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• Program Description
• Course Descriptions
• Anthropology web site

Anthropology Course Descriptions

Introductory Courses

 

Open to first year students

 

111 CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

The cultural perspective on human behavior including case studies, often illustrated by ethnographic films and slides, of non-Western and American cultures. May include some field interviewing. Includes the cross cultural treatment of economic, legal, political, social and religious institutions and a survey of major approaches to the explanation of cultural variety and human social organization. Every semester. (4 credits)

 

112 ARCHAEOLOGY AND HUMAN EVOLUTION

The origin and development of prehistoric peoples and cultures. The concepts, methods, and theories of prehistoric archaeology, human paleontology, and human biology as a framework for examining the fossils and artifacts left by humans. Course includes films and the use of casts and slides to illustrate concepts. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

The following courses are open only to students who have taken Anthropology 111 unless otherwise indicated.

 

Intermediate Courses

 

230 ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEWING

An introduction to ethnographic field interviewing learned in the context of individually run student field projects. Focuses on the anthropologist-informant field relationship and the discovery of cultural knowledge through participant observation and ethnosemantic interviewing techniques. Permission of the instructor required. Every semester. (4 credits)

 

239 MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

This course focuses on an ecological approach to health, disease and therapies. It examines relationships among environmental factors, historical events, and sociocultural definitions of health and illness. Case studies will be used to illustrate the complexity of these relationships in different cultural settings. Every year. (4 credits)

 

246 REFUGEES AND HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

This course provides an overview of issues related to refugees and humanitarian response in U.S. and international settings. Students explore the meaning of "humanitarian" and inherent issues of power, ethics, and human rights in responses to conflict by examining the roles of those who engage in humanitarian work. Every year. (4 credits)

 

248 MAGIC, WITCHCRAFT AND RELIGION

An introduction to anthropological approaches to the study of religious beliefs and practices, the idea of syncretism, witchcraft, sorcery, shamanism and the practice of magic, the role of religion in bringing about social change and the social and cultural theories that have been put forward to explain religious phenomena. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

254 PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF NATIVE AMERICA (Same as American Studies 254)

A survey of the traditional cultural areas of the Americas and of selected topics related to American Indians. The course introduces the peoples, languages, subsistence patterns, and social organizations in America at the time of European contact, and traces selected patterns of change that have come to these areas. Prerequisite: Anthropology III. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

256 PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF SOUTH ASIA (Same as Asian Languages and Cultures 256)

 

Introduces students to anthropological knowledge of the peoples and cultures of South Asia and to the ways in which Western knowledge of that region has been constructed. The course examines the historical and social processes that have shaped the culture and lifeways of the people who live on the subcontinent and that link the modern states of South Asia to the world beyond their frontiers. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

257 PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF MONGOLIA

Through a combination of ethnography and history, the course analyzes the impact that the tribes of Mongolia have had on the surrounding civilizations and the world. The course also examines the contemporary people of Inner Asia as they struggle to deal with their dramatic legacy in the modern world system. Every year. (4 credits)

 

258 PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF AFRICA

This course will present an overview of African cultures and societies as documented in the anthropological literature. Classic and contemporary ethnographies will be used to illustrate the social transformations which are occurring in Africa. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

280 TOPICS IN LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY (Same as Linguistics 280)

Introduces students to linguistic anthropology, one of the four major subfields of the discipline of anthropology. Students will focus on particular topics within linguistic anthropology including: gender, race, sexuality, and identity. May involve fieldwork in the Twin Cities area. Focus will be announced at registration. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

285 SEMINAR IN WORLD ETHNOGRAPHY

A hallmark of anthropology is the cross cultural perspective supported by first hand ethnographic accounts of hundreds of different cultures. In this course students will read, discuss, and compare ethnographies representing diverse cultures as well as a wide range of ethnographic theories and methods. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

289 FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES IN ANTHROPOLOGY

Study of the central feminist works in anthropology from the 1970s until the present. Exploration of the status of women cross-culturally, gender as a category of analysis, third world feminism and critiques of first world feminists, and the new feminist and post-modern ethnography. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

330 ADVANCED FIELD METHODS

This course builds upon the skills gained in Ethnographic Interviewing to conduct further field studies in the Twin Cities area using visual methods such as photoethnography and ethnographic film. Students will read about visual anthropological field methods, field ethics, theories of writing culture, and analyzing visual culture. The final project consists of a visual ethnography of a local community. Prerequisites: Anthropology 230, Ethnographic Interviewing, or permission of the instructor. Alternate years. (5 credits)

 

360 THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF TOURISM

This course examines the impact of different kinds of tourism (mass tourism, ecotourism, sand-sea-sun-sex tourism, ethnic tourism) on local peoples, environments and economies. It looks at the historical development of tourism and its links to both travel as a leisure pursuit in the colonial period and to economic developments in industrializing Europe. The course examines the tourist encounter and the models used to analyze it. Issues discussed include cultural mediation, the politics of cultural representation, and the problems of commoditization of culture. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

