<
Anthropology Courses :
100
|
200
|
300
|
400
ANTH-103 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Comparative study of social practices and cultural systems, using a series of case studies of non-Western and Western cultures, including our own. Course gives overview of history of cultural anthropology, major questions and theoretical debates, fieldwork and research methods, and the relevance of anthropology to the modern world. No prerequisite.
ANTH-106 Introduction to Archaeology and Physical Anthropology
Study of how archaeologists and physical anthropologists reconstruct what people's lives were like in the past. Course uses case studies drawn from historical and ancient societies to examine how archaeology and physical anthropology contribute to anthropology's goal of understanding and comparing human behavior, religious beliefs, political structure, social organization, and economy. Students are introduced to the range of materials that archaeologists and physical anthropologists study, including burials, buildings, monumental art, trash, and texts; and to important theoretical concepts and methods
ANTH-205 Primate Behavior & Human Origins
Introduction to the anthropological study of human origins. Course focuses on primatology (the study of monkeys and apes) and human paleontology (the study of the human and pre-human fossil record.) Topics include different explanations for the evolution of humans from prehuman ancestors; current debates, such as the relationship between humans and Neandertals; and the role of culture in human evolution.
ANTH-215 Ethnographic Film:Theory and Practice
Survey and overview of the use of film in anthropological analysis and documentation. Course includes viewing and analysis of films, digital video production, and the making of short ethnographic films. Explores historical and contemporary trends in ethnographic filmmaking as these relate to the concerns of anthropology, including technical limitations and ethical issues encountered by ethnographic filmmakers. This course involves reflexive writing and hands-on film production work.
ANTH-220 World Cultures
Study of cultural patterns and social practices around the world, viewing them through the distinctive lens of cultural anthropology. Course looks at issues of culture contact, sociocultural change, and globalization of culture.
ANTH-221 Language and Culture
Introduction to the anthropological study of language and communicative behavior. The course compares human language with non-human primate communication; examines language acquisition among children; looks at ethnographies of communication from around the world; and explores linguistic relativity. In addition, the course touches on sociolinguistics to elucidate how communicative behavior varies within communities and nations according to age, gender, race, ethnicity, caste, and class. Students explore how languages change over time, and ask how people cope with linguistic difference during the contemporary era of globalization.
ANTH-223 Indigenous Peoples, the Environment, and the Global Economy
Examination of the ways that indigenous peoples are integrated into the global economy and international environmental movements. Will focus on such topics as informal economies, transnational migration, off-shore factory production, eco-tourism, toxic dumping, interactions between Western environmentalists and indigenous peoples, and the effects of environmental degradation on non-Western societies. Will examine how global inequalities are solidified or destabilized by contemporary economic and environmental practices. Will also review the emerging activism of indigenous peoples.
ANTH-225 Food, Culture, and Globalization
Study of food as a lens for understanding culture and globalization. The course considers religion, gender, ethnic identity, socioeconomic inequality, exchange, and nationalism through the study of the production and consumption of food in local and global settings. The course examines debates on the impact of globalization on local cultures through case studies of colonial food trades and contemporary global food industries.
ANTH-227 Anthropology of Religion
Study of theories of religion and aspects of religious systems in cross-cultural perspective. Through ethnographic case studies of religious practices among indigenous peoples, the course explores debates in anthropology regarding the definition of religion. Other central themes include: the role of religious leaders and ritual practitioners, myth and ritual, politics and religion, gender and religion, religious movements, and the role of religion in sociocultural change.
ANTH-228 Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Gender and Sex Roles
Examination of the social roles of women and men, the dynamics of sexual identity, and the ideologies of gender in various societies. Course explores broad theoretical issues (such as biological vs. cultural determinants; gender stratification and inequality; the effects of social, cultural, and economic variables), as well as a range of specific societal studies.
ANTH-232 Precolumbian Civilizations of Mesoamerica
Introduction to the organization and development of Native American civilizations in Mexico and Central America. Evidence from archaeological and ethnographic research, Native texts and art, and Spanish Colonial writings is used to study religious beliefs, sociopolitical organization, economic relationships, and intellectual achievements of such groups as the Olmec, Maya, and Aztecs. Period prior to the sixteenth-century Spanish conquest is emphasized, but modern indigenous cultures are also studied.
ANTH-235 Early Civilizations in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Study of the origins and development of the earliest urban societies. Compares and contrasts examples from different parts of the world, including China, Mesopotamia, Mesoamerica, Egypt, and South Asia. Using archaeological data, written texts, art, and other sources, the course studies the causes and consequences of the shift to more centralized political systems and more specialized economic organization. Course takes both cross-cultural and historical perspectives. Integral to the course is a discussion of how civilization and the state have been defined.
ANTH-236 Precolumbian Civilizations of South America
Introduction to the organization and development of Native American civilizations in South America. Evidence from archaeological and ethnographic research, Native texts and art, and Spanish Colonial writings is used to study religious beliefs, sociopolitical organization, economic relationships, and intellectual achievements of such groups as the Inka, Moche, and Chavin. Period prior to the sixteenth-century Spanish conquest is emphasized, but modern indigenous cultures are also studied.
ANTH-237 African & Afro-Latino Cultures: Studies in Power and Ritual
Cross-cultural comparisons of politics, religion, and identity in Africa and the African diaspora of Latin America and the Caribbean. Course explores case studies of religious rituals and spirit possession, slave revolts and wars of independence, cultural movements and ethnic mobilization on both sides of the southern Atlantic. Prerequisite: Prior course in Anthropology, African American Studies, or Latin American Studies.
