[Back]

Undergraduate Course Descriptions 2010-2011
Last updated 10/8/2010


02403/Anthropology (ANTHRO)

Unless otherwise noted, courses may be taken without prerequisites.
 

General Education

0814. Human Ecology (3 s.h.) RCI: GB.

Human hunters may have contributed to animal extinctions as early as 10,000 years ago; civilizations in the ancient Near East developed complex irrigation networks that led to some of the area’s permanent deserts. Since pre-history, humans had an impact on the environment, but changes in technology have magnified the scale of human influence. Today, attempts at sustainable land use are often at odds with struggles for indigenous population rights, with population migration and increases in population size, or with desires to preserve areas for national parks or tourism, let alone attempts to exploit natural resources. Study the ecological principles underlying the relationship of humans with the environment and the explosion of conflicts surrounding modern environmental use.

Note: This course fulfills the Human Behavior (GB) requirement for students under GenEd and Individual & Society (IN) for students under Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed GUS 0814.

0815. Language in Society (3 s.h.) RCI: GB.

How did language come about? How many languages are there in the world? How do people co-exist in countries where there are two or more languages? How do babies develop language? Should all immigrants take a language test when applying for citizenship? Should English become an official language of the United States? In this course we will address these and many other questions, taking linguistic facts as a point of departure and considering their implications for our society. Through discussions and hands-on projects, students will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret language data and how to make informed decisions about language and education policies as voters and community members.

Note: This course fulfills the Human Behavior (GB) requirement for students under GenEd and Individual & Society (IN) for students under Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed any of the following: Asian Studies 0815, Chinese 0815, EDUC 0815, English 0815, Italian 0815, PSYCH 0815, Russian 0815, Spanish 0815, or CSC+DIS 0815.

0817. Youth Cultures (3 s.h.) RCI: GB.

Do you listen to hip hop, spend all your time in Second Life, dress up like a cartoon character and go to anime fairs, or go skateboarding every day with your friends? Then you’re part of the phenomenon called youth culture. Often related to gender, race, class and socio-economic circumstances, youth cultures enable young people to try on identities as they work their way to a clearer sense of self. Empowered by new technology tools and with the luxury of infinite virtual space, young people today can explore identities in ways not available to previous generations. Students in this class will investigate several youth cultures, looking closely at what it means to belong. They will also come to appreciate how the media and marketing construct youth identities and define youth cultures around the world.

Note: This course fulfills the Human Behavior (GB) requirement for students under GenEd and Individual & Society (IN) for students under Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed Asian Studies 0817, EDUC 0817/0917 or SOC 0817.

0825. Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (4 s.h.) RCI: GQ.

Prerequisite: Mathematics placement, a grade of C- or higher in Math 0701 (0045), or transfer credit for Math 0701 (0045).

Psychological, political, social, and economic arguments and knowledge frequently depend on the use of numerical data. A psychologist might hypothesize that I.Q. is attributable to environmental or genetic factors; a politician might claim that hand gun control legislation will reduce crime; a sociologist might assert that social mobility is more limited in the United States than in other countries, and an economist might declare that globalization lowers the incomes of U.S. workers. How can we evaluate these arguments? Using examples from psychology, sociology, political science, and economics, students will examine how social science methods and statistics help us understand the social world. The goal is to become critical consumers of quantitative material that appears in scholarship, the media, and everyday life.

Note: This course fulfills the Quantitative Literacy (GQ) requirement for students under GenEd and a Quantitative Reasoning (QA or QB) requirement for students under Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed POL SCI 0825, PSYCH 0825, or SOC 0825/0925.

0829. The History & Significance of Race in America (3 s.h.) RCI: GD.

Why were relations between Native Americans and whites violent almost from the beginning of European settlement? How could slavery thrive in a society founded on the principle that “all men are created equal”? How comparable were the experiences of Irish, Jewish, and Italian immigrants, and why did people in the early 20th century think of them as separate “races”? What were the causes and consequences of Japanese Americans’ internment in military camps during World War II? Are today’s Mexican immigrants unique, or do they have something in common with earlier immigrants? Using a variety of written sources and outstanding documentaries, this course examines the racial diversity of America and its enduring consequences.

Note: This course fulfills the Race & Diversity (GD) requirement for students under GenEd and Studies in Race (RS) for students under Core.

Duplicate Credit Warning: Students may take only one of the following courses for credit; all other instances will be deducted from their credit totals: African American Studies 0829, Anthropology 0829, Geography and Urban Studies 0829, History 0829, Political Science 0829, Sociology 0829, 0929, 1376, 1396, R059, or X059.

0831. Immigration and the American Dream (3 s.h.) RCI: GD.

As a Temple student, you go to school and live in a city full of immigrants. Perhaps your own relatives were immigrants to the United States. But have you ever listened to their stories? With an historical and sociological framework as a basis, we will take an in-depth and more personal look at the immigrant experience as expressed through the immigrants’ own voices in literature and film. Topics explored include: assimilation, cultural identity and Americanization, exploitation and the American Dream, ethnic communities, gender, discrimination and stereotyping.

Note: This course fulfills the Race & Diversity (GD) requirement for students under GenEd and Studies in Race (RS) for students under Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed any of the following: CR LANG 0831, History 0831, Italian 0831/0931, Russian 0831, or SOC 0831.

0833. Race & Poverty in the Americas (3 s.h.) RCI: GD.

The transatlantic slave trade was one of the most brutal and momentous experiences in human history. Attitudes toward Latino, Caribbean, African, and Asian immigrants in the United States today can only be fully understood in the contexts of slavery and the “structural racism,” “symbolic violence” (not to mention outright physical violence), and social inequalities that slavery has spawned throughout the region. Although focusing primarily on the United States, we will also study the present entanglements of poverty and race in Brazil, Haiti, and other selected nations of “The New World,” placing the U.S. (and Philadelphia in particular) experience in this historical context.

Note: This course fulfills the Race & Diversity (GD) requirement for students under GenEd and Studies in Race (RS) for students under Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed LAS 0833/0933, REL 0833/0933, or SOC 0833.

0834. Representing Race (3 s.h.) RCI: GD.

From classical Greece and Rome, who saw themselves under siege by the “barbarian hoards,” to contemporary America and its war on “Islamic extremism,” from “The Birth of a Nation” to “Alien Nation”, Western societies have repeatedly represented a particular group of people as a threat to civilization. This course will examine a wide range of representations of non-Western people and cultures in film, literature, scientific and legal writings, popular culture, and artistic expression. What is behind this impulse to divide the world into “us” and “them”? How is it bound up with our understanding of race and racial difference? And what happens when the “barbarian hoards” talk back?

Note: This course fulfills the Race & Diversity (GD) requirement for students under GenEd and Studies in Race (RS) for students under Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed AF-AM S 0834, Asian Studies 0834, English 0834/0934, or History 0834.

0848. American Revolutions (3 s.h.) RCI: GU.

From the first encounters with Native Americans to the present, a series of pivotal moments have had an enduring influence on American society, culture, and politics. In each class, three modules will focus on three pivotal moments, such as King Philip’s War, Nat Turner’s Rebellion, the Scopes trial, the Civil Rights movement, the women’s movement, the emergence of Elvis Presley, the sexual revolution, the rise of environmentalism, the Reagan Revolution, and 9-11. In each module, students will first place the main subject of the module in context, and then seek to understand how it changed American society. The last week of each module will be devoted to a consideration of how the subject of that module has become part of American collective memory.

Note: This course fulfills the U.S. Society (GU) requirement for students under GenEd and American Culture (AC) for students under Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed any of the following: AMER ST 0848, GUS 0848, History 0848, or SOC 0848.

0867. World Regions and Cultures: Diversity and Interconnections (3 s.h.) F S SS. RCI: GG.

What is globalization? Are we now all citizens of a global capitalist economic and truly international political order? Or do we still live mostly under the economic constraints and governmental policies of the particular nation states of which we are citizens? Is globalization the same thing as economic and cultural imperialism in the form of multinational corporate and “development” projects or other projects that assume “Westernization,” or “Americanization” agendas? Or do different nation states experience and negotiate global capitalism in profoundly different ways rooted in their distinctive historical and political-economic experiences? We live in a fascinating era marked simultaneously by the reach (and the risks) of global capitalism and by the distinctive yet interrelated histories of a tremendous variety of modern nation-states. This course provides you with a strong repertoire of concepts to help you understand our complex contemporary world, and will also expose you to the key foundational concepts and methodologies of contemporary sociocultural anthropology. We will systematically explore the ways in which anthropologists have come to theorize both global capitalism and the nation state through ethnographic case studies in three to four contemporary nation states.

