Courses in Anthropology

A ANT 100 Culture, Society, and Biology (3)
Introduction to the issue of human diversity, the course poses the question of what it means to be human. Through study of biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and ethnology, students will explore the range of diversity within our shared humanity, and seek explanations that might account for it.

A ANT 104 Archaeology (3)
Introduction to the methods used by archaeologists to study ancient sites and artifacts. Topics include archaeological fieldwork, laboratory analysis, dating, interpretation of artifacts, and the reconstruction of past cultural patterns. Examples include studies of ancient and recent societies. Two lectures, one laboratory period per week.

A ANT 108 Cultural Anthropology (3)
Cultural anthropology examines both the diversity of human societies and cultures as well as what human cultures have in common. In this class, students learn to understand, appreciate, and respect cultural difference and diversity while also questioning our own "common-sense" understandings about our own culture and the world around us. This course provides an overview of the history, methods, areas of study, and major figures of the discipline. Through a focus on power and cultural change, course materials illustrate the diverse geographic areas and subject matters that engage contemporary anthropologists. The goal is to encourage each student to see anthropology not simply as a scholarly discipline, but as a way of thinking about and acting in the world.

A ANT 110 Introduction to Human Evolution (3)
Introduction to human evolution. This course spans the human fossil record from “Lucy” to Cro-Magnon. Topics include our primate past and the evolution of upright walking. The steady increase in our ancestors’ brain size is explored along with the cultural correlates of biological evolution such as stone tools, language origins and cave art.

A ANT 111 Introduction to the Primates (3)
Survey of the basic morphology and behavior of nonhuman primates. Prosimian and anthropoid primates are studied in terms of their comparative morphology and behavior, with reference to these same features among humans.

A ANT 119 The City and Human Health (3)
Survey of the history of health and disease from the earliest humans before the development of settlements to contemporary populations living in industrialized cities. Emphasizes the role of culture and behavior in disease.

A ANT 124 Lost Languages and Ancient Scripts (4)
This course traces the origin and evolution of writing systems from their earliest precursors to the modern world. It is organized around a series of puzzles that guide participants through the processes of discovery and decipherment that led to our current understanding of writing systems. About half of the course is devoted to small-group workshops in which participants receive hands-on experience working together on problems in decipherment. The broader goal of the course is to learn how to do problem solving generally, using specific procedures and ways of thinking that can be applied in any discipline.

T ANT 124 Lost Languages and Ancient Scripts (4)
This course traces the origin and evolution of writing systems from their earliest precursors to the modern world. It is organized around a series of puzzles that guide participants through the processes of discovery and decipherment that led to our current understanding of writing systems. About half of the course is devoted to small-group workshops in which participants receive hands-on experience working together on problems in decipherment. The broader goal of the course is to learn how to do problem solving generally, using specific procedures and ways of thinking that can be applied in any discipline. T ANT 124 is the Honors College version of A ANT 124; only one version may be taken for credit.

A ANT 131 Ancient Peoples of the World (3)
Ancient cultures from around the world will be presented and analyzed from the available archaeological data. The gradual development of civilization in both the Old and New Worlds will be the focus of the course.

A ANT 140 Anthropological Survey of World Cultures (3)
In-depth survey of selected ancient, historical, and modern world cultures. Major themes include production of goods and services, authority systems, legal processes, and religious and ritual life.

T ANT 141 Human Rights and Wrongs: Anthropological Explorations (3)
This course is designed to provide an overview of human rights and anthropology from theoretical and historical points of view and from the vantage point of engagement and practice. Using a critical approach, we will move away from the notion of a set category or monolithic legal structure toward an understanding of a flexible and elastic set of conceptual frameworks used to accomplish transitions, make claims and gain access to resources. In doing so, we will consider the increasing transnationalization of rights discourse and the growing terrain in which claims, legal and otherwise, are made through it. A series of international and national case studies will be examined. Open to Honors College students only.

A ANT 146 (= A LCS 150) Puerto Rico: People, History, and Culture (3)
Survey of the Puerto Rican people, history, and culture on the island from the pre-Hispanic era to the present. Special emphasis on the change of sovereignty in 1898, the national question, migration, race, class, and culture. Only one version may be taken for credit.

A ANT 175 (= A REL 175) Anthropology and Folklore (3)
Introduction to the study of folklore as an aspect of culture, symbolically expressing people’s identity, beliefs and values. The focus is on oral text traditions—myths, folktales, and legends. Topics in folk custom and ritual, folk music and folk art are also included. Includes folklore from Western and non-Western cultures. Only one version may be taken for credit.

A ANT 197 Special Topics in Anthropology (1–4)
Study of a selected topic in anthropology. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. Consult class schedule for specific topic.

