Requirements and Curriculum
Note: This information reflects the requirements and curriculum printed in the 2007-08 course catalog.
Requirements
Required for a major
Minimum of 8 courses hours in anthropology, including 101, 102, 103, 104, 401 and one additional course numbered 300 or above. The senior project, if completed in anthropology, will be in addition to the 8 courses required for the major. The anthropology major is founded upon five core courses which define the holistic nature of the discipline. The 100-level core courses introduce students to the four subfields of anthropology: cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, archaeology, and linguistic anthropology. Anthropology 401, taken in the junior year, is an exploration of the theoretical perspectives that have shaped the discipline.
Building upon this core each student will, in consultation with an adviser, develop an individualized program of study emphasizing personal interests and goals. Three or more electives in the discipline complete the major, but in planning the individualized program of study it is strongly recommended that students also consider complementary courses in other disciplines. Majors in anthropology are encouraged to have a field experience, accomplished either through regular course offerings, an internship or study abroad.
Students interested in teaching should see the education department for secondary education minor requirements.
Curriculum
101 Cultural Anthropology 4 hours
A study in what it means to be human, this course uses the concept of culture to account for the tremendous variety of practices and beliefs throughout the world. Students will also examine patterns in human behavior, addressing cultural similarities as well as cultural differences. Course content provides insight into how cultural anthropologists do what they do—what methods they use to study culture and what ethical issues they may encounter while doing so. Students will be expected to engage some of these anthropological methods through completion of an ethnographic research project over the course of the semester. (HBSSM, Intcl, R)
102 Physical Anthropology 4 hours
Physical anthropology examines humans and human nature from a biological perspective. This course serves as an introduction to the various lines of inquiry that comprise this sub-field of anthropology. Primary topics include a survey of human biological and cultural evolution, genetics and the mechanics of evolution, non-human primates, and forensic anthropology. The course includes weekly laboratory exercises as a means of exploring fundamental concepts. (HBSSM)
103 Linguistic Anthropology 4 hours
An introduction to human language, with an emphasis on the relationship between language and culture. Topics include the origin and evolution of language, primate communication, language acquisition, language and society, and current issues in linguistic anthropology, such as linguistic human rights and language death. Students will gain hands-on experience with the methods and techniques of descriptive and historical-comparative linguistics. (HBSSM, Intcl)
104 Archaeology 4 hours
Archaeology is the study of the human past through material remains. This course introduces students to the fundamental techniques employed by archaeologists to reconstruct the past. In addition to exploring the basic methodological foundations of archaeology this course provides an overview of world archaeology, including major developments in human prehistory and significant archaeological sites. (HBSSM, Hist)
105 Genetic Perspectives on Human Origins and Diversity 1 hour
This course, taken at the same time as anthropology 102, provides a detailed exploration of the application of human mitochondrial and Y-chromosome DNA research for the study of human evolution and its resultant effects on its modern human genetic diversity. Students will personally explore this topic by participating in the National Geographic Society’s Genographic Project. In the process of investigating their own genetic heritage, students will learn about the method and theory of genetic research and its contributions to the current understanding of the human saga. Corequisite: anthropology 102.
139, 239, 339, 439 Special Topics Credit arr.
185 First-year Seminar 4 hours
A variety of seminars for first-year students offered each January term.
201 American Diversity 4 hours
What is diversity? The course will examine this complex question, asking students to examine American cultural stories about differences such as race, ethnicity, class and gender, how difference is experienced by people themselves, and the implications of each of these for social equality and inequality. In the examination of social equality’s promise and reality’s fact, the course will pay particular attention to groups of people that have been marginalized in American society. (Same as women’s and gender studies 201). (HBSSM, Intcl)
202 Gender and Culture 4 hours
Women and men alike are defined by cultural expectations and roles which often deny their full human needs and expressions. Selective cross-cultural readings, films, and novels will be used to explore the religious, ideological and cultural forces which shape women’s and men’s lives within different societies. (Same as women’s and gender studies 202.) (HBSSM, Intcl)
204 Native Peoples of North America 4 hours
The history and culture of Native Americans extending from the initial settlement of the Western Hemisphere to the present. The major emphasis of the course is on the definition of belief systems and values that account for the distinctiveness of the Native American experience. Offered alternate years. (HBSSM, Intcl)
205 Culture and Contemporary Life of the Navajo 4 hours
An introduction to the culture, worldview, and contemporary life of the Navajo, or Diné, the second largest American Indian tribe in the United States. Topics include the origin and history of the Navajo; the relationship between language and worldview; religion and ceremonialism; the social and symbolic importance of Navajo women; Navajo relationships with their Pueblo, Anglo and Hispanic neighbors; forces of culture change, past and present; and the expression of traditional values in contemporary life. This immersion experience is based at Rock Point, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation and includes a service-learning component involving volunteer teaching at the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission School. Consent of instructor required. (summer) (HBSSM, Intcl)
207 Archaeological Method and Theory 4 hours
