Anthropology Major (B.A.) - Undergraduate - 2011 University Catalog

You are viewing the 2011 University Catalog. Please see the newest version of the University Catalog for the most current version of this program's requirements.

The general anthropology major, for which a B.A. degree is awarded, prepares students for advanced work that can lead to college teaching, museum curating work, and/or research, as well as careers in non-academic settings. For students interested in a strong liberal arts background, the general major is an excellent program which can be adapted to varied professional and career goals. An internship provides opportunities for students to test their knowledge in actual work settings. Additionally, the program can be adapted to meet certification requirements for teaching social studies in New Jersey schools.

Suggested Free Electives
These courses are over and beyond the minimum 40 semester hours required by the major.
ANTH    470    Archaeological Field Methods    3-6
ANTH    480    Independent Research in Anthropology    3-6
ANTH    490    Internship in Anthropology    3-6

A minimum of 120 semester hours of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA. However, more than 120 semester hours may be required depending upon the major field of study. In addition to the major requirement outlined below, all university students must fulfill the set of General Education requirements applicable to their degree (for further information, see General Education Requirements).

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ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR

Complete 40 semester hours including the following 2 requirement(s):

REQUIRED COURSES

Complete the following 19 semester hours:

ANTH	100	Cultural Anthropology	3
ANTH	101	Physical Anthropology	4
ANTH	103	Prehistoric Archaeology	3
ANTH	201	Applied Anthropology	3
ANTH	301	Methods in Anthropological Research and Practice	3
ANTH	401	Seminar in Anthropological Theory	3

MAJOR ELECTIVES

Complete the following 2 requirement(s):

CROSS CULTURAL ELECTIVES

Complete 6 semester hours from the following:

ANTH	110	Anthropology of Multicultural America	3
ANTH	115	Cultures of the Middle East	3
ANTH	120	Native North Americans	3
ANTH	125	Anthropology of Globalization	3
ANTH	130	Cultures of South Asia	3
ANTH	135	Anthropology of Conflict and Violence	3
ANTH	140	Non-Western Contributions to the Western World	3
ANTH	150	Cultures of Latin America	3
ANTH	155	Urban Anthropology	3
ANTH	170	Peoples of Africa	3
ANTH	180	Health and Healing in Cross Cultural Perspective	3
ANTH	270	Archaeology of Ancient Middle America	3

THEORY & METHODS ELECTIVES

Complete 15 semester hours from the following (at least 12 hours must be 300 to 400 level courses):

Complete $H - 3 semester hours from the following:

ANTH 102 Anthropological Linguistics 3

ANTH 145 Human Variation 3

Complete 12 semester hours - 15 semester hours from the following:

ANTH	310	Immigration: An Anthropological Perspective	3
ANTH	330	The Anthropology of Food and Nutrition	3
ANTH	340	The Anthropology of Work	3
ANTH	350	Anthropology of Aging and the Aged	3
ANTH	360	Environmental Anthropology	3
ANTH	370	Experimental Archaeology	3
ANTH	380	Anthropology of Women	3
ANTH	414	Selected Issues in Anthropology	3-6
ANTH	421	Communities in Transition	3-4
ANTH	422	Environment and Community	3-4
ANTH	423	Community and Health	3-4
ANTH	425	Anthropology of Religion	3
ANTH	429	Building Sustainable Communities	3-4
ANTH	440	Medical Anthropology	3
ANTH	460	Field Methods: Visual Anthropology	3

Course Descriptions:

ANTH100: Cultural Anthropology

Introduction to the basic concepts, goals, and research strategies of anthropology, the nature of culture, its role in human experience, and its universality. Presentation of cross-cultural examples and conceptual frameworks for understanding and explaining cultural diversity. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement, World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH101: Physical Anthropology

This course will introduce you to several important areas within physical anthropology including the genetic basis of human evolution, how evolution works as a process, modern human variation, race, bioarchaeology and forensics, primate ecology and behavior, and the human fossil record. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Natural/Physical Science Laboratory. (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.) 4 sh.