A ANT 201 Critical Thinking and Skepticism in Anthropology (3)
How many people believe most everything they are told, or everything that they read? How can we tell the difference between statements that are based on fact, and those based only on opinion, ideology, error, or falsehood? Why should we care in the first place? This class will help you answer these questions, and hopefully raise many more. We will cover the ways in which your own brain and senses can trick you. We will cover the common mistakes made in reasoning, "logical fallacies" that can lead even the most critical of thinkers to false conclusions. We will cover several of the most common types of false information that people encounter today, such as psychics, astrology, or complementary and alternative medicine, and will explore why these are problematic. Our focus throughout will be on identifying current, real world examples of "uncritical thinking" in popular and news media. Hopefully at the end of the course, we will all be better consumers of knowledge.

T ANT 201 Critical Thinking and Skepticism (3)
How many people believe most everything they are told, or everything that they read? How can we tell the difference between statements that are based on fact, and those based only on opinion, ideology, error, or falsehood? Why should we care in the first place? This class will help you answer these questions, and hopefully raise many more. We will cover the ways in which your own brain and senses can trick you.  We will cover the common mistakes made in reasoning, "logical fallacies" that can lead even the most critical of thinkers to false conclusions. We will cover several of the most common types of false information that people encounter today, such as psychics, astrology, or complementary and alternative medicine, and will explore why these are problematic. Our focus throughout will be on identifying current, real world examples of "uncritical thinking" in popular and news media. Hopefully at the end of the course, we will all be better consumers of knowledge. Only one version of T ANT 201 may be taken for credit. Open to Honors College students only.

A ANT 211 (formerly A ANT 411) Human Population Biology (3)
Biological variation in human populations, with emphasis on genetics, adaptability, demography and related aspects of population dynamics. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 110; or A BIO 110; or A BIO 120 recommended.

A ANT 220 (= A LIN 220) Introduction to Linguistics (3)
Introduction to the study of language, including examination of the characteristics and structural principles of natural language. After exploring the basic characteristics of sound, word formation and sentence structure, these principles are applied to such topics as: language variation, language change, psycholinguistics, pragmatics, and animal communication. Only one version may be taken for credit.

A ANT 222 Fear and the Human Past (3)
This course examines how fear has affected and transformed diverse past cultures through the examination of the archaeological and historical record. It investigates material culture for the influence of fear, discusses methods for identifying fear in the past, and uses this evidence to learn about and humanize ancient peoples. A particular focus will be to identify historical connections to contemporary societies and the deep historical roots of various kinds of cultural fears. Only one of A ANT 222 and T ANT 222 may be taken for credit.

T ANT 222 Fear and the Human Past (3)
T ANT 222 is the Honors College version of A ANT 222. This is a seminar course that will be a combination of weekly assigned readings, group discussions, and multi-media presentations. Only one of T ANT 222 and A ANT 222 may be taken for credit. Open to Honors College Students only.

A ANT 233 (= A LCS 233) Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas (3)
Introductory survey of the archaeology and ethnohistory of the three best-known indigenous civilizations of the New World. Each is presented in terms of prehistoric background and evolution, social organization, politics and economics, religion and art. Consideration is given to the Spanish conquest of these three groups and to their modern legacies. Only one of A ANT 233 and A LCS 233 may be taken for credit. ^{corrected 2/2023}

A ANT 236 American Indian Archaeology (3)
Introductory survey of the archaeology of North America and Mesoamerica. Emphasis on the past cultural developments in regions across North America. An introduction to current methodological, theoretical, and ethical issues as applied in these culture areas to the study of past Indigenous cultures.

A ANT 240 Native Peoples of North America (3)
This course examines the diversity of Indigenous people across North America, from their ancient past to modern conditions. It will survey important archaeological sites, major historical events, and current cultural contexts and issues through a sociocultural anthropological lens. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 100 or 108.

T ANT 242 (= T LCS 242) Food, Culture and Power in Mesoamerica (3)
In Mesoamerica (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador), food is a powerful form of cultural expression that is immersed in local and global politics and power relations. This course will survey Mesoamerican native culture from the lens of its rich food heritage.

A ANT 269 (= A AFS 269 & A LCS 269) The Caribbean: Peoples, History and Culture (3)
This course will introduce students to the cultural history of the Caribbean region, from the 18th century to the present. This history encompasses colonialism, slavery, emancipation, imperialism, migration, revolution, dictatorship, tourism and environmental change. Students will use a variety of primary sources, including film, music, memoirs, and diaries to explore the unmaking and making of empire in the Anglophone, Francophone and Hispanic Caribbean through the everyday lives of inhabitants of the islands. Additionally, the course will examine the ways that Caribbean people have shaped and engaged narratives of the past and aspirations for the future. Only one version may be taken for credit.