ANTH-238 Anthropology of Contemporary Cultural Issues
Exploration of how anthropologists analyze current issues in international affairs and industrialized societies, including the United States. Case studies illustrate anthropological perspectives on topics such as nationalist movements and international development, ethnic tourism and advertising, immigration and multiculturalism, urban gangs and changing gender roles, modern myths and rituals. Course also discusses challenges of conducting fieldwork in diversified societies and ethical dilemmas arising in politically sensitive settings. No prerequisite.
ANTH-239 African Modernities
Study of contemporary African peoples and cultures based on anthropological readings, films, and novels. Course explores how global processes of colonialism, trade, and international development have influenced the lifestyles and social structures of different culture groups throughout the continent. Course examines, from an anthropological perspective, such contemporary topics as family life, gender and patriarchy, religion and the occult, ethnicity, migration, violence and war, child soldiers, youth crisis, environmental degradation, popular culture, informal economies, and emerging diseases.
ANTH-240 Modernity and Change in Asia/Pacific
Overview of people and culture of Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands from an anthropological perspective. The course covers the prehistory, migration patterns, contemporary cultures, and processes of sociocultural change. The main focus is on contemporary ethnographic writings that examine problems of gender, religion, rural and urban life, and the effects of globalization at the local level. The course considers major themes explored by anthropologists working in the region and how these contribute to theory in anthropology.
ANTH-245 Culture and Politics in the Middle East
Study of cultural variety in Middle East/North Africa region. The course introduces various ethnic and language groups as well as religious sects across national borders in the region. An understanding of the lived experiences of individuals and groups is encouraged through ethnographic readings. A major focus is how stereotypical notions of culture are deployed in political claims both within and concerning the region, including claims about group origins and homelands, women’s rights, and political Islam.
ANTH-250 Topics in Anthropology
Exploration of a particular topic, chosen by a faculty member
ANTH-300 History of Anthropological Theory
Analysis of the rise of anthropology and development of its major theoretical models. Course traces the precursors of anthropology, the emergence of the field of "anthropology" and its subdisciplines in the nineteenth century, the elaboration of the culture concept and fieldwork methods in the twentieth, and recent trends in post-colonial anthropology
ANTH-301 Social Life of Things
A cross-cultural exploration of how members of various societies, past and present, invest objects with symbolic meanings as they produce, utilize, and exchange them in everyday life. Drawing primarily on non-Western case studies, the course will integrate perspectives from studies of material culture in fields such as economic anthropology, archaeology, and the anthropology of art. These resources will illuminate the many ways that things acquire a kind of metaphorical life in association with the lives of people who use them.
ANTH-302 Human Rights through an Anthropological Lens
A study of human rights examined cross-culturally. The course focuses on gendered violence, violation of children's rights, genocide and ethnic persecution, refugees and exile, and disease and healthcare. Students explore linkages between non-Western peoples and transnational advocacy networks; media representation of indigenous peoples and human rights victims; processes of truth and reconciliation; and the fragility of domestic and national bonds in the face of human rights abuses. Students view these topics primarily through the lens of cultural anthropology, but include works by medical and forensic anthropologists.
ANTH-308 History of Anthropological Theory
Analysis of the rise of anthropology and development of its major theoretical models. Course traces the precursors of anthropology, the emergence of the field of "anthropology" and its subdisciplines in the nineteenth century, the elaboration of the culture concept and fieldwork methods in the twentieth, and recent trends in post-colonial anthropology
ANTH-310 Advanced Topics in Anthropolgy
Intensive exploration of an advanced anthropology topic, chosen by a faculty member
ANTH-323 Field Methods in Social Research
Seminar on conducting qualitative fieldwork. Topics include how theory informs research, ethical issues, and developing descriptive fieldnotes. Students carry out original research projects, using field methods such as participant observation and qualitative interviewing, and learn how to gather data, analyze results, and write research reports. Prerequisite: C- or better in Sociology 302.
ANTH-323 Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology
Seminar on how anthropologists conduct ethnographic fieldwork. The course covers participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and other ethnographic methods. Students examine the ethics of these methods along with strategies for organizing and analyzing fieldnotes. Assignments include writing a research proposal, carrying out original fieldwork, and writing a final research paper. In addition, students read about and discuss the subjective challenges of working with communities different from their own, confronting such issues as cultural relativism, poverty, political activism, and gender bias.
ANTH-325 Technology in Ancient Societies
Study of technology as a social process and as part of a cultural system in prehistoric and ancient societies. The course considers how and why archaeologists try to reconstruct technologies from earlier eras through analysis of material culture, experimentation, and comparative research in cultural anthropology and related disciplines. The relationship between technology and social roles, economic organization, the development and transmission of skills and knowledge, and the reproduction of cultural values is central to the course.
ANTH-400 Capstone Experience in Anthropology
Intensive culminating research experience for anthropology-sociology majors. Seminar is designed around particular topics or debates, which provide unifying themes for students' research projects. Course guides students as they consolidate their understanding of the anthropological perspective. Prerequisite: Anth 103, 105, and 308 or consent of the instructor. Offered every other year.
ANTH-450 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized Study Independent study in fields of special interest outside the scope of regular course offerings. Prerequisite: Consent of department.
