Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions (Abbreviated Descriptions)

UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL

ANT 1471- Culture Difference in a Globalized Society

(Equivalent to ENC 1102-Satisfies College Writing 2 Core Course Requirement)
(Writing Across Curriculum (Gordon Rule) Prerequisite ENC 1101 with grade of C or better)

Examines cultural differences in three domains of human life: work, marriage relationships, and religion

ANT 1930-Freshmen Seminar

Special topics will focus on basic philosophical and/or historical questions and issues regarding culture and humankind. Critical thinking and writing skills are emphasized.

ANT 2000- Introduction to Anthropology

(Satisfies Social Science Core)

Introduces the student to the study of humankind: its origins, cultures, and languages. With emphasis on the diversity of peoples around the world.

ANT 2149- Lost Tribes and Sunken Continents: Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries in Archaeology

This course critically examines a number of archaeological frauds, myths, and mysteries and assesses the flaws in the purported evidence for each claim by applying scientific reasoning.

ANT 2410- Culture and Society

(Satisfies Social Science Core)

Examines cultural similarities and differences among human societies around the world. Focuses on strategies for survival, economics, marriage and other social relationships, religious beliefs and practices.

ANT 2511- Introduction to Biological Anthropology

(Corequisite: ANT 2512L)
(Satisfies Natural Science Core)

Biological (physical) anthropology as the study of human biology: human genetics, genetic variation, anatomy, physiology, growth, adaptation, evolution.

ANT 2511L- Introduction to Biological Anthropology Lab

(Corequisite: ANT 2512)

Students perform procedures similar to those used by professional anthropological researchers and engage in hands-on activities designed to reinforce the material presented in the lecture section.

ANT 2952- Anthropology Study Abroad

Prerequisite: Freshman or Sophomore Standing. Credit for enrollment in approved study abroad programs.

ANT 3114- Stones and Bones: Unearthing the Past

Course examines the concepts, theoretical aspects, and methods used in archaeology as well as the practical applications of what is learned about the past.

ANT 3163- The Maya and Their Neighbors

An in-depth look at one of the most fascinating civilizations of the ancient world.

ANT 3165- South America Before Columbus

An introduction to the archaeology and people of ancient South America. Early hunters/gathers, origins of agriculture, and complex societies to the rise and fall of the great Inca civilization.

ANT 3196- Real Archaeology

Course contributes to professional development of archaeology students by teaching them the theory, methods, and techniques of public archaeology and cultural resources management.

ANT 3212– Peoples Around The World

Explores global cultural diversity with case studies from anthropological field studies.

ANT 3241- Anthropology of Religion

A cross-cultural study of magic and religion with emphasis on belief systems and rituals and their practitioners.

ANT 3312- Native American Culture and Society

Explores the diversity of Native American peoples in North America, both past and present.

ANT 3361- Cultures of South Asia

The cultural variation in South Asia, comprising the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. Religion (Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism), caste and social structure, village dynamics, tribal groups, colonialism, and culture change.

ANT 3391-Anthropology of Film: An Introduction to Visual Anthropology

A history and analysis of selected ethnographic films and film makers that give valuable insights into culture and human behavior.

ANT 3403- Culture and Ecology

Looks at different cultural means by which peoples around the world adjust to their environments.

ANT 3516- Human Variation

Focuses on the biological and cultural meanings of race as applied to humans.

ANT 3586- Human Evolution

Examines the biological origins and development of humankind.

ANT 3610- Anthropological Linguistics

Introduction to the scientific study of language within the context of human culture and society.

ANT 4116- Archaeological Research Methods

Learning archaeological research methods, focusing on what archaeologists actually do, in the field and in the laboratory, to learn about ancient societies.

ANT 4141- Development of Ancient Civilizations

An analysis of human cultures from the emergence of humanity through the rise of civilization.

ANT 4158- Florida Archaeology

Examines the various Native American peoples living in Florida before the arrival of European explorers and settlers as revealed by archaeology.