ANTH102: Anthropological Linguistics

Different linguistic systems will be analyzed through the use of informants (speakers) of non-Indo-European languages, and through published data from a variety of Amerindian and African languages. The relationship of linguistic structure and theory to cultural systems will be emphasized in individual student field experience and in readings and lectures. Meets the University Writing Requirement for majors in Anthropology. . (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH103: Prehistoric Archaeology

Have you ever wanted to time travel and experience a bygone era in a faraway place, say 20,000 years ago? Except for science fiction books like "The Time Machine," you might think this is fantasy. But do not despair,for we can still embark on a journey into the land of prehistory through archaeology. One might ask,"How is archaeology different from science fiction or novel writing?" No, we don't have time machines but we do have shovels. In this course, we will learn how archaeologists can say what they say without venturing into fantasy land. Meets Gen Ed 2002- Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH110: Anthropology of Multicultural America

Analysis of the diversity of racial, ethnic, religious, occupational, and other subcultures and subgroups within the U.S. Emphasis on the character of American culture. Subpopulations are examined in relationship to each other and to the mainstream culture. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Social Science. Meets the Human and Intercultural Relations Requirement (HIRR). Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH115: Cultures of the Middle East

The Middle East culture area in anthropological perspective. Emphasis is placed on the nature of different interlocking cultural systems which are adaptations to environmental stresses in the Middle East. The concepts of culture and society will be explored in the context of course materials. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH120: Native North Americans

Amerindian cultures north of Mexico; representative tribes, their world views, and their adaptations to the environment, each other and European contact. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH125: Anthropology of Globalization

Cross-cultural perspectives on the rapid social and cultural changes spawned by globalization. The implications and consequences of globilization on society. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH130: Cultures of South Asia

This course will provide a broad overview of society, culture, and history of South Asia. The goal is to convey the tremendous diversity of cultural expression and social plurality found in the region by focusing on specific events and concepts at scales varying from local to national, such as the emergence of nationalism, formation of nation states, and caste. The course will introduce students to an important region, home to one-fifth of the population of the world, and also help them understand contemporary political, economic, and environmental change in the subcontinent. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH135: Anthropology of Conflict and Violence

Types of conflict and violence including war, crime, family and sexual violence, class and ethnic violence, and genocide; biological determinist and cultural explanations of violence; theories of nonviolent social change. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Social Science. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH140: Non-Western Contributions to the Western World

A survey of scientific, medical, artistic, and other contributions from cultures outside the mainstream of European, North American, and Judeo-Christian history that influence our lives in the West today. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH145: Human Variation

The study of the origins, adaptations and evolution of races from a physical anthropology perspective. Misconceptions about race, intelligence and racism as well as theories and explanations of human variations will be covered. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. () 3 sh.

ANTH150: Cultures of Latin America

Study of indigenous peoples of Latin America. Surveys earliest evidence of human occupation of Middle and South America and the Caribbean; diverse origins of food production; intellectual achievements; political organization; material contributions to world culture; and aspects of early European contact and conquest. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH155: Urban Anthropology

This course introduces students to a broad, cross-cultural, evolutionary perspective on urban settlements. The goal is to provide students with a framework of theoretical models and concepts for analyzing and understanding the learned behavior of people in cities. Most of the course examines contemporary North American cities with additional data from African, South American, and European cities. Topics covered include the archaeology of cities, world systems theory, transnational corporations, the community study model, urban fieldwork, migration, class, poverty, gentrification, homelessness and hip-hop. Meets General Education (GER) 2002 Social Science, Topic, Human Intercultural Relations (HIRR) and World Languages and Cultures requirement - World Languages. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH170: Peoples of Africa

Diversity in the lifestyles of representative African cultures; prehistory, culture change, and contemporary problems in sub-Saharan Africa. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH180: Health and Healing in Cross Cultural Perspective

This course examines a variety of medical and healing traditions. It will address the connections between medicine and culture, and relate the medical practices to the cultures that produced them. The course will cover non-western healing systems, such as Traditional Chinese medicine (including herbs & acupuncture), Ayurvedic medicine from India, and Native American shamanism, as well as western biomedicine as a cultural system (or "ethnomedicine"). This course will examine how these different healing systems reflect and are reflections of the social, economic, and political history of a given society and region. Students will apply knowledge of these systems to contemporary social and individual contexts. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH201: Applied Anthropology

The course emphasizes the uses of anthropology in contemporary societies by stressing the skills and knowledge needed for the development of practical solutions to current problems. Special attention is placed on: policy decision-making, community development, cultural resource management, advocacy and social impact assessment. This is a service-learning course. Meets the University Writing Requirement for majors in Anthropology and is designed to pay close attention to and support for the enhancement of writing in the discipline of anthropology. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ANTH 100 or ANTH 101 or ANTH 102 or ANTH 103 or ANTH 110 or ANTH 115 or ANTH 120 or ANTH 130 or ANTH 140 or ANTH 150 or ANTH 170 or ANTH 180 or ANTH 195 or departmental approval.

ANTH270: Archaeology of Ancient Middle America

The archaeology of ancient cultures of Middle America. Consists of two major units (1) Northern Mesoamerica, the Gulf Coast, Oaxaco and Central Mexican Aztecs (2) