DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY

Undergraduate Course Catalog

Below, find all undergraduate course descriptions.

• Courses primarily for first-year students and sophomores
• Courses primarily for juniors and seniors

Please note that not all courses are offered every quarter. See current and upcoming courses below.

Courses primarily for first-year students and sophomores

ANTHRO 101-6 First-Year Seminar

Open to first-year students in Weinberg College; does not satisfy major/minor requirements in Anthropology.

ANTHRO 211 - Culture and Society

Introduction to the comparative study of culture, exploring different types of social organization and their economic and political correlates in the context of contemporary globalization.
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 213 - Human Origins

The emergence of human species through the process of organic evolution, emphasizing genetics, the fossil record, comparison with our nearest living relatives.
Natural Sciences Distro Area
Natural Sciences Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 214 - Archaeology: Unearthing History

The evolution of culture from its earliest beginnings through the development of urbanism and the state. Principles of archaeological research.
Historical Studies Distro Area
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 215 - The Study of Culture through Language

The scope of linguistic anthropology from the study of language as an end in itself to the investigation of cultures through the medium of human languages.
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 221 - Social and Health Inequalities

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Biological; Human Biology; Environmental and Social Change; Medicine, Culture and Society; Race and Racism)

Bidirectional relationship between social (e.g., class, gender, and racial/ ethnic) and health inequalities, including institutional/ structural, individual/family/psychosocial, and biological mechanisms.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity

ANTHRO 232 - Myth and Symbolism

(Concentration: Cultural)

Introduction to different approaches to the interpretation of myth and symbolism, e.g., Freudian, functionalist and structuralist.
Ethical and Evaluative Thinking Foundational Discipline
Ethics Values Distro Area

ANTHRO 235 - Language in Asian America

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Race and Racism)

Survey of linguistic anthropological topics relevant to Asian American communities, including bilingualism, code switching, language socialization, language shift, style, sociolinguistic variation, indexicality, media, and semiotics. Taught with ASIAN_AM 235-0; may not receive credit for both courses. 
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity

ANTHRO 238 - Food in Culture & Society

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture and Society)

This class explores food in all its cultural and social dimensions: deep history and origins; social, economic and political organization of the modern food industry; and cultural significance. Individual research projects allow in-depth study of one food; speakers, videos and experiential assignments take students out of the classroom to meet the people who sell, make, and grow our food.
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 240 - Anthropology of Money

(Concentration: Cultural)

A survey of cultural and ethnographic approaches to money and finance. Topics of investigation include “primitive money,” the uses of money in religious and ritual practices, social and cultural meanings of numbers, mobile money, crypto-currency and other alternative currency systems, and the politics of central banking. Prerequisite: None
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 242 - Porous Borders? Geography, Power and Techniques of Movement

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Archaeology; Race and Racism)

At the advent of globalization scholars have argued that themovements of capital, commodities and people across nation-stateshave rendered their borders increasingly porous. The death of thenation-state was announced elsewhere. Yet, in the epoch of offshored refugee processing centers and border walls, this assumedporosity of borders begs a reexamination of broader geographies ofpower and techniques of movement.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 255 - Contemporary African Worlds

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Race and Racism)

Use of key anthropological insights about value judgments and cultural relativism to examine the survival strategies and turbulent histories of contemporary African societies.
Ethical and Evaluative Thinking Foundational Discipline
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice and Equity
Ethics Values Distro Area

ANTHRO 275 - Introduction to Forensic Anthropology

(Concentration(s): Archaeology; Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture and Society)

This course provides an introductory overview of forensic anthropology by reviewing a range of issues associated with human skeletal identification including recovery techniques, time since death, biological profile development, trauma analysis, mass disasters investigation, and ethical consideration in forensic anthropology. These will serve as a model for understanding the broader aspects of the interaction between anthropology and the medicolegal system.
Natural Sciences Distro Area
Natural Sciences Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 290 - Topics in Anthropology

Intermediate work in areas of developing interest and special significance. May be repeated for credit with different topic.

Courses primarily for juniors and seniors

ANTHRO 306 - Evolution of Life Histories

(Concentration(s): Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture and Society)

Evolved strategies for allocating resources among growth, reproduction, and maintenance; emphasis on the biological processes underlying the human life cycle and its evolution.