ANT 4192- Research Methods in Bioarchaeology

(Prerequisite: ANT 4141, ANT 4515, or Permission of Instructor)

Training in the research methodology of biological anthropology and archaeology. Application to an original research project and the presentation of a written research report.

ANT 4302- Gender and Culture

An examination of the variation of gender roles in non-Western societies across different levels of social organization. Femininity, masculinity, and additional genders are examined within the context of anthropological theory.

ANT 4315- African-American Anthropology

A review of the most important theoretical issues in African-American anthropology, including Africanisms, the family, matrifocality, and religion, with the reading of enthnographic studies of African Americans in the United States.

ANT 4407- Human Impulses

An investigation of worldwide cultural differences in the expression of human propensities: sex, violence, and sympathy in anthropological perspective.

ANT 4412- Social Anthropology

Studying society cross-culturally, with a focus on the dynamics of change in different social groupings and application of theoretical principles to a diverse selection of particular cases.

ANT 4414- Cultural Anthropology

Explores the concept of culture: its nature, structure, and relation to society and the individual.

ANT 4419- Anthropology of Nature

An examination of the relationship between culture and the physical environment or "nature," focusing on political, medical, religious, linguistic/discursive, ecological, development and gender issues in a variety of communities and countries around the world.

ANT 4433- Psychological Anthropology

Looks at culture and personality. Focuses on anthropological approaches to childhood development.

ANT 4460- Culture, Gender and Health

How do culture and gender affect health for individuals, communities and nations? This course examines how sex differences and gender inequalities impact the health status of women and men, their access to health care resources, and their roles as healthcare resources, and their roles as healthcare providers in a variety of cultures.

ANT 4462- Medical Anthropology

Cross cultural analysis of anthropological theories of health and disease. The status and role of patients and healers in human societies.

ANT 4463- Environment and Disease

Examines human diseases from ancient times to the present.

ANT 4469- Culture, Gender and Health

This course examines in a variety of cultures how sex differences and gender inequalities impact the health status of women and men, their access to health care resources, and their roles as health care providers. Focused attention is paid to culturally constructed knowledge of the body, gender-based political economy of health care in developing countries, reproductive health, indigenous medical systems, and children's health.

ANT 4495- Research Methods in Cultural/Social Anthropology

Training in the research methodology of cultural/social anthropology. Application to an original research project and the presentation of a written research report.

ANT 4514- Biological Anthropology

Studies the biological aspects of humankind: human genetics and variation, human anatomy, human growth and adaptation.

ANT 4552- Primate Behavior

A survey of living primates, their distribution and ecology. Students will learn about general primate behavior as well as behaviors specific to lemurs, monkeys and apes.

ANT 4554- Primate Evolution

An examination of the evolutionary history of monkeys and apes through the fossil record, extant primates and molecular evidence. Students will discover the processes that have influenced primate evolution, anatomy, behavior, and distribution.

ANT 4592- Advanced Topics in Human Evolution

A comprehensive survey of the human fossil record. Students will uncover detailed evidence for human evolution based on anatomy, behavior, and molecular data from our earliest human ancestors to the present.

ANT 4701- Applied Anthropology

How anthropology is being applied in the U.S. and abroad. Consideration of anthropology’s potential for contribution to current public policy issues and to contemporary social problems.

ANT 4731- Human Epidemiology

An examination of the distribution and causes of diseases and injuries in human populations with a special emphasis on cultural systems other than our own.

ANT 4802- Ethnographic Fieldwork

(Prerequisites: Anthropology major, junior or senior standing, and permission of instructor)

Supervised fieldwork includes construction of research design, data gathering, interviewing techniques, and development of other research skills in a field situation.

ANT 4824- Fieldwork in Archaeology - Ecuador

On-site experience in methods of archaeological fieldwork, recovery techniques, recording, sampling strategy, and survey. The course may include attendance at field schools directed by qualified faculty outside the University, with permission of the department.