ANTH-452 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial not counting toward minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
ANTH-453 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
ANTH-460 Individualized Study-Research
Individual investigation of a research topic in anthropology under the guidance of a faculty member. Topic must be approved by department. Project culminates in written and oral presentations of a formal paper to the faculty. Required for departmental honors. Students must submit a proposal a minimum of two weeks before the end of the semester preceding the proposed study. Prerequisite: Consent of department. Open to juniors and seniors only.
ANTH-462 Individualized Study-Research
Individualized research not counting toward minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
ANTH-463 Individualized Study-Research
Individualized research not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor graded S/U
ANTH-466 Field Research in Archaeology
ANTH-470 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
ANTH-473 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship not counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
ANTH-474 Summer Internship
Summer Internship graded A-F, counts for mimimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office.
ANTH-475 Summer Internship
Summer Internship graded S/U, counts for mimimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office
Sociology Courses: 100 | 200 | 300 | 400
SOC-101 Introduction to Sociology
Study of basic structures and dynamics of human societies, focusing on the development of principles and concepts used in sociological analysis and research. Topics include culture, socialization, social institutions, stratification, and social change. No prerequisite.
SOC-202 Wealth, Power & Prestige
Examination of distribution of valued resources and associated social ranking and rating systems. Topics include social classes, social mobility, economic and political power, and informal prestige and fame.
SOC-203 Population
Examination of the components of population composition (fertility, mortality, and migration) to understand how they interact to produce particular population structures and population growth rates. Course emphasizes the study of relationships between social and demographic variables, and the consequences of different population structures and population growth rates for societies as a whole and for various social groups. Special attention is given to the relationship between population dynamics and social change in the United States.
SOC-204 Soc of Mass Media&Popular Cult
Analysis of broadcast and print media institutions. Perspectives include the 'production of culture,' cultural content analysis, socialization effects, and media coverage. Various popular culture genres, both mass and folk, are covered, with special emphasis on music.
SOC-205 Sociology of Religion
An exploration of the nature and organization of religion from a variety of perspectives, e.g. functional, conflict, and interactionist. Topics include church-sect differences, relationships with other institutions (politics, media, family), social inequality (class, gender, ethnicity), social change, and group case studies.
SOC-206 Sociology of the Family
Analysis of the family as a social institution. Course takes a comparative and sociohistorical approach to the study of American families, with a particular focus on the interaction between family and economy. Topics include intrafamily relations, work-family links, and family policy.
SOC-207 Criminology
socIntroduction to the sociological study of crime. Course begins with a discussion of criminal law and the extent of crime, then continues with a comprehensive examination of police, courts, and corrections. Theories of crime causation, criminal behavior systems, and victimology are also examined.
SOC-209 Race & Ethnic Relations
Study of the diverse manifestations of race and ethnicity around the world, with particular focus on the American experience. Topics include immigration and assimilation, prejudice and discrimination, and the construction and reconstruction of ethnic and racial boundaries and identities.
SOC-212 Deviance,Diversity& Difference
Examination of the concept of deviance and exploration of various sociological theories and perspectives for viewing deviant phenomena. In-depth analysis of alcohol and drug use, variations in sexual behavior, pornography, violence, child abuse, and homelessness.
SOC-217 Gender Inequalities
Examination of patterns of gender stratification in American social structures. Course centers on how class, race, and gender influence the experiences of women and men in families and occupations. Topics include images of women in the media, construction of gender, and movements for change. Prerequisite: Sociology 101.
SOC-233 Science, Knowledge & New Age
Exploration of science as a social institution. History and ideology of science as an objective method are examined, drawing from Merton, Kuhn and others. 'Antiscience' and 'New Science' perspectives include postmodernist, feminist, and New Age views. Parapsychology and other paranormal topics receive special attention as alternative knowledge systems.
SOC-239 Health, Medicine and Society
Analysis of social factors that influence health and illness and of health care as a social institution. Topics include the cultural construction of health and illness, the sick role, the effects of social inequality on health and illness, health occupations and professions, and the social organization of health care systems in various societies. Prerequisite: Soc 101.
SOC-240 Sexualities
Exploration of how sexualities are socially constructed and controlled. In this course we use a sociological lens to examine how sexualities directly and indirectly shape our daily lives. We adopt both a life-course perspective and a cross-cultural perspective to understand the fluidity of sexual identities (lesbian, straight, gay, and bisexual) throughout our lives and within different cultural contexts. Topics include categorization of sexualities, representation of sexualities, sexual identities, sex practices, sexual health and disease, commercial sex, and social control of sexualities.
SOC-241 Globalization
Examination of the changing relationship between nation, culture, politics and economics in a global context. Using comparative case studies from around the world, this course examines a variety of questions about contemporary social change.
SOC-243 The Chinese Connection: Chinese Demographics from a Global Perspective
Examination of relationships between China?s political and socio-economic changes and the Chinese Diaspora over the past century. The course explores how the diasporas are affected by China?s changing global positions. The course investigates these issues through understanding the connectivity of Chinese lives in and out of China. North America and Singapore will be used as case studies to examine the relationships of overseas Chinese people with China.
SOC-250 Special Topics in Sociology
Exploration of a topic in sociology not usually covered in the regular curriculum.
SOC-262 Social Development of Latin America
Study of Latin American societies focusing on the development of democracy and social movements. Students learn about a variety of Latin American democratic and authoritarian experiences. The course examines both top down and bottom up approaches to the study of democracy.