Note: This course fulfills the World Society (GG) requirement for students under GenEd and International Studies (IS) for students under Core.

Duplicate Credit Warning: Students may take only one of the following courses for credit; all other instances will be deducted from their credit totals: Anthropology 0867, 1061, C061, Geography and Urban Studies 0867, or Sociology 0867.

Lower Division Courses

1009. Discovering Anthropology (1 s.h.) F S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0002.)

This course is designed to allow students to explore Anthropology as a possible major and/or career path. It introduces the field of Anthropology in general and, subsequently, the sub-fields of the discipline (Sociocultural Anthropology, Linguistics, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology), and the specialized tracks that exist within the department (Human Biology and Visual Anthropology) in addition to the general anthropology major. Career paths and opportunities will be discussed and students will develop hypothetical course plans for a B.A. in Anthropology and subsequent career plans in conjunction with the faculty member/advisor in charge of the course. Students will sample departmental functions, may sit in on a class of a selected course, participate in a field trip, or attend a relevant lecture or public presentation at area museums or professional gatherings. Mode: Seminar.

1055. Introduction to Physical Anthropology (4 s.h.) F S. RCI: SB.

(Formerly: ANTHRO C055.)

An anthropological perspective of scientific knowledge about humans as physical systems, will be used to assess a variety of issues in human biology related to vital current or future student interests and concerns. The purpose is to alert you to these important issues and to provide you with a sufficient background in the basics of human biology and methods of scientific inquiry that will enable you to understand the causes for their occurrence and to be able to apply this knowledge for your own benefit.

Note: (1) This course cannot be taken to satisfy any of the requirements for majors in the Human Biology Track. (2) This course can be used to satisfy the university Core Science & Technology Second Level (SB) requirement. Mode: Lecture.

1061. Cultures of the World (3 s.h.) RCI: IS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO C061.)

An introductory survey of various cultures from different regions of the world. Ethnographic case studies will be compared to show diversity and continuity in human lifestyles. A major emphasis will be placed on the impact of transglobal economic, political, and sociocultural change in the 20th century.

Note: This course can be used to satisfy the university Core International Studies (IS) requirement. Although it may be usable towards graduation as a major requirement or university elective, it cannot be used to satisfy any of the university GenEd requirements. See your advisor for further information. In addition to meeting the university Core International Studies requirement, this course meets the Non-Western/Third World IS requirement for Communication Sciences majors. Please note the recent update to the Core IS requirement at www.temple.edu/vpus/resources/coreupdates.htm#coreisupdate. Mode: Lecture/Seminar and large lecture with recitation sections.

1062. Introduction to Anthropology (3 s.h.) F S SS. RCI: RN.

(Formerly: ANTHRO R060.)

This introductory Anthropology course is designed to introduce students to important scholarly and practical concepts in the study of race and racism historically and across cultures. It builds upon the important contributions of four-field anthropological practice to our understanding of the ways societies have constructed racial categories and meanings and deployed racialized hierarchies. Students will be asked to read a variety of basic materials in linguistics, biological anthropology, ethnology, and archaeology. This will be supplemented with student efforts to analyze popular representations of race to acquire a familiarity with the important debates in contemporary social science and politics.

Note: This course can be used to satisfy the university Core Studies in Race and Individual & Society (RN) requirements. Although it may be usable towards graduation as a major requirement or university elective, it cannot be used to satisfy any of the university GenEd requirements. See your advisor for further information. Mode: Lecture/Seminar, large lecture with recitation sections and online learning sections.

1064. American Culture (3 s.h.) F S SS. RCI: AC.

(Formerly: ANTHRO C064.)

This course will introduce students to an anthropological perspective on the changing character and complexity of American culture. We will examine the key symbols and core values of American society and how these are differentially understood and encountered in everyday life by diverse peoples in the United States. Topics include the experience of race, ethnicity, and gender in various local settings and how these categories intersect with economic, political, and historic forces. The course will examine the role of patriotism, migration, and social class in shaping the life worlds of Americans. We will ask, how are ideas about race made and unmade? Why is it often so difficult to speak of social class? What influences does “American culture” have and how is it shaped by material and symbolic practices beyond the borders of the United States?

Note: This course can be used to satisfy the university Core American Culture (AC) requirement. Although it may be usable towards graduation as a major requirement or university elective, it cannot be used to satisfy any of the university GenEd requirements. See your advisor for further information. Mode: Lecture/Seminar.

1065. Origins of Cultural Diversity (3 s.h.) F S SS. RCI: IS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO C065.)

Many non-U.S. cultures have long, distinguished histories which can be traced ultimately to a common origin. This course examines the evolution of these cultures through the use of archaeological and paleoanthropological data, which ranges from four million years ago to the time of recorded history. Topics include the emergence of culture, the spread of human populations throughout the world, the origins of agriculture, and the rise of cities, states, and civilizations.

Note: This course can be used to satisfy the university Core International Studies (IS) requirement. Although it may be usable towards graduation as a major requirement or university elective, it cannot be used to satisfy any of the university GenEd requirements. See your advisor for further information. In addition to meeting the university Core International Studies requirement, this course meets the Non-Western/Third World IS requirement for Communication Sciences majors. Please note the recent update to the Core IS requirement at www.temple.edu/vpus/resources/coreupdates.htm#coreisupdate. Mode: Lecture/Seminar and online learning sections.

1074. Anthropology through Film (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0084.)

An introductory survey course employing the medium of ethnographic film to address the diverse issues that anthropologists engage with. Through watching and analyzing films on issues as varied as Azande witchcraft, Trobriand cricket, and Balinese water-temples, students will gain understanding not only of the issues that anthropologists study, but also of anthropological film and filmmaking. The course is organized as a film presentation followed by discussion of the film based upon critical understanding of the film combined with the reading material for that aspect of the course.

1079. Anthropology of Food (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0089.)

This class will examine the interrelationship of biological, cultural, and historical influences on what we eat and how we eat it. Topics will link biological, ecological, social and symbolic cultural perspectives and examine the dietary implications of foraging, crop domestication, state formation and industrial capitalism. We will look at the sociocultural practices relating to the uses of food in marking social differences, maintaining social relationships, and dealing with cultural constructions of health, illness, and the body. Throughout the class we will examine the impact of globalization on the transformation of food meanings, practices and availability.

1261. Cultures of the World (1 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0061.)

Prerequisite: Recommendation by APP instructor.

A companion course to Anthropology 1061 (C061) for first-term freshmen. This course provides guidance with the assignments of the core course. Emphasis is on reading, listening, speaking, and writing within the context of the core course. Assistance is also given in the continued development of English-language skills, especially academic reading and the acquisition of a general academic vocabulary.

Note: Offered at Temple University Japan only.

1262. Introduction to Anthropology (1 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0060.)

Prerequisite: Recommendation by APP instructor.

A companion course to Anthropology 1062 (R060) for first-term freshmen. This course provides guidance with the assignments of the core course. Emphasis is on reading, listening, speaking, and writing within the context of the core course. Assistance is also given in the continued development of English-language skills, especially academic reading and the acquisition of a general academic vocabulary.

Note: Offered at Temple University Japan only.

1961. Honors Cultures of the World (3 s.h.) RCI: IS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO H091.)

An introductory survey of various cultures from different regions of the world. Ethnographic case studies will be compared to show diversity and continuity in human life styles. A major emphasis will be placed on the impact of transglobal economic, political, and sociocultural change in the 20th century.

Note: This course can be used to satisfy the university Core International Studies (IS) requirement. Although it may be usable towards graduation as a major requirement or university elective, it cannot be used to satisfy any of the university GenEd requirements. See your advisor for further information. In addition to meeting the university Core International Studies requirement, this course meets the Non-Western/Third World IS requirement for Communication Sciences majors. Please note the recent update to the Core IS requirement at www.temple.edu/vpus/resources/coreupdates.htm#coreisupdate. Mode: Lecture/Seminar and large lecture with recitation.

Upper Division Courses

2098. The Legacy of Mesoamerica (3 s.h.) RCI: WI.

Prerequisite: English 0802.

Cross Listed with LAS 2098.

The course briefly reviews the nature of Prehispanic Mexico and Central America by examining its earliest manifestations in the Pre-Classic Period through the Late Post-Classic Period, right before European contact. Cultures examined will include the Maya, Nahua, Tarascan, and Mixtec among others. We will then study the Spanish Conquest of the region and how the indigenous peoples adapted to Spanish rule during the Colonial period. Following independence from Spain, indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica dealt with a new sort of adaptation. Specifically, that of integration into the new nation-states of Mexico and Guatemala will be examined. Modern Mesoamerica will also be discussed, particularly in terms of how the indigenous peoples have adapted to a new “globalized” world.

