Cultural Anthropology Courses

101. Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
This course introduces students to the range of human cultural diversity through an exploration of the variety of societies and cultures of the world. The course also familiarizes students with the methods and theories that anthropologists use to describe, analyze and explain cultural systems.

 

200. History of Anthropology. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: 6 credits in anthropology or permission of instructor.
A survey of anthropological theories, methods, and practitioners from anthropology’s inception to the present, covering all four subfields of anthropology.

 

201. Essentials of Cultural Anthropology. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: 6 credits in social science or sophomore standing.
Ethnography – the descriptive study of peoples – is the cornerstone of anthropological endeavor. This course explores the relationship between intensive examinations of small populations and broad interpretations of the human condition. Emphasis is placed on close analyses of ethnographies representing different theoretical positions.

 

204. Anthropology of Islam. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: ANTH 101 or permission of the instructor.
This course explores Islam from an anthropological perspective. In particular, after preliminary discussion of the early history of Islam and the fundamentals of practice and belief, the course covers such topics as the role of texts in everyday life, mysticism, gendered piety, banking and finance, as well as law, media technologies, and Islam in Europe and the United States. The course is open to students both familiar and unfamiliar with Islam.

 

205. Peoples of Mexico and Central America. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereqs.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
This course surveys the social groups in conflict in contemporary Mexico and Central America from ethnographic and theoretical perspectives. Through lectures, readings, films and other materials, the course will provide a cultural, political, and historical understanding of the Mesoamerican region so as to better understand its contemporary life. Geography, ethnicity, language/languages, social class, and gender dynamics are among the topics that this course will cover.

 

206. Peoples of South America. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
This course will foster an ethnographic and historical understanding of the peoples and cultures of South America. It will explore the concept of Latin America and the peoples, institutions, and types of knowledge that have helped produce it. We will review the multiple ethnic and racial groups, social classes, government institutions, and cultural manifestations found within modern South American nation-states, as well as some key historical processes. We will consider South America’s relation to the rest of the world, emphasizing impact on the lives of people, and the importance of Latin American nation-state formations to the theories of the modern polity. We will focus on questions of citizenship, exclusion and belonging through the lens of racial ideologies, battles over land, labor and political autonomy, the concept of indigeneity, gender relations, definitions of community, and family and personhood.

 

 

210. Peoples of East Asia. 3 hr.; 3 cr.

Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
This course examines various contemporary cultures of East Asia in their global settings, drawing on ethnographic and theoretical readings. Why did ramen noodle soup become a global food we can enjoy in the US? How are the Tibetan Buddhist communities within China different from the rest of China? What is the source of global popularity of various Asian pop cultures? How was the metropolitan Tokyo landscape constructed out of a traditional Japanese backdrop? Rather than isolating East Asia as “traditional” and ”different” societies, students will examine how East Asia is connected to modern life in the U.S. Examining diverse social, historical, global, and regional processes, the course addresses the way identity, power and history interact in East Asian societies.

 

211. Peoples of Africa. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
This course focuses on the lifeworlds of the peoples of Africa and African diasporic communities via an examination of the diverse communities, institutions, and practices that constitute Africa as a place and as an imaginary.  Topics covered include race, class, law, politics, migration, religion, and gender, with a focus on the various peoples, struggles, and institutions that are integral in the production of Africa in the past, present, and future.  We will read a variety of literary and anthropological texts and engage in media examinations of Africa as space, place, and idea.

 

212, 212W. Peoples of the Middle East. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing; for 212W, English 110 is an additional prerequisite.
This course examines anthropological approaches to the Middle East and North Africa. We will investigate who inhabits this vast geographical area, as well as the region’s diverse traditions, beliefs, histories and practice. We will discuss the cultural changes that have emerged in the wake of social, political and economic transformations from the colonial period to the present. Previous knowledge of Middle Eastern history, geography or anthropology is not required.