SOC-267 Society and Politics in Latin America
Study of the sociopolitical evolution of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Dominican Republic. Course examine the tension between dictatorship and democracy, changing economic patterns of Dominican life, and the influence of the U.S. military interventions of 1916-1924 and 1965-1967 on the modern Dominican state. Emphasis is placed on how the Dominican Republic mirrors contemporary Caribbean socio-political development.
SOC-302 Research Methods
Introduction to the logic of social science research. Goal is to develop student's ability to review and evaluate critically social research findings and to prepare for planning and carrying out research. A variety of qualitative and quantitative designs are examined, including survey, experiment, participant observation, and evaluation research. Issues of sampling, measurement, causality, and validity are considered.
SOC-303 Data Analysis and Statistics
Study of elementary quantitative data analysis, including logic, application, and interpretation of statistical techniques. Students carry out and present original quantitative research projects. Includes laboratory. Prerequisite: C- or better in Soc 302 or consent of the instructor. One and one-quarter credits. Fulfills liberal arts requirement in quantitative reasoning.
SOC-306 Intro to Sociological Theory
Exploration of the nature of sociological theory and major theoretical orientations (paradigms). Course examines the origins and creation of these paradigms in the nineteenth and early twentieth century - the period of 'classical sociology' and their development, elaboration, and application in contemporary sociology.
SOC-310 Seminar in Sociological Theory
Examination of a topic in sociology from a number of theoretical perspectives. Emphasis is on gaining an in-depth knowledge of the topic, while also learning how theoretical perspectives shape research and analysis.
SOC-310A Theories of Self and Society
Emphasizes classical and contemporary approaches to understanding and explaining how individuals' behaviors, thoughts, and feelings influence and are influenced by those of other individuals and larger social units. The course focuses on major theoretical perspectives in sociological social psychology, primarily the structural and interaction perspectives. Students will examine how theories such as symbolic interaction theory, identity theory, role theory, and exchange theory have been applied in research to topics such as socialization, social relationships, communication, and group behavior. Prerequisite: Soc 306
SOC-311 Theories of Community
Study of communities from a sociological perspective, with major emphasis on urban areas. Theoretical perspectives of Weber, Simmel, Spengler, Park, Wirth, Redfield, Duncan, and others are examined and used to understand the historical development of cities, the ecology of cities, the development of suburbs, urbanism as a way of life, city planning, metropolitan dynamics, and contemporary urban problems. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor for nonmajors.
SOC-312 Theories of Social Change
Application of sociological theories to understanding social change in the globalizing world. Focus is on social institutions and the transformations occurring in work, schools, and families. Course considers the impact of gender, class, race, and position in the world economic system on the experience of change. Building on classical theories, the work of contemporary theorists including Acker, Giddens, Wallerstein, Bourdieu and Foucault are examined. Students also consider how groups may shape and direct change through social activism and movements. Prerequisite: Sociology 306 or consent of instructor for nonmajors.
SOC-313 Theories of Politics & Society
Analysis of the role of power in social and political institutions. Course examines the bases, distribution, and exercise of power in organizations, communities, and nations, as well as organized attempts to change existing power relationships. Theoretical perspectives include Marxism, Weberian theory, elitism and pluralism, resource mobilization, and new social movements theory. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor for nonmajors.
SOC-315 Theories of Self
Exploration of the nature of the self and how it is shaped by social experiences. Students examine classical and contemporary explanations of the origins of self and consider how individuals come to perceive themselves as gendered and sexual beings. Course includes symbolic interaction, psychoanalytic, and post-modern theories. Emphasis is on the influence of the family, work, and relationships on emotions and cognitive structures.
SOC-323 Field Methods in Social Research
Seminar on conducting qualitative fieldwork. Topics include how theory informs research, ethical issues, and developing descriptive fieldnotes. Students carry out original research projects, using field methods such as participant observation and qualitative interviewing, and learn how to gather data, analyze results, and write research reports. Prerequisite: C- or better in Sociology 302.
SOC-331 Reinventing Latin American Societies
A study of the changing role of the state in twentieth-century Latin America. Course explores why Latin American states shifted from promoting national development to preparing the region for globalization. Issues of social movements, political control, citizenship, and neoliberalism are examined in the context of widespread economic, social and political structuring of Latin America societies. Prerequisite: LAS 140 or any other course with a focus on Latin America. (Same as SOC 331)
SOC-400 Sociology Seminar
Intensive culminating experience for sociology-track majors. Under the direction of a faculty member, students work to integrate their major and their understanding of the sociological perspective. Prerequisite: A second 300-level course is strongly recommended for majors.
SOC-450 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
SOC-452 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
SOC-453 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
SOC-460 Individualized Study-Research
Individual investigation of a research topic in sociology in the student's special area of interest under the guidance of a faculty member. Topic must be approved by department. Project culminates in written and oral presentations of a formal paper to the departmental faculty. Required for departmental honors. Students must submit a proposal to the department a minimum of two weeks before the end of the semester preceding the proposed study. Prerequisite: Consent of department. Open to juniors and seniors only.
SOC-462 Individualized Study-Research
Individualized research not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
SOC-471 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
SOC-473 Individualized Study-Intern
Internship not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
SOC-474 Summer Internship
Summer Internship graded A-F, counting in the mimimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office.