T ANT 272 Global Latin American Cities: Transnational Politics and Space (3)
What are contemporary cities and how do we understand them in the contexts of globalization and transnationalism? How do anthropologists study such cities? In order to address these basic questions, this course is organized around a set of films and important theoretical concepts that have been debated in anthropology, urban studies, geography, sociology and other disciplines. Being an anthropology class, however, it will emphasize an anthropological perspective. The ethnographic readings and films presented in the class will primarily focus on Latin American topics. While this will give the class ethnographic focus, we will think about cities, urban life, and cosmopolitanisms from outside of Latin America. The films and readings on urban Latin America will serve as bases for cross-cultural analysis. It is expected that students taking this course will have already taken a course in anthropology, sociology, political science or geography. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.

A ANT 302 Human Paleobiology (3)
This course provides a comprehensive survey of the fossil evidence for human origins. It will primarily focus on reconstructing the anatomy, behavior, and evolutionary relationships of early hominins and their immediate ancestors. Data from genetics, archaeology, paleoenvironmental sciences, geosciences, and other fields will be drawn upon as additional lines of evidence for generating and testing hypotheses about human evolutionary history. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 110 and A BIO 131.

A ANT 304 Human Biomechanics (3)
This course explores how the human body moves with the goal of providing a strong foundation for future training and clinical practice. The first part of the course will cover fundamental concepts and terminology, basic joint mechanics, muscle physiology, and applied biomechanics. The rest of the class will focus on the regional biomechanics and evolution of the human upper extremity, axial skeleton, and lower extremity. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 110 and  A ANT 211.

A ANT 309 Human Population History (3)
Birth, marriage, migration, and death — some of the most basic events in people's lives — are closely linked to larger economic and social phenomena. An understanding of these events can shed light on the economic and social world inhabited by people in the past and how these contexts interact to shape human populations and individual behavior. In this course, students will be introduced to the sources and methods used by historical demographers to reconstruct, measure, and compare past populations. In addition, the course will cover a broad range of problems in historical demography, including mortality crises, fertility control, the modern rise in population, and the influence of economic and social institutions on demographic change. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 110 and A ANT 211.

A ANT 311 Human Osteology (3)
This course is an intensive study of the anatomy of the human skeleton. This course will cover bone histology, growth and development of bones, common pathological conditions, the determination of age and sex from skeletal material, and the identification of whole and fragmented bones in archaeological and forensic contexts. This course will include a laboratory component to provide students with the opportunity to examine the material discussed in class. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

A ANT 312 (= A BIO 318; formerly A ANT 412/A BIO 419) Human Population Genetics (3)
Population genetics theory is the foundation of evolutionary biology and contributes heavily to modern ideas in ecology, systematics, and agriculture. This course is an introduction to that theory with special emphasis on evolution. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 211 or A BIO 205 or 212.

A ANT 314 Forensic Anthropology (3)
This course teaches the application of methods from biological anthropology and archaeology to the recovery and analysis of skeletonized human remains. The primary focus of this course is the application of these methods to investigations of unexplained deaths, including homicides, genocides, and mass disasters. Students will learn how to determine age at death, sex, ancestral affiliations, and stature from skeletal remains, and how to identify evidence of trauma and disease. Other topics include forensic botany, forensic entomology, and DNA fingerprinting. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

A ANT 316 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
This course provides an introduction to human anatomy and physiology. These topics refer to the form and function of the human body, and are presented together in an integrated two-semester course sequence. This course focuses on basic concepts in anatomy and physiology, embryology, the peripheral nervous system, respiration, the cardiovascular system, and the musculoskeletal system of the upper limb, thorax and back. The course provides a foundation for students interested in human biology, biological anthropology, medicine, and allied health professions. Prerequisite(s): A BIO 120 or A BIO 131, A BIO 121 or A BIO 130, A CHM 120, and A CHM 121. Course fee applies. Consult the Schedule of Classes.

A ANT 317 Exercise Physiology (3)
This course will provide a broad introduction to the field of exercise physiology. Topics covered will include cellular energy metabolism, pulmonary and cardiovascular responses to exercise, muscle physiology, training, nutrition, bode composition, and exercise testing. Students will spend some time in the human performance laboratory where the focus will on be applied exercise physiology and performance testing. Specialized topics include exercise at high altitude, temperature regulation, sports nutrition, exercise performance during the growth and development period, and the relationship of exercise and physical activity to human health and disease. Only one of A ANT 317 and A BIO 307 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A BIO 120 or A BIO 131, A BIO 121 or A BIO 130, A ANT 316, and A ANT 318.    

