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AnthropologyFull Time Faculty: Arjun Guneratne (Chair), Olga Gonzalez-Castaneda, Sonia Patten, Dianna Shandy, Jack Weatherford Anthropology is the study of humankind in all of its aspects. It encompasses four distinct sub-fields: biological, cultural, and linguistic anthropology and archaeology. The department of anthropology at Macalester focuses on cultural anthropology, the study of human cultural variation. Anthropologists define culture not as a collection of practices or behaviors but as the knowledge, values and systems of beliefs and morality that shape human actions and help people understand and make sense of the world they live in. As anthropologists, we believe that this system of symbols that shape human worldviews may best be discovered by intensive ethnographic research (fieldwork) among the people concerned, conducted in their language. We teach our students to see the world in terms of groups of people who possess culture, whose assumptions, premises and underlying systems of logic may be very different from ours. Anthropology offers insight into the importance of cultural difference; from the vantage point of anthropology, students are in a position to better understand human behavior across cultures, and they are better placed to understand the intricacies of cross-cultural communication. An anthropological training provides a solid basis for informed and responsible citizenship in a multicultural and globalizing society. Students who pursue an anthropology degree will be trained in ethnographic research methods, receive a broad grounding in anthropological theory, and be able to bring an anthropological perspective to bear on problems confronting contemporary societies. Department offerings are organized into four broad areas. The first consists of key theoretical areas such as globalization, gender, colonialism, world systems, environment and development. Second are courses on world areas. These include Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, Latin America and North America (including American Indians). Third are offerings on institutions such as political and legal systems, human rights and medicine. Fourth are courses on method and theory in anthropology. The anthropology department is committed to participation in a number of Macalester interdisciplinary programs, but is in particular interested in the International Studies, Asian Studies, African Studies, Environmental Studies and Latin American Studies programs. While students may pursue the major in preparation for graduate studies in anthropology, an anthropology major also prepares students for careers or occupations that require a knowledge of and appreciation for someone else's viewpoint and cultural perspective and an understanding of symbolic meaning and social relations. Anthropology provides an excellent background for careers in law, medicine, social work, business, journalism, government, police work, tourism, museums and community development, to name a few. We encourage students to plan summer work, internships, and course work in light of their general career objectives. Because of this need to plan, students should choose course work carefully in consultation with their advisors. General Distribution RequirementAll courses in the anthropology department count toward the general distribution requirement in the social sciences except for courses numbered 604, 614, 624, and 634. General Education RequirementsCourses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and multiculturalism will be posted on the Registrar's web page in advance of registration for each semester. Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog. Major ConcentrationA major in anthropology consists of nine courses, to include: Anthropology 111 (a prerequisite for all other anthropology courses except 112), Anthropology 230 (which should ideally be taken in the sophomore year), a senior level course in theory (either 487 or 489), the senior seminar (490) and other anthropology courses chosen in consultation with a department advisor. Majors are strongly urged to take at least one ethnographic area course. If a student cannot complete the course successfully in two attempts, he or she must petition the department chair for permission to attempt it a third time. In addition, a student majoring in anthropology must complete one semester of study abroad after successfully completing a course in research methods (either 230 or a similar course approved by the department). The program chosen by the student should have a substantial fieldwork-based component or the opportunity to engage in significant independent research. Where appropriate, a student may, with the permission of the department chair, count one course taken on study abroad towards the major, with the exception noted below. A maximum of two courses in anthropology taken at other universities or institutions of tertiary education (including foreign universities) may be counted towards the major at the discretion of the department chair. An exception to this limit may be made at the discretion of the chair for students who have a particular interest in archaeology or biological anthropology and who wish to avail themselves of the courses in these areas offered at other universities. If circumstances warrant, a student may petition the department to waive a requirement provided an alternative acceptable to the department is proposed. Internships and independent study do not in general count towards the fulfillment of the course requirements in the major. Minor ConcentrationA minor in anthropology consists of five courses chosen with the assistance of the student's departmental advisor. One of the courses must be Anthropology 111. Courses taken on study abroad or at other universities do not count towards the minor. Honors ProgramThe anthropology department participates in the Honors Program. Eligibility requirements, application procedures and specific project expectations for the anthropology department are available from either the department office or the Dean of Academic Programs. Topics Courses194, 294, 394, 494 Examination of selected topics of relevance to anthropology, such as Mongols: Past & Present; Anthropology through Science Fiction; Tibet and the Tibetan Diaspora; and Applied Anthropology. To be announced at registration. (4 credits)
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