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Anthropology
The courses listed below are for the 2012-13 Academic Catalog and are subject to change. Please reference the Academic Catalog for further information and course descriptions. If you are a current student, please reference the catalog in which you come under.
Required Courses 7 credit hours
Cultural Anthropology: People and Culture
ANT 214This course is designed to give you a better understanding of yourself as a human being and of the world in which you live. Through the course you will be introduced to some new and different ways of viewing the world while learning about human cultural diversity. You will learn about a number of peoples from a variety of places and times and you will also learn to take a critical look at your own society and culture. You will become more aware of what culture is, how it has shaped us, and how we can change it. The course will focus on what makes cultural anthropology a distinct discipline in terms of perspective, methodology, and subject matter, and it will consider what insights the discipline has to offer. You will be introduced to some of the topics and issues that have traditionally been of concern to cultural anthropologists and you will learn what role cultural anthropology plays in our ever-changing world.
Biological Anthropology (Physical Anthropology)
ANT 216Have you ever wondered how crime scene investigators (CSI) can determine, from skeletal fragments, the sex, age, or ethnic identity of a murder victim? Have you ever thought about how unique humans really are? Do you want to know why we are so attracted to babies and so fascinated with the lives of the rich and famous? Are you curious about how human beings have changed over time or how different the human ÒracesÓ really are? Through class discussion and laboratory exercises, we will explore these questions and more. You will learn about human genetics and human variation, how humans compare to the nonhuman primates, what our early ancestors were like, and how culture and biology have interacted and continue to interact to shape humankind. You will also learn basic techniques used by biological and forensic anthropologists as they evaluate data in order to solve problems. This course is a foundation course for advanced study in forensic and other branches of biological anthropology. Biological anthropology is also a recommended lab science course for students in any major, as it will help you to understand better why we humans are the way we are.
Elective Course Choices 12 credit hours
Archaeology: People in the Past
ANT 218Have you ever wondered what people like Indiana Jones really do? This course will offer you a basic introduction to the scope and concerns of archaeology, a deeper understanding of the human past, and a greater sensitivity to issues surrounding the reconstruction and representation of that past. The course will begin with a review of the history of the discipline and of the archaeological research process, then proceed to an overview of select aspects of human prehistory and of the archaeology of the United States. In doing so, some of the most famous archaeological discoveries will be covered, including Pompeii and King TutÕs tomb, and also more local and contemporary discoveries such as New York CityÕs African Burial Ground and BlackbeardÕs Queen AnneÕs Revenge. Over the semester, you will participate in several activities dealing with the analysis of material culture and you will gain practice in critically analyzing public presentations of archaeological research.
Anthropology of Death
ANT 240Do you cry, sing, or laugh in the face of death? Do you burn, bury, or bottle the dead? Who among the dead is remembered, forgotten, and why? Is death the end of life, part of living, or the way to eternal life? The Anthropology of Death will provide you with a broad introductory survey of some of the diversity of behavior and beliefs concerning this most common and most significant of human experiences, death. The course will focus on the different understandings and meanings of death in different cultures in the past and the present, drawing mostly on examples from cultural anthropology and archaeology. Examples will be drawn from all over the world though a special emphasis will be placed on death in the U.S. The course will also address how death has been researched and theorized by cultural anthropologists and archaeologists, and practitioners in related fields. Finally, the course will address some key political issues surrounding death, burials, and memorials, including organ donation, NAGPRA, and the memorialization of 9/11.
Special Topics
ANT 295/395/495This course provides an introduction to the history and cultures of Hispanic/Latino communities in the United States from the first Spanish explorations and settlements to the present. The course will provide an overview of the diversity of Hispanic/Latino groups and experiences, and will explore how Hispanics/Latinos have become such a significant part of the U.S. society and culture. The course will focus particularly on the continuities and connections of culture that are maintained by and shape Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S. The course will also address a variety of issues relevant to Hispanics/Latinos, including immigration, bilingualism, and political representation. Students will learn about Hispanics/Latinos through readings across the disciplines, including anthropology, history, literature, film and art.
Hispanic Voices in the United States
ANT 305An introduction to the history and cultures of Hispanic communities in the United States from the first Spanish explorations and settlements to the present through the use of literary texts, films, and other art forms.