362 CULTURE AND GLOBALIZATION (Same as International Studies 362)

The world is far more interconnected today than ever before, but what does this mean in terms of culture? This course looks at the impact of globalization on cultures and at examples of global cultures such as tourists and immigrants, media and popular cultures, world cities, and transnational intellectuals, ethnicities and ideologies. It also looks at the way cultures interact at geographic borders and in the margins of society. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

363 ANTHROPOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENT

The goal of this course is to develop an anthropological understanding and critique of development. It aims to examine both the discourse of development and its practice. The course focuses on the construction of the Third World as an "underdeveloped" area, and discusses the dominant theoretical paradigms of development and modernization. It assesses the reasons for the general failure of development programs based on these models to bring about meaningful and substantive change in societies in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and discusses possible alternatives to "development" as it is currently practiced. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

364 POLITICAL ANTHROPOLOGY (Same as Political Science 243)

An analysis of various political structures and activities in diverse world societies. Emphasis is placed on pre-literate cultures, but the societies examined vary from hunting and gathering bands through agricultural tribes to the industrial state. Prerequisite: Anthropology 111. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

365 ENVIRONMENTAL ANTHROPOLOGY (Same as Environmental Studies 365)

This course examines how the concept of culture can contribute to our understanding of environmental issues, in terms of how human beings adapt to their environment and the way in which they understand and give meaning to the world they live in. It examines the nature of the political, cultural, and socio-economic structures that together generate contemporary environmental problems. It aims to develop an anthropological understanding of the environment and to understand the way the "environmental crisis"—of resource scarcity and ecological degradation—is the outcome of particular structures of power, economic relations and consumption. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

367 SYMBOLIC ANTHROPOLOGY

Exploration of the central ideas about culture and symbol in the works of the 1960s through the 1990s. Deals with literature traditionally identified with "symbolic anthropology" as well as the more recent post-modern and cultural studies approaches. Focus is on student application of concepts in multiple papers. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

368 LIFE HISTORIES, CULTURES, SELVES

This seminar focuses on the relationship between individuals and their culture. Students will record, edit, and analyze personal documents such as diaries, letters, interview transcriptions, and autobiographies. Analysis of life events such as childhood play activities, family meals, kinship relations, and modes of communication, will lead to the identification of cultural themes. Alternate years. (4 credits)

 

380 ADVANCED MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

This course examines a variety of approaches used by anthropologists in the study of infectious diseases and their impacts on cultures and societies: biocultural, demographic, epidemiological, social production and symbolic. Includes case studies of HIV/AIDS, cholera, vCJD, and MDR-TB. Prerequisite: Anthropology 111 and 239. Every year. (4 credits)

 

Advanced Courses

 

Open to juniors and seniors. Students should have at least two courses in anthropology including Anthropology 111, or the permission of the instructor.

 

487 A HISTORY OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL IDEAS

This course introduces students to the development of social and cultural theory in anthropology from its origins in the 19th century to the period of decolonization following World War II. The course focuses on the development of three broad theoretical approaches: the American school of cultural anthropology, British social anthropology, and the French school that emerged from the work of Durkheim and his followers. The course also examines theoretical approaches such as cultural materialism, and symbolic and interpretive approaches to the study of culture. Alternate years; Fall semester. (4 credits)

 

489 CONTEMPORARY ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY

This course is designed for majors who are interested in recent developments in cultural anthropology. The course is organized around the contemporary schools of social theory and anthropological practice, emphasizing the assumptions made and questions asked by practitioners of various approaches. The class will be run as a seminar, with lectures, student presentations, and written papers and essays. Alternate years; Fall semester. (4 credits)

 

490 SENIOR SEMINAR

The senior seminar is for anthropology majors who are working on their senior project and is designed to help students develop that project for presentation. The seminar will also include reading of anthropological works, guest speakers and discussion of current controversies in the discipline. Students should take either Anthropology 487 or 489 as preparation for the senior seminar. Every year; Spring semester. (4 credits)

 

604 TUTORIAL

Closely supervised individual (or very small group) study with a faculty member in which a student may explore, by way of readings, short writings, etc., an area of knowledge not available through the regular catalog offerings. Every semester. (4 credits)

 

614 INDEPENDENT PROJECT

Independent project in anthropology. Projects might include intensive ethnographic research, the analysis of ethnographic data, or a variety of other projects. Every semester.

 

624 INTERNSHIP

Work that involves the student in practical (usually off campus) experience. Students may intern in any of the variety of internships listed by the college or arrange their own internships. Students will be expected to produce an ethnographic paper for the instructor in addition to approximately 10 hours per week at the internship site. Only one internship may count towards an anthropology major. The department views internships as a valuable experience in which the student has an opportunity to "study" a job. Every semester. (4 credits)

 

634 PRECEPTORSHIP

Work in assisting faculty in the planning and teaching of a course, precepting or tutoring. Every semester. (4 credits)

 

644 HONORS INDEPENDENT

Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. Every semester. (1–4 credits)

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