Academic Catalog

Anthropology (ANTH)

ANTH 130 Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology3 cr

Introduces students to the basic concepts, theories and methodologies of sociocultural anthropology. Creates an awareness of the wide spectrum of cultural variation throughout the world. Demonstrates that through the study of anthropology, we may not only gain an understanding of "exotic" cultures but also of our own sociocultural experience.

Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Core Self & Society (CSS)  
ANTH 130H Honors: Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology3 cr

Introduces students to the basic concepts, theories, and methodologies of sociocultural anthropology. Creates an awareness of the wide spectrum of cultural variation throughout the world. Demonstrates that through the study of anthropology, we may not only gain an understanding of "exotic" cultures, but also of our own sociocultural experience.

Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Core Self & Society (CSS), Honors Program (HONR)  
ANTH 210 Visual Anthropology3 cr

Draws upon themes in visual anthropology and visual studies to study the nature of images. Examines how images are produced and circulated, how they acquire distinct meanings within different cultures, and how they relate to human experience, affects, culture, and violence.

Attributes: Core Creative Arts (CCA), Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)  
ANTH 240 Peoples of the World3 cr

Exposes students to the concepts and methods of sociocultural anthropology through the examination of several cultural groups around the world. Delves into several important topics within anthropology such as economic systems, indigenous peoples, migration, and health. Introduces and practices basic anthropological methods.

Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Core Self & Society (CSS), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)  
ANTH 302 Ecological Disaster and Cultural Imagination3 cr

Uses frameworks developed by environmental anthropologists, social theorists, and historical ecologists to examine social and political effects of living with the risk of natural disaster within a capitalist system. Surveys cultural practices and critiques that have emerged in response to ecological disasters.

ANTH 304 Anthropology of Violence3 cr

Draws upon anthropological resources to examine how violence appears in structural, symbolic, and direct forms; how it poisons the past, harms human togetherness in the present, and makes the future precarious, and; how ending violence requires empathy with the vulnerability of others and re-imaging the idea of the "social" itself.

Prerequisite: SOCI 100 or ANTH 130 or ANTH 130H or ANTH 240  
ANTH 305 Anthropology of Refugees and Displacement3 cr

Explores the refugee experience in socio-cultural perspective. Considers the role of nationalism, capitalism, ethnicity, race, violence, trauma, and human rights in refugee processes. Examines and critiques the four components of the refugee journey: displacement, the refugee camp, asylum processes, and the durable solutions.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 240  
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)  
ANTH 306 Cross-Cultural Documentaries3 cr

Introduces students to the history of documentary as an art of socially engaged visual storytelling. It examines the different political and ideological properties of documentaries and studies documentary as a distinctive signifying practice and a powerful project for representing culture.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 130H or ANTH 240  
ANTH 310 Global Health3 cr

Explores global health issues and crises such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, polio, and food insecurity in social and cultural perspective. Critically examines the colonial history, socio-medical impacts, and cultural contexts of global health interventions. Investigates a current event in global health.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 240 or SOCI 100  
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)  
ANTH 315 Community Health3 cr

Examines the impact of social inequality, culture, violence, environment, and gender on health outcomes. Investigates the socio-cultural components of major local health issues, including food insecurity, metabolic disease, mental health, and addiction. Assesses the effectiveness of public health interventions both locally and globally. Introduces anthropological approaches to developing public health interventions.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 240 or SOCI 100  
ANTH 323 Culture and Conflict in Africa3 cr

Scrutinizes the experience and legacy of colonialism, independence, and social change in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Challenges common representations of Africa in media and scholarship. Possible topics include: the aftermath of revolution, religious practices, health, inequality, urban life, and cultural productions.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 240  
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)  
ANTH 325 Culture in India3 cr

Introduces India, its diversity, complexities and socio-historical issues, as a subject of anthropological inquiry. Explores ways in which anthropologists and other scholars illuminate different aspects of the lived realities of people in India and their varied cultures.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 130H or ANTH 240  
ANTH 345 Culture, Health and Illness3 cr