SOC-475 Summer Internship
Summer Internship graded S/U, counting in the mimimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office
ANTH-103 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Comparative study of social practices and cultural systems, using a series of case studies of non-Western and Western cultures, including our own. Course gives overview of history of cultural anthropology, major questions and theoretical debates, fieldwork and research methods, and the relevance of anthropology to the modern world. No prerequisite.
ANTH-106 Introduction to Archaeology and Physical Anthropology
Study of how archaeologists and physical anthropologists reconstruct what people's lives were like in the past. Course uses case studies drawn from historical and ancient societies to examine how archaeology and physical anthropology contribute to anthropology's goal of understanding and comparing human behavior, religious beliefs, political structure, social organization, and economy. Students are introduced to the range of materials that archaeologists and physical anthropologists study, including burials, buildings, monumental art, trash, and texts; and to important theoretical concepts and methods
ANTH-205 Primate Behavior & Human Origins
Introduction to the anthropological study of human origins. Course focuses on primatology (the study of monkeys and apes) and human paleontology (the study of the human and pre-human fossil record.) Topics include different explanations for the evolution of humans from prehuman ancestors; current debates, such as the relationship between humans and Neandertals; and the role of culture in human evolution.
ANTH-215 Ethnographic Film:Theory and Practice
Survey and overview of the use of film in anthropological analysis and documentation. Course includes viewing and analysis of films, digital video production, and the making of short ethnographic films. Explores historical and contemporary trends in ethnographic filmmaking as these relate to the concerns of anthropology, including technical limitations and ethical issues encountered by ethnographic filmmakers. This course involves reflexive writing and hands-on film production work.
ANTH-220 World Cultures
Study of cultural patterns and social practices around the world, viewing them through the distinctive lens of cultural anthropology. Course looks at issues of culture contact, sociocultural change, and globalization of culture.
ANTH-221 Language and Culture
Introduction to the anthropological study of language and communicative behavior. The course compares human language with non-human primate communication; examines language acquisition among children; looks at ethnographies of communication from around the world; and explores linguistic relativity. In addition, the course touches on sociolinguistics to elucidate how communicative behavior varies within communities and nations according to age, gender, race, ethnicity, caste, and class. Students explore how languages change over time, and ask how people cope with linguistic difference during the contemporary era of globalization.
ANTH-223 Indigenous Peoples, the Environment, and the Global Economy
Examination of the ways that indigenous peoples are integrated into the global economy and international environmental movements. Will focus on such topics as informal economies, transnational migration, off-shore factory production, eco-tourism, toxic dumping, interactions between Western environmentalists and indigenous peoples, and the effects of environmental degradation on non-Western societies. Will examine how global inequalities are solidified or destabilized by contemporary economic and environmental practices. Will also review the emerging activism of indigenous peoples.
ANTH-225 Food, Culture, and Globalization
Study of food as a lens for understanding culture and globalization. The course considers religion, gender, ethnic identity, socioeconomic inequality, exchange, and nationalism through the study of the production and consumption of food in local and global settings. The course examines debates on the impact of globalization on local cultures through case studies of colonial food trades and contemporary global food industries.
ANTH-227 Anthropology of Religion
Study of theories of religion and aspects of religious systems in cross-cultural perspective. Through ethnographic case studies of religious practices among indigenous peoples, the course explores debates in anthropology regarding the definition of religion. Other central themes include: the role of religious leaders and ritual practitioners, myth and ritual, politics and religion, gender and religion, religious movements, and the role of religion in sociocultural change.
ANTH-228 Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Gender and Sex Roles
Examination of the social roles of women and men, the dynamics of sexual identity, and the ideologies of gender in various societies. Course explores broad theoretical issues (such as biological vs. cultural determinants; gender stratification and inequality; the effects of social, cultural, and economic variables), as well as a range of specific societal studies.
ANTH-232 Precolumbian Civilizations of Mesoamerica
Introduction to the organization and development of Native American civilizations in Mexico and Central America. Evidence from archaeological and ethnographic research, Native texts and art, and Spanish Colonial writings is used to study religious beliefs, sociopolitical organization, economic relationships, and intellectual achievements of such groups as the Olmec, Maya, and Aztecs. Period prior to the sixteenth-century Spanish conquest is emphasized, but modern indigenous cultures are also studied.
ANTH-235 Early Civilizations in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Study of the origins and development of the earliest urban societies. Compares and contrasts examples from different parts of the world, including China, Mesopotamia, Mesoamerica, Egypt, and South Asia. Using archaeological data, written texts, art, and other sources, the course studies the causes and consequences of the shift to more centralized political systems and more specialized economic organization. Course takes both cross-cultural and historical perspectives. Integral to the course is a discussion of how civilization and the state have been defined.
ANTH-236 Precolumbian Civilizations of South America
Introduction to the organization and development of Native American civilizations in South America. Evidence from archaeological and ethnographic research, Native texts and art, and Spanish Colonial writings is used to study religious beliefs, sociopolitical organization, economic relationships, and intellectual achievements of such groups as the Inka, Moche, and Chavin. Period prior to the sixteenth-century Spanish conquest is emphasized, but modern indigenous cultures are also studied.
ANTH-237 African & Afro-Latino Cultures: Studies in Power and Ritual
Cross-cultural comparisons of politics, religion, and identity in Africa and the African diaspora of Latin America and the Caribbean. Course explores case studies of religious rituals and spirit possession, slave revolts and wars of independence, cultural movements and ethnic mobilization on both sides of the southern Atlantic. Prerequisite: Prior course in Anthropology, African American Studies, or Latin American Studies.