 

213. Constructing America: Anthropology of the United States. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
What is “American”? How do questions of national identity and culture emerge in a country like the United States, where the promise of unity in diversity is often complicated by legacies of colonialism, racial injustice, ethnic prejudice, and xenophobia? Is the “melting pot” a model for pluralism or assimilation? This course looks at how anthropologists working in the USA have approached such questions, paying close attention to ethnographic methods and the experiences of everyday people across lines of race, class, ethnicity, religion, and citizen status. Through books, films, lectures, and discussions, the course applies anthropological theories and methods to the study of social issues and political concerns that affect all our lives, individually and collectively.

 

215W. Peoples of the Caribbean. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing & English 110.
This course addresses the culture and societies of the Caribbean. Because of the Caribbean’s long history of economic exploitation and cultural diversity, it has been a region in which peoples meet. This has generated both innovation and enmity. Consequently, this course will examine relationships of the different groups which inhabit the region, their conflicts and creations, and the influence of global economic and political factors on the region.

 

216. Peoples of Southeast Asia. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
Long a crossroads of trade and migration, Southeast Asia is one of the most diverse, dynamic and complex regions of the world. home to inland peasants and coastal traders; Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, and Animists; economic “miracles” and crushing poverty; fledgling democracies and cruel dictatorships; bustling global cities and remote highlands, Southeast Asia defies easy description. This course will introduce students to this culturally diverse region and to some contemporary themes in the anthropology of Southeast Asia.

 

219. Topics in Cultural Area Studies. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
This course will focus on a cultural or geographic area that is not covered in one of the standing courses listed above.  The specific area of focus will be announced in the course list published by the department prior to the beginning of each semester.  This course may be repeated for credit provided the topic is not the same.

 

220. Food and Culture.3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
This course introduces students to anthropological concepts and research that bear on the subjects of food, eating, nutrition, and disease. Topics covered include origins of human food-related behaviors; changing dietary patterns as revealed by archaeology and physical anthropology; cultural aspects of diet, disease, and malnutrition; the relationship between diet and social organization, as well as symbolic aspects of human food taboos and preferences.

 

222. Sex, Gender and Culture. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
This course will examine the social construction of gender in a wide range of cultures. Beginning with the question of the degree to which gender roles are biologically determined, we will focus our attention on the divergence of gender roles and the nature of gender inequality throughout the world. We will analyze power dynamics between men and women at the household level, the community level, and in the larger context of the state for a variety of societies ranging from foragers in Africa to peasants in China, to professionals in the United States. We will discuss the ways in which women in different cultures obtain degrees of autonomy and power within their cultural contexts. The course will draw on theoretical and ethnographic readings dealing primarily with non-western societies.

 

224. Religion: Belief and Ritual. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
This course examines and analyzes the way religion is practiced and performed in diverse societies through reviewing central aspects of religion, such as mythology, symbolism, ritual, religious specialists, gods and spirits. Our inquiry will also move beyond the boundaries of conventional definitions of religion to analyze topics such as witchcraft, magic, and shamanism within the framework of the anthropology of religion.

 

225. Medical Anthropology. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
This course focuses on the interaction of cultural, biological, and ecological factors that may influence human health. Specific areas to be covered will include the transmission of infectious disease, nutritional deficiencies, and inherited diseases.

 

232. Photography and the Visual World. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
This course teaches students to think critically about photography and visual practice. How do photographic images shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us? Since its invention, the camera has served as a powerful instrument not only for seeing and recording, but also for organizing our perceptions and shaping our imaginations. Each student will develop a photo-ethnography project over the course of the semester (no prior experience with photography is required).

 

233. Race, Class and Ethnicity. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
Physical differences among human populations are complex, continuous and include many more invisible than visible traits. After brief consideration of human genetic variation around the world, we examine cultural schemes that segment and compress this diversity into a small number of “races.” Racial systems emerge in particular historical and cultural settings, always involve differences in power, and vary from society to society. Readings and lectures focus on inequality and its relationship to concepts of race, ethnicity, and class in different parts of the world.

