ANT 250 Consumerism and Social Justice (4)
Explores consumption by considering its place in society, the impact of markets and branding on adults and children, consumer identity, the differences between free and fair trade, global trade, food supplies, and the potential links between shopping and social justice.
ANT 270 Anthropology of Popular Culture (4)
Anthropological perspectives will be used to examine the role of mass media and popular culture in everyday life in the United States. We will explore various forms of popular culture, and how race, ethnicity, class, and sexual orientation are expressed and negotiated in mass media that pervades everyday life. Some topics that will be addressed include: film, music, television, the Internet, food, consumerism, branding, celebrity, deviance, and the meaning of “cool.”
ANT 280 Refugee Cultures in the U.S. (4)
Refugees are people who have fled their home countries due to war, ethnic or religious conflict, or other problems, and are not able to return for fear of persecution. The United States has welcomed refugee groups from many countries and helped them find new homes and communities throughout the country. This course uses a multidisciplinary approach from anthropology to address the history, adaptation, and resettlement experiences of refugee cultures in the U.S. A mix of video, books, news articles, discussions, and optional field trips will be used. An emphasis will be placed on personal stories and experiences from resettled refugee men and women.
ANT 301 General Anthropology (4)
Examines the general characteristics of a holistic cultural approach. Presents a general theory of human cultural development. Places specific anthropological issues, such as the origin of gender roles, inequality, and the nature of the state, in theoretical and cross-cultural perspective. Integrates data from cultural anthropology, linguistics, biological anthropology, archaeology, and applied anthropology research and practices where appropriate. Designed for upper division students with no previous background in anthropology. Meets new General Education Social Science requirement.
ANT 303 Cultural Diversity (4)
Examines the nature of social and cultural systems of diversity. Investigates cultural practices Relevant to the constitution of such social constructs as race, class, gender and sexuality. Emphasizes the processes through which such ideas, products and culturally and historically constructed social worlds, become parts of a taken-for-granted social universe. Integrates the relationship between conceptions of race, class and gender and sociological and anthropological practice. Meets new General Education Social Science requirement.
ANT 310 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (4)
Provides an understanding of contemporary human issues through the study of diverse human cultures, with an emphasis on non-Western societies and practices. Basic concepts and ethnographic techniques practiced by cultural anthropologist are presented. Topics include family, language, kinship, health, gender, economics, politics, ecology, art and religion. Examination of issues such as globalization and the study of online communities and cultures.
ANT 321 Distinction: Race, Class and Gender (4)
Examines the nature of social and cultural systems of distinction. Investigates cultural practices relevant to the constitution of such social constructs as race, class, gender and sexuality. Emphasizes the processes through which such ideas, products of culturally and historically constructed social worlds, become parts of a taken-for-granted social universe. Integrates the relationship between conceptions of race, class and gender and sociological and anthropological practice. Prerequisite: ANT 301 or SOC 110, or an introductory anthropology or sociology course. Restricted to Sociology and Criminal Justice majors.
ANT 382 Cultures, Health and Healing (4)
Presents the essential elements of a cultural perspective through examination of health and illness-related behavior. Places disease and illness in holistic perspective. Explores specific issues in medical anthropology, such as the way various cultures conceive disease and illness, cross-cultural conflict in health care delivery, industrial and non-industrial approaches to therapeutic intervention, the relationship of disease and human evolution, and alternative approaches to the study of such issues. Assumes no previous study in anthropology, although this would be helpful. Prerequisite: ANT 301 or SOC 110 or an introductory anthropology or sociology course.
ANT 460 Ethnography (4)
Provides an intensive survey of ethnographic practice in anthropology, sociology, and other fields. Examines a wide range of ethnographic materials focusing on the actual production of ethnographic materials including the use of “participant observation,” the collection and making of the ethnographic text, questions of ethics in field work practice, and recent relevant feminist and postmodern discussions. Provides students’ with the skills and information required in fieldwork practice. Covers specific projects that require students to generate primary field data and complete an analysis of this data using one or several of the theoretical perspectives covered during the semester. Prerequisite: ANT 301 or SOC 110 or an introductory anthropology or sociology course. Cross listed with ANT 531.
ANT 490 Selected Topics in Anthropology (4)
An in-depth treatment of a selected topic in Anthropology. Provides students with the opportunity to investigate Anthropological subject matter that will not be repeated in a future seminar. Prerequisites: ANT 301 or SOC 110 or an introductory anthropology or sociology course.
ANT 491 Independent Study (Variable Credit 1-4)
Extensive study and research on a particular topic of student interest under the supervision of a faculty member. The student is required to submit a written proposal which includes a description of the project, its duration, educational goals, method of evaluation, and number of credits to be earned. Prerequisite: Matriculated student only, permission of instructor and dean of subject area.