Compares medical beliefs and practices in Western and non-Western societies. Examines cultural beliefs, social behaviors, and economic and environmental factors that influence susceptibility to disease. Addresses issues concerning patient-doctor communication and psychosocial management of illness.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 240  
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)  
ANTH 365 Gender Roles and Culture3 cr

Examines the roles and statuses of women and men in Western and non-Western societies, treating gender as a social construct rather than a biological given. Considers theories about the bases of sexual inequality and the relationship between gender and other social hierarchies. Investigates how cultural notions of gender influence an individual's religious, political, sexual and familial experiences.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 240  
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)  
ANTH 370 Culture, Power and Protest3 cr

Compares the forms of resistance practiced by oppressed groups in a variety of societies. Considers the assumptions that have influenced researchers' assessments of social action. Emphasizes that numerous cultural practices, ranging from religious rites to oratory to spirit possession, have political implications.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 240  
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)  
ANTH 380 Gender and Health3 cr

Focuses on issues related to gender and health in the U.S. and around the world. Examines topics such as: reproduction, fertility, reproductive justice, eating disorders, gender-based violence, sexuality, medical technologies, gender confirmation surgeries, and health activism.

Prerequisite: SOCI 100 or ANTH 130 or ANTH 240  
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)  
ANTH 395 Special Topics in Anthropology3 cr

A course or seminar for students who have taken a substantial number of anthropology courses. Such courses or seminars may explore any of a variety of topics concerning social anthropology, physical anthropology, archeology, applied anthropology or linguistics, or courses in theory and method.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 240 and additional prerequisites to be announced  
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits  
ANTH 475H Honors: Religion and Ritual3 cr

Introduces students to concepts and methods that anthropology employs to understand the phenomenon of religion as a complex social and experiential phenomenon. Approaches religion as deeply enmeshed within the broader cultural systems as well as a contested category for classifying varied systems of belief and ritual.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130, ANTH 130H, ANTH 240 and junior/senior status  
Attributes: Honors Program (HONR)  
ANTH 495 Advanced Special Topics in Anthropology3 cr

Provides advanced anthropology students an opportunity to explore advanced topics, current issues, methods, and theories in the field of anthropology.

Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 240 and junior/senior status  
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits  
ANTH 499 Teaching Assistant in Anthropology3 cr

Supervised academic class presentation(s), assistance with study sessions and tutorials, attendance at all classes, final paper and other duties negotiated with course instructor. Must have completed a minimum of four (4) courses in the discipline, have a 3.0 overall GPA or better, and a B+ or better in the course. This course can be taken for either pass/fail or traditional letter grading. The course requires approval of the department prior to enrollment.

Prerequisite: Junior/senior status  
ANTH 500 Independent Study1-3 cr

Open to juniors and seniors who wish to read in a given area or to study a topic in depth under the direction of an anthropologist. Requires written reports and frequent conferences with the advisor.

Prerequisite: Junior/senior status, department approval  
Repeatable: Maximum of 12 credits  
ANTH 501 Research Assistant1-3 cr

Students will assist faculty member in conducting original quantitative and/or qualitative research projects. The responsibilities may include collecting archival, ethnographic, interview, or focus group data, working with data sets, or other research activities. This course is repeatable for a maximum of 6 credits.

Prerequisite: SOCI 331, junior/senior status, instructor approval  
Repeatable: Maximum of 6 credits  
ANTH 540 Anthropology Internship3-15 cr

Placement of advanced students in a public or private organization which actively apply anthropology, archeology or ethnohistory as part of their work routine. Internships may be developed in such areas as interethnic services, cultural resource management, museum work, local history, etc. Internships are awarded from 3 to 15 credits per semester, depending on the extent of student involvement.

Prerequisite: Junior/senior status, ANTH 130 or ANTH 240, six semester hours of related courses at 200 level or above, department approval  
Repeatable: Maximum of 15 credits