2104. Fundamentals of Archaeology (3 s.h.) F S SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0124.)

An introduction to the theories and methods used in archaeological anthropology and the ways in which questions about life in the past are framed and investigated. Topics include the nature of archaeological evidence, the importance of context, excavation techniques, analysis of material remains, and reconstruction of ancient cultural patterns. Mode: Lecture/Seminar, Hands-on exercises.

2169. South American Archaeology (3 s.h.) F.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0169.)

A survey of prehistoric cultures of South America. Concentrates on (1) the initial entry and spread of human populations into South America and the West Indies, (2) origins of tropical and highland agriculture, (3) the rise of urbanism, civilization, and the state in the Andes, and (4) the impact of prehistoric cultures on the environment. Mode: Lecture/Seminar.

2171. Old World Archaeology: “Pompeii and the Mediterranean World of the First Century: an Archaeological and Anthropological View” (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0171.)

This course places Pompeii in its Mediterranean Old World Setting and then creates a discourse with its rich material evidence. Pompeii’s intimate presentation of ancient Roman urban life, its rich array of material culture, its iconic place in world archaeology, and its spectacularly preserved archaeological record is discussed from the anthropological perspectives of gender, race, status, and social change. Students are confronted with its religious, economic, and social life as revealed by its holistic context. Finally Pompeii’s continual influence on our own society is explored and discussed.

2172. Archaeology of North America (3 s.h.) S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0172.)

This course surveys the cultural development of native peoples from the time of the initial colonization of North America to the historic period and the arrival of European explorers and settlers. Coverage is organized by cultural/geographic regions, or areas, and chronological periods. Common and contrasting themes in cultural development are stressed. The course develops an appreciation of: the debates and data surrounding the initial colonization of North America; the cultural diversity and complexity evident in Native American cultures across space and through time; the interaction of Native cultures with different and changing environments, and the impact that each had on the other; the range of environmental, social, and cultural issues capable of being addressed with archaeological data. Mode: Lecture/Seminar.

2173. Ancient Mesoamerica (3 s.h.)

Cross Listed with LAS 2173.

Ancient Mesoamerica is a general survey of the pre-Columbian cultures of Mexico and Middle America before the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire in A.D. 1521. In this course we will examine the long history of Mesoamerica beginning with the first peopling of the Americas at least 15,000 years ago and ending with the Spanish Conquest and the creation of “Latin America”.

2227. Popular Culture in Modern Italy (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0227.)

The course explores popular culture in Italy, starting from the Italian historical awareness of popular culture that emerged in the 19th century foundation of the nation up to the present day. The course focuses especially on popular culture in the 20th century using a variety of approaches, from lectures to readings, from the screening of video material to the study of audio recordings. By the end of the course, students will have attained a significant understanding of the variety of popular culture in modern Italy and will have mastered an analytical framework for understanding these phenomena. The course carries up to contemporary times with an exploration of the impact global trends have had on popular culture, making particular reference to contemporary popular music.

2238. Visual Anthropology of Modern Japan (3 s.h.) S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0238.)

Cross Listed with Asian Studies 2238 (0338).

An anthropological approach to systems of visual communication that are central to understanding Japanese society and culture. Visual sign systems of everyday life such as writing, food, and clothes plus visual aspects of popular culture such as comic books and ads. Ethnographic films, feature films, and network RV programs plus field trips to Japanese cultural sites in Philadelphia. Mode: Seminar.

2322. Outlaws, Law and Culture (3 s.h.)

This course conceptualizes law from an anthropological perspective. The class acquaints students with key concepts in the anthropology of law and develops an introduction to theories that continue to guide the anthropological approach to formal and informal dispute processes. We will learn what qualitative research methods can reveal about why and when people do or do not conform to law. In lectures, readings, and films, we will explore the critical and complex relationship between law and culture. The course provides students with examples of field research in a variety of legal, illegal, and extralegal arenas in our own and in other societies. It is informed by the instructor’s research and fieldwork in the anthropology of law. Topics, conceptual approaches, and regional specialization will vary. Please contact the instructor for additional information.

2358. Anthropology of American Culture (3 s.h.) F S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0258.)

This course may serve as a starting point for undergraduate majors in Visual Anthropology. We will question the idea that American culture is best characterized as a variety of many immigrant cultures; specific institutions have produced a shared conception of the American Dream and how fault lines based on race, ethnicity, gender, and generation have come to be “made in America.” Emphasis will be given to the contrast between the ways in which American popular culture is represented through media and the way in which ethnographic studies present insights into the ways in which Americans live. Special emphasis will be given to the ways in which fault lines between groups have been socially and culturally constructed and transcended over time and the role that overarching institutions like schools, public policies and media representations play in producing both the diversity and homogeneity of American culture.

Note: Course is appropriate for students in American Studies, Media Studies, Sociology and Education. Mode: Seminar.

2361. Peoples of Latin America (3 s.h.) S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0261.)

Cross Listed with LAS 2361.

Starting in 1492, Native American isolation from Europe and Africa ended in the region of the Americas that became Latin America. Despite five hundred years of colonial and nation-state domination, indigenous peoples in Latin America continue to assert their basic human right to resist cultural hegemony. Not only have indigenous populations survived, they are also growing. Today they constitute a majority in Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Peru and a substantial plurality in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. The focus here is on this remarkable struggle for physical and cultural survival. Attention will be given to the lived experiences of people struggling for human dignity on the lowest strata of regional class structures. Issues of land rights, environmental, health, political, and economic self-determination will be examined. Mode: Seminar.

2362. Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean (3 s.h.) S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0132.)

Shaped by conquest and colonial transnational desires, first of sugar and then of tourism, the Caribbean has been wrought since its very inception by the displacement of people, goods and ideas from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, presenting a challenge for the anthropological study of socio-cultural change through time and space. In this introductory course on the Caribbean we will critically examine “creolization” processes at social, religious, political, economic, and artistic levels as they were driven by various groups, from pirates, privateers, maroons, exiles, to tourists, in the context of colonialism, nation building, and globalization. Examining specific sites such as music, display events, folklore, and religion we will ponder about, for instance, the effects of European revolutions on the creation of elites in the Caribbean, and the impact of slave cultures and peasantries on the formation of creole religions. How has the image of the sensuous/threatening mulatta evolved since the plantation? On what kind of histories and emotions do “zombies” feed upon? Why did Reggae and Merenge succeed on the global stage? How does the display of national icons in Trinidadian carnival reflect on their socio-political conflicts? How is the colonial past re-packaged for global consumption? Mode: Seminar with short lectures, class presentations, video screenings and class discussions.

2364. People and Culture of the Middle East (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0264.)

This course examines the major aspects of social life in the Middle East from an anthropological perspective. Selected topics to be investigated include: kinship, social stratification, urbanization, colonialism, nationalism, migration, the state, violence, gender, sexuality, religious practice, popular culture, and neoliberalism. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the connections between cultural practices and political, economic, and social power.

2366. Urban America: An Anthropological Perspective (3 s.h.) S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0266.)

This course offers both an introduction to the dominant questions in urban Anthropology and provides an opportunity to do fieldwork in the city, particularly to collaborate with a community-based program or agency and to explore how anthropologists do urban work. The purpose of this course is to connect students’ field experiences with ideas and readings from the academic perspective of anthropology. In consultation with their sponsoring agencies, students will agree on what their volunteer responsibilities on-site will be. At the end of the semester, students will write a final paper for the course in which they incorporate material from the academic readings, their own field notes and any other relevant sources (agency reports, news articles, etc.). Mode: Seminar and Service Learning.

2367. Peoples of South Asia (3 s.h.) SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0267.)

Cross Listed with Asian Studies 2367 (0252).

An introduction to the peoples and cultures of the Indian subcontinent. The course will focus on the indigenous religions of India: Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism as well as Islam, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism as brought to western India by migrants. Mode: Lecture/Experiential Learning.