ANTHRO 307 - Anthropology of Peace

(Concentration: Cultural)

Cultural and ethnographic approaches to peace, peace building and peace activism. Topics of investigation include the concept of "peaceful societies," cultural mechanisms for conflict resolution, truth and reconciliation, the relationship between peace and commerce, and the role of literature, art and material culture in peace activism.  Prerequisite: None
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 309 - Human Osteology

(Concentration(s): Archaeology; Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture and Society)

Knowledge of human osteology forms the basis of physical and forensic anthropology, bioarchaeology, paleoanthropology and clinical anatomy. This course will provide an intensive introduction to the human skeleton; particularly the identification of complete and fragmentary skeletal remains.
Natural Sciences Distro Area
Natural Sciences Foundational Discipline 

ANTHRO 312 - Human Population Biology

(Concentration(s): Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture and Society)

Current theory and research in human biological diversity, focusing on the impact of ecological and social factors on human biology; how adaptation to environmental stressors promotes human biological variation.
Natural Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 313 - Evolutionary Medicine 

(Concentration(s): Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture and Society)

In this course we explore how evolution has made our bodies susceptible to the role of environments and social forces, including factors like stress, discrimination and inequality. We consider fields at the interface of the social and biological, including genetics,epigenetics and social epidemiology.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 314 - Human Growth and Development

(Concentration(s): Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture and Society)

Integrated biological and cultural perspective on human growth and development from infancy through adolescence; cross-cultural variation in developmental processes and outcomes. Prerequisite: 100- or 200-level course in anthropology, psychology, or biology or consent of instructor.

ANTHRO 315 - Medical Anthropology

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture and Society)

Theories of interactions between culture and biology that affect human health. Beliefs and practices for curing illness and maintaining well-being. The Cross-cultural study of infectious and chronic diseases, mental illness, infant/maternal mortality, poverty, and gender. Prerequisite: 100- or 200-level anthropology or sociology course, or consent of instructor.

Fossil record and reconstruction of phylogeny, morphological and behavioral adaptation of early hominids and forebears.
Natural Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 318 - Material Worlds of the Middle Ages

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Archaeology; Environmental and Social Change)

The landscapes, buildings, and material culture of medieval Europe, as seen through archaeology and related disciplines. Villages, fields and peasant communities; castles, houses, and churches great and small; pottery, artifacts, dress and foodways.
Historical Studies Distro Area
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 319 - Material Life & Culture in Europe, 1500-1800AD

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Archaeology)

The landscapes, buildings, and material culture of early modern Europe, as seen through archaeology and related disciplines. Villages, fields and rural communities; towns; houses and churches great and small; pottery, artifacts, dress and foodways.
Historical Studies Distro Area
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 320 - Peoples of Africa

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics)

A survey of the cultures of Africa and the significant similarities and differences among the indigenous societies of the continent.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 321 - Archaeological Field Methods

(Concentration: Archaeology)

Practical training in archaeological field methods and techniques at an excavation site; given with Summer Archaeological Field School.

ANTHRO 322 - Introduction to Archaeology Research Design and Methods

(Concentration: Archaeology)

Regional and site-specific approaches to the description and analysis of patterns in archaeological data, including settlement survey, site characterization, vertical excavations, and horizontal household excavations.
Advanced Expression
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline

 ANTHRO 324 - Archaeological Survey Methods

(Concentration: Archaeology)

Archaeological surveys and their unique contributions to research about past peoples and places. This course will utilize geospatial technologies, such as shallow geophysics and GIS.                                                 
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area

ANTHRO 325 - Archaeological Methods Laboratory

(Concentration: Archaeology)

Analysis of archaeological methods (faunal, botanical, artifact, or soil analysis) with various techniques. May be repeated for credit.

ANTHRO 326 - Archaeologies of Sustainability and Collapse 

(Concentration(s): Archaeology; Environmental and Social Change)

Archaeological survey of case studies from the past to interrogate human-environment relationships across time and space, including the present and the future. Taught with ENV POL 385-0; may not receive credit for both courses.
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 327 - Historical Archaeology

(Concentration: Archaeology)

History of different ethnic groups in America as shown through living quarters, burials, food remains, tools, jewelry, etc. How groups have been portrayed in museums claiming to depict the American past. Focus on African Americans and Native Americans.
Historical Studies Distro Area
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 328 - The Maya

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Archaeology; Environmental and Social Change)

The archaeology of the Maya in Latin America; life and society in pre-Columbian Maya civilization.
Historical Studies Distro Area

ANTHRO 329 - Archaeology and Nationalism (1 Unit)   

(Concentration: Archaeology)

