Courses

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 prerequisites.

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. No prerequisites.

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 Neanderthals; and the role of culture in human evolution. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106.

Investigation of the impact that the Roman Empire had on the indigenous Celts and other peoples of Western Europe. The course takes a critical look at the idea that the spread of Roman "civilization" was ultimately beneficial to the supposed "barbarians" brought under imperial rule. The course also compares Roman colonialism with modern empires and imperial projects, and analyzes how examples of modern colonialism used the Roman Empire as a model and ideological justification for European colonial expansion and domination. ANTH 210 and CLA 210 are cross-listed.

Survey of the major archaeological sites and time periods of Pennsylvania from the earliest peoples to the twentieth century. The class focuses in particular on archaeological practice, including participation in excavations and working with artifacts. Other important themes include the use of both archaeology and historical texts to understand the past, and the ethics of archaeological practice and interpretation, especially in regard to the material record of the state's original peoples.

Survey of the ancient peoples of Europe during the first millennium B.C. and their relation to the seven modern Celtic nations of the Atlantic fringe. Through an examination of archaeology, ancient history, mythology, and anthropology, this course investigates the relation between ancient and modern Celtic cultures, and the ways in which the archaeology of the ancient Celts has been used to construct modern Celtic identities. Prerequisite: ANTH 103 or ANTH 106

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106, or Film Studies 101.

Study of the relationship between food and national identity in the French context. Through close readings of historical, sociological, and anthropological texts, as well as analysis of debates surrounding recent food controversies (rising obesity rates, genetically modified foods, regionally certified “authentic” foods), this course aims to develop students’ understanding of important anthropological theory in the study of food (taste, consumption, gifts), while building their awareness of the role food plays in the construction and expression of individual and group identity. Prerequisite: FREN 310. FREN 315 and ANTH 217 are cross-listed.

Ethnographic look at the lived experiences of Muslim women. The course explores how these experiences are informed or mediated by religious texts and practices, as well as by political systems, ethnicity, sectarianism, class, family, migration, and other factors. A major focus is women’s rights and how activists are shaping their discourses of rights through reinterpretation of Islamic texts and critiques of state governments and legal institutions. Prerequisite: Anthropology 103 or 106.

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106.

Course focuses on indigenous peoples in a globalizing world, examining how local communities interact with corporations, nation-states, and non-state entities that seek to dispossess them of their natural resources and territory and assimilate them into national structures. Analyzes indigenous experiences around the world, along with efforts by communities to link up with the global indigenous rights movement. Through this movement indigenous peoples and their transnational allies make new claims for environmental and social justice, human rights, and self-determination. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106.

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.

Examination of archaeological and physical anthropological research on the human body. Course considers how such research is carried out, what it contributes to our understanding of prehistoric and ancient societies, and what are the ethical issues unique to the analysis of human remains. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106.

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106.

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106.

Study of the literary and bodily encounters between places, people, capital, and cultures in the context of China’s modernization and globalization. Students read historical and contemporary travel writings, view documentary films, and analyze ethnographically-based research to explore what happens on the meeting grounds between "hosts" and "guests" and how these encounters shape landscapes, nation building, ethnic identities, traditions, and gender and class boundaries. All readings are in English. Prerequisites: One of the following courses: ANTH103, ANTH 106, HIST 103, HIST 106, HIST 110, HIST 301, REL 101, or ARTH 131. Cross-listed with Asian Studies.

An exploration of the diversity of women's familial, political, economic and social realities and experiences in West Africa and the African Diaspora in South America and the Caribbean. Particular attention is given to the processes by which indigenous West African gender and cultural patterns and their inherent power relations have shifted since pre-colonial times and across the Atlantic into the New World. Finally, the course examines the concept of Diaspora and theories relative to processes of cultural change, resistance, and retentions, as well as the role gender plays in these processes. No prerequisites. ANTH 231, WGS 231 and LAS 231 are cross-listed.

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106; or Latin American Studies 140 or 147. Anth 232 and LAS 232 are cross-listed.

Study of how social and cultural differences are understood, used, and managed in contemporary France. Through close readings of historical, anthropological, and sociological works, as well as analysis of literary, philosophical, and political texts, this course aims to shed light on recent polemics concerning headscarves, the banlieue, gay marriage, affirmative action, and the new Paris museums of immigration and “primitive” art. In the process, it invites reflection on the relativity of such notions as race, ethnicity, gender, and national identity. Prerequisite: French 310. Cross-listed with ANTH 233.

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106; or Latin American Studies 140 or 147. Anth 236 and LAS 236 are cross-listed.

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106.

Examination of contemporary societies in Southeast Asia and the Pacific from an anthropological perspective. Focus is on current ethnographic writings about modernity and change among indigenous peoples. Major themes include migration and urbanization, transformations of gender and religion, ethnic conflict and violence, environmental change and environmental movements, and the effects of globalization at the local level. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106.

Exploration of work in anthropology on Scandinavian cultural values, with particular emphasis on contemporary Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Examines egalitarianism in Scandinavian societies, national identities, and social welfare policies. Key topics include ethnographic work on childhood and youth socialization, immigration and the incorporation of immigrants, and the role of religion and secularism in contemporary Scandinavia, including Norse neo-pagan religious movements and reenactment relating to the Viking age.

Study of political and social unrest in France. By examining such issues as anti-immigrant sentiment, fear of homegrown Islamic fundamentalism, youth uprisings, and panic over food safety, this course aims to shed light on shifting conceptions of French national identity. More broadly, it invites reflection on what it means to belong to any society in the context of an increasingly globalized, pluralistic world where the risks we face are ever more complex and diffuse. Prerequisite: ANTH 103 or 106; or permission of the instructor.

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106.

Exploration of a particular topic, chosen by a faculty member

Survey of various sites and material cultures of the Mediterranean world, from c. 1500 BCE through 500 CE, including some discussion of the goals, methods, and cultural/ legal issues involved in archaeological research. Normally offered every other year. ANTH 255 and CLA 255 are cross-listed.

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 and 106.

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106, and one 200-level Anthropology course.

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106, and one 200-level Anthropology course.

Exploration of anthropological approaches to the study of war, violence, conflict, and conflict resolution. The course considers anthropological theorizing on the causes and effects of diverse forms of violence and conflict, including state and ethnic violence. Ethnographic examples provide insight into how ethnicity, sectarianism, class, kinship, poverty, nationalism, religion and other factors cause and mediate conflict. The course serves as an introduction to political and legal anthropology and examines ethical issues surrounding anthropologists’ study of and involvement in conflict situations. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106, and one 200-level Anthropology course.

Intensive exploration of an advanced anthropology topic, chosen by a faculty member.

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. Prerequisite: Anth 103 and one additional course in anthropology.

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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103 or 106, and one 200-level Anthropology course.

Study from both a theoretical and methodological level of the various forms of social inequality that emerged in the ancient world, as well as the forms of egalitarianism that have persisted throughout the world to the present day. The course emphasizes in particular a critical understanding of the ways in which ancient forms of inequality compare and contrast to what we see today in the modern world. ANTH 345 and CLA 345 are cross-listed.

Intensive culminating research experience for anthropology 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. Prerequisites: Anthropology 103, 106, and 300, or consent of instructor.

Individualized Study Independent study in fields of special interest outside the scope of regular course offerings. Prerequisite: Consent of department.

Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U

Individualized tutorial not counting toward minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F

Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U

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.

Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U

Individualized research not counting toward minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F

Individualized research not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor graded S/U

Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F

Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U

Internship not counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F

Internship not counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U

Summer Internship graded A-F, counts for minimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office.

Summer Internship graded S/U, counts for minimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office