 

235W. Ethnographic Writing. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: English 110 and a social science class.
A practice-based class in which students learn to write ethnographic accounts based on methods such as observation, interviewing, and oral history. Students read and discuss ethnographic texts, explore the politics and ethics of representation, and develop descriptive and analytical writing skills. Students also engage in peer review and revise drafts.

 

236. Culture and Learning. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Sophomore standing and English 110.
This discussion-based seminar focuses on critically examining the concept of learning, as seen from an Anthropological perspective. Students will gain an understanding of learning as a dynamic, culturally framed process by exploring examples of child socialization practices around the world and by considering the continuation of enculturation into adulthood in varied cultural contexts. We will discuss ethnographic writings and films in order to explore the theoretical and practical processes of learning in childhood and beyond. In addition to regular reading responses on ethnographic material, longer written student projects will provide opportunities for building skills in critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, and research.

237. Violence. 3 hr.; 3 cr.,
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
Violence takes many forms, from the everyday violence of inequality, poverty, and discrimination to more spectacular forms such as war, terrorism, and mass shootings. This course examines how anthropologists use ethnographic methods to explore the many causes and forms of violence, as well as the ways that individuals and communities try to rebuild their shattered worlds in the aftermath of violent conflict

 

239, 239W. Topics in Cultural Anthropology. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Six credits in social science or sophomore standing.
This course will focus on a topic in cultural anthropology that is not covered in one of the standing courses listed above.  The specific topic will be announced in the course list published by the department prior to the beginning of each semester.   The course may be repeated provided the topic is not the same.  This course is sometimes offered as a Writing Intensive (W) course.

 

290, 290W. Topics in Anthropology. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: English 110.
This course will focus on a topic in anthropology that is not covered in one of the standing courses listed above.  The specific topic will be announced in the course list published by the department prior to the beginning of each semester.   The course may be repeated provided the topic is not the same.  This course is sometimes offered as a Writing Intensive (W) course.

 

295. Independent Studies in Anthropology. 1-6 hr.; 1-6 cr.
Prereq.: Three of the introductory anthropology courses (101, 102, 103, 104), one course from among Anthropology 201, 235, 240 or 260, and permission of the instructor.
This is an independent study course that must be arranged in advance in consultation with a faculty advisor.

302. Ecology and Culture. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Nine credits in anthropology and junior standing.
This seminar focuses on the question, why do cultures change? Taking ethnographic and archaeological examples of foragers, herders and farmers, the class will examine the relationship between environmental change, human population growth, technological change, the organization of the economy, and the exercise of power.

 

304. Anthropology of Development. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Twelve credits in anthropology, including ANTH 200 and 201 as prerequisites or corequisites, or permission of the instructor.
How have anthropologists analyzed the politics and everyday experiences of “development” and “progress?” Indeed, what does “development” mean and for whom? This course explores the presumptions, expectations, and experiences of development in both colonial and post-colonial contexts. Based in readings in historical anthropology, ethnography, and fiction, this course asks: What kinds of “modernizing” transformations did different colonial regimes attempt to institute and how were they experienced? How did post-colonial state-building projects continue or alter earlier attempts at change? And, how have particular international governmental and non-governmental interventions and projects – including their sudden end – affected peoples’ everyday lives? Sharpening our critical thinking about development will help students analyze political and economic promises and consider how they might themselves support communities in need.

306. Anthropology of Religion.3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Twelve credits in anthropology including 200 and 201 as a prerequisite or co-requisite or permission of instructor.
This course addresses the intersections of religion and politics from an anthropological and interdisciplinary perspective. Drawing on diverse empirical and theoretical studies, the course builds on the idea that modern social movements, conflicts, and controversies about the role of religion in public life are not aberrations caused by lapses in secular reason. Rather, they emerge from a complex cultural heritage at the very heart of secular modernity. Considering this, how do we account for the different ways that religious and political systems challenge and/or sustain one another? How do religious identities and practices become implicated in larger sociopolitical and cultural arenas? How do diverse forms of power and authority operate within religious communities, and how do they shape wider conceptions of private vs. public? In the process of investigating these questions, we will study theories and debates about religion, demonstrating the relevance and applicability of theory to modern social and political concerns.