The course explores the role of archaeology in the creation and elaboration of national identities (18th C century to present): the institutionalization of archaeology; development of museums and practices of display/interpretation;archaeological sites as national monuments and tourist destinations; and cultural property legislation and artifact repatriation. HUM 329-0 and ANTHRO 329-0 are taught together; may not receive credit for both.
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Historical Studies Distro Area
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 330 - Peoples of the World

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Race and Racism)

Ethnography and comparative study of a regionally or historically associated group of cultures or a type of community defined in ecological, ideological, or other terms. May be repeated for credit.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 332 - The Anthropology of Reproduction

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture and Society)

Marriage and reproduction throughout the world, particularly the developing world and Africa. Conjugal strategies, fertility, contraception.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 333 - GIS for the Social Sciences

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Archaeology; Environment and Social Change)

This course introduces Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool for analyzing spatial phenomena in the social sciences. Students will explore the fundamental principles of GIS, learn to handle spatial data, and apply spatial analysis to address questions in the social sciences. Through seminar, labs, and projects, students will develop skills in spatial analysis, visualization, and critical interpretation of geographic data. Additionally, the course combines practical GIS skills with foundational knowledge of research design, equipping students to conceptualize, execute, and critically evaluate GIS-based studies. Students will learn to integrate spatial data with social science questions, explore analytical methods, and navigate ethical and methodological challenges in research.

ANTHRO 334 - Anthropology of HIV-AIDs

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture, and Society)

The experiences of HIV-positive people; local and global policies shaping access to treatment; contributions of anthropologists to reducing HIV/AIDS globally. Readings from classic and current ethnographies. Prerequisite: 300-level course in anthropology or sociology.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 339 - Material Culture

ANTHRO 340 - Visual Anthropology of Africa

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Race and Racism)

Anthropological analysis of techniques, visual rhetoric, and narrative strategies embedded in images of Africa and Africans in a variety of contemporary and digital media. Course includes instruction in video production. Prerequisite: 200-level social science or African studies course or consent of instructor.

ANTHRO 341 - Economic Anthropology

(Concentration: Cultural)

Economic organization in small-scale, non-industrialized communities. Traditional structures of primitive and peasant economies.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 342 - Anthropology of Education

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics)

This course introduces and operationalizes understandings, perspectives, and methods foundational to educational anthropology (the study of educational practice in cultural context).
Advanced Expression
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 343 - Anthropology of Race

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture, and Society; Race and Racism)

Anthropological approaches to the analysis of race, racialization, and anti-racism. Human variation, space, segregation, comparative analysis, and language ideologies.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 345 - Black Queer Diaspora

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Race and Racism)

This course explores Black LGBTQ+ sexual cultures and social movements around the world. Across shared and divergent histories, Black LGBTQ+ people have been shaped by and continuously reshape conceptions of race, gender, and sexuality. Focusing on ethnography, Black queer theory, music, movies, photography, and other scholarly and artistic works, we study social practices and activism oriented towards freedom and flourishing.
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 350 - Anthropology of Religion

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics)

The human relationship with the supernatural and action patterns accompanying beliefs. Comparison of nonliterate religions and historical religions.
Ethics Values Distro Area

ANTHRO 351 - Hope and Futurity

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics)

An in-depth survey of anthropological, sociological, literary, philosophical and religious explorations into the problem of hope. Prerequisite: None

ANTHRO 354 - Gender and Anthropology

(Concentration: Cultural)

Cross-cultural survey of women's roles from three perspectives: biosocial, sociocultural, politico-economic. Theory of gender inequality; emphasis on the third world.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 355 - Sexualities

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Archaeology; Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture, and Society)

Cross-cultural survey of sexuality from an anthropological perspective.  Focus on the first half of the 20th century, the 1970s, 1980s, and the turn of the century.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 358 - Primate Behavior and Ecology

(Concentration(s): Biological; Human Biology)

This course provides an introductory overview of non-human primate behavior and ecology, covering topics nutrition, cognition, sociality, and conservation. No prerequisites.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 359 - The Human Microbiome and Health

(Concentration(s): Biological; Human Biology; Environmental and Social Change; Medicine, Culture, and Society)

Discussion-based analysis of cutting edge research on the microbes associated with the human body and their impacts on health. Consideration of historical, social, and political influences on observed patterns.
Natural Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 360 - Language and Culture

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Race and Racism)

The relationship between language and culture: language as the vehicle of culture and as the manifestation of thought.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 361 - Talk as Social Action

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Race and Racism)