2368. Peoples of the Pacific (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0268.)

This is an upper level undergraduate course designed to engage students in studying the indigenous cultures of Australia, Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia. There will be two primary emphases: first, the major issues in cultural anthropology that have been formed and informed by ethnographic data from Pacific societies; and second, the processes of change experienced by Pacific peoples in the last few decades. Specific topics include: (1) How the complexity of kin-based social organization among Australian aborigines influenced anthropological understanding of relationships among individuals and the formation of communities; (2) How and why the traditional sacred art of aboriginal Australia became a valued commodity in the global art market; (3) How the complex ceremonial exchange networks of Melanesia influenced theory in anthropology; (4) The dimensions and range of Melanesian ideas and behavior concerned with gender and sexuality; (5) How class stratification and political hierarchy developed in traditional Polynesian states such as Tahiti, Tonga, and Hawai’i; and (6) How colonialism and post-colonialism has been experienced across the Pacific. The course will be conducted as a seminar with some lectures by the instructor but with proportionately more discussions based on a core of shared readings and students’ shared and individual explorations of Pacific cultures.

2373. Japanese Culture (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0273.)

Cross Listed with Asian Studies 2373 (0253).

Introduction to traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. Topics covered include: early literature, aesthetic principles as expressed in art and architecture, religion, gender roles, Japan’s shifting relationships with the outside world, rural communities and urban centers in the 20th century, and the construction of the self in modern Japan. Mode: Seminar.

2374. The Anthropology of Modern China (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0274.)

Cross Listed with Asian Studies 2374 (0254).

This course offers an introduction to the culture and society of the contemporary People’s Republic of China. The first half of the course provides a historically and ethnographically contextualized examination of the dramatic transformations undergone by Chinese society over the last century, juxtaposing the pre-1949 Republican period against the tumultuous sociocultural and political economic changes in China in the decades immediately following the 1949 Chinese Communist Revolution, and, in particular, examining the impact of Maoist period and post-Mao period political-economic and sociocultural movements on the everyday lives of Chinese people in both rural and urban contexts. During the second half of the course, we will focus on recent ethnographic writings published by China anthropologists which, taken together, encompass such key issues as the contours of China’s distinctive narrative of socialist modernity, the profound significance of the rural/ urban divide in the post-1949 PRC; shifting PRC constructions of gender and sexuality and the impact of Maoist and post-Mao transformations on women’s status, the statuses and representations of the more than 55 minority peoples who reside in China alongside Han Chinese and the emergence of ethnic tourism, the politics of rural health care, the nature of the relationship between Traditional Chinese Medicine and biomedicine, and the politics of HIV/ AIDS in the PRC. We will also utilize a number of excellent ethnographic films throughout the course. Mode: Seminar.

2396. Fundamentals of Cultural Anthropology (3 s.h.) F S. RCI: WI.

(Formerly: ANTHRO W120.)

An introduction to the basic concepts, methods, and theories of cultural anthropology. Through a variety of case studies from different parts of the world, the course will focus on the connections between culture, power, and representation. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing the process of ethnographic fieldwork and producing ethnographic texts. Mode: A combination of short lectures, class discussions, screenings, and students’ presentations.

2408. Fundamentals of the Anthropology of Visual Communication (3 s.h.) F SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0158.)

Prerequisite: Anthropology 1062 (R060), 1061 (C061), or equivalent.

A survey of theoretical approaches to an anthropological understanding of visual/pictorial communication. Among the topics explored: theories of culture and communication, models of both social and visual communication, perception, cross-cultural aesthetics, non-verbal communication as well as photography, film, and mass media. Emphasis will be placed on the value of constructing ethnographies of visual/pictorial communication. This course has been designed for anthropology majors specializing in the studies of visual communication, but it is also useful for Sociology, FMA, and Mass Communication majors. Course consists of required readings, screenings, and active class participation. No exams. Students keep a journal and write several short papers. Mode: Lecture/Seminar.

2409. Introduction to Visual Production (3 s.h.)

As the decreasing cost and increasing accessibility to visual technologies, such as DSLR cameras and video cameras, makes their inclusion in research projects a given rather than a rarity, the importance of training in their use increases proportionately. Through a series of lectures and practical exercises, students will gain skills in the uses and techniques of several important visual technologies, such as photography, videography (shooting footage), and video editing. Further, this course will contextualize these techniques within qualitative research (e.g. documentary filmmaking) more generally and anthropological and ethnographic research (e.g. participant-observation) more specifically. As the ethical and disciplinary demands of anthropology necessitate specific aesthetic and technical implementations by the visual anthropologist, the latter aspect is a crucial part of the course and will be of significant benefit to students wishing to conduct ethnographic research integrating visual methods and technologies.

2507. Fundamentals of Linguistic Anthropology (3 s.h.) F S SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0127.)

An introduction to linguistic anthropology, one of the four subdisciplines of American anthropology. This course takes an ethnographically informed approach to the relationships among language, culture, and society. It also examines the diversity of the world’s 6,000+ languages as well as the enormously varied ways in which groups of people around the world use language and other communicative resources in their everyday lives. Mode: Lecture and discussion.

2705. Fundamentals of Biological Anthropology (4 s.h.) F S SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0125.)

An introduction to evolutionary theory and its applications to understanding the biology of past and present human populations. Includes basic principles of inheritance and molecular genetics, the genetics of human groups, and genetic models used to explain human biological variability and change. Our place in nature is illustrated by comparison with our non-human primate relatives and a consideration of evolutionary changes in human lineage illustrated by the fossil record. Evolutionary aspects of human development and an evolutionary perspective on epidemiology are also covered.

Note: Students should complete this course before enrolling in any other upper-level biological anthropology course. Mode: Lecture and Lab.

2761. Human Paleontology (3 s.h.) F SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0161.)

Designed to familiarize students with both theoretical and methodological frameworks for interpreting the human fossil record with a review of the synthetic theory of evolution, socio-biological concepts, and procedures in taxonomy and phylogenetic reconstruction. Attention given to the origin of the human lineage and what the fossils of that lineage tell us about the evolution of anatomical systems that are peculiar to humans. Mode: Lecture/Seminar.

2762. Human Biology of Modern Populations (3 s.h.) S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0162.)

An investigation of how advances in genomics have shaped the way physical anthropologists approach the study of living human populations. Students are introduced to basic concepts in the regulation of genetic expression and developmental genetics. Concepts from these two fields are discussed within the framework of evolutionary developmental biology, and we explore the implications of this new synthesis for the evolution of modern humans and modern human variation. Variation caused by changes in developmental timing is explored in terms of genetics (using selection and life history models) and non-genetic (epigenetic, phenotypic plasticity) response pathways to environmental conditions. Mode: Lecture.

2763. Human Population Genetics (3 s.h.) F.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0163.)

This course is designed to acquaint the undergraduate major in Anthropology (especially those in the Human Biology specialization) with the fundamental concepts of population genetics with particular relevance to human genetics. Although the course, as indicated, has a particular emphasis on genetics, the influence of environmental effects will be especially appreciated in this course, as the impact of culture is so dramatic, even with respect to human genetic evolution. Mode: Lecture/Seminar.

2764. Primate Behavior (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0164.)

This course provides an overview of the social behavior of our closest living relatives, and presents principles and current thinking in the field of behavioral ecology. We review the great taxonomic diversity of living primates, their geographic distribution, general ecology, and conservation status. The course introduces the theoretical approaches used to interpret non-human primate life-ways and social behavior and considers the application of evolutionary theory to interpreting human behavior. Mode: Lecture.

3170. Methods in Archaeology (3 s.h.) F S SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0321.)

Prerequisite: Recommendations vary depending on course topic. Check with instructor.

A series of practical, topical courses that deal with aspects of archaeological fieldwork and laboratory analysis. The topic or focus of the course varies by semester and includes: field methods; pottery analysis; lithic analysis; sediments, soils and stratigraphy. Because the topic changes by semester, students may take Anthropology 3170 more than once. Mode: Seminar, hands-on exercises and experiential learning.

3171. Early Comparative Civilizations (3 s.h.) F S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0270.)

This comparative analysis of the rise of early civilizations uses archaeological and historical information to examine the development of ancient societies. It focuses on problems of the Neolithic revolution, the autochthonous transformation of kin-based communities into stratified societies and the subsequent formation and development of early class-based societies/states. Mode: Seminar.

3175. Heritage Management Archaeology (3 s.h.) S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0205.)

The United States and other governments of the world have legal mandates to manage cultural resources on behalf of the public. This course focuses on the archaeological component of cultural resources management in the United States and its linkage with environmental and developmental planning. Participants are given a working knowledge of how the system works, and how to work within it as a professional through a series of readings, classroom discussions, and hands-on exercises. Topic coverage includes: relevant legislation; the phased approach to archaeological and historical research; state and federal review procedures; proposal writing; interacting with clients, native peoples, and the public; professional ethics and standards. The nature of heritage management in other countries is considered for comparative purposes and as a way of illuminating the historical, socio-economic, and legal factors that have shaped the practice in the United States.

