This course discusses warfare, commerce, social organization, political diplomacy, disease, demographics, religion, and environmental degradation among the ancient peoples of the Americas as revealed by archaeological, art historical, and textual data. Students will gain an appreciation of the diversity of human life in the New World as well as an understanding of the tremendous cultural achievements of the Inca, the Aztec, the Maya, and their neighbors.
The purpose of this course is to acquaint the undergraduate student with historical perspectives on the development of anthropological ideas from their precursors in thought about human nature and behavior, and ending with discussion of current emphases in anthropological theory. Students will engage with global, North American and European anthropologies to learn about a range of foundational approaches in international cultural and historical contexts. The course will provide anthropology majors with the foundations they need to master this area of disciplinary knowledge.
This course focuses on food and nutrition though the lens of anthropology. Topics will vary, but each semester the course will provide insight into an aspect of food and nutrition that is relevant to present-day concerns in regional, national and/or global context. Nutrition is one of the most critical health issues in the U.S. and globally as people struggle with both under nutrition and over nutrition and the long-term consequences of both to human well-being.
The course provides a study of the Aztec and related cultures of the New World. It provides a detailed discussion of pre-Columbian subsistence practices, economy, religion, and politics by tracing the development of ancient Mesoamerican civilization from its earliest beginnings to the Spanish conquest.
This class discusses theoretical debates on human rights within the discipline of anthropology and contrasts these approaches to those of other disciplines. Once students acquire this foundation, they apply their knowledge to a human rights problem of their own choice. They identify a researchable question about human rights and use appropriate evidence and methods to substantiate their claims. Students will also learn through experience the ethic dimensions of research and how research can have an important impact on society.
This course focuses on the origin and growth of prehistoric American Indian cultures north of Mexico as revealed by archaeological data.
Discussion, reading and writing focusing on specific topics in archaeology. 351 may be repeated up to a maximum of 12 credits under a different subtitle.
Discussion, reading and writing focusing on specific topics in archaeology. 351 may be repeated up to a maximum of 12 credits under a different subtitle.
The focus of this course is human osteology, or the study of the human skeleton, from a biocultural perspective. Emphasis will be placed on both the biology of human skeletal remains through osteological analysis as well as cultural context. This course will explore the various types of biological, cultural and evolutionary information that can be derived from the examination of human skeletal remains. Students will not only learn how to identify skeletal elements, but also estimate age and sex of individuals.
A course with special assignments for study of special topic usually involving preparation of a final paper. Student must identify a clearly defined topic and a specific faculty member as instructor. All work to fulfill this course must be detailed clearly and described fully in advance using the approved learning contract. The student and faculty member will need to agree on a general schedule of student/faculty meetings during the semester to discuss the progress of the project. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 credits. Letter Grade only.
