ANTHROPOLOGY COURSES
DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SCIENCES
ANTH 2351: Cultural Anthropology
Cross-cultural overview of the ways human societies organize themselves. Socialization, kinship, gender and family relations, community structures and general lifestyle are compared. Examination of diverse societies to clarify commonalities and dissimilarities of human experience.
ANTH 2352: Introduction to Archaeology
An introduction to the history, methods, and theory within modern archaeology, including discussion of data collection, analysis, dating techniques, and interpretation. Specifically, kinds of sites, classification of stone artifacts, methods of archaeological survey and excavation, and the theoretical approach to archaeology will be discussed.
ANTH 2353: Human Origins and Prehistory
Scientific research findings are used to trace the emergence of the human species. Topics include genetics, mechanisms of evolutionary change, fossil evidence for human evolution, ecology and behavior of non-human primates, human biological diversity, and human patterns of health and disease.
ANTH 3310: Forensic Anthropology
This course is designed to introduce students to forensic anthropology, an applied field of biological anthropology. Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical/biological anthropology to the legal process. This course will provide a firm foundation in the various aspects of forensic anthropology, such as determination of age at death, sex, ancestry, stature, physical trauma, and other unique features of a decedent from the skeletal remains. In addition, the course places emphasis on field recovery techniques, management of the death scene, chain of evidence, and proper storage and handling of human skeletal remains. (ALSO: FORS 3310, CRIJ 3310)
ANTH 3318: Archaeology of Mexico
Archaeological and ethnohistoric survey of the civilizations of ancient Mexico from prehistory to the period of the European Conquest. (ALSO: MAST 3318)
ANTH 3320: Bioarchaeology
This course examines the study of human remains in an archaeological setting. Biological data from archaeological skeletal material provides life history information on past populations concerning diet, disease, demography, and genetic relationships. This course examines the history of bioarchaeology, recent issues and debates, and methodological approaches employed in the discipline. (ALSO: FORS 3320)
ANTH 3330: Magic, Ritual, and the Occult: An examination of magic and ritual in cultures of the world with an emphasis on recent works dealing with mysticism and the occult. The study of private and public rituals which relate society to the supernatural; magical beliefs and practices; witchcraft. Geographical areas studied will include Mesoamerica, the U.S. Southwest, Africa and Asia.
ANTH 4310: Human Osteology: This course introduces the student to an in-depth study of the human skeleton. Lecture and laboratory sessions are interwoven to cover topics that include developmental biology, functional morphology, and skeletal identification. Determination of sex, age, and ethnicity will be examined.
CURRENT SPECIAL TOPICS COURSES OFFERED:
Paleoanthropology: This course examines the fossil record of human evolution. Evolutionary events from the initial divergence of our early ancestors through the origin of anatomically modern humans will be discussed. Recent findings of fossil hominids as well as recent scientific research methods will be examined.
Archaeology of the Southwest: This course presents a survey of Southwestern Archaeology from the earliest human occupation through the early exploration by the Spanish. Most of the course will focus on the main cultural traditions in the region: Anasazi, Mogollon, and Hohokam. For these traditions, as well as for earlier cultures, variations in livelihood, architecture, community organization, material culture, mortuary practices, and relations with neighboring groups will be described.
Archaeology of Texas: This course will explore the prehistoric archaeology of Texas, from the arrival of the first humans in the late Pleistocene to European colonization in the 17th century. Topics will include: 1) Paleoindians and the peopling of the New World, 2) environmental change and Archaic adaptations, 3) rock art and other forms of symbolic expression, 4) the spread of agriculture, and 5) the development of social complexity.
Archaeology of the Maya: What is the Maya prophecy? Find out why these ancient people in Central America abandoned their cities deep in the jungle centuries before the arrival of the Spanish. Discussions will cover the modern Maya “day keepers’ knowledge of ancient time reckoning. Major archaeological sites will also be introduced.
Food & Culture: Explores factors that influence what and how we eat emphasizing an understanding of nutritional adaptations, population differences in food utilization, symbolic significance, and nutrition problems in the contemporary world. Topics include the variation of food habits, global food system, and world hunger.
Introduction to Medical Anthropology: Overview of methods and contemporary topics in medical anthropology. The link between culture and health is central toward understanding human adaptations to a variety of environments around the world. Explores how health, illness and healing have been conceptualized and socially patterned across diverse human cultures. Processes and structures within economic systems (including poverty, political violence, and toxic waste disposal) impacting well-being will be examined.
Anthropology of Art: Examination of art and the arts within their socio-cultural contexts focusing on prehistoric art and art of indigenous populations, particularly of the Western Hemisphere.
Native Cultures of North America: This course examines the various cultures of Native Americans from around the time of European contact to the present. Political issues such as Red Power will be discussed.
Advanced Osteology: This course is to further develop the skills of students in human osteology and to introduce advanced methods of skeletal analysis.
Disease in Antiquity: An examination of ancient disease and health. Origins of disease(s) and the impact of new diseases in North America upon exploration will be examined. Selected emerging food-borne, bacterial, viral, zoonotic diseases of animals and humans will be described and analyzed.
Anthropology Through Media: This course will examine culture through media sources, mainly film. Topics include: ethnographic film's significance for anthropology; problems in representing cultures through media; the development of media in indigenous communities; the emerging social and cultural formations shaped by new media practices.
Museum Studies: This course is designed to introduce students to museum curation protocol, specifically dealing with human skeletal remains and archaeological artifacts. Students will examine, analyze, reconstruct, and document human skeletal remains as well as analyze, document, and manage archaeological material. Museum standards such as proper handling, ethical compliance, and proper collection management will be stressed.
Archaeology of North America: This course describes human settlement of North America from the end of the Pleistocene to European discovery. It considers early occupation of arctic, plains, and forested regions and development during archaic times of Adena, Hopewell, and Mississippian societies in the Southeast and Mogollon, Hohokam, and Anasazi in the Southwest.
Archaeological Field School: The summer Archaeological Field School is designed to provide a thorough understanding of the skills and techniques employed in scientific archaeological excavation and research. Students who participate will be trained in all aspects of archaeological field work including survey, excavation, lab analysis and artifact cataloguing. Students will be taught excavation techniques, recording methods, artifact and feature analysis, and mapping. Through first hand experience students will gain a thorough understanding of basic archaeological concepts.