Note: This course helps to satisfy topical requirements in the Anthropology major and the Environmental Studies major. Mode: Seminar, hands-on exercises and experiential learning.

3180. Topics in Archaeology (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0204.)

A variable topic course that highlights the specialized interests and research of faculty and current trends in archaeological analysis, interpretation, and theory. Some examples of anticipated topics include: Northeastern Native American Prehistory, Origins of Food Production, Battlefield Archaeology, and the Archaeology of Philadelphia.

3189. Field Session in Archaeology (3 s.h.) SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0320.)

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

Cross Listed with Environmental Studies 3189 (0320).

Techniques and concepts of field archaeology. Students will be expected to spend the greatest part of the session in the field during the excavation of prehistoric and historic sites. During summer sessions this course is taught in conjunction with Methods in Archaeology (Anthropology 3170). Mode: Fieldwork and experiential learning.

3310. Problems in Sociocultural Anthropology (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0315.)

This is an advanced undergraduate seminar for variable topics in sociocultural anthropology. The topic of the course may also vary by section number. Be sure to check with the instructor who is offering the given course and section to find out the specific course description any given semester.

Note: Be sure to read course description above carefully. This is a variable topics course in advanced sociocultural anthropology. Be sure to contact course/ section instructor for the specific topic any given semester.

3321. Folklore and Culture (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0182.)

Far from being hidden or “dying,” folklore thrives in public and private spheres both in everyday life and in extraordinary situations. It is invoked in nationalist and post-colonialist practices and, lately, also in global cultural productions. This course will explore the cultural attributes and functionings of folklore in its own terms and as a part of anthropology in various spaces, times, and groups. We will begin with a brief theoretical discussion on the connection between folklore, nationalism, and ethnic and regional identity, as well as popular and mass culture. Placing special emphasis on the emergent, unofficial aspects of vernacular culture, we will then examine how different groups communicate and construct their identity through folk narratives, proverbs, and jokes; folk art; spontaneous memorials; displays of the body, yards; the exchange of food; and the performance of music and dance during festivals, parades, and processions. In light of the currency of “tradition” and “heritage” in the public sphere—in school curricula, state sponsored programs, advertisement and museums—we will also look critically at the production of culture in the context of multiculturalism and identity politics, and the often ambiguous relation established between dominant or elite cultures and unofficial, vernacular cultures. Class discussions will be conducted in a seminar style and complimented with audio-visual materials. Short research exercises will provide students with first hand experiences with the cultural-anthropologist’s craft of documenting and analyzing current folklore materials. Mode: A combination of short lectures, class discussions, screenings, and students’ presentations.

3322. Economic Anthropology (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0222.)

Economic Anthropology is the study of how economic systems articulate with culture on a variety of scales. This class examines basic paradigms of study in economic anthropology, theories of money and value, and ethnographies of exchange. We will look at how the commodification, production and/or sale of goods in formal, informal and black markets affect people in very different ways. We think through the role of the state, of religion, power struggles and advertising in shaping these markets. Format includes readings, lectures, film screenings, and discussions.

3324. Anthropology and Art (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0224.)

This course examines the anthropology of art and “artworlds.” While its emphasis is on non-western art, it maintains a comparative stance between unfamiliar and familiar visual traditions. Thus, by implication it raises questions about western arts and their cultural contexts. Specific topics and cultures vary according to the interests and expertise of the instructor. Topics can include comparative aesthetics, authenticity and “primitiveness,” the commodification of art, tourist art, gender in the production and consumption of art, the influence of non-Western art objects and performances on European and North American cultures, conceptual systems and modes of viewing, the circumstance of encounter with objects, the modes of production and how objects are shared and valued, both in the culture in which they are initially made and in the culture they may be in now. Cultural contexts may include people and art from Aboriginal Australia, Africa, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Native America. Mode: Seminar.

3325. Political Anthropology (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0225.)

This course will examine anthropological approaches to political structure, political organization, and political action. We will begin by familiarizing ourselves with some of the basic attributes and cultural commitments of Enlightenment projects as well as liberal political theory. Topics may include anthropological analyses of colonialism, nationalism, state formation, development, corruption, social movements, and human rights. We will consider the culture of politics and the politics of culture in disparate contexts around the world. Throughout the course we will remain attentive to how anthropologists historically have studied politics, and how anthropological notions of politics have changed through time. Mode: Seminar.

3326. Religion in Non-Western Cultures (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0226.)

This course examines Creole religions in the Americas and the Caribbean, focusing on the often-misunderstood practices of Cuban Santería, Haitian Voodoo, Brazilian Candomblé, and U.S Orisha-Voodoo. By exploring their colonial, national, and transnational trajectories, differences in Portuguese, Spanish, and French colonial rule will become evident as we look at the historical, political, and religious conditions shaping processes of syncretism and mimesis. The unique multi-channeled, performative aspects of these creole religions will be explored in great detail and illustrated through video and music recordings of spiritual events in which divination, drumming, myth, dance, trance and healing come to life. Confronting practitioners’ insider experiences with outsiders’ exoticizing perceptions—stemming from either frightening Hollywoodian representations or romanticizing state and tourist productions—we will critically address the problematic, highly contested place that these heterodox religions and their practitioners occupy in contemporary societies. Mode: Seminar with short lectures, class presentations, video screenings and class discussions.

3327. Globalization and Localization (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 3069 & 0269.)

This course addresses issues of theory and method by means of an examination of cultural globalization processes and current debates about their effects on local cultures- -one of the key tropes shared by both anthropological and nationalist projects. One of the main aims of this course is to question the unidirectionality implied in most global theories, and assess via combined macro and micro lenses not only the impact of global processes on particular local histories, but also how the sets of voices that are marginalized by global discourses re-enter them, speaking in them and to them. In other words, we will explore the relation between structured choices and agency. From this vantage point we will examine selected issues on nationalism, postcolonialism, modernity, transnationalism, and diaspora, as well as consumption, technology, tradition, heritage, ethnicity, and tourism. The first part of this course will examine the relation between theory and method in anthropological research on cultural globalization, especially the challenges for fieldwork in complex societies. The second part will test their applicability and validity through a close reading of ethnographic works and the screening of videos that examine various dilemmas arising from processes of cultural contact in complex societies. In addition to exploring globalization and localization issues in anthropology, this course should enable students to think through and apply different methodologies in writing their research projects for the course.

3328. Comparative Social Organization (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0228.)

An introduction to the various social categories and groups found in human societies including: variation in marriage and the family, the role of kinship in establishing spatial and temporal links among human beings, age groups, castes, and class. Mode: Seminar.

3331. Anthropology and Culture Change (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0211.)

For the last three centuries, intellectual and popular discourses have advanced conflicting ideas about culture change as either a welcome sign of progress or a detrimental process of irremediable loss. Considering this tension as constitutive of the topic at hand, the first part of the course will critically examine various theoretical explanations for culture change, its causes and results, as well as the social currency of “culture” and “change” in various social projects; for example in social, religious, and artistic movements. This examination will also include the testing the conceptual vigor of terms such as acculturation, syncretism, creolization, and transculturation, some of which have been recently revamped by some social theorists to depict the flux, indeterminacy, and heterogeneity of the world under globalization, while ignoring their past use within discriminatory social tactics. Contemporary ethnographic case studies will offer an opportunity to examine these issues, particularly the ways in which flows of, as well as restrictions upon, capital, people, commodities, media, and ideologies are affecting the lives of diverse social groups in different parts of the world, some of which eagerly embrace change while others strategically resist it. Mode: Seminar.

3332. Medical Anthropology (3 s.h.) F S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0212.)

This course explores both biocultural and sociocultural approaches within the rapidly expanding intersubdisciplinary anthropological field of critical medical anthropology (CMA). Topics addressed include evolutionary approaches to understanding health and disease (including diet and nutrition), as well as sociocultural CMA approaches to such topics as ethnomedicine, medicine and social control, international health development, medical pluralism, science and technology studies, and the anthropology of the body. Mode: Lecture and seminar.

3333. The Anthropology of Tourism (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0210.)

The anthropology of Tourism is an anthropology of peoples on the move, an in encounter with the alien, the unfamiliar, the forgotten and the other. These journeys are anchored in an educational ethos and serve to make identity and opinion. Tourism today includes the pursuit of imagined and historic pasts, of transformational places of alterity, of the sensual and the experiential where knowing and part taking are constitutional and integral to learning about one’s place in the world, one’s community place as a unit of one among many, and where notions of a shared humanity often come face to face with an alien and sometimes forbidding other. Students will study the anthropological understanding of place, of travel, of history, of performance, of cuisine, of pilgrimage, of adventure, of ecology, of philanthropy, of alternate medicine, all expressions of the present day offerings of Tourism. They will engage with anthropological films that have examined the phenomenon of tourism in different parts of the world, in a discourse that recognizes the porosity of boundaries and the inherent hybridity of cultures. Mode: Seminar.

