Course Atlas Summer 2009 | Department of Anthropology
Anthropology 140-00A: Evolutionary Anthropology
MTWTHF 11:30-12:50, 1st Session Max: 35 Carlson
Content: Evolutionary anthropology considers how evolutionary processes have shaped human history and provides insight into human nature. From the emergence of our earliest human ancestors to patterns of human diversity and variation today, nothing in the fields of medicine, nutrition, or public health makes sense except in the light of evolution. This course begins with an overview of evolutionary processes in order to appreciate the ground rules, as we understand them today, for the past hundreds of thousands, and even millions of years of hominin evolution. From such a foundation, we will spring forward to discuss topics as diverse as diet and brain size, the significance of tool making and taming fire, bipedal locomotion and endurance running, sex and gender, mitochondrial Eve and global dispersal, evolution of taste and food choice, the mystery of Neanderthals, and other relevant topics. The end goal is to appreciate how humans, as a biological species, have come to be shaped by the same natural processes affecting all other species on our planet, and how we are perhaps continuing to evolve at an accelerated rate!
Texts: TBA.
Particulars: TBA.
Anthropology 202-00A:Concepts and Methods in Cultural Anthropology
MTWTHF 10:30-11:20, 1st Session Max: 35 Barrett, K.
Content: This course will explore key concepts and methods in cultural anthropology. We will discuss theoretical issues related to the field, study ethnographic method, and read various ethnographies of different societies, countries and local people living in these places. Students will learn both theoretical knowledge in anthropology and practical experience in ethnographic analysis through class lectures, discussion, written papers, viewing and analyzing ethnographic films, and original ethnographic research. Students are expected to read texts thoroughly and critically before class and bring at least two questions for discussion. Class discussion and presentations will be crucial in earning skills for critical analysis. This course will provide students with a foundation for pursuing other more advanced anthropology courses and is therefore suited for those whose major or minor is anthropology.
Texts: TBA.
Particulars: TBA.
ANT 203-OOC: Foundations of Linguistics
MTWTHF 11:30-12:50, 2nd Session 8[ANT 203]/12[LING 201] Kreitman
Content: What is "language" and how do world languages differ? How do linguists investigate the basic building blocks of human languages? This course introduces students to linguistics, the scientific study of human language systems. We will emphasize the fundamentals of descriptive linguistics, the diversity of world languages, and the culturally-specific functions of speech. We will examine speech sounds (the field of phonetics), the sound systems of languages (phonology), word and sentence formation (morphology and syntax), how language expresses meaning (semantics), and how context influences the interpretation of meaning (pragmatics). Additional topics include historical linguistics, language typology, sociolinguistics, and multilingualism. The course is a core course for the Linguistics/Psychology Major and the Linguistics Minor, and should be of interest to students of Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Philosophy, English and foreign languages.
Texts: O'Grady, W. et al. 2005. Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction. 5th ed. Bedford/St. Martin's.
O'Grady, W. et al. Study Guide: Contemporary Linguistics. 5th ed. Bedford/St. Martin's.
Recommended: David Crystal, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language
Particulars: Grades will be based on attendance and participation, weekly homework assignments, 3 quizzes, and a final exam.
Anthropology 230-00B: Medical Anthropology
TThF 2:30-4:45, 2nd Session Max: 35 Barrett, K.
Content:This course is an introduction to medical anthropology, emphasizing the literature on health and healing in different cultures and sub-populations. We will consider health and healing as social phenomena. Readings illustrate the historical development of the field and the main theoretical orientations, including interpretive, political-economic and biocultural orientations. The course will also use case studies to illustrate medical anthropological approaches to studying health conditions and medical systems, including Western biomedicine. Particulars: The course requires active participation from students in class discussions and presentations. There will be several short summary and reaction papers, two midterm examinations, and one final examination.
Texts: TBA.
Particulars: TBA.
REL 362-00A: The Anthropology of Religion
TWTh 2:30-4:45 1st Session MAX: 6[ANT 362]/6[REL 370S]/6[JS 370S] Seeman
Content: This course explores diverse traditions of several world religions through the tools of anthropology and ethnography. We ask whether there is a common thread to different religious traditions and what that might be. We also explore what ethnographic methodologies can contribute to others – like history or theology – that might be more familiar. We will examine some of the classical theories of religion suggested by anthropologists and also ask what these theories help us to see – or prevent us from seeing in contemporary religious life.
Particulars: All students of all backgrounds welcome!