A ANT 318 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
This course provides an introduction to human anatomy and physiology. These topics refer to the form and function of the human body, and are presented together in an integrated two-semester course sequence. This course is the second in that sequence, and focuses on the gastro-intestinal tract, digestion, the urogenital, reproductive and endocrine systems, the cranial nerves, the visual, olfactory and auditory systems, and the musculoskeletal system of the lower limb, head and neck. The course provides a foundation for students interested in human biology, biological anthropology, medicine, and allied health professions. Prerequisites: A ANT 316. Course fee applies. Consult the Schedule of Classes.

A ANT 319 Physical Growth and Development (3)
Analysis of the pattern of human growth during the prenatal and postnatal periods and their variation around the world. The course focuses on the influence of social factors, nutrition, alcohol and cigarette use, race/ethnicity, pollution, and features of the physical environment which modify growth patterns. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 211.

A ANT 321 (= A LIN 321) Introduction to Syntax (3)
The human ability to produce and understand an infinite number of different sentences is one of the most remarkable capabilities we have. The study of the structure of sentences is called syntax, and this course is an introduction to syntactic theory. The particular approach we will be pursuing is called generative grammar, the approach to syntax pioneered by linguists such as Noam Chomsky. Chomsky argues that all humans are born with an unconscious knowledge of Universal Grammar, the basis on which the grammars of all languages are built. Through a detailed examination of English sentence structure, we will investigate the connections between English syntax and Universal Grammar. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 220 or permission of instructor.

A ANT 322 (= A LIN 322) Introduction to Phonology (3)
Introduction to the description and analysis of human speech sounds and their organization. Introduction to articulatory phonetics and the International Phonetic Alphabet followed by examination and generative phonological analysis of data from English and a wide range of other languages. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 220 or permission of instructor.

A ANT 325 (= A LIN 325) Sociolinguistics (3)
Introduction to the study of language as a social phenomenon. Includes basic sociolinguistic concepts, interactional sociolinguistics, social dialects, Black English, diglossia, bilingualism, and bilingual education. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 220 or permission of instructor.

A ANT 330 Topics in Archaeology (3)
Survey of a topic in archaeology or regional prehistory for upper division students. May be repeated for credit when topic differs. Consult class schedule for specific topic. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 104.

A ANT 332 Ethnoarchaeology (3)
Ethnoarchaeology combines the archaeologist’s interest in material culture with the cultural anthropologist’s interest in ongoing behavior. Included are the archaeology of living populations, action archaeology, experimental and replication studies, formation processes, and ethnographic analogy, among other subjects. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 104 or permission of instructor.

A ANT 334 The Earliest Cities (3)
Comparative treatment of the earliest urban settlements around the world. Case studies include Mesopotamia, Egypt, Sub-Saharan Africa, China, Southeast Asia, Mesoamerica, and the Andes. Cities are compared in terms of planning, political roles, religious features, economic patterns, and their rise and fall. Also covers archaeological methods for the study of early cities. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 104.

A ANT 335 Introduction to Archaeological Field Techniques (3)
Introduction to data gathering techniques used by archaeologists in the field. Taught prior to A ANT 338 as basic training for students concentrating in archaeology. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 104 or permission of instructor.

A ANT 338 Archaeological Field Research (6)
Directed archaeological excavation of selected sites, including experience in site location, mapping, excavation, preservation, analysis, classification, and interpretation. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 335 or permission of instructor.

A ANT 339 Archaeological Lab Techniques (3)
Survey and practical application of laboratory techniques using materials from the University collections. Emphasis on physical and chemical analysis, classification, and specialized analysis.

A ANT 340 Topics in Ethnology (3)
Consult class schedule for specific topic. May focus on geographic or theoretical area. May be repeated for credit when topic differs. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 108.

A ANT 341 (= A LCS 341) Ethnology of Mesoamerica (3)
Survey of the cultures and history of the native peoples of Mexico and Central America. Beginning with the documents created by and about native peoples around the time of the Spanish invasion, the course follows the experiences of these societies through the colonial period and up to the present. Only one version of A ANT 341 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 100 or 108.

A ANT 343 Native American Literature (3)
Survey of the literature of the native peoples of North America and Mesoamerica, from early colonial times to the present. Readings include oral narratives, songs, autobiography, and contemporary poetry and fiction. Discussion focuses on the use of texts for cultural analysis, Native American literary aesthetics, and the survival of native literary traditions. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

A ANT 344 Anthropology of Science Fiction and Fantasy (3)
This course examines how anthropology and science fiction (more broadly, speculative fiction [SF]) each explore ideas about culture and society, morality, technology, power and "life" in other worlds. Through engagement with different kinds of materials, the class will revisit fundamental and contemporary concepts in anthropology (and life) such as relativism, first contact, national and cultural identities, class, gender, morality, religion, race, gender, politics, violence, war and others. Prerequisite(s): A ANT104 and A ANT 108.