3335. Anthropology and Social Policy (3 s.h.) F.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0215.)

This course explores the critical anthropology of social policy, an emerging new field. First, we will compare this kind of anthropology to closely related “applied anthropology” and “activist anthropology.” The critical approach examines the disjunctures between the cultural constructions of policy targets created by experts (and the public) and the actual lived experiences of the targets themselves. Along with other critiques of the bureaucratic structures of national and international “helping” institutions and their assumptions of technocratic professionalization, we will explore the hidden aspects of power and control which lurk within the massive structures of policymaking and implementation in the past six decades. Mode: Seminar.

3336. Sex Roles in Cross-Cultural Perspective (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0255.)

A cross-cultural survey of the ways in which gender is used to define roles and statuses, with particular attention to the changing nature of sex roles in many contemporary cultures. Mode: Seminar.

3337. Violence, War, and Revolution (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0287.)

This course examines anthropological approaches to war, violence and peace. We will start by studying ethnographic approaches to violence, conflict and conflict resolution and related topics in traditional indigenous cultures, as well as recent critiques of the consequences of anthropological representations of indigenous peoples as fierce or gentle. We then turn to examine warfare and other kinds of collective violencein the contemporary world. Among the topics we will be examining will be state terror, terrorism, genocide, “small wars,” military culture in the United States, and peacemaking. Mode: Seminar.

3355. Gender Theory (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0355.)

Cross Listed with Women’s Studies 3000.

Gender is arguably universally the primary category of social difference into which we (as humans) are socialized. This course takes an historically and ethnographically situated approach to understanding how sociocultural anthropologists have theorized gender, with a particular focus on feminist anthropology approaches to culture, power, and history. Throughout the course we will additionally explore the intersection of gender with such other statuses of social difference as sexuality, class, race, ethnicity, generation, education, and rural versus urban residence in a variety of global contexts. Mode: Seminar.

3366. Violence: An Anthropological Approach (3 s.h.)

Why do we live in such a violent world? This seminar explores violence through an anthropological perspective historically and in modern times. We begin with American experiences of violence recorded by men and women in the past, focusing first on slavery and then on war and terrorism. In subsequent weeks, we consider how words, pictures, and physical harm make violence, how violence silences people, and how it creates unsafe spaces. Finally, we consider how violence is structured and expressed at home, in courts, in prisons, and in “business.” As an advanced seminar, the class covers a substantial body of work on the nature and meaning of violence and is designed to encourage students to develop their reading, research, and writing skills.

3389. Field Work in Ethnography (3 s.h.) F S SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0310.)

Cross Listed with Anthropology 5389.

Fieldwork and ethnography are recognized as landmarks of anthropology. In this course students will have the opportunity to reflect upon, explore, and experiment first hand with the complex craft of anthropologists. Conducted in a workshop style, this course will enable students to experiment with conducting short fieldwork exercises and research projects, to discuss their findings, and work towards the production of a mini ethnography. Another part of the course will provide a forum for the critical assessment of various fieldwork methods and ethnographic writing. Guest speakers will also contribute to this assessment by sharing their fieldwork experiences with the class. Videos shown in class and mini field trips will provide ethnographic materials for group analysis. Mode: Workshop style with a combination of short lectures, class discussions, screenings, and student presentations.

3432. Indigenous Media (3 s.h.) S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0322.)

This course critically reviews the relationships between ethnographic film and indigenous forms of self-representation in diverse media. Visual texts from several societies will be compared with each other and with examples of visual representation in contemporary Western societies. In the course we will examine pictorial forms by viewing and analyzing films and video programs made by indigenous individuals and associations. Examples will come from North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Through these examples issues of authorship and authority, the politics of representation and autonomy, and the values and limits of indigenous self-representation will be analyzed. Mode: Seminar.

3433. Anthropological Film (3 s.h.) F SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0233.)

A review of major film styles useful for anthropological film and video in conjunction with an analysis of the role of film/video in anthropology. Topics will include relationships of anthropological and ethnographic films, the significance of historical and ideological contexts, comparisons to indigenous video and feature films, and problems in the communication of anthropological theory and insight through the film/video medium. A broad range of ethnographic films will be screened to illustrate a progression of work and variety in relationships of theory, subject matter, cultural context, production techniques and style, and expected audiences. Mode: Seminar.

3434. Anthropology in Feature Films (3 s.h.) F.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0234.)

Students will critically review a series of feature films that include topics, themes, and subject matter often treated within anthropology. It is clear that American feature films usually thought of as “Hollywood films” can be very influential in establishing or reinforcing social and cultural stereotypes of “states of knowledge” about peoples living in various parts of the world. The potential for influence and false senses of familiarity is enormous. In today’s globalized community that is influenced by feature films from all regions of the world, this course attempts to incorporate many expressions of the feature film genre to form a composite whole. Japanese, Indian, Indonesian and other national cinemas will be shared, as will the emergent films made by the Naliput peoples of the 4th world. Peoples who are frequently known as natives, aborigine, local, indigenous, primitive, underdeveloped and tribal, are now makers of feature films and bring new dynamism to the genre to foster new perspectives of culture and communication. Mode: Seminar.

3438. Anthropology of Mass Media (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0242.)

Mass media is a comparatively new topic of study for anthropology, which a century ago focused on supposedly pre-literate, pre-modern, traditional societies. Now, of course, anthropologists study people in cities as well as villages, in the U.S. and Europe as well as on remote islands, and even supposedly “exotic” groups have access to media, as rainforest residents wield video cameras and Africa is the world’s fastest-growing cell phone market. Today the social life of media (books, magazines, TV, films, videos, audiocassettes, radio, e-mail, the Internet, telephones, billboards, etc.) is a vibrant and growing topic of interest within anthropology. Some of the questions anthropologists ask: What roles do media play in the circulation, transmission, and contestation of culture? How do media (and new media technologies) affect people’s lives, and how do people transform and adapt media to fit their needs? What is the relation of the media to economic and political systems? What can we learn by paying attention to the specific details of how media are produced, used, and talked about? This course provides an introduction to theoretical and methodological tools used by anthropologists in studying media; a forum for critical analysis of media processes in the U.S. and around the world; and opportunities to do ethnographic research of media processes.

3439. Anthropology of Photography (3 s.h.) F.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0239.)

Prerequisite: Anthropology 1062 (R060) or 1061 (C061) and Anthropology 2408 (0158), or permission of the instructor.

Cross Listed with Art History 2008 (0108) or American Studies 3011 (0125).

A critical examination of an anthropological approach to photography. Special attention will be given to a socio-cultural history of photography in the U.S. Examples from documentary, fine art, and commercial photographic genres will be shown, discussed, and compared to ethnographic studies. Field methods, models of analysis, and ethical issues will also be included. Required readings, active class participation. No exams. Students keep a journal and write several short essays.

Note: Knowledge of camera technology and darkroom procedures is helpful but not required. Mode: Seminar.

3501. Language, Power, and Identity (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0181.)

This course focuses on recent research by leading scholars in linguistic anthropology, examining the crucial role of language in issues of power, representation, and identity. The primary goal is to cultivate critical thinking about the complex relationships among language, society, and culture. Mode: Seminar.

3509. Language Socialization and Cultural Reproduction (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0309.)

This course examines how children and other novices, through interaction with older or otherwise more “expert” persons, acquire the culturally specific forms of knowledge, skills, orientations, and practices that enable them to become competent members of their communities. Topics explored include cross-cultural variation in ways of teaching and learning; socialization of children and of older novices (such as adult immigrants and job trainees) into new identities, roles, and statuses; and socialization processes as sites of cultural reproduction, innovation, and change. Ethnographic case studies from around the world are discussed and compared. Throughout the semester, using the resources of the Linguistic Anthropology Teaching Laboratory, students collect and analyze ethnographic audio-video data from various local settings (schools, churches, community organizations, workplaces, etc.) in which language socialization can be observed. Mode: Seminar.

3510. Theory and Method in Linguistic Anthropology (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0307.)

A variably themed seminar devoted to key issues in linguistic anthropology. The course’s theme varies according to the instructor’s research specializations and the curricular needs of students in the department. Contact instructor for details.

Note: This course satisfies the Methods requirement for the major in Anthropology. Mode: Seminar.

