Course Listing
Introduction to Biological Anthropology
ANTH 101 | 3 Credits
Course Desc: A survey of general patterns in the development of human culture, addressing the biological and morphological aspects of humans viewed in their cultural setting. The aim is to apply anthropological knowledge to understanding human origins and how human populations adapt to the environment. Discussion examines human evolution and adaptation, including biocultural patterns in humans and other primates. Students who complete both ANTH 101 and ANTH 102 may not receive credit for ANTH 340, BEHS 340, or BEHS 341.
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 102 | 3 Credits
Course Desc: A survey of social and cultural principles inherent in ethnographic descriptions. The objective is to apply anthropological knowledge of human behavior to everyday situations and problems. Students who complete both ANTH 101 and ANTH 102 may not receive credit for ANTH 340, BEHS 340, or BEHS 341.
Special Topics in Anthropology
ANTH 298 | 1 - 3 Credits
Course Desc: A presentation of anthropological perspectives on selected topics of broad general interest. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits when topics differ.
World Prehistory and Archaeology
ANTH 345 | 3 Credits
Course Desc: An intermediate-level exploration of world prehistory and archaeology. The goal is to analyze the cultural, technological, and subsistence patterns of prehistoric humans and relate these patterns to contemporary human societies and populations. Discussion covers archaeological theories and methods; subsistence strategies; and the applications of archaeological knowledge to modern community, regional, and global issues.
Anthropology of Language and Communication
ANTH 346 | 3 Credits
Course Desc: An intermediate-level anthropological study of language, communication, and culture. The aim is to understand language in a cultural context, assess how the concepts, approaches, and methods of linguistic anthropology explain communication in changing cultural environments, and recognize how language both shapes and is shaped by culture. Topics include the origin of human language, linguistic diversity, structural elements of verbal and nonverbal language, language as social action, research in anthropological linguistics, language and power hierarchies, gendered communications, and linguistic diversity in the contemporary world.
Health, Illness, and Healing
ANTH 350 | 3 Credits
Course Desc: Recommended: ANTH 102. An overview of health, illness, and healing from a cross-cultural perspective. The objective is to apply the perspectives of medical anthropology to promote individual and public health in local, national, and global contexts. Topics include cultural and social influences on health and healing, the experience and meaning of illness, and current issues in public and global health.
Anthropology in Forensic Investigations
ANTH 351 | 3 Credits
Course Desc: Recommended: BIOL 160 or BIOL 201. An introduction to the application of forensic anthropology, designed to provide a basic understanding of the analysis of human skeletal remains and how forensic anthropologists work as part of the forensic team. The aim is to understand how anthropologists apply scientific principles and processes to the collection and analysis of evidence and how they communicate their conclusions. Topics include the scope of anthropology within the context of forensic investigations, human skeletal biology, research methods, scientific reporting, crime scene protocols, and the application of professional standards and ethics. Specific examples of forensic anthropology cases are reviewed.
Intermediate Special Topics in Anthropology
ANTH 398 | 1 - 3 Credits
Course Desc: A presentation of anthropological perspectives on selected topics of broad general interest. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits when topics differ.
Peoples and Cultures of East Asia
ANTH 417 | 3 Credits
Course Desc: An advanced anthropological study of the peoples and cultures of East Asia, focusing on China, Japan, and Korea. The aim is to apply anthropological theories and methods to the interpretation of contemporary East Asian cultures, relate family structure to individual choices and social interactions in East Asian cultures, and analyze how ethnic and national identities and regional differences affect regional and global interactions. Topics include urbanization, social values, social change, and the role of East Asia in the modern world.