,
and their inter-relationships. An effort will be made to show not only how
ideas about sociocultural phenomena have changed, but why they have changed.
The following anthropology theories will be discussed in their historical context:
1) the progressivism of the French and Scottish enlightenment; 2) racial
determinism and racism; 3) biological and social Darwinism (or Spencerism);
4) nineteenth century cultural evolutionism; 5) dialectical and historical
materialism; 6) historical particularism (Boasianism), configurationalism
and cultural relativism; and, 7) social realism and cultural determinism;
8) structuralism; 9) symbolic and interpretive schools; 10) political economy;
11) recent trends and postmodernism in anthropology.
ANTH 4600 Topics in Physical
Anthropology
Selected topics of interest and significance
in Physical Anthropology will be offered. Human Osteology and Primate Behavior
are examples of topics to be covered during different semesters. This course
may be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite ANTH 1010 or
BIO 1320 or equivalent or permission of the division.
While this course is offered on a regular basis, particular topics
identified by section number, are taught irregularly, dependent on
available faculty and student interest.
ANTH 4600-001 Evolution
of Man
This topic section focuses on the evolution of humans. Commencing with the human emergence in the animal kingdom and relying upon the fossil record of past human forms and even pre-human forms,
the course attempts to study the reconstruction of the human physical
past. This course also utilizes the materials of paleontology (those
who study and search for extinct flora and fauna), osteology (the study
of bones), geology (the study of geological information, climates,
environments and life), primatology (the study of the primate animal), and
genetics (the study of how traits are passed from generation to generation)
to develop the understanding of how humans came to be through the various
mechanisms of change and change that has operated on the human organism
throughout its existence. The course will also delve into the concept
of physical evolution through the various suggestions, which account
for that evolution. The various theories of science proposed for human
origin and development, orthogenesis, sociobiology, creationism and others
will be discussed.
ANTH 4600-002 Osteology
This topic section focuses on the study of the
skeletal system of humans and on the relationship of the human skeletal materials
to the evolution of humans as well as to the archeological record of prehistoric
human groups. Students in this course will become familiar with human skeletal
anatomy and skeletal orientation; the microscopic analysis of bone and tissue
as well as macroscopic analysis of all bones in the human body. Because of
the amount of information that can be potentially derived, significant emphasis
will be placed on human dentition. A variety of techniques, methods, and
interpretations of data will relate to such questions as population genetics
of skeletal populations, the social dimension of mortuary practices, and
pre-history population dynamics.
ANTH 4600-003 Primate Behavior
This section focuses on the study of the human
animal as a primate. As primates are the closest relatives to humans in the
animal kingdom, especially in terms of blood, social behavior, and physical
appearance, the purpose of this course is to distinguish those characteristics
which are distinctly human from those which may be primate in general. Students
will examine such things as primate communication systems, intelligence,
and cultural attributes in addition to their physical characteristics and
differences. Students will focus on anatomical comparisons and embryo study
to examine the physical differences among the primates, as well as various
primate studies emphasizing social behaviors and patterns.
ANTH 4600-004 Museology
This course focuses on the in-depth study of museums
as repositories for collections of significance to humans. Concentrating
on all of the types of museums (art, historical, natural history and science),
students will gain significant understanding of 1) the historical development
of museums; 2) what is collected and how it is cared for; 3)artifact and
exhibit display; the method of researching and documenting collections; and,
4) the various uses of museums. The course will cover the administrative
and organizational aspects of museums as well as consider the ethical problems
associated with museum activities.
ANTH 4600-005
Bio-Cultural Perspectives on Health
This course is a survey of the
evolution of various human diseases through time and how humans have
adapted to them. It focuses on evolution and evolutionary medicine as
tools for understanding populations and disease, as well as some of the
adaptations humans have made (both genetic and behavioral). Some of these
changes are adaptive; some have become maladaptive as culture and
environmental change has occurred.
ANTH 4600-007 Human
Adaptation
This course examines human adaptation, i.e., the
mechanisms and processes whereby the human organism has attained a beneficial
adjustment to the environment. These adjustments can be either temporary
or permanent, acquired either through short-term processes of lifetime processes,
and may involve physiological, structural, behavioral, or cultural changes
aimed at improving human's functional performance in the face of environmental
stresses. The course also examines the role of environmental stresses as
they relate to differential mortality and fertility to establish adaptive
changes in a population, thus attaining a level of genetic adaptation. Topics
and case studies will include temperature regulation, acclimation and acclimatization
in hot and cold climates; solar radiation; high altitude; and accommodation
to energy demands (e.g., malnutrition, starvation, and obesity).
