course descriptions
Lower Division
1 Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology
A study of the nature of culture and diversity of societies. This course, which focuses on cultures in Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Americas, introduces the beginning student to some of the main areas of anthropology: kinship, gender, the world system, fieldwork, magic and religion, social change, and the political system of societies throughout the world.
5 Introduction to Archaeology
Students are introduced to the ancient cultures of the world that existed before written records (i.e., prehistory). Cultures from every world area are studied, including the Aztec Empire, Mycenean Greece, Mesopotamia, the Celts, and the Inca Empire. Additionally, students gain an understanding of the methods and theories of contemporary archaeology through lecture, discussion, and hands-on activities. (Please note: Students are encouraged to enroll in Anth 7, but it is NOT required.)
7 Conservation of Archeological Materials (.25)
Students work in our archaeology lab with various artifact collections. Students sort and catalogue, analyze various classes of artifacts to identify manufacturing techniques, temporal characteristics and cultural affiliations. Basic conservation methodology is also introduced.
Upper Division
All upper division courses have a prerequisite of any one of the following lower division Anthro/Soc courses. These courses include Anth 1: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology, Anth 5: Introduction to Archaeology, Biology 7: Introduction to Biological Anthropology or consent of instructor.
111 Kinship, Marriage and Family
For more than one century anthropological research has focused on households, kinship relations and families across cultures and through time. This course provides students with a historical and theoretical perspective on the anthropological study of kinship, focusing also on various issues that directly relate to the state of marriage and family throughout the world.
112 Race and Ethnicity
An examination of the major theoretical underpinnings of “race” and “ethnicity” as negotiated identities. Race as a culturally constructed model is examined in a variety of international geopolitical regions, including the United States.
113 Childhood and Society
Focusing on children in western and non-western cultures and drawing on ethnographies from cultures around the world, the chronological sequence of childhood from birth to coming of age is followed. Topics covered include changing notions of childhood, social and gender development, the marking of rites of passage, adolescence, education and the status of children.
114 Urban Studies: The Culture of the City
By 2030, two out of three people will live in an urban world, with most of the explosive growth occurring in developing countries. This course in urban anthropology draws from ethnographic cases throughout the developed and developing world. It examines the complex structural and cultural forces that shape the lives of those who dwell in cities studying how urban culture is produced and reproduced under the influences of industrialization, colonialism, and globalization.
116 Immigrants and Refugees
Students consider the cultural, social, economic, and political issues pertaining to immigrants and refugees within the context of post-colonialism, modernization, and globalization. We will investigate the experience of migration and the relationship that people maintain to multiple sites as well as the complex processes which
require people to negotiate issues of identity, citizenship, gender, race, and ethnic formation.
117 Religion, Ritual, Magic, and Healing
The course examines religious beliefs, spirituality, and ritual in global cultures. It takes a comparative approach to Western and non-Western beliefs in the supernatural and examines the importance of these beliefs. Topics include shamans and other religious specialists, social functions of ritual acts, faith healing, new religious movements, and the intersection of faith and sociopolitical forces in the contemporary era.
118 Health and Illness
Medical anthropology explores the interaction between health, culture and disease, emphasizing the importance of understanding issues of health and sickness cross-culturally. Medical anthropologists also look at the roles of health care professionals, patients, and medical settings addressing the relationships between health care systems and political and economic systems.
119 Native American Cultures
Native American is a label applied to all of the indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere. This course gives students the opportunity to study a subset of Native American cultures in depth. Although the geographic focus of the course rotates, it always includes a discussion of both the traditional lifeways and contemporary social issues of the focus cultures. May be repeated for credit as content varies.
121 World Cultures
Each World Culture course concentrates on the cultural, historical, political, religious and geographic factors that shape the lives of people living today in a particular area or country, i.e., Central and South America, the Middle East, Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, India, China, Polynesia, Western Europe, the Philippines, etc. May be repeated for credit as content varies.
123 Ethnic Groups in the United States
Each course in this series looks at a different American ethnic group, i.e. African American, Filipino American, Hispanic, Scandinavian, etc. While addressing the past, emphasis is placed on the contemporary period, each course focusing on the social, cultural and historical experiences of each group. Among areas covered are assimilation and resistance, distribution in the social and power structure, family systems and cultural values, labor and migration, role of religion, status of women, etc. May be repeated for credit as content varies.