ANTH-238 Anthropology of Contemporary Cultural Issues
Exploration of how anthropologists analyze current issues in international affairs and industrialized societies, including the United States. Case studies illustrate anthropological perspectives on topics such as nationalist movements and international development, ethnic tourism and advertising, immigration and multiculturalism, urban gangs and changing gender roles, modern myths and rituals. Course also discusses challenges of conducting fieldwork in diversified societies and ethical dilemmas arising in politically sensitive settings. No prerequisite.
ANTH-239 African Modernities
Study of contemporary African peoples and cultures based on anthropological readings, films, and novels. Course explores how global processes of colonialism, trade, and international development have influenced the lifestyles and social structures of different culture groups throughout the continent. Course examines, from an anthropological perspective, such contemporary topics as family life, gender and patriarchy, religion and the occult, ethnicity, migration, violence and war, child soldiers, youth crisis, environmental degradation, popular culture, informal economies, and emerging diseases.
ANTH-240 Modernity and Change in Asia/Pacific
Overview of people and culture of Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands from an anthropological perspective. The course covers the prehistory, migration patterns, contemporary cultures, and processes of sociocultural change. The main focus is on contemporary ethnographic writings that examine problems of gender, religion, rural and urban life, and the effects of globalization at the local level. The course considers major themes explored by anthropologists working in the region and how these contribute to theory in anthropology.
ANTH-245 Culture and Politics in the Middle East
Study of cultural variety in Middle East/North Africa region. The course introduces various ethnic and language groups as well as religious sects across national borders in the region. An understanding of the lived experiences of individuals and groups is encouraged through ethnographic readings. A major focus is how stereotypical notions of culture are deployed in political claims both within and concerning the region, including claims about group origins and homelands, women’s rights, and political Islam.
ANTH-250 Topics in Anthropology
Exploration of a particular topic, chosen by a faculty member
ANTH-300 History of Anthropological Theory
Analysis of the rise of anthropology and development of its major theoretical models. Course traces the precursors of anthropology, the emergence of the field of "anthropology" and its subdisciplines in the nineteenth century, the elaboration of the culture concept and fieldwork methods in the twentieth, and recent trends in post-colonial anthropology
ANTH-301 Social Life of Things
A cross-cultural exploration of how members of various societies, past and present, invest objects with symbolic meanings as they produce, utilize, and exchange them in everyday life. Drawing primarily on non-Western case studies, the course will integrate perspectives from studies of material culture in fields such as economic anthropology, archaeology, and the anthropology of art. These resources will illuminate the many ways that things acquire a kind of metaphorical life in association with the lives of people who use them.
ANTH-302 Human Rights through an Anthropological Lens
A study of human rights examined cross-culturally. The course focuses on gendered violence, violation of children's rights, genocide and ethnic persecution, refugees and exile, and disease and healthcare. Students explore linkages between non-Western peoples and transnational advocacy networks; media representation of indigenous peoples and human rights victims; processes of truth and reconciliation; and the fragility of domestic and national bonds in the face of human rights abuses. Students view these topics primarily through the lens of cultural anthropology, but include works by medical and forensic anthropologists.
ANTH-308 History of Anthropological Theory
Analysis of the rise of anthropology and development of its major theoretical models. Course traces the precursors of anthropology, the emergence of the field of "anthropology" and its subdisciplines in the nineteenth century, the elaboration of the culture concept and fieldwork methods in the twentieth, and recent trends in post-colonial anthropology
ANTH-310 Advanced Topics in Anthropolgy
Intensive exploration of an advanced anthropology topic, chosen by a faculty member
ANTH-323 Field Methods in Social Research
Seminar on conducting qualitative fieldwork. Topics include how theory informs research, ethical issues, and developing descriptive fieldnotes. Students carry out original research projects, using field methods such as participant observation and qualitative interviewing, and learn how to gather data, analyze results, and write research reports. Prerequisite: C- or better in Sociology 302.
ANTH-323 Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology
Seminar on how anthropologists conduct ethnographic fieldwork. The course covers participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and other ethnographic methods. Students examine the ethics of these methods along with strategies for organizing and analyzing fieldnotes. Assignments include writing a research proposal, carrying out original fieldwork, and writing a final research paper. In addition, students read about and discuss the subjective challenges of working with communities different from their own, confronting such issues as cultural relativism, poverty, political activism, and gender bias.
ANTH-325 Technology in Ancient Societies
Study of technology as a social process and as part of a cultural system in prehistoric and ancient societies. The course considers how and why archaeologists try to reconstruct technologies from earlier eras through analysis of material culture, experimentation, and comparative research in cultural anthropology and related disciplines. The relationship between technology and social roles, economic organization, the development and transmission of skills and knowledge, and the reproduction of cultural values is central to the course.
ANTH-400 Capstone Experience in Anthropology
Intensive culminating research experience for anthropology-sociology majors. Seminar is designed around particular topics or debates, which provide unifying themes for students' research projects. Course guides students as they consolidate their understanding of the anthropological perspective. Prerequisite: Anth 103, 105, and 308 or consent of the instructor. Offered every other year.
ANTH-450 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized Study Independent study in fields of special interest outside the scope of regular course offerings. Prerequisite: Consent of department.