ANT 4905- Directed Independent Study

For Anthropology majors only or by permission of instructor.

ANT 4930- Special Topics

Selected topics in Anthropology. (May be repeated as topics vary.) Special topics are categorized according to the subdisicplines of anthropology: archaeological, cultural or biological.

ANT 4940 - Internship in Anthropology

The internship in anthropology is designed as an opportunity for students to participate in a hands-on experience, one in which they are exposed to working environments where they can put anthropological knowledge and technical skills into effect.

ANT 4957- Anthropology Study Abroad

Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. Credit for enrollment in approved study abroad programs.

GRADUATE LEVEL

ANG 5930-Special Topics

Special topics in Anthropology. (May be repeated as topics vary)

ANG 5940- Internship in Anthropology

Apprenticeship experience in museums, nonprofit institutions, government agencies, and business settings, supervised by an on-site supervisor and Anthropology Department faculty sponsor.

ANG 6034- Seminar in Anthropological Theory

This course examines in depth the development of anthropological theory from the establishment of anthropology as a discipline in the mid-20th century. The course focuses on major schools of thought that crosscut the four subfields of anthropology and covers important theoretical works written by prominent figures of those schools. Introduction to the history and development of anthropoligical theory and the interrelationships of theory across the four disciplines of anthropology.

ANG 6090- Advanced Anthropological Research 1

Advanced application of anthropological methods through active application in both field- and lab-based settings.

ANG 6092- Advanced Anthropological Research 2 (Prerequisite ANG 6090)

Course focuses on active student participation in the application of subdiscipline-based research methodologies.

ANG 6095- Proposal Development and Writing

This course provides the student with knowledge about, and skills in, the construction of research proposals in the fields of biological anthropology, archaeology and cultural anthropology.

Note: The prerequisite each graduate-level seminar below is the completion of the corresponding 4000-level course or its equivalent. (This prerequisite does not apply to ANG 6486.)

ANG 6115- Seminar in Archaeology

Archaeological method and theory as well as reconstruction and description of prehistoric cultures.

ANG 6199- Research Methods in Archaeology

This course provides graduate students with a review of archaeological methods to assist them in conceiving and planning research projects. Methods are placed in context through discussion of scientific research design and theory in archaeology.

ANG 6390- Ethnographic Perspectives on Health (Prerequisite: Graduate Standing)

Culture's role in shaping health and medicine across a range of societies and institutions is critically assessed through in-depth ethnographic examination of the impact that ethnicity, gender, politics, technology, religion and class have on people's health status, their access to health care resources and their roles as health care providers.

ANG 6486- Quantitative Reasoning in Anthropological Research

Introduction to the process of conducting quantitative research in anthropology and developing an anthropological database suitable for statistical application.

ANG 6490- Seminar in Cultural Anthropology

Cultural theory is historical perspective. This seminar is organized as a foray into contemporary social and cultural anthropology, with an emphasis on journal literature of the recent past. The readings chosen from major anthropological journals reflect the currents present in the state of the discipline and cover the following major topical areas as well as others: political economy (globalization, human rights), ecology/political ecology (environmentalism), humanistic approaches, medical anthropology, feminist approaches, and ritual and religion.

ANG 6496- Research Methods in Sociocultural Anthropology

This course is designed as a graduate level introduction to research methodologies in sociocultural anthropology. It focuses on hypothesis and research question development, adapting research methods to goals and using interpretive/analytic frameworks.

ANG 6535- Research Methods in Bioarcheology

Training in the research methodology of biological anthropology and archaeology. Application to an original research project and the presentation of a written research report.

ANG 6587- Seminar in Biological Anthropology

Biology and environment in human existence: theoretical considerations. This course provides master's students with a foundation in the core principles of biological anthropology, which involves the synthesis of research from the subfields of evolutionary theory, genetics, primate behavior and ecology, and paleontology.