A ANT 347 Archaeology of Food
This course explores the archaeological study of food and ancient human diet, subsistence, and foodways. Students will learn about the different theories and approaches that archaeologists use to study ancient meals, the domestication of plants and animals, and the development of different food procuring strategies, cooking methods, and cuisines. The class will discuss the social, cultural, political, economic, and ideological implications behind what we eat. Students will also learn about the methods used to investigate ancient foods and diets, including faunal and paleobotanical analyses, ceramic and lithic studies including chemical residue analysis and experimental studies, and bioarchaeological methods, such as stable isotope studies and the study of tooth wear patterns, just to name a few.

A ANT 351 Ethnicity in Anthropological Perspective (3)
Race and Ethnicity in Anthropological Perspective examines anthropological perspectives on race and ethnicity, questioning the biological basis of race while examining the social effects of these cultural ideas. Students will learn how concepts of race and ethnicity have been mobilized to produce social hierarchies in different historical and cultural moments. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing and permission of instructor.

A ANT 354 Culture & Economy in a Globalized World (3)
A central premise of economic anthropology and of this course is to view economics as culture – as a series of social relations and cultural contexts that are embedded in wider histories and larger processes. This course explores and critiques some of the cultural biases and assumptions inherent in such mainstream economic principles as work and leisure, poverty and wealth, gifts and commodities, and money and markets through a series of global case studies of culture, economy and development. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 108.

A ANT 355 Environment, Economy, and Culture (3)
Cross-cultural survey of the systematic relations between environment, behavior and culture. Analysis of production and exchange systems at hunting and gathering, agricultural, and industrial stages of social evolution. Environmental and economic disruption, perception and management in cultural perspective. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 108 or 102 or 104 or permission of instructor.

A ANT 359 (= A GLO 359 & A LCS 359) Globalization in the Americas
What is globalization? An in-vogue buzzword? Political posturing? An academic relic? In this course, we will conduct a thorough analysis of how globalization - a truly complex process of ideas, technology, the movement of people, beliefs, language, traditions, food, and other cultural nuances - resonates around the globe. We will introduce globalization theory and focus our understanding of the subject in exploring how this process affects not elites but everyday people working to achieve a better life in the Americas. The aim of this course is to help students understand global economic policy and politics by investigating how does globalization affect the way people work, where they work, their relationships to their family and other loved ones, and how are we interconnected, and are we really?

A ANT 360 Social Anthropology (3)
Comparative study of social systems, tribal, traditional, and modern societies. Deals with economic, kinship, political, and other aspects of social structure. Social systems in functionalist, evolutionary, and dialectic perspectives. Combines in one course kinship, political, economic, and stratificational anthropology. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 108.

A ANT 361 Anthropology and Public Policy (3)
The practical application of anthropological theory and research to policy areas such as economic development, environment, welfare, and mass media. The ethics of applied anthropology. Prerequisite(s): 3 credits in anthropology or political science or sociology.

A ANT 363 (= A REL 363) Ethnology of Religion (3)
Topical and theoretical survey of anthropological approaches to understanding human religious expression. Topics include myth, ritual, world view, shamanism, gender, and religious change. Emphasizes the religions of non-literate, non-Western peoples but also includes examples from major world religions and contemporary Western societies. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 100 or 108, or A REL 100.

A ANT 364 Introduction to Cultural Medical Anthropology (3)
Medical anthropology analyzes the relations among health, illness, culture, and social and economic inequalities.  In this class, we examine cultural ideas of sickness and well-being as well as the relationship of illness to social and economic inequality. We ask: Who thrives? Who falls ill, and from what causes? Who has, or does not have, access to health care and healing resources? How do different groups in the U.S. and globally think about the body, health, and healing? We will consider not only cross-cultural understandings of health and sickness, but also our personal and social beliefs about bodies and the causes of (and responses to) vulnerability. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 108 or permission of the instructor.

A ANT 372 Urban Anthropology (3)
Introduction to urban anthropology. Emphasis on rural-urban migrations, adjustment and assimilation of urban migrants, urban kinship and family structure, poverty culture, rural-urban typologies, and the application of anthropological methods to the study of urban societies. Prerequisite(s): one course in anthropology, sociology, political science, or geography.