ANTH 4600-011 Human Ecology
Human Behavioral Ecology (HBE) is an attempt to
understand the observed diversity in human behavior as arising from common
human adaptive goals in diverse environmental settings. It uses
anthropological methods of participant observation but is more
quantitative than many sociocultural methods. It is based on Darwinian
models and also draws from economics and formal decision making. This
approach generates testable hypotheses from the more general propositions
found in theory. Since it began in the mid 1970’s with a strong focus on
optimal foraging theory and the foraging economies it has matured with the
addition of evolutionary biological models to reproductive and social
behavior. It now includes resource distribution, life history
characteristics, social hierarchies, the origins of agriculture among
other topics and rests on ecological base.
ANTH 4610 Topics in Sociocultural
Anthropology
Selected topics of interest and significance
in sociocultural anthropology. Among the varied topics that students can
expect to be offered at different times are Education and Anthropology, Urban
Anthropology, Anthropology of Art, Anthropology of Warfare and Conflict,
and Cultural Ecology. May be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite ANTH 1010, or ANTH 2250, or permission of the division.
While this course is offered on a
regular basis each semester, particular topics are taught irregularly. The
following topics and sections are currently taught under this course:
ANTH 4610-001 Ethnomusicology
A selected survey of non-Western music to be chosen
from the following geographical areas Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Middle
East, and Oceania. Musical traditions will be studied from a perspective
that emphasizes music as an integral part of society and culture.
ANTH
4610-002 Seminar in Sociocultural Anthropology
A survey of anthropological
attempts to understand and explain the similarities and differences in culture
and humans. This course serves as a high level introduction (review) to the
discipline of anthropology with a primary emphasis on sociocultural anthropology,
allowing individuals to pursue their own particular or specific interests.
The course is designed for graduate students combining anthropology with
other fields as part of their graduate programs but whose exposure and background
in the discipline is limited, and undergraduate seniors bringing their undergraduate
program to a conclusion and planning on pursuing further additional training
and careers in anthropology.
ANTH 4610-003 Migrants and Refugees
This course focuses on the social groups of migrants
and refugees who have significantly contributed to the development of human
cultures from paleolithic times to the current world situation of dramatic
refugee movements that number close to twenty million people worldwide. It
examines the migratory effects on enculturation, socialization, adaptation
and assimilation. The course offers an anthropological perspective of migration
by utilizing longitudinal frameworks, rather than acute episodes.
ANTH 4610-004 Folklore
This purpose of this course is to provide an overview
of the concept of "folklore," as a universal activity of nearly every society
now known to exist around the world. The definitions and uses of the terms
associated with folklore will be explored. This course will survey
folklore in a comparative way, to explore similarities and differences,
within and between culture groups. The purpose is to expose the place of
folklore in the daily lives of various cultures.
ANTH 4610-005 Urban Anthropology
In this course students apply the
anthropological approach to the study of human behavior in an urban context.
Beginning with an overview of cities through time and across cultures, students
learn about the rise of cities in human prehistory as well as about the different
types of cities found cross culturally. The student then learns how to look
at cities through an anthropological lens and do field projects analyzing
some aspect of city behavior anthropologically. The final section of the
course focuses on modern American cities.
ANTH 4610-006 Human Sexuality
This course focuses upon human sexuality, one
of the most powerful subjects that affect human lives. The biological, behavioral
and cultural aspects of this topic will be examined within varied sociocultural
traditions. Students can expect to cover such topics of human sexuality as
biological origins of sexuality, psychological and social determinants of
sexual behavior, morality and standards, relation of sex to a variety of
social relations, as well as some of the more current issues and aspects
of sexuality garnering the attention of the world's societies.
ANTH 4610-007 Violence, Terror, and Terrorism: Creating Cultures of
Fear
This course will offer a broad examination of violence and terrorism in
cross-cultural context. It has been designed to give you grounding in
the basic concepts in defining the social creation of fear, as well as
the historical perspectives of specific case studies from around the
world and within the U.S. We will critically analyze the way that social
structures and the media create, maintain, and change the expression
and experience of terror. Finally, there will be opportunity for
students to divide into groups to pursue and present their own research on
issues of violence and terror.