125 Gender and Culture
While sex differences are biological, gender encompasses the traits that culture assigns to and inculcates in males and females. This course studies the latter: the interplay between gender and culture. It takes an inclusive and cross-cultural perspective, with a focus on men and women, nonhuman primates, industrial and non-industrial societies and differing cultural contexts such as ethnic group membership and socioeconomic status.
126 Field Experience
Guided by an anthropology professor of the student’s choice, this course provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience conducting anthropological or archaeological analysis in the field. Among other sites, students can select supervised work in archaeological digs, community agencies, government bureaus, museums, and political or industrial organizations.
127 Historical Archaeology: Material Culture and Ethnicity
Historical archaeology is characterized by its use of both written resources and archaeological materials (such as architecture, domestic artifacts, art) to understand the past. Historical archaeologists have been particularly successful in illuminating the lives of people and groups who historically did not have the ability to write their own stories in ink, for example, enslaved African-Americans, Indians living at California missions, the poor, and women and children. Focusing primarily on the period of time since European exploration and colonization of the world began. Please note: Successful completion of Anth 5 is recommended, but NOT required.
129 Prehistoric Archaeology: Ancient Cultures
Ninety-nine percent of human cultural development took place before the advent of written records, and therefore archaeology is the primary source of knowledge of these cultures. This course focuses on the practices of prehistoric people, such as how they made stone tools, decorated cave walls, organized their villages, domesticated plants, and built monuments like Stonehenge. Special attention is given to topics such as gender, kinship, religion, and art. Please note: Successful completion of Anth 5 is recommended, but NOT required.
130 Anthropological Theory
Anthropological theory is dynamic, it reflects the social climate of the times and is the product of a gradual accumulation and testing of knowledge and ideas. From the reading of primary texts, this course provides students with an overview of the development of anthropological theory from the late 19th century to the present, pushing students to grapple with fundamental questions about what it means to be a human being and a member of society. Emphasis is placed on explaining what is essential about particular theoretical frameworks, how they can be used, and why they should be studied. Students must have completed Anth 1: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology and Anth 5: Introduction to Archaeology. This course should be taken in the junior or senior year.
131 Cultural Geography and Global Societies
Cultural geography studies the way people shape and give meaning to their environment and allows us to look at the fascinating variety of human activity in the world—the human landscape. Geographic knowledge is vital to understanding national and international issues that dominate daily news reports. This course examines the relevance of geographic methods and concepts to social science topics such as: agricultural patterns and practices, ethnic traditions and conflicts, gender, health, migration, political economy, poverty, religion, resource utilization, social change and urban planning.
132 Anthropological Research Methods
The ethnographic method, developed by anthropologists one hundred years ago is the hallmark of anthropological research. In this course students master specific exercises that represent some of the most commonly used data-collection techniques for ethnographic research. While the major focus will be on qualitative methodology, students are also exposed to quantitative methods such as surveys and focus groups. Students must have completed Anth 1: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology and Anth 5, Introduction to Archaeology. This course should be taken in the junior or senior year.
133 Senior Thesis
Continuation of Research Methods course where honor students undertake individual research, culminating in the senior project. This should be taken in the senior year.
135 Special Topics
Special topics in anthropology include such issues as multiculturalism, criminology and food and culture, visual anthropology, sexuality, popular culture etc. May be repeated for credit as content varies.
195 Special Study Internship
This course is usually taken by an upper division student who wishes to complete his/her education with related work experience and is maintaining at least a C average. In addition to work experience (6-8 hours per week), outside research and a term project are usually required. Sponsorship by an Anthropology faculty member and approval of the department chair is required.
197 Independent Study
This course entails independent study or research for students whose needs are not met by courses available in the regular offerings of the department. The course usually requires the writing of a term project. Sponsorship by an Anthropology faculty member and approval of the department chair is required.
199 Special Study—Honors
This course is only available to upper division majors with a B average or higher and entails independent study or research under the supervision of an Anthropology faculty member. Approval of the department chair is required.