A ANT 376 (= A GLO 376) Global Ethnography (3)
This course is about globalization and its impact on local communities worldwide. The term globalization will be understood not as a large-scale abstract and deterritorialized process, but one that has impact, consequences, and influence on local communities on a daily basis. The course is titled "Global Ethnography," which means that the class will be reading first-hand accounts of scholars who have documented the effects of globalizations on local communities. Through these accounts students will be learning about the different ways globalization is affecting local communities at social, economic, and cultural levels. The class will also be hearing the voices of local people and understanding globalization from people's perspectives. The readings in this course will enable a better understanding of globalization as it is embedded, manifested, and negotiated by localities as well as its real-life personal, social, and communal repercussions in people's lives. The course will examine different globalizing "agents" in various contexts such as tourism, street vending, language, landscape, consumerism, capitalism, remittance housing, among others. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): at least one course of A ANT 108, A ANT 119, A GOG 102, A GOG/A USP 125, A GLO 103, or A SOC 115, or permission of instructor.

A ANT 381 (= A WSS 381) Anthropology of Gender (3)
The course introduces students to the history of, and current trends in, anthropological theories of gender and feminist anthropology. We ask: What is gender, anyway? How are "femininity," "masculinity," and other gender identities understood cross-culturally? How is gender shaped by other factors and processes such as race, class, sexuality, migration, capitalism, and globalization? Only one version of A WSS/A ANT 381 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): one course in anthropology or sociology.

A ANT 382/A ARH 381 Maya Art and Archaeology (3)
This course delves deeply into the cultures of indigenous Maya civilizations from 1000 B.C. into the early Colonial era. Maya peoples lived in a region defined by southern Mexico and Central America today. Maya studies embrace an interdisciplinary approach drawn from archeology, art history, hieroglyphic records, and ethnohistory. Pre-Columbian Maya social identity, modes of governance (and kingship), and political economies varied through space and time. This course follows serial achievements of Maya states, characterized by cycles of collapse and resurgence as well as long-term resilience and sustainability. The class will study kings, their retinues, and their foundations of power from ample works of art and hieroglyphic writing that have long captured public attention. It will also study the everyday life of commoners from the perspectives of household archaeology and ethnohistory. Commoners' diversified labor pursuits were the foundation of regional economies. The course emphasizes and celebrates the understanding of Maya world view and beliefs, shared across the social spectrum in the Pre-Columbian era, and important to indigenous descendant populations today. Course content includes case studies of key kingdoms as well as important topics such as landscape, religion, households, gender roles, economy, warfare, and ritual combat (the ballgame). Only one version may be taken for credit.

A ANT 390 Ethnological Theory (3)
Historical survey of theoretical approaches to the study of culture, with emphasis on contemporary trends. Recommended for majors planning graduate work. Content may vary with instructor. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 108.

A ANT 408 Evolutionary Medicine (3)
Back pain, knee pain, allergies, morning sickness, and even the common cold. These are all common health problems we and most every person you know have had. But why do these health conditions exist? This class will investigate these questions and others by using evolutionary theory to better understand contemporary health conditions. More importantly we will ask the questions, "Will incorporating evolutionary theory into medicine improve practice and patient outcomes?" "How can we use evolutionary medicine in a public health aspect?" "Should and how can we incorporate evolutionary medicine in our own research?" Prerequisite(s): A ANT 110 and A ANT 211.

A ANT 409 Primate Evolutionary Biology (3)
This course addresses the principles and specifics involved in nonhuman primate evolution. The first portion of the class investigates the relationships between ecology, sociality, and phylogeny on the one hand and the diversity of adaptations among living primates on the other. The second portion of the class will apply principles derived from the living primates to understanding the adaptations and evolutionary relationships among fossil primates, and the relationships between extinct and living species. Particular attention will be paid to major research questions relevant to significant periods in primate evolution. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 110.

A ANT 410 (= A GOG 412 & A LCS 410) Tourism, Culture, and Identities (3)
This course is designed as an in-depth examination of tourism in relation to culture and its impact on the identities of both hosts and guests. Some questions to be explored in this course include the role of tourism in the formation of regional, national, and transnational identities, how tourism reflects global inequities and the consequences tourism creates for local communities and everyday lives.

A ANT 414 (formerly A ANT 313) Demographic Anthropology (3)
Demographic theory as it applies to anthropological populations, with emphases on birth, death and growth rates, population size and dispersion, mating, and migration. Aspects of historical and paleodemography accompany analyses of living populations. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 110 and 211.

A ANT 416 Topics in Human Biology (3)
Selected topics in biological anthropology. May be repeated for credit when topic differs. Consult class schedule for specific topic. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 110 and 211.

A ANT 418 Culture, Environment, and Health (3)
Anthropological study of health and disease patterns in human populations with emphasis on human-made influences on the health of contemporary societies. The effects of societal and cultural factors on disease patterns, and the assessment of health status through epidemiological and anthropological methods are explored. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 119.