ANTH 4610-008 Symbolic Anthropology
The discipline of anthropology provides many theoretical perspectives that can be used in describing and understanding the peoples
and cultures of the world. Among these, the anthropological consideration
of symbolism provides a unique view of cultural beliefs. All cultures utilize
symbols and symbolic constructions to give meaning to their reality. This
course is an introduction to symbolic anthropology and the forms and uses
of symbolism in a variety of world cultures including modern America. Attention
is given to how symbols are used to give meaning to social life, how they
define and create belief systems including traditional anthropological concerns
with religion, kinship, politics, economics, and business and advertising.
This course will draw on examples from several different cultures to illustrate
and explain the prominent theories in symbolic anthropology.
ANTH 4610-009 Psychological
Anthropology
This course explores the relationship between
the self, culture and society. It compares concepts of self, socialization
and behavior in anthropological and psychological theory and research, universal
concepts of human nature, and examines processes of interpretation by individuals
in diverse cultural and social groups over the life span. Sociocultural contexts
of alternative states of consciousness and mental illness re also compared.
ANTH 4610-010 Drug Use and Culture
This course provides students an opportunity
to critically examine drug use and how it interacts with culture. Various
drugs and substances will be highlighted through a cross cultural perspective
from prehistoric times to the present. The first half of the course concentrates
on the use of medicinal and psychoactive substances in traditional cultures
around the world. The second half of the course details the development of
synthetic substances and the development of the "drug problems" of modern
society. It will attempt to show how the relationship between the cultural
belief system and the utilization of various substances are connected and
how political organization, culture contact and culture change have contributed
to the present situation.
ANTH 4610-011 Race, Ethnicity, and Identity
This
course explores the theories of race, ethnicity and identity formation from an anthropological perspective. It is a course
designed to provoke and challenge classic assumptions about who creates
and comprises the categories of minority, majority, migrant, citizen,
gender groups, and other such modes of delineation that separate and
divide. The class begins by taking "whiteness" as the category against
which other forms of identity - color, language, ethnicity, religion,
gender, etc. - are created and maintained. The class analyzes the ways
in which national discourses, printed texts, films, mass media, and
other forms of communication perpetuate these categories and differences.
ANTH 4610-012 Holistic Health and Alternative
Healing
This
course provides students with core concepts related to holistic health
and alternative medicine. Students will be part of various educational
activities aimed to stimulate understanding of cross-cultural principles
involved in holistic health. A critical analysis of the strengths
and weaknesses of currently available practices of alternative medicine
is pursued in this course.
ANTH 4610-013 Anthropology of Business
Anthropologists have developed numerous tools
for analyzing culture and culture change. Many of these can be put to use
in studying business organizations. This course is a look at business organizations
from an anthropological point of view. Often an organization's productivity
or lack thereof is directly related to the degree to which its strategy and
culture mesh. Methods used in anthropology can aid in defining the specific
culture of an organization and in providing strategies for change within
it. Thus this course will explore those anthropological tools that can be
useful in increasing productivity in business organizations.
ANTH 4610-014
Anthropology of Aging
This course is a survey of the aging
process in cultures outside of the US. Comparisons will be made between
the US various ethnic groups and other cultures worldwide. Key concepts
about aging, the terminology of aging, demographic and history of the
study of aging will be presented. It is the purpose of this course to
provide the student with general information about aging in other cultures
and specific information about the aging process in human populations.
ANTH 4610-016 Design
Anthropology
Design anthropology is a rapidly growing field
of employment for those who wish to work in business contexts. In this course,
students learn the fundamentals of this field. By collaborating on an applied
project, they gain practice in the research methods of participant observation,
interviewing, and videotaping. They learn to engage in collaborative analysis
using qualitative software. And they work with designers and customers to
translate their research into practical applications.
ANTH 4610-017 Health,
Healing, and Culture: Introduction to
Medical Anthropology
This course presents perspectives
in contemporary medical anthropology, with a focus on the biocultural
basis of health and sociocultural variations in illness and healing
(ethnomedicine). It includes study of comparative health systems, political-economic
and ethical issues in health and care, health professions and patients'
views of illness. Cases from Asian, African-American, and Mexican cultures
are compared.