ANTH-452 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial not counting toward minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
ANTH-453 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
ANTH-460 Individualized Study-Research
Individual investigation of a research topic in anthropology under the guidance of a faculty member. Topic must be approved by department. Project culminates in written and oral presentations of a formal paper to the faculty. Required for departmental honors. Students must submit a proposal a minimum of two weeks before the end of the semester preceding the proposed study. Prerequisite: Consent of department. Open to juniors and seniors only.
ANTH-462 Individualized Study-Research
Individualized research not counting toward minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
ANTH-463 Individualized Study-Research
Individualized research not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor graded S/U
ANTH-466 Field Research in Archaeology
ANTH-470 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
ANTH-473 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship not counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
ANTH-474 Summer Internship
Summer Internship graded A-F, counts for mimimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office.
ANTH-475 Summer Internship
Summer Internship graded S/U, counts for mimimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office
Sociology Courses: 100 | 200 | 300 | 400
SOC-101 Introduction to Sociology
Study of basic structures and dynamics of human societies, focusing on the development of principles and concepts used in sociological analysis and research. Topics include culture, socialization, social institutions, stratification, and social change. No prerequisite.
SOC-202 Wealth, Power & Prestige
Examination of distribution of valued resources and associated social ranking and rating systems. Topics include social classes, social mobility, economic and political power, and informal prestige and fame.
SOC-203 Population
Examination of the components of population composition (fertility, mortality, and migration) to understand how they interact to produce particular population structures and population growth rates. Course emphasizes the study of relationships between social and demographic variables, and the consequences of different population structures and population growth rates for societies as a whole and for various social groups. Special attention is given to the relationship between population dynamics and social change in the United States.
SOC-204 Soc of Mass Media&Popular Cult
Analysis of broadcast and print media institutions. Perspectives include the 'production of culture,' cultural content analysis, socialization effects, and media coverage. Various popular culture genres, both mass and folk, are covered, with special emphasis on music.
SOC-205 Sociology of Religion
An exploration of the nature and organization of religion from a variety of perspectives, e.g. functional, conflict, and interactionist. Topics include church-sect differences, relationships with other institutions (politics, media, family), social inequality (class, gender, ethnicity), social change, and group case studies.
SOC-206 Sociology of the Family
Analysis of the family as a social institution. Course takes a comparative and sociohistorical approach to the study of American families, with a particular focus on the interaction between family and economy. Topics include intrafamily relations, work-family links, and family policy.
SOC-207 Criminology
socIntroduction to the sociological study of crime. Course begins with a discussion of criminal law and the extent of crime, then continues with a comprehensive examination of police, courts, and corrections. Theories of crime causation, criminal behavior systems, and victimology are also examined.
SOC-209 Race & Ethnic Relations
Study of the diverse manifestations of race and ethnicity around the world, with particular focus on the American experience. Topics include immigration and assimilation, prejudice and discrimination, and the construction and reconstruction of ethnic and racial boundaries and identities.
SOC-212 Deviance,Diversity& Difference
Examination of the concept of deviance and exploration of various sociological theories and perspectives for viewing deviant phenomena. In-depth analysis of alcohol and drug use, variations in sexual behavior, pornography, violence, child abuse, and homelessness.
SOC-217 Gender Inequalities
Examination of patterns of gender stratification in American social structures. Course centers on how class, race, and gender influence the experiences of women and men in families and occupations. Topics include images of women in the media, construction of gender, and movements for change. Prerequisite: Sociology 101.
SOC-233 Science, Knowledge & New Age
Exploration of science as a social institution. History and ideology of science as an objective method are examined, drawing from Merton, Kuhn and others. 'Antiscience' and 'New Science' perspectives include postmodernist, feminist, and New Age views. Parapsychology and other paranormal topics receive special attention as alternative knowledge systems.
SOC-239 Health, Medicine and Society
Analysis of social factors that influence health and illness and of health care as a social institution. Topics include the cultural construction of health and illness, the sick role, the effects of social inequality on health and illness, health occupations and professions, and the social organization of health care systems in various societies. Prerequisite: Soc 101.
SOC-240 Sexualities
Exploration of how sexualities are socially constructed and controlled. In this course we use a sociological lens to examine how sexualities directly and indirectly shape our daily lives. We adopt both a life-course perspective and a cross-cultural perspective to understand the fluidity of sexual identities (lesbian, straight, gay, and bisexual) throughout our lives and within different cultural contexts. Topics include categorization of sexualities, representation of sexualities, sexual identities, sex practices, sexual health and disease, commercial sex, and social control of sexualities.
SOC-241 Globalization
Examination of the changing relationship between nation, culture, politics and economics in a global context. Using comparative case studies from around the world, this course examines a variety of questions about contemporary social change.
SOC-243 The Chinese Connection: Chinese Demographics from a Global Perspective
Examination of relationships between China?s political and socio-economic changes and the Chinese Diaspora over the past century. The course explores how the diasporas are affected by China?s changing global positions. The course investigates these issues through understanding the connectivity of Chinese lives in and out of China. North America and Singapore will be used as case studies to examine the relationships of overseas Chinese people with China.
SOC-250 Special Topics in Sociology
Exploration of a topic in sociology not usually covered in the regular curriculum.
SOC-262 Social Development of Latin America
Study of Latin American societies focusing on the development of democracy and social movements. Students learn about a variety of Latin American democratic and authoritarian experiences. The course examines both top down and bottom up approaches to the study of democracy.