A ANT 420 The Evolutionary Synthesis and Bio Anthropology (3)
Current research in human evolution and human biology is rooted in the modern evolutionary synthesis that emerged in the early 20th century. In this course we will read and discuss seminal works relating to the modern evolutionary synthesis, as well as works that apply that body of theory specifically to biological anthropology. We will also explore the emerging extended evolutionary synthesis and its relationship with biological anthropology.

A ANT 421 (= A LIN 421) Advanced Syntax (3)
This course continues the investigation of the relationship between the grammars of particular languages and Universal Grammar. We will examine the syntax of several languages from around the world asking ourselves the following questions: a.) How do the principles that organize the grammars of other languages around the world compare to English? b.) What grammatical properties are true for all languages? We will discuss the answers to these questions in the light of generative grammar. Only one version may be taken for credit. The former A LIN 421 & A ANT 421 do not yield writing intensive credit. Prerequisite(s): A LIN 321 with grade of C or higher.

A ANT 422 (= A LIN 422) Advanced Phonology (3)
Advanced studies in generative phonological theory, with a focus on the analysis of prosodic phenomena such as stress, tone, and accent. Discussion of recent theoretical trends in phonology. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 322 with grade of C or higher.

A ANT 423 (= A LIN 423) Linguistic Structures (3)
Investigation of the structure of a selected language, language family, or language area; may be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): A LIN 321 or 322 or permission of instructor.

A ANT 424 Language and Culture (3)
Study of the nature of the interrelationships that exist between linguistic behavior and other aspects of culture. Prerequisite(s): A ANT/A LIN 220 or permission of instructor.

A ANT 425 (= A LIN 425) Comparative and Historical Linguistics (3)
Language development and change. Language classification, linguistic reconstruction. Only one version of A ANT 425 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 322.

A ANT 430 Archaeological Theory (3)
Advanced theory and method in archaeology, emphasizing topics such as quantitative applications, spatial analysis, cultural processes, systems analysis, the application of dating techniques, and the reconstruction of extinct cultures. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 104.

A ANT 431 Seminar in Social Archaeology (3)
Seminar on selected topics in the archaeological study of past social organization. Topics will vary. Examples include settlement patterns, household organization, economic processes, urbanism, and world systems. Topics will be approached in terms of methods, theories, and comparative analysis. May be repeated for credit.

A ANT 433 Mesoamerican Archaeology (3)
Archaeological study of the ancient peoples and cultures of Mesoamerica from the earliest inhabitants to the Spanish conquest. Coverage is chronological and evolutionary, with application of anthropological models of cultural change. Emphasis on the major transformation such as the origin of agriculture, the rise of cities, and the expansion of states and empires. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 104 or equivalent, or permission of instructor.

A ANT 434 Seminar in Mesoamerican Writing Systems (3)
Seminar on selected Mesoamerican writing systems. Focus varies, but Classic Mayan writing is usually emphasized. Topics include the structure and evolution of the scripts; relations between writing and other communication systems; and anthropological research using hieroglyphic evidence. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): course work in Mesoamerican archaeology, ethnology, or linguistics is recommended.

A ANT 435 Archaeological Surveys (3)
Survey of the archaeology of a selected region of the world. Topics vary according to the regional specialty of the professor in charge. May be repeated for credit when topic differs. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 104.

A ANT 437 Northeast Archaeology (3)
Seminar that focuses on a current or important issue in the archaeology of the cultural complexes and sequences of Northeastern North America from the time of earliest occupation through European contact.

A ANT 438 Museum Research and Curation (3)
The course emphasizes collections management and research with existing collections, including database management, basic museum methods for anthropologists, and approaches to problems of using data collected by other researchers. Students design and complete projects using existing collections. Prerequisite(s): A ANT 104.

A ANT 447 Food, Taste, and Culture (3)
This course is an in-depth anthropological examination of food and taste from a cultural politics perspective puts what we eat and why at the center of debate and analysis. The course is based in ethnographically rich case studies that explore the cultural, economic, and social processes related to food production and consumption, as well as how taste and disgust are socially constructed. Some questions that are explored in this course include: how have anthropologists studied food and taste; what theoretical perspectives have guided anthropological research on food and taste; why are some foods elevated to be markers of ethnic or national identity; why do some foods go global; what are the processes behind food gaining World Heritage status; and how is food and the cultivation of taste linked to equity, health, and social justice? Food and taste are inter-linked and part of complex cultural processes that take on different meanings, depending on their local, regional, national, and transnational contexts. These meanings and the ways they are accepted or contested can help us better understand relations of power, social class differences, and even global inequities that food consumption and production can create in local communities and everyday lives. Only one version of A ANT 447/547 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

A ANT 450 Special Topics in Medical Anthropology (3)
Study of a selected topic in medical anthropology. May be repeated for credit when topic differs. Consult class schedule for specific topic. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