ANTH 4610-018 Ethnicity, Poverty, and Health: Cultural
Issues of Health and Disease
This course is designed to provide students with a basic framework
of knowledge regarding multicultural issues involved in health care.
This course will help students increase their awareness and sensitivity
to the health care needs of the various cultural and ethnic groups
living in the U.S.
ANTH
4610-019/5620
Anthropology of Education
This class will introduce students to issues and approaches relevant to
the study of education within the field of anthropology. The course will
be divided into three analytical sections. The first section will
provide an introduction to anthropological concepts and anthropological
methods used in the study of education and schooling. This section will
examine the relation between anthropology and education by emphasizing
the significance of cultural transmission. The second section will be
devoted to an examination of cultural transmission and appropriate
approaches. In this section, students will be exposed to works in the
field of anthropology of education that examine cultural difference,
minority status, and learning. The third and last section of the course
will emphasize recent approaches to questions of cultural transmission.
In particular, this section will highlight new perspectives and
critiques related to current and relevant educational "problems" found
in societies such as the U.S.
ANTH 4610-020
Environmental Anthropology
Environmental anthropology may be
considered the study of applied, action, and/or advocacy research
addressing practical environmental issues, problems, concerns, and
questions. Typically, such study involves the dynamic interaction
between human beings and their ecosystems with an emphasis on the
cultural dimension. This course in environmental anthropology will focus
on major environmental questions, problems, and issues in the world with
an emphasis on methods for applied research illustrated by selected case
studies from different parts of the globe. Some of the topics to be
covered will include land/sea and natural resources, food production
systems, deforestation, range destruction, population problems, poverty
and environmental justice, natural hazards and risks, resource conflicts
and warfare, over fishing, economic development, mineral and oil
extraction, cultural landscapes, and environmental and bio-diversity
conservation.
ANTH 4610-030
Anthropology in Public Health
This course will introduce students to the
contributions of anthropology in public health. It highlights the
socio-cultural perspective on the fundamentals of public health,
including but not limited to international health, domestic health,
epidemiology, infectious disease, child survival, women's and men's
health, and health policy.
ANTH 4610-088/089/090/091 Ethnographic Field School
This course concentrates on developing
first hand field methods in anthropology. Students will put in practice the unique field methods
used in anthropology, especially "participant observation," by traveling
to a domestic or international field site and immersing in the local culture.
The student will gain an in-depth understanding of contemporary and historic
culture through relevant literature on the area and anthropological field methods,
and through practical experience by putting field techniques and methods
of data gathering and analysis to work in the field.
ANTH 4620 Topics in Archaeology
Selected topics of interest and significance
in archaeology. Subjects such as Zooarchaeology, Texas Archaeology, and Pacific
Island Archaeology
are potential topics to be offered during different semesters. May be repeated
for credit when topics change. Prerequisite ANTH 2500 or consent of division.
While this course is offered on a regular basis each year, particular topics
are taught irregularly based on instructor availability, student interests
and need. The following topics and sections are currently taught under this
course:
ANTH 4620-001 Old World Archaeology
A survey of the culture of Africa, the Near East
and Europe from the earliest sites to Bronze Age Greece. Based on a foundation
of cultural ecology and cultural evolution, the students will examine changes
in population size, economy, and technology within the context of past environments.
Topics of special interest include Neanderthal culture, Upper Paleolithic
hunters and artists, and the origins of domestic plants and animals in the
development of humans and cultures in the Old World.
ANTH 4620-003 Texas
Archaeology
This course specifically focuses on Texas, providing
the prehistorical and historical development of peoples and cultures within
the state. Dividing the state into seven distinct areas, the students will
focus on the adaptation and development of people and their cultures through
regional analysis and study. The ethnohistorical perspective on Indian groups
prior to European contact and after contact will also be an important part
of the course. Through this regional study, students will also be exposed
to the history, method and theory, and taxonomic classifications of groups
and traditions in Texas Archaeology.
ANTH 4620-005 Mesoamerican Archaeology
This course focuses on the prehistory and cultural
development of Mesoamerica. Using Archaeological theory and perspectives,
the student is introduced to early human occupation in this geographical
region from post-Pleistocene adaptations, the domestication of plants and
the origins of sedentary life. Special attention will be directed at the emergence
of early civilizations in Mesoamerica; the Preclassic Olmec, Teotihuacan,
Monte Alban; the Classic Maya and Zapotec; and, the Postclassic Aztec and
Miztec. The period of Spanish conquest will also be studied.
