In this course students learn how to design and conduct anthropological research and critically assess a research proposal and report. Students develop research skills by completing and presenting individual or group projects. Topics include funding and the political context, research design, sampling, data collection and analysis, interpretation of data and research report writing. Prerequisite: ANTH 101 and ANTH 201 or ANTH 202.
Kinship and Social Organization
This course focuses on the ways societies use kinship to structure social behavior and organization. Students learn kinship terminology and systems cross-culturally with particular emphasis on feminist and postmodern challenges to critically analyze the changing landscape of kinship that will define families in the 21st century.
Archaeological Analysis and Curation
This course provides students with concepts and essential skills used to analyze and curate Native American and EuroAmerican material culture of the 17th through 20th centuries specific to Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC). Students will work with a portion of the premier artifact collection recovered from the excavations in this National Historic Landmark. Students will process and catalogue artifacts using methodology developed for this collection. In addition, artifact and collection curation methods utilized by HSMC will be taught. Students
will apply these skills and complete an original research project report about their findings using HSMC artifacts and related field data.
Topics in Anthropology
This course provides analysis of substantive issues in anthropology. Topics vary each semester the course is offered and reflect current interests of students and the instructor. This course may be repeated for credit.
Underwater Archaeology
This course provides an introduction to underwater archaeology at the undergraduate level. Students will learn the history of the sub-discipline and a basic understanding of the steps involved in researching, recording, interpreting and protecting submerged cultural remains. No diving is required for this class. Students who successfully complete the course will have a solid foundation on which to build experience by assisting on archaeological projects.
Anthropological Theory
This course provides a survey of cultural and social theory in anthropology. Students learn the history and evolution of classical and contemporary anthropology theory, as well as relationships between theory, research, and practice needed for a solid liberal arts education. The course prepares students for St. Mary’s Projects, general careers and graduate school. Prerequisites: ANTH 101 and ANTH 201 or ANTH 202.
African American Culture
This course focuses on the construction and maintenance of race and ethnicity in the United States through an exploration of African-American identity. Through the lens of ethnography, material culture, and language the development of a distinct, but diverse, culture is traced from its origins to global presence. The intent of the course is to provide a foundation for understanding ethnicity in general, as well as the breadth of African-American ethnicity and its essential role in the development of American life. Students who have taken ANTH 313 may take this course for credit.
Analysis of Material Culture
The purpose of this course is to examine how anthropologists, archaeologists, folklorists and other analysts of humanly constructed artifacts and environments infer cultural symbol and logic from prehistoric, historic and contemporary material culture. A cross-cultural sample of cultures and societies is considered. Material categories addressed include architecture, gravestones, measuring instruments, pottery vessels, clothing and settlement pattern.
Economic and Ecological Anthropology
This course provides an overview of contemporary relationships of economy to society, culture, and environment. Students examine the major anthropological approaches to the study of human adaptation and livelihood. The course focuses on basic processes of production, exchange and consumption for societies ranging from small-scale foragers to global-scale capitalists.
Archaeology of Status and Identity
This course examines the material culture of status and identity throughout the world from an archaeological perspective. The different hierarchical relationships present in complex societies are investigated through the lens of group and personal identities such as race, gender and ethnicity. Emphasis on the various practices and material culture used by elites to assert their status as well as the strategies all members of society employ to achieve ‘upperclass’ standing are explored around the world and through time. In addition, the differing roles of men and women as well as the function of the household as an economic unit are explored in relation to class and rank. The different material expressions of these include dress and personal adornment, architecture, diet, and burial practices. Students who previously took this as a topics course, ANTH 352, may not take again for credit.