308. Urban Anthropology. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Twelve credits in anthropology including 200 and 201 as a prerequisite or co-requisite or permission of instructor.
An introduction to cities in historical and global perspective, this course examines urban origins, theories of development of pre-industrial cities, transformations of urban life in the industrial revolution, and the interplay of race, ethnicity, class and gender in contemporary cities around the world. Final focus is on U.S. centers and forms of cultural and economic integration that mark all settlements in the contemporary global arena.

309. Psychological Anthropology. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: 9 credits in anthropology, including 201 or 240 or 260.
This course examines the major theoretical movements in the field of psychological anthropology by surveying four major issues in the field: the relationship of phylogeny and ontogeny; motivation, personality, and mental illness; ethnopsychologies; and cognition. In all four, the central theme is the relationship of culture to behavior or thought.

320. Contemporary Anthropological Theory. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: 12 credits in anthropology including 200 and 201 as a prerequisite or co-requisite or permission of instructor.
This course provides an overview of contemporary anthropological theory, including symbolic, interpretive, Marxist, poststructuralist, postmodern, feminist and historical anthropology. We will read articles by leading theorists and ethnographies, which utilize contemporary theory.

330. Seminar in Cultural Anthropology. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: 12 credits in anthropology including 200 and 201 as a pre- or co-requisite or permission of instructor.
This is an advanced seminar course focusing on a topic in cultural anthropology that is not covered in one of the standing courses listed above.  The specific topic will be announced in the course list published by the department prior to the beginning of each semester.   The course may be repeated provided the topic is not the same.

332. Anthropology of Memory. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: 12 credits in anthropology, including 200 and 201 as prerequisites or corequisites or permission of instructor.
Our memories are central to who we are. Although we generally think about remembering as something that happens in our minds, even our most personal recollections are shaped through social interactions and practices. Moreover, nations, communities, families, and other social groups also memorialize the past as part of the process by which present-day identities are debated and consolidated. This course will examine connections between individual and collective memory and the processes through which representations of the past are produced and challenged. We will pay special attention to the media of memory—including visual images, rituals, oral histories, monuments, and landscapes—that shape how the past is recalled and selectively forgotten. Whose memories are heard, and whose are silenced? How do the politics of the present affect our memories of the past? Students will be introduced to a range of approaches scholars in anthropology and other disciplines use to analyze the interplay of personal and cultural memory and the relationship between power, memory, and forgetting. In addition to reading, students will gain hands-on experience in conducting interviews, workshopping proposals, designing a memorial, and other exercises that we will do in class.

354. Time. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: ANTH 101 or 103, and 6 credits of courses which satisfy the Analyzing Social Structures PLAS requirement, 3 credits of Culture and Values, and 3 credits of Natural Science.
The exploration of human understanding and experience of time from multiple perspectives including the social sciences, philosophy, literature, and the natural sciences.

390. Senior Honors Thesis. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
Prereq.: Major in anthropology, junior standing, at least 21 credits completed, a grade point average of 3.5 and departmental permission.
This is our Senior Honors Thesis course.  To register for this course, a student must develop an Honors Thesis project and plan with a faculty advisor.  Registration is subject to department approval.

395. Directed Studies in Anthropology. 1-6 hr.; 1-6 cr.
Prereq.: Anthropology major with at least 24 credits in anthropology and junior standing, or permission of instructor.
This course involves independent research under the supervision of a faculty advisor.  It is often taken prior to Anth 390, during the first semester of a student’s Honors Thesis research.  To register for this course, students must develop a project and plan in consultation with a faculty advisor.  Registration is subject to department approval.  No more than 6 credits of Anth 395 are allowed.

 

397. Directed Research in Anthropology. 1-12 hr.; 1-12 cr.
Prereq.: Anthropology major with at least 24 credits in anthropology and junior standing, or permission of instructor.
This course involves collaborative research with a faculty advisor.  To register for this course, students must develop a plan in consultation with a faculty advisor.  Registration is subject to department approval.  No more than 12 credits of Anth 397 are allowed.