ANTH
4620-008 North American Archaeology
The broadest objective of this course
is to provide a forum for discussion of the archaeological record of the
colonization and subsequent occupation of North America, as it bears on
our understanding of human biocultural evolution. Incidental to this
overarching perspective is the notice that in order to assess the
evolutionary record of North American natives, we must be properly
equipped with knowledge of the necessary archaeological and ancillary
methods, and with the data considered essential to conduct such an
inquiry.
ANTH 4620-011 Zooarchaeology
Zooarchaeology is an analytical specialty within
archaeology that studies the animal remains recovered from archaeological
sites to understand past subsistence patterns and past environments. In
this class we will explore the major methodological issues within
zooarchaeology, as well as substantive topics such as animal
domestication, butchery patterns, and zooarchaeology's relevance to
conservation biology.
ANTH 4620-012 Pacific Island Archaeology
This is a regional archaeology course that
covers the prehistory of Oceania, which includes the culture regions of
Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The course examines the major issues
in Oceanic prehistory, such as migration and colonization patterns, human
impacts on the island environment, development of trade and exchange
systems, and circumstances for greater social complexity.
ANTH 4620-014 Ethics in Archaeology
This class explores the ethical, legal, and
practical dimensions of ‘doing’ archaeology today. Topics covered include
cultural resource management, repatriation, looting, and collections
management will be examined from the viewpoints of archaeologists,
descendant communities, government administrators, and the general public.
ANTH 4700 The Supernatural: Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion
This course focuses on one of the more unique
aspects of human culture and behavior, religion or supernatural belief. As
approached from the perspective of Anthropology, the study of religion is
both comparative and wide-ranging. The study of religion has played a central
role in the theoretical development of Anthropology. In this course students
will study that role as well as the origin, development and function of religions
in human societies. They will learn about a wide variety of Anthropological
topics dealing with religion like myth, ritual, totemism, magic and shamanism.
By comparing what is "religious" in many cultures, they will develop a better
understanding of the relationship between human beings and religion and of
their own religious beliefs as well.
ANTH 4800 Anthropological
Field Methods
This course concentrates on the FIELD METHODS
of anthropology, in particular, the unique "participant observation" methodology,
considered by many as one of the real contributions of anthropology in the
study of humans and their behavior. Through practical experience and exposure
to the relevant literature, the student will gain an in-depth understanding
of the issues and aspects, benefits and limitations, problems and difficulties
of the field techniques and methods of date gathering and analysis. The student
will also gain an awareness and understanding of research in a culture other
than their own as well as an appreciation of the interactional aspects in
dealing with people from a variety of culture backgrounds.
ANTH 4810 Archaeological Field School
Comprehensive training in site survey, excavation
techniques, laboratory processing, restoration and analysis of archaeological
materials through direct participation in an archaeological field project.
Held off-campus; room and board fees may be required. Usually offered only
during the summer months and based on the availability of field projects.
This course is taught in cooperation with the Institute of Applied Sciences.
Prerequisite ANTH 2500 or permission of the division.
This
course provides a thorough training in field archaeological research. Specific
techniques of site survey, site testing and excavation are taught in real
settings; e.g., mapping, grid layout, use of transit, record keeping, special
sample collection, screening techniques and feature excavation. Emphasis
is placed on the geology an stratigraphy of sites. Processing of artifacts
and bones (cleaning, labeling, sorting, classification and packaging) is
taught.Interpretation of field data, including cultural stratigraphy, past
environments and site correlations is accomplished through assigned exercises
in report preparation.
ANTH 4900-4910 &
5900-5910 Special Problems
Individual study on specific research
topics or subject matter not contained within the normal anthropology inventory
at UNT. The course allows individuals to pursue research on topics of interests
through readings or directed activity under the guidance and supervision
of a faculty member on a one-to-one basis.
ANTH 4920 Cooperative
Education in Anthropology
Supervised work in a job directly related to
the
student's major, professional field of study or career objectives.
Prerequisite(s) 12 hours credit in anthropology; student must meet the
employer's requirements and have consent of the department chair. May be
repeated for credit.