SOC-267 Society and Politics in Latin America
Study of the sociopolitical evolution of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Dominican Republic. Course examine the tension between dictatorship and democracy, changing economic patterns of Dominican life, and the influence of the U.S. military interventions of 1916-1924 and 1965-1967 on the modern Dominican state. Emphasis is placed on how the Dominican Republic mirrors contemporary Caribbean socio-political development.
SOC-302 Research Methods
Introduction to the logic of social science research. Goal is to develop student's ability to review and evaluate critically social research findings and to prepare for planning and carrying out research. A variety of qualitative and quantitative designs are examined, including survey, experiment, participant observation, and evaluation research. Issues of sampling, measurement, causality, and validity are considered.
SOC-303 Data Analysis and Statistics
Study of elementary quantitative data analysis, including logic, application, and interpretation of statistical techniques. Students carry out and present original quantitative research projects. Includes laboratory. Prerequisite: C- or better in Soc 302 or consent of the instructor. One and one-quarter credits. Fulfills liberal arts requirement in quantitative reasoning.
SOC-306 Intro to Sociological Theory
Exploration of the nature of sociological theory and major theoretical orientations (paradigms). Course examines the origins and creation of these paradigms in the nineteenth and early twentieth century - the period of 'classical sociology' and their development, elaboration, and application in contemporary sociology.
SOC-310 Seminar in Sociological Theory
Examination of a topic in sociology from a number of theoretical perspectives. Emphasis is on gaining an in-depth knowledge of the topic, while also learning how theoretical perspectives shape research and analysis.
SOC-310A Theories of Self and Society
Emphasizes classical and contemporary approaches to understanding and explaining how individuals' behaviors, thoughts, and feelings influence and are influenced by those of other individuals and larger social units. The course focuses on major theoretical perspectives in sociological social psychology, primarily the structural and interaction perspectives. Students will examine how theories such as symbolic interaction theory, identity theory, role theory, and exchange theory have been applied in research to topics such as socialization, social relationships, communication, and group behavior. Prerequisite: Soc 306
SOC-311 Theories of Community
Study of communities from a sociological perspective, with major emphasis on urban areas. Theoretical perspectives of Weber, Simmel, Spengler, Park, Wirth, Redfield, Duncan, and others are examined and used to understand the historical development of cities, the ecology of cities, the development of suburbs, urbanism as a way of life, city planning, metropolitan dynamics, and contemporary urban problems. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor for nonmajors.
SOC-312 Theories of Social Change
Application of sociological theories to understanding social change in the globalizing world. Focus is on social institutions and the transformations occurring in work, schools, and families. Course considers the impact of gender, class, race, and position in the world economic system on the experience of change. Building on classical theories, the work of contemporary theorists including Acker, Giddens, Wallerstein, Bourdieu and Foucault are examined. Students also consider how groups may shape and direct change through social activism and movements. Prerequisite: Sociology 306 or consent of instructor for nonmajors.
SOC-313 Theories of Politics & Society
Analysis of the role of power in social and political institutions. Course examines the bases, distribution, and exercise of power in organizations, communities, and nations, as well as organized attempts to change existing power relationships. Theoretical perspectives include Marxism, Weberian theory, elitism and pluralism, resource mobilization, and new social movements theory. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor for nonmajors.
SOC-315 Theories of Self
Exploration of the nature of the self and how it is shaped by social experiences. Students examine classical and contemporary explanations of the origins of self and consider how individuals come to perceive themselves as gendered and sexual beings. Course includes symbolic interaction, psychoanalytic, and post-modern theories. Emphasis is on the influence of the family, work, and relationships on emotions and cognitive structures.
SOC-323 Field Methods in Social Research
Seminar on conducting qualitative fieldwork. Topics include how theory informs research, ethical issues, and developing descriptive fieldnotes. Students carry out original research projects, using field methods such as participant observation and qualitative interviewing, and learn how to gather data, analyze results, and write research reports. Prerequisite: C- or better in Sociology 302.
SOC-331 Reinventing Latin American Societies
A study of the changing role of the state in twentieth-century Latin America. Course explores why Latin American states shifted from promoting national development to preparing the region for globalization. Issues of social movements, political control, citizenship, and neoliberalism are examined in the context of widespread economic, social and political structuring of Latin America societies. Prerequisite: LAS 140 or any other course with a focus on Latin America. (Same as SOC 331)
SOC-400 Sociology Seminar
Intensive culminating experience for sociology-track majors. Under the direction of a faculty member, students work to integrate their major and their understanding of the sociological perspective. Prerequisite: A second 300-level course is strongly recommended for majors.
SOC-450 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
SOC-452 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
SOC-453 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
SOC-460 Individualized Study-Research
Individual investigation of a research topic in sociology in the student's special area of interest under the guidance of a faculty member. Topic must be approved by department. Project culminates in written and oral presentations of a formal paper to the departmental faculty. Required for departmental honors. Students must submit a proposal to the department a minimum of two weeks before the end of the semester preceding the proposed study. Prerequisite: Consent of department. Open to juniors and seniors only.
SOC-462 Individualized Study-Research
Individualized research not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
SOC-471 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
SOC-473 Individualized Study-Intern
Internship not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
SOC-474 Summer Internship
Summer Internship graded A-F, counting in the mimimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office.
SOC-475 Summer Internship
Summer Internship graded S/U, counting in the mimimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office
300 North Washington Street · Gettysburg, PA 17325