Analysis of talk in interaction based on examination of audio and video recorded data and associated transcripts. Conversation, action, turn, sequence, relevance, social structure, qualitative methodologies. Prerequisite: 215 or consent of instructor.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 365 - Language, Race, and Ethnicity in the United States

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Race and Racism)

Analysis of connections between language ideologies, language use, and meanings of race and ethnicity. Bilingualism, immigration, identity, accented English, African American English, language policy, "English only" movement, education, social change. Taught with ASIAN AM 365; students may not earn credit for both courses.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 368 - Latina & Latino Ethnography

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Race and Racism)

The Sociocultural analysis of U.S. Latina/o communities.  Examines ethnographies by and about Latina/os based in the United States.  Draws on a broad disciplinary basis, to critique and elaborate on ethnographic methods and epistemologies.  Prerequisite: 211, Latin AM 251, or consent of instructor.
Ethics Values Distro Area
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 369 - Contemporary Immigration to the United States

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Race and Racism)

Major theories in immigration studies; contemporary processes of immigration and immigrant "community building" in the United States. Prerequisite: 1 300- level course in anthropology or sociology.

ANTHRO 370 - Anthropology in Historical Perspective

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Archaeology; Biological; Human Biology; Race and Racism)

Major schools of thought in social, archaeological and biological anthropology over the last century. Prerequisite: one 200-level course in anthropology or consent of instructor.
Historical Studies Distro Area
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 373 - Power and Culture in American Cities

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Race and Racism)

Overview of history and present realities of American urban life, with a focus on ethnographic knowledge and stratification by class, race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, and sexuality. Prerequisite: 100- or 200-level cultural anthropology or sociology course or consent of instructor.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 375 - Advanced Methods in Forensic Anthropology

(Concentration(s): Archaeology; Biological; Human Biology; Race and Racism)

This course provides a review of advanced methods in forensic anthropology. We will discuss the full range of issues associated with human skeletal identification from biological profile construction to trauma analysis. This class will include discussion of relevant literature in forensic anthropology and hands-on, dry lab activity to better appreciate the reality of practitioners in the field.
Natural Sciences Distro Area
Natural Sciences Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 377 - Psychological Anthropology

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture, and Society)

Contemporary approaches to cross-cultural behavior: ecocultural aspects of behavior development through maturation and socialization in human and nonhuman primates. Prerequisite: introductory survey courses in psychology or anthropology, or consent of instructor.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 378 - Law and Culture

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics)

Introduction to the anthropology of law; institutional knowledge as seen in material culture and legal documents; colonial and post-colonial settings; examines the relationships between law and culture, colonialism, evidence, and globalization. Prerequisite: 200-level course in anthropology or consent of instructor.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

ANTHRO 382 - Political Ecology 

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Archaeology; Environmental and Social Change)

Introduction to a multidisciplinary body of theory and research that analyzes the environmental articulations of political, economic, and social difference and inequality. Topics include environmental scarcity and degradation, sustainability, resilience and conservation. Taught with ENV POL 385-0; may not receive credit for both courses.
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity

ANTHRO 383 - Environmental Anthropology

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Archaeology; Biological; Human Biology; Environmental and Social Change; Medicine, Culture, and Society)

How humans have changed and are changing the environment and what can be done to halt environmental deterioration. Topics include population trends, food supplies, consumerism, environmental regulation, and ecological consciousness.
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 384 - Traveling While Muslim: Islam, Mobility, and Security after 9/11

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Race and Racism)

What are the stakes of traveling while Muslim in that post 9/11 era of racing Islam? How do we come to understand such mobility? In probing these questions, amongst others, in this seminar we aim to examine the interlocked relationship between Islam, mobility and security.

ANTHRO 386 - Methods in Human Biology Research

(Concentration(s): Biological; Human Biology; Medicine, Culture, and Society)

A laboratory-based introduction to international research in human biology and health; methods for assessing nutritional status, physical activity, growth, cardiovascular health, endocrine and immune function.
Advanced Expression
Natural Sciences Distro Area
Natural Sciences Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 389 - Ethnographic Methods and Analysis

(Concentration(s): Cultural; Linguistics; Environmental and Social Change; Medicine, Culture, and Society; Race and Racism)

Descriptive, naturalistic study of the culture of human social groups. Data gathering through observation and interview. Data analysis for ethnographic reporting. Prerequisites: 211 or 215.
Advanced Expression
Social Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipline

ANTHRO 390 - Topics in Anthropology

Advanced work in areas of developing interest and special significance. Can be repeated for credit with a different topic.

ANTHRO 398 - Senior Seminar