A ANT 472 (= A LCS 472) Social Movements in Latin America (3)
This class takes an anthropological perspective to discuss contemporary Latin American social movements. It considers why the intensification of social movements throughout the region may follow some traditional forms of resistance and mobilization, but also why it is a response to neoliberal globalization. These new movements seek to define a novel relation to the political realm. Unlike traditional guerrilla movements or electoral expressions of the left, they are not fundamentally organized to seize state power. Yet they have contributed to destabilizing, even, ousting governments. Social movement formation and resistance to neoliberalism are explored. Social movements, such as the indigenous mobilizations in Ecuador, mobilizations against water privatizations and gas pipeline investments in Bolivia, the Zapatista movement in Mexico, landless rural workers in Brazil, Afro-Colombians resisting investors, and the urban worker strikes in Argentina, are covered. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): one course in anthropology, sociology, political science or geography.

A ANT 475 The Folktale (3)
This course examines the folktale in its oral and literary forms, with principal emphasis on the fairy tale or magic tale. Folktales are artistic creations that organize emotional experiences into a story form that has universal appeal, but which varies in accordance with ethnicity, gender, class, and other cultural and social factors. The course traces the folktale's history in Europe, from the earliest publications to the present, and explores different approaches to understanding this narrative form. Course material also includes contemporary oral tale-telling traditions from around the world and retellings of traditional tales in literature and film. Students gain experience in oral tale-telling and tale composition. The course is inter-disciplinary, combining anthropological, folkloristic, and literary approaches. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.

A ANT 476 (= A DOC 476) Anthropology through Documentary Film (3)
Anthropology, the comparative study of human beings, is typically associated in the public eye with the following themes: (so-called) exotic cultures, travel to remote places and cultural immersion (participant observation), a comparative, culturally-relative understanding of human differences, 4) colliding cultural worlds of today, yesterday and tomorrow (cultural contact, culture change, and their consequences), 5) critiques and improvements of ethnoscientific biases in studying the Other, and 6) directing a trained eye to the analysis of western industrialized cultures and their peers. We will explore these themes via the medium of film, under the general rubric of Visual Anthropology, focusing on such topics as historically important films, the politics of representation (in fiction or nonfiction), and the evolution of anthropology as a discipline. In tandem with these themes, we will explore regional cultures and their traditions related to warfare, gender identity, religion, family structure. Case studies featuring films about human rights, culture change, fictional anthropologists, and Native-authored films are also part of the course.

A ANT 480 Introduction to Ethnographic Field Research (3)
Ethnographic fieldwork experience for qualified undergraduates. Study of fieldwork methodology and principles together with actual fieldwork on selected topics under faculty supervision. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing and permission of instructor.

A ANT 481 (= A LCS 491) Research Projects (3–6)
Introduction to basic research skills required to answer questions on human behavior, with special emphasis on cross-cultural communication and learning and dynamics of cross-cultural interaction. Specific research projects familiarize students with the basic research methods including data collection, processing, and analysis. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing and permission of instructor.

A ANT 482 Honors Seminar In Anthropology (3)
Students in the honors program should enroll in both A ANT 482 and 483 for a total of 6 credits during the fall and spring of their senior year. Students will write an honors thesis under the supervision of a member of the Anthropology Department, present periodic progress reports, and deliver an oral summary of the completed thesis. Prerequisite(s): admission to the Anthropology Department honors program.

A ANT 483 Senior Honors Thesis Seminar (3)
Students in the honors program should enroll in both A ANT 482 and 483 for a total of 6 credits during the fall and spring of their senior year. Students will write an honors thesis under the supervision of a member of the Anthropology Department, present periodic progress reports, and deliver an oral summary of the completed thesis. Prerequisite(s): admission to the Anthropology Department honors program.

A ANT 490 (= A CLA 490) Internship in Archaeological Conservation and Documentation (3–9)
Supervised placement in an agency engaged in conservation and documentation of archaeological artifacts, such as the New York State Museum or State Conservation Laboratory. Provides practical experience. Anthropology majors may use up to 3 credits toward major elective credit. May be taken by majors in anthropology only. Internships are open only to qualified juniors and seniors who have an overall grade point average of 2.50 or higher. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. S/U graded. May not be offered in 2023-2024.

A ANT 497 Topics in Anthropology (3)
Advanced course on selected topic in anthropology. May focus on geographic or theoretical area. May be repeated for credit when topic differs. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing and permission of instructor.

A ANT 498 Independent Study in Anthropology (1-6)
Independent reading or research on selected topics under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 12 credits. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

A ANT 499 Senior Seminar in Anthropology (3)
Seminar on selected topics in anthropology. Open to seniors with permission of instructor. Recommended for majors planning graduate work. May be repeated for credit.