Return to Sociology | Courses Index
[1] Courses in Anthropology (ANTH)
1302 INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY Part of the lower-division UCA Core as a social science course in the Diversity in World Cultures category. A requirement in the Anthropology minor and an elective for other majors and minors. An introduction to the field of anthropology with an emphasis on basic anthropological principles, the nature of culture and social organization, and the biological beginnings of homo sapiens. Lecture and discussion. Fall, spring, summer. [ ACTS: ANTH1013 ]
2300 PEOPLES AND CULTURES An elective in the anthropology minor core. In this course, we will examine some of the dominant methods, theories, and debates informing the discipline of cultural anthropology. In addition to studying the content of anthropological analyses, we will also study the processes of conducting anthropological fieldwork and some of the practical applications of anthropological knowledge. Readings for the course have been chosen to provide you with a sampling of perspectives on culture and society, including cross-cultural, ethnographic, and life history angles at the culture-society-environment interrelationship. These three frameworks-the cross-cultural, the ethnographic, and the life history approach-will provide you with a springboard for exploring the role of culture in your own life and society. Learning formats for the course will include readings, lecture, film, discussion, and group exercises. Prerequisite: ANTH 1302. Fall.
2310 BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY An elective in the anthropology minor core. This course is a comprehensive introduction to the fields of biological and physical anthropology addressing how ideas about human origins were forever altered by Darwin’s theory of evolution, how mechanisms of evolution are explained by modern genetics, and how modern human variation can be understood by applying these principles. It will cover the living primates and paleontological evidence for the divergences that led to the man apes and eventually to humans. The course focuses on the relationship between biology and culture, how and why our species became our planet’s dominant life form, the biological impact of agriculture and civilization, and prospects for the future of the Homo sapiens (“thinking” or “wise man”) species. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisite: ANTH 1302. Fall.
2325 ARCHAEOLOGY OF NORTH AMERICA An elective in the anthropology minor core. Archaeology investigates past cultures in order to reconstruct past lifeways and to understand changes that have occurred in different groups of people across the landscape through time. Archaeology plays an integral role in identifying where these groups lived, what they ate, how they interacted with each other (trade, warfare), and how they were organized socially and politically (elites, chiefs, priests). Analysis of the material remains – artifacts, structural features, botanical remains – allows us to develop answers to the above questions. By the end of this course, you will have an understanding of the history of archaeology in North America and the diverse prehistoric Native American cultures. You will have been exposed to the issues faced by and methods utilized in reconstructing past settlement patterns, subsistence strategies, religious practices and social and political organization. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisite: ANTH 1302. Spring even years.
3300 REGIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY An elective in the anthropology minor core. Anthropological study of culture and society in a delineated geographical region of the world such as Appalachia, the Ozarks, the United States Southwest or South, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arctic, East Asia, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Andean or Amazonian South America, the Middle East, Oceania, or South Asia. The course will introduce the geography of the region and explore its archaeology and cultural history, in addition to any other pertinent culture, ecological, societal, and/or historical features. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisite: ANTH 1302. Spring.
3310 MAGIC, RELIGION, AND WITCHCRAFT An elective in the anthropology minor core. An exploration of supernatural beliefs and practices from primeval through contemporary culture including techniques for controlling the supernatural, parallels in religious movements and upheavals, and today’s quest for meaning and sanction. Students should gain understanding of unfamiliar beliefs and the underlying psychic unity of humankind. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisite: ANTH 1302. Spring.
3315 NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES An elective for majors and minors. A study of the traditional lifeways of early Native American societies by culture area. Additional emphasis is placed on modern influences on tribal life resulting from treaties, pan-Indianism, and political activities. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisite: SOC 1302 or consent of instructor. Fall, odd years.
3340 ENVIRONMENTAL ANTHROPOLOGY An elective in the anthropology minor core. Environmental anthropology provides an introduction to human / environmental interactions from diverse anthropological perspectives, covering cultural ecology, ecological anthropology, ethnoscience, and political ecology. This course explores human adaptability, integrating social and biological approaches, cultural and political ecology, ecological politics and resistance in struggles over the definition, organization, and control of the natural environment, and contemporary issues of global environmental change, population and environment, “common property” resources, indigenous peoples’ environmental sciences and management regimes of resources, and the power relations affecting local and global human use of the environment. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisite: ANTH 1302. Spring.
3350 MUSEUM ANTHROPOLOGY An elective in the anthropology minor core. This course in applied anthropology will provide an introduction to the history, purposes, transformations, and internal workings of museums. It will cover the relevance of humanistic and scientific anthropological training to careers in the museum field. Students will learn about some of the world’s large and small museums, focusing on natural and cultural history, and science museums related to anthropological studies of archaeology, human evolution, and world ethnography and ethnology. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisite: ANTH 1302. Fall.
3360 ANTHROPOLOGY TRAVEL SEMINAR An elective in the anthropology minor. Students are immersed in the culture and environment of the locale. Travel sites vary as do the topical areas of focus. Travel seminars include both domestic and international locations. Students will be expected to learn about the cultural history of the region, in addition to geographic and ecological characteristics. Prerequisite: ANTH 1302. On demand.
4190, 4290, 4390 SELECTED PROBLEMS IN ANTHROPOLOGY An elective in the anthropology minor. This readings, discussion, and/or independent research course is on a topic of interest to the student and approved by the professor. Because of the nature of the course, its success depends largely on the student’s level of self-motivation. A topical area will be decided on by the student and faculty member and may consist of readings, field research, and/or academic travel. Activities when investigating the topic will vary by student. Prerequisite: ANTH 1302. On demand.
4370 CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY RESEARCH METHODS An elective in the anthropology minor. This course provides a broad introduction to issues of cultural anthropology research methods and design. Consideration is given to both quantitative and qualitative approaches to research, although more emphasis is placed on qualitative methods. No prior knowledge of methodology or statistics is expected or assumed. The course differs from other courses on research design in that it is decidedly interdisciplinary in nature (drawing on literature from anthropology, geography, political science and sociology). After this course, students will be able to design and implement your own social science research project. Three interrelated dimensions of research are explored; one focuses on the theoretical foundations of social science research, another focuses on the various methods available to researchers for data collection and analysis, and finally we complete exercises in the practical application of various methods. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisite: ANTH 1302. On demand.
4380 ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY An elective in the anthropology minor. This course will explore the intellectual currents and ideas that have informed anthropological research and writings and the progressive development of anthropological theory. It will trace the discipline from its colonial origins through various paradigmatic shifts, revisions and refinements; exploring postmodern, post-colonial, feminist, relativist, and anti-relativist critiques and beyond. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisite: ANTH 1032. On demand.
4395 SPECIAL TOPICS IN ANTHROPOLOGY An elective in the anthropology minor. Upper division elective. This course examines anthropological subjects of interest that would otherwise be unavailable through traditional course offerings. Topics will vary. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisite: ANTH 1302. On demand.