Graduate Courses
Beginning in Fall 2007 graduate course numbers will change. The new numbers are listed below.
ANTH 5000 Seminar in Sociocultural
Anthropology
A survey of anthropological attempts to understand
and explain the similarities and differences in culture and humans. This
course serves as a high level introduction (review) to the discipline of
anthropology with a primary emphasis on sociocultural anthropology, that also
allows individuals to pursue their own particular or specific interests.
The course is designed for graduate students combining anthropology with
other fields as part of their graduate programs but whose exposure and background
in the discipline is limited, and undergraduate seniors bringing their undergraduate
program to a conclusion and planning on pursuing further additional training
and careers in anthropology.
ANTH 5010 Anthropological Thought and Praxis I
Considers the
history of anthropological concepts, the major historical debates in anthropological
theory, and historical tensions between applied and theoretical knowledge.
Special emphasis is given to critical examination of concept and theory
formation, and the application of anthropological ideas to the problems of
everyday life. Prerequisite: ANTH 5200, or 12 hours in anthropology.
ANTH 5021 Anthropological Thought and Praxis II
Considers contemporary
anthropological concepts and theories and the major debates that have been produced by them. Special
emphasis is given to the most recent tensions and debates on the relationships
between theoretical and applied knowledge. Specific attention is paid to
the relationships between social theory and social policy formation.
Prerequisite: ANTH 5010.
ANTH 5031 Ethnographic and Qualitative Methods
Focuses on ethnographic and qualitative methods and the development of the skills necessary for the practice of anthropology. Special emphasis
is given to qualitative techniques of data collection and analysis, grant writing, the use of computers to analyze qualitative data, and ethical problems in conducting qualitative research.
ANTH 5041Quantitative Methods in Anthropology
Provides quantitative and statistical
skills to complement those used in qualitative and ethnographic research:
research design, sampling and scaling techniques, tests for reliability
and validity, and tests of association and significance. Special emphasis
is given to the use of SPSS.
ANTH 5050 Pre-Practicum: Problems and Cases in
Applied Anthropology
Examines case studies and specific problems in applied
anthropology, and guides students in preparing for the practicum.
Students are exposed to the practice of anthropology in a variety of
settings, such as health, business, development, education, environment,
crime, ethnic and race relations, and social policy. The class will
include case study readings and guest speakers to help students discover
the range of what applied anthropologists do, and help focus their own
interests. In addition, students will learn how to identify potential
agencies as practicum sites, how to approach them, and how to develop a
practicum proposal.
ANTH 5100 Organizational Anthropology
Anthropologists
have developed numerous tools for analyzing culture and culture change. Many
of these can be put to use in studying business organizations. This course
is a look at business organizations from an anthropological point of view.
Often an organization's productivity or lack thereof is directly related
to the degree to which its strategy and culture mesh. Methods used in anthropology
can aid in defining the specific culture of an organization and in providing
strategies for change within it. Thus this course will explore those anthropological
tools that can be useful in increasing productivity in business organizations.
ANTH 5110 Design Anthropology
Design
anthropology is a rapidly growing field of employment for those who
wish to work in business contexts. In this course, students learn the
fundamentals of this field. By collaborating on an applied project, they
gain practice in the research methods of participant observation, interviewing,
and videotaping. They learn to engage in collaborative analysis using
qualitative software. And they work with designers and customers to
translate their research into practical applications.
ANTH 5201 Medical Anthropology
This course presents information central
to understanding the area of medical anthropology, the focus of practitioners
of this area, and the major concepts which guide the activities of cultural
anthropologists working in different societies. The linkage between
culture and health is central toward understanding human adaptations to
a variety of environments around the world. The preparations which humans
make in response to illness, sickness, and disease are examined in the context
of the climates, geographies, flora and fauna in which populations live.
Presented are the research methodology, terminology and outcomes of health/medical
projects attempted by anthropologists in other western and non-western cultures.
ANTH 5210 Anthropology in Public Health
This course will introduce students to the
contributions of anthropology in public health. It highlights the
socio-cultural perspective on the fundamentals of public health,
including but not limited to international health, domestic health,
epidemiology, infectious disease, child survival, women's and men's
health, and health policy.
ANTH 5220 Introduction to Health Services Research
This course surveys the history of the development of the field of health services research; the interdisciplinary contributions of the disciplines of sociology, economics, anthropology, gerontology, political science, and public health to the field; and the use of survey research to collect information on health status and health services utilization.