3536. Urban Dialects (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0236.)

The primary focus of this course is on language variation as revealed in the diversity of regional and social dialects of American English. We will consider why dialects exist and vary; how dialects are manifested; and their social, economic, political, and educational consequences. We will examine the intersections between dialects and major social variables such as class, ethnicity, race, gender, occupation, education, and religion in order to understand how dialectal varieties map onto these variables. Another distinction of interest is between standard and non-standard dialects; we will investigate why such a distinction exists, the social functions of each dialect type, and why negatively stigmatized dialect types persist. This course provides training in the theory and methods of dialect study as well as mastery of key concepts associated with dialectal variation, the mapping of dialect boundaries, and the implications of dialectal diversity for social cohesion and educational achievement. Dialectal diversity within a specific urban environment, the city of Philadelphia, will provide the geographical template for in-depth study. Mode: Seminar.

3589. Language as Social Action (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0330.)

A variably themed seminar dealing with collection, analysis, and presentation of ethnographic data, emphasizing observation and audio-video recording of communicative practices, both verbal and non-verbal. Each seminar participant develops an independent research project involving fieldwork in local settings. Mode: Seminar.

3741. Evolutionary Biology (3 s.h.) F.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0280.)

Prerequisite: Anthropology 2705 (0125); at least one of the following courses: Anthropology 2761 (0161), 2762 (0162), 2763 (0163) or 2764 (0164); and Introduction to Biology [Biology 1011 (C083)/1012 (C084) or 0103/0104] for majors, or permission of the instructor for non-majors.

This course will critically evaluate the ways evolutionary theory has been used to explain human and primate evolution and modern human biological diversity. Included will be lectures on, and discussion of, the history of evolutionary thinking, the sources of variation in human populations, evolutionary processes, behavioral ecology, the levels of selection and problems in phylogenetic reconstruction. Anthropologically relevant models will be used throughout the course. Mode: Seminar.

3744. Human Evolutionary Genetics (3 s.h.) S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0284.)

Explores the hereditary variation in our species and its special relationship to disease incidences and susceptibilities. Emphasis on contrast between adaptations of traditional societies to infectious disease loads and contemporary societies with degenerative disease loads, and the genetic susceptibilities concerned.

3745. Human Osteology (4 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0281.)

Prerequisite: Anthropology 2104 (0124) or 2705 (0125), or Biology 1011 (C083)/1012 (C084), or Biology 1111 (0101)/2112 (0102), or Kinesiology 1223 (C100)/1224 (C101).

This course, presented in lecture/lab format, is designed to train advanced undergraduates to identify all of the components of the human skeleton. Students will learn the uses of the human skeleton in physical anthropology and archeology and, for those going on to clinical health programs, the course will provide a detailed understanding of the morphology and variation in the human skeleton that will be highly valuable in the gross and dental anatomy courses taught in clinical post-graduate programs. Also included are discussions of bone growth, kinesiology, individual reconstruction, forensic anthropology, and the use of regression analysis and discriminate functions. Some comparative (between-species) skeletal anatomy is also included.

3747. Human Growth and Development (3 s.h.)

Prerequisite: Anthropology 2705 (0125).

Understanding growth and development is essential to many aspects of the study of biological anthropology. In this course we will explore the biological processes that lead to the development of the bony skeleton, teeth, and various aspects of body composition. These measures of human growth and development are used in biological anthropology to understand human biological diversity, as well as to appreciate the influence of the genetics, the environment, and human behavior. Students will learn standard methods of assessment of growth and development used with studies of living and past human populations. After learning the basic principles of growth and development and how to measure them, we will explore specific anthropological applications.

3748. Primate Evolution and Adaptation (3 s.h.) F S.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0248.)

This course offers a survey of the living and fossil primates. It will look at the classification, behavior, and adaptations of living species from the level of the entire order down to the genus level. This comparative perspective will then be used to study the phylogeny of the order from its origins 60 million years ago to the present. Mode: Seminar.

3770. Methods in Physical Anthropology (4 s.h.) F S SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0326.)

Prerequisite: Anthropology 2705 (0125) or consent of the instructor.

Advanced undergraduate students will have the opportunity to develop individual research projects in biological anthropology, utilizing materials in the department collections and from department expeditions. Students will be introduced to problems in research design, sampling theory, research paper writing, and commonly used statistical techniques in biological anthropology, and will apply them in their project analyses. Mode: Seminar and lab.

3771. Quantitative Methods in Anthropology (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0271.)

The primary goal of this course is to provide students with a solid grounding in basic statistical techniques/methods as applied to anthropological data. Such data is highly variable in form due, in part, to the diversity of research questions being asked and to the methods of collection. The ultimate goal of this course is to bring together various datasets and methods so that students might better assess the results/interpretations presented in the anthropological literature. New quantitative concepts will be presented each week along with examples/applications of the concepts and practice problems. The problems associated with the texts and other data sets will be solved using SPSS, statistical software which resides on all publically available university machines.

3772. Evolutionary Medicine (3 s.h.)

Prerequisite: Anthropology 2705 (0125).

This course explores the new field of evolutionary medicine which seeks adaptive explanations for why humans as a species are susceptible to certain diseases that are rare among other mammals. The course also asks why certain human populations are susceptible to disease and illness whereas others are not. In contrast, when physicians and biomedical researchers ask “why” a patient is sick they usually seek an explanation in the effect of a pathogen, the role of anatomical anomaly, a genetic mutation, exposure to an environmental toxin, the cause of physiological disregulation, or other proximate mechanisms including behavioral and cultural causes. Knowledge of how our biological adaptations and patterns of human biological variation contribute to disease susceptibility is beginning to inform therapeutic approaches in biomedicine and sometimes provokes extraordinary controversy and claims of racism or biological determinism. This course will conclude with a series of discussions and debates about the legitimacy of such critiques after students in the course have learned about evolutionary explanations for disease susceptibility.

3910. Honors: Special Topics (3 s.h.)

A variable topic Honors course. The topic of the course may vary by section number. Be sure to check with the instructor who is offering the given course and section to find out the specific course description in a given semester.

4082. Independent Study (1 s.h.) F S SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0392.)

Prerequisite: Agreement by faculty member to supervise student’s work.

Directed reading and research on a specific anthropological topic.

Note: Does not count toward major requirements in Anthropology.

4083. Independent Study (3 s.h.) F S SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0393.)

Prerequisite: Agreement by faculty member to supervise student’s work.

Directed reading and research on a specific anthropological topic.

Note: Does not count toward major requirements in Anthropology.

4117. Seminar in Environmental Archaeology (3 s.h.) F.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0317.)

Cross Listed with Environmental Studies 4117 (0317).

This course introduces the student to the techniques and disciplines used in conjunction with archaeology to understand the environmental context and paleo-ecology of prehistoric cultures, as well as the nature of the archaeological record itself. Included in this survey are geology, soil and sediment analysis, geomorphology, palynology, ethnobotany and general floral analysis, phytolith analysis, zooarchaeology, and the analysis of blood and other residues found on artifacts. The range of contributions possible from interdisciplinary research will be explored in addition to how to design such research, how to communicate with specialists in other fields, and how to use existing sources of data to solve archaeological problems. Mode: Seminar and experiential learning.

4185. Internship in Archaeology (3 s.h.) F S SS.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0395.)

Prerequisite: Agreement by faculty member to supervise student’s work.

This course provides hands-on, professional level work experiences for Anthropology majors focusing on the study of archaeology. It is designed for students who have already completed basic course work in archaeology, including the department’s field school [Anthropology 3189 (0320) & 3170 (0321)]. Students will be placed with one of a number of firms in the region involved in cultural resource management studies where they will be employed in a variety of laboratory and field activities. The intensity and focus of the experience will be tailored to the particular needs or interests of the student, but minimally will involve 8 hours of effort per week. Mode: Service learning and experiential learning.

4196. Theory and Practice of Contemporary Archaeology (3 s.h.) RCI: WI.

Prerequisite: English 0802; ANTHRO 2104; 1 course from ANTHRO 3170, 3771, 3175, or 3189; and three Anthropology courses at the 3000-level.

This writing intensive course is the capstone seminar for anthropology majors with a focus on archaeology. This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the theoretical approaches that are currently employed in archaeological research and the methods utilized in putting these theories into practice. Students will be expected to design a research project that will include a field work component to collect data and a laboratory component to analyze the data. The research proposal will be written in sections (e.g. formulation of a research question; literature review; methods to be employed in carrying out the research; anticipated results and their significance); each section will be discussed in class, revised and resubmitted before moving on to the next section. The final proposal will be presented in class for feedback before the final written version is submitted at the end of the course.