This course will examine the practical and conceptual dimensions of the techniques used to study past cultures. We will explore the methods used to reconstruct subsistence and diet, social and political structure, economy, technology, cognition, and symbolism. In concert with the exploration of these conceptual themes, students will learn the practical elements of dating, survey and excavation methodology, mapping, and basic laboratory techniques, including the analysis of stone tools and pottery. Prerequisite: 104. (HBSSM, R)
221 Anthropology in East Africa: Forces of Culture Change Among the Maasai 4 hours
Like other peoples of East Africa, the Maasai pastoralists of Tanzania and Kenya are experiencing rapid culture change in response to global, national, and local forces. In this course we will study “traditional” Maasai culture and examine the ways in which the Maasai of northern Tanzania are adapting to changing social, political, economic, and environmental conditions. Topics to be explored include the shift from herding to agropastoralism; the tension between traditional and formal modes of education; the declining use of Maa, the mother tongue, in favor of Swahili and English; the adoption of Christianity in place of or alongside traditional religion; changes in coming-of-age rituals; cultural dimensions of health, healing, and the spread of HIV/AIDS; challenges to traditional gender ideology; the Maasai relationship to their environment; and the impacts of ecotourism, cultural tourism, and wildlife conservation programs on the pastoral way of life. From bases near the city of Arusha and the small town of Monduli students will interact with Maasai people in urban and rural marketplaces; in schools, medical facilities, and places of worship; and at Maasai bomas (family compounds) in the bush. We will also visit the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation area in order to explore the tension between pastoralism, wildlife conservation programs, and tourism. (Same as Africana studies 221). (HBSSM, Intcl)
301 World Archaeology 4 hours
This course provides students with an in-depth study of world archaeology. We will examine the diversity of past human societies as revealed through archaeological research. Topics addressed in this course will range from hunter-gatherer archaeology in Europe, North America, and Australia to comparative studies of the state level societies in Mesopotamia, Egypt, South America, and Mexico. Each student will also explore a topic of personal interest by developing an essential reading list, chronology, and research paper. Prerequisite: 104. (HB, Hist, R)
302 Field Methods in Archaeology 6 hours
This is a hands-on experience in archaeological field techniques offered in the summer. Students will be instructed in the fundamental skills required to do field archaeology while conducting survey, mapping, and excavations on real archaeological sites. This is a labor intensive course that requires students to participate in field work and data management procedures daily, possibly including some evenings (depending on weather conditions). This course is the equivalent of a full-time job and synthesizes classroom study with real world experiences. Offered alternate summers (even years). Prerequisite: 104 or consent of instructor; 207 is recommended. (HBSSM)
303 Principles of Geoarchaeology 4 hours
Geoarchaeology is defined as the application of geological methods to archaeological problems. The behavior of our human ancestors relied on their ability to interact with their environment. This included knowing where to live and what resources to exploit so that societies continued to function economically and socially. The analysis of this interaction forms a key component of geoarchaeology. This course is designed to give students a basic introduction to geomorphology and paleoenvironmental reconstruction in archaeological contexts. Prerequisite: environmental studies 134, plus 8 credits of archaeology, or consent of instructor. Offered alternate years. (HB, NWNL)
304 Ethnology: Behind the Mask 4 hours
Cultures assume a variety of expressions. As outsiders, anthropologists have studied them while locals have told and lived them through unique cultural symbols and masks. Thus ethnographies, videos and stories are used to explore why different people, women and men, so variously express their values and beliefs, activities and lives. (HBSSM, Intcl)
305 Social and Cultural Change 4 hours
A specialized study of cultural and social factors—as various as national and social elitism, consumerism, and revolution—which promote change in technical and non-technical societies. Both theories and case studies are used to explore the processes and effects of energy flow, cultural integration, social innovation, diffusion, and other accommodations related to social change. (HBSSM, Intcl)
380 Internship 4-8 hours
Extended field study of another culture on an individual basis representing a one semester journey into a different cultural reality whereby the total perspective of its members is experienced.
395 Independent Study 1, 2 or 4 hours
401 Anthropological Theory 4 hours
This course explores the rise of modern anthropology and the various schools of thought that have shaped the discipline, including an in depth treatment of contemporary anthropological discourse. We will discuss the issues and approaches that define the anthropological approach as well as the ethical considerations involved in anthropological inquiry. The ultimate goal of this course is to provide students with comprehensive understanding of the field of anthropology and the skills required to negotiate current trends in the discipline. This course should be taken during the junior year. Prerequisites: 101, 102, 103, 104, and junior standing. (R, S, W)
485 Seminar 4 hours
490 Senior Project 1, 2 or 4 hours
493 Senior Honors Project 4 hours
A year-long independent research project. Applications are completed on the “Honors Program” form available at the registrar’s office, requiring the signatures of a faculty supervisor, the department head, the honors program director, and the registrar. Interdisciplinary projects require the signatures of two faculty supervisors. The project must be completed by the due date for senior projects. The completed project is evaluated by a review committee consisting of the faculty supervisor, another faculty member from the major department, and a faculty member from outside the major department. All projects must be presented publicly. Only projects awarded an “A-” or “A” qualify for “department honors” designation. The honors project fulfills the all-college senior project requirement. (R)