ANTH 5300 Migrants and Refugees
This course focuses on the social groups of migrants and refugees who have significantly contributed to the development of human cultures from Paleolithic times to the current world situation of dramatic refugee movements that number close to twenty million people worldwide. It examines the migratory effects on enculturation, socialization, adaptation and assimilation. The course offers an anthropological perspective of migration by utilizing longitudinal frameworks, rather than acute episodes.
ANTH 5400 Environmental Anthropology
Environmental anthropology may be
considered the study of applied, action, and/or advocacy research
addressing practical environmental issues, problems, concerns, and
questions. Typically, such study involves the dynamic interaction between
human beings and their ecosystems with an emphasis on the cultural
dimension. This course in environmental anthropology will focus on major
environmental questions, problems, and issues in the world with an
emphasis on methods for applied research illustrated by selected case
studies from different parts of the globe. Some of the topics to be
covered will include land/sea and natural resources, food production
systems, deforestation, range destruction, population problems, poverty
and environmental justice, natural hazards and risks, resource conflicts
and warfare, over fishing, economic development, mineral and oil
extraction, cultural landscapes, and environmental and bio-diversity
conservation.
ANTH 5620 Anthropology of Education
This class will introduce students to issues and approaches relevant to
the study of education within the field of anthropology. The course will
be divided into three analytical sections. The first section will
provide an introduction to anthropological concepts and anthropological
methods used in the study of education and schooling. This section will
examine the relation between anthropology and education by emphasizing
the significance of cultural transmission. The second section will be
devoted to an examination of cultural transmission and appropriate
approaches. In this section, students will be exposed to works in the
field of anthropology of education that examine cultural difference,
minority status, and learning. The third and last section of the course
will emphasize recent approaches to questions of cultural transmission.
In particular, this section will highlight new perspectives and
critiques related to current and relevant educational "problems" found
in societies such as the U.S.
ANTH 5700 Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology
Cross-cultural and ethnographic investigation,
analysis and discussion of a significant, contemporary topic of interest
to students in various graduate programs. May be repeated for credit as topics
vary.
ANTH 5710 Symbolic/Cognitive Anthropology
The discipline of Anthropology provides many theoretical
perspectives that can be used in describing and understanding the peoples
and cultures of the world. Among these, the anthropological consideration
of symbolism provides a unique view of cultural beliefs. All cultures utilize
symbols and symbolic constructions to give meaning to their reality. This
course is an introduction to Symbolic Anthropology and the forms and uses
of symbolism in a variety of world cultures including modern America. Attention
is given to how symbols are used to give meaning to social life, how they
define and create belief systems including traditional anthropological concerns
with religion, kinship, politics, economics, and business and advertising.
This course draws on examples from several different cultures to illustrate
and explain the prominent theories in Symbolic Anthropology.
ANTH 5800 Applying Anthropology: Practicum I
Provides experiential learning in applied anthropology
through placement in business, government, community, and social service
organizations and agencies. Students design and implement an applied
anthropology project under the supervision of a faculty member. This
96-hour (minimum) placement is planned in cooperation with the student to
meet specialized career goals. They should accomplish as many hours as
possible during Practicum I; they can finish the hours under Practicum II.
Prerequisites: ANTH 5010, 5015, 5020, 5040, 5060.
ANTH 5810 Applying Anthropology: Practicum II
Provides experiential learning in applied
anthropology through placement in business, government, community, and
social service organizations and agencies. This course is a continuation
of Practicum I. Students finish up any remaining research. They deliver
their findings to the client. They also prepare a written report and a
verbal presentation for the department of anthropology.
Prerequisites: ANTH 5010, 5015, 5020, 5040, 5060, 5800.
ANTH 5900 Special Problems
Individuals study on specific research topics or subject
matter not contained within the normal Anthropology inventory at UNT. The
course allows individuals to pursue research on topics of interests
through readings or directed activity under the guidance and supervision
of a faculty member on a one-to-one basis.
ANTH 5910 Special Problems
Individuals study on specific research topics or subject
matter not contained within the normal Anthropology inventory at UNT. The
course allows individuals to pursue research on topics of interests
through readings or directed activity under the guidance and supervision
of a faculty member on a one-to-one basis.
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