4396. History of Anthropological Theory (3 s.h.) F S. RCI: WI.

(Formerly: ANTHRO W301.)

Prerequisite: At least two courses in Anthropology or permission of instructor.

This is the capstone course for the general anthropology undergraduate major, and it is a writing intensive course as well. This course historicizes, contextualizes, and explores the major theoretical schools in anthropology from the mid-19th century up through the present, including social evolutionism, historical particularism, structural-functionalism, cultural materialism, structuralism, symbolic anthropology, political-economy approaches, postcolonial critiques, feminist critiques, the crisis in ethnographic representation, and poststructuralist approaches.

Note: This course is primarily oriented towards advanced anthropology undergraduate majors, but advanced undergraduates in other social sciences and humanities majors are also welcome to enroll if they have had some exposure to sociocultural anthropology. Mode: Seminar.

4397. Advanced Seminar in Medical Anthropology (3 s.h.) RCI: WI.

(Formerly: ANTHRO W323.)

This course is designed for advanced undergraduate students interested in understanding special topics in the field of contemporary sociocultural medical anthropology. Previous topics taught include the following: the anthropology of the body, science and technology studies, the anthropology of Chinese medicines, and the anthropology of nutrition. Be sure to check with the instructor who is offering the course to find out the specific course description for any given semester. Note also that this course meets the capstone requirement of the human biology track major within the Anthropology Department (though note that you do not have to be a human biology track major to take the course), and that it serves as a writing intensive course.

Note: Be sure to read course description above carefully. This is a variable topics course in advanced medical anthropology that meets the capstone requirement for the human biology track major and is a writing intensive course. Be sure to contact course instructor for the specific topic any given semester. Mode: Seminar.

4398. Contemporary Research in Socio-Cultural Anthropology (3 s.h.) RCI: WI.

Prerequisite: ANTHRO 2396 and one Methods course and ANTHRO 3301 and two additional ANTHRO courses at the 3000-level.

This course meets the capstone requirement for the general anthropology undergraduate major and is a writing-intensive course. It serves as the culminating experience of undergraduate training in the general anthropology major. As a capstone course, this class builds on and applies the theoretical, historical, and methodological approaches to which general anthropology majors have been exposed in previous course work. Over the course of the semester, students will explore the ethics of ethnographic field methods, as well as develop and engage an original research project. Course texts address the unique questions raised by distinct fieldwork settings, such as institutional contexts, multi-sited research, the study of elite populations, and marginalized sub-cultures. The book length ethnographies we will read are paired with theoretical texts from which ethnographers draw to develop their arguments. Students will be encouraged to consider how theory can provoke or prevent insight during ethnographic fieldwork. Students will expand their capacity to write well in the specific genres practiced and highly valued by socio-cultural anthropologists. A portion of class time will be devoted to peer writing review, instruction and analysis of ethnographic field notes, and interviewing techniques. Students will interpret their original ethnographic evidence and be asked to hone an argument, moving from practice to theory. Topics, conceptual approaches, and regional specialization will vary. Please contact the instructor for additional information.

4444. Anthropological Problems in Visual Production (3 s.h.) S. $.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0334.)

The introduction of visual recording techniques to a sample of problems in the anthropology of visual communication. Discussions will include ways anthropologists construct problems, develop observational strategies, select appropriate image-making technology, work in field conditions, among others. Strategies of representation connected to the integration of cultural and film theories will be explored in conjunction with a wide range of film examples. Students will be introduced to the department’s production facilities and do short exercises in image making, viewing, and interpretation.

Note: A lab fee may be necessary depending on the extent of each semester’s assignments. Mode: Seminar and experiential learning.

4496. Research in Visual Anthropology (3 s.h.) S. RCI: WI.

(Formerly: ANTHRO W308.)

Prerequisite: Anthropology 2408 (0158) and one 3000-level Visual Anthropology course or permission of the instructor.

As the required capstone course for the Visual Anthropology track in the major, students will review, integrate and operationalize what they have learned in previous coursework. By undertaking an original brief study in visual anthropology, students will participate in all phases of work including selecting a problem, formulating and writing a proposal, doing background library research, undertaking a period of fieldwork, data analysis, writing up findings and results, and making a final oral presentation. Students will be responsible for writing assignments at each stage of the process and a final report. Students may work individually or in pairs. Camera work is optional but encouraged. Mode: Seminar and experiential learning.

4596. Socio-Cultural Ecologies of Language (3 s.h.) RCI: WI.

Prerequisite: English 0802 and ANTHRO 2507 and one Methods in Anthropology course and three Anthropology courses at 3000-level; or permission of the instructor.

This is one of the courses that meet the capstone requirement for the general anthropology undergraduate major. This is also a writing-intensive course, and it is designed for advanced undergraduate anthropology students interested in the mutually-constitutive intersections between language, culture, and social interaction. This course focuses on contemporary linguistic anthropology, as an autonomous sub-discipline, with its own research agenda and methods. The course readings feature a variety of book-length, linguistic anthropology ethnographies, as well as more general theoretical pieces that will be useful for considering different approaches. Through specific case studies drawn from a variety of ethnographic settings, this course explores how language structures and communicative practices are powerful semiotic resources for individual social actors and communities. Also, using the resources of the Linguistic Anthropology Laboratory, students will analyze data and examine how the socio-cultural organization of language use is not a mere reflection of pre-existing social structures and cultural practices, but is in fact constitutive of the latter.

4796. Biocultural Adaptations in Human Populations (3 s.h.) F. RCI: WI.

(Formerly: ANTHRO W325.)

An evaluation of adaptation, selection, and ecological concepts as the bases for models integrating human biology and culture, and for explaining change. Mode: Seminar.

4797. Evolutionary Perspectives on Reproduction (3 s.h.) RCI: WI.

(Formerly: ANTHRO W327.)

Prerequisite: Anthropology 2705 (0125) and two of the following: Anthropology 2761 (0161), 2762 (0162), 2763 (0163), 2764 (0164).

This course surveys classic and contemporary literature on human life history evolution, reproductive physiology, and reproductive ecology. It begins by covering some basic information in life history theory and comparative reproductive biology. Secondly, it surveys key issues in the field organized by the stages and events of the life cycle using the following approach: what is the underlying physiology, how do humans compare to the non-human primates and what explanations have been proposed to account for our differences, what factors modulate the expression of life history characteristics among human populations? Mode: Seminar and experiential learning.

4798. Seminar in Human and Primate Evolution (3 s.h.) F S. RCI: WI.

(Formerly: ANTHRO W380.)

An in-depth review of the synthetic theory of evolution and special topics in evolutionary theory. Emphasis will be placed on human evolution, human bio-cultural adaptation, and evolutionary biology. Mode: Seminar.

4896. Environmental Physiology (3 s.h.) RCI: WI.

(Formerly: ANTHRO 0220.)

Prerequisite: Anthropology 2705 (0125).

There are two interrelated goals to this course. The first is to understand the nature of human physiological responses to environmental extremes. Here, in addition to understanding basic physiological responses to nutritional stress, climactic temperature and high altitude hypoxia, we will examine genetic and environmental causes of population differences. We also will critically evaluate adaptive hypotheses used to explain differences between human populations. The second goal is to write a scientific paper in a format acceptable for publication. To accomplish this, students will learn how to formulate and justify a hypothesis related to human physiological variation, develop an appropriate analytical strategy, test the hypothesis using a population-based data set, and interpret the results. Mode: Seminar.

4897. Research in Biological Anthropology (3 s.h.) RCI: WI.

Prerequisite: English 0802 and ANTHRO 2705 and ANTHRO 3771 and ANTHRO 3796 and two Biological Anthropology courses at the 3000-level; or permission of the instructor.

This is a writing-intensive capstone course in biological anthropology. It is designed to provide students with an opportunity to formulate a data-specific and testable research hypothesis concerning the cause of variation within human populations, or across primate species. Students will have access to a large number of faculty-generated data sets; and can therefore select a research project that fits their interests. Each phase of the research project (the development of hypotheses, the strategy used to test the hypothesis on one of the data sets, the selection of statistics used to analyze data, and the interpretation of results) will coincide with the construction of a section of a scientific paper. After each phase of the paper is written, it will be evaluated, discussed in class, revised, and re-presented. The result will be a final paper based on the research project, in a format that is suitable for presentation at a scientific meeting or publication in a scientific journal.

4982. Honors: Independent Study (3 s.h.)

Prerequisite: Special Authorization; Agreement by faculty member to supervise student’s work.

Directed reading and research on a specific anthropological topic.


[Back] [Top]
Last updated 10/8/2010