2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog | 20243

ANTH 1100 Human Evolution (3 credits)

Humans as biological and cultural organisms. The physical origin of humans and the primates; the interplay of biological and cultural factors in our evolution; physical variations among modern human populations. [Core Curriculum Goal Area 5]
Common Course Outline

ANTH 1110 Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)

This course is an introduction to the field of cultural anthropology. After an introduction of the four-field approach to understanding anthropology, the main focus of this course is to undertake a detailed introduction and a holistic understanding of the field of cultural anthropology. Our goal, in this course is to undertake a critical analysis of the cultures we come from and use this theoretical framework to understand other cultures. To this end, we will study important aspects of the socio-cultural institutions that influence our value systems. We will examine political, social, religious, economic institutions in our culture and understand how these cultural systems influence communication, marriage, sex, gender, ritual, art and expression. An underlying theme through this course is to undertake an analytical view of the interaction between our own culture and global cultures. Overall, this course should give students a critical perspective on cultural complexities, social diversity and develop a nuanced understanding of global inequities. [Core Curriculum Goal Area 8]
Common Course Outline

ANTH 2610 Women around the World (3 credits)

This course explores the concepts of sex, gender and of gender identity around diverse countries in the world. We will survey how womanhood is defined in cultures around the world. We will focus on issues connected to women, on transgender issues as they relate to identification as women. The course surveys the embedded nature of women's lives in cultural institutions like family, community, patriarchy and the state. [Core Curriculum Goal Area 8]
Common Course Outline

ANTH 2710 Anthropology of World Religions (3 credits)

This course serves as an introduction to the major religions of the world and is oriented in the anthropological approach of studying religion. In addition to understanding major religions of the world and their practices, we will study how religions affect culture and how culture in turn affects religions. We will study and analyze traditional topics in anthropology such as myths, rituals, magic, witchcraft and spirituality and explore the differences between organized religions and practices in smaller scale societies. More importantly the course will focus on the influence of religion on a diversity of social life - through political, economic, social, national and international levels. In the end, students will be able to identify and analyze the complex interrelationship between religion and all major aspects of modern life. [Core Curriculum Goal Area(s) 7 & 8]
Common Course Outline

ANTH 3280 Bollywood: Films and Culture of India (3 credits)

This course examines the film and culture of India via a focus on Bollywood, or the Hindi language film industry in India. We will employ anthropological and film theory to examine how Indian culture shapes film making in the country. In turn, the course will also analyze how landmark Bollywood films have impacted regional and national cultural values in India. Through our examination of cinema in India the primary objective of the course is to engage an analytical view of the complex culture, history and diversity in India. [Core Curriculum Goal Area 8.]
Common Course Outline

ANTH 3400 Anthropology of Current World Issues - Religion and Nationalism (3 credits)

This course employs a cultural anthropological lens to critically examine world events. Using holistic perspectives from anthropology we will undertake an analysis of the interconnected nature of countries and cultures around the world. In this class we will focus on two significant cultural ideas - religion and nationalism to understand how these impact global geopolitics. Using examples from around the world like India, United States, Brazil and Iran we will examine how religion and nationalism combine to construe religious identity in the service of national character. We will examine how such forms of nationalism might reconstruct religious nationalists as the only legitimate citizens of these countries and how such identity affects international relations. This course is meant to serve especially as an introduction to American college students to the realities of globalization and the interconnectedness of world development, poverty and culture. [Core Curriculum Goal Area 8.]
Common Course Outline

ANTH 4917 DIS Tchg Assoc | (1-2 credits)

Directed Independent Study | Teaching Associate
Common Course Outline