Globalization: People and Culture
ANT 315Globalization is one of the key concepts of our ageÑa term often used but little understood. Globalization is generally characterized by the increasing interconnectedness of economic, political, and cultural phenomena. While many of these connections are new, their roots lie deeper in history. These connections have come to shape the lives of virtually all of the worldÕs peoples, often in intimate ways. Understanding globalization is central to understanding life today, including such diverse phenomena as Bollywood in North Carolina, McDonaldÕs in Hong Kong, iPad production in China, and coffee growing in Guatemala. In order to be intelligent and compassionate actors in our contemporary world, it is important to explore the realities of globalization and consider its promise and peril. This course will do so primarily through the lens of anthropology, but will also draw upon insights and examples from history and other disciplines as well. The course will consider what globalization is today, how it developed over history, and what its effects are. Students will look at why some people are excited about globalization while others resist it. They will consider how globalization affects our politics, our economics, and our culture, addressing such diverse topics as terrorism, immigration, religious fundamentalism, and the environment, as well as McDonaldÕs, Disney, smart phones, and hip-hop culture.
American Ethnic Relations
ANT 368Where did your ancestors come from? How did they shape America? What is AmericaÐa melting pot, mosaic, or unequal mix? This course examines the complex dynamics of race and ethnicity in the United States in the present and the past. Through this course you will better understand the histories and social and cultural characteristics of different racial and ethnic groups, and the ongoing politics of racial and ethnic relations. We will explore some of the most interesting and controversial issues in American public discourse, including immigration policy, affirmative action, assimilation, and diversity in education. We will explore these subjects through readings across the disciplines as well as through critical reflection on our own experiences. Although an upper-level course tied to the social sciences and humanities, the content of this course is important for majors in all fields interested in gaining a better understanding of AmericaÕs diversity.
The Female of the Species: A Biocultural, Anthropological Perspective
ANT 370William Peace University is dedicated to helping women develop to their fullest potential. But what does it mean to be a human female? To fully understand the human femaleÐin terms of their various roles and physical features across culturesÐan evolutionary, cross-cultural view is needed: How are we like, unlike other mammals and, most especially, our nonhuman primate relatives? What happened in the course of evolution to make us the way we are? Is the ÒmotherÓ role instinctual? Does itÐ and our other rolesÐvary across cultures today, and, if so, what factors (biological and cultural) might be responsible for this variation? This course gives students a chance to explore these questions through readings, videos, and discussions in which we examine data from nonhuman primates, the fossil record, archaeological remains of past human societies, and ethnographic research on recent and contemporary human societies. We also examine contemporary issues, such as social inequality, female infanticide, arranged marriages, genital mutilation, and ÒhonorÓ murder, which affect millions of women in various parts of the world. No matter your major, this course will allow you to better understand yourself and your sistersÐno matter where they liveÐas well as the problems women face in the world today.
India: Past and Present
ANT 380India is a place of paradoxes: a land of great riches and grinding poverty; a land of indescribable beauty and unmentionable horrors; a land of GandhiÕs nonviolence and nuclear weapons; a land where the past and the present regularly collide and live in harmony. India is the worldÕs biggest democracy and is poised to be one of the great powers of the 21st century. To understand our contemporary world and where it is headed, it is essential that we understand India. In this course we will explore both the past and the present of India, focusing on its historical social and cultural diversity, and the issues its people confront today. We will pay particular attention to contemporary issues of nationalism, gender, communalism, and globalization, with a special focus on Indian popular culture and the Indian diaspora.
Directed Study
ANT 392/492A course of study addressing a specific topic or problem of interest to a student, designed collaboratively by the student and faculty member(s), and resulting in a paper, report, critiqued performance or production, or other assessable evidence of value added to the studentÕs educational experience. A contract of expectations by the student and by the supervising faculty member(s) must be approved by the advisor and the Vice President for Academic Affairs prior to registration. No more than six (6) semester hours toward the baccalaureate degree can consist of directed study credit.
Archaeological Fieldwork
ANT 450This course offers students the opportunity to learn more about the field of archaeology through participation in a summer field school. Through the field school students will develop and practice basic methods of archaeological field research. They will gain experience in conducting archaeological survey and excavation and also develop skills in such areas as mapping, stratigraphic interpretation, the analysis of cultural materials, and data processing. Through additional readings and a variety of guest speakers, students will also learn about the culture and history of the area being investigated, as well as various specializations and career paths within archaeology. As part of the field school, students will also be involved in helping to make our research more public by assisting volunteers and presenting our work to site visitors, in order to promote the preservation of archaeological sites and the sharing of archaeological knowledge. The course will be held for three to four weeks during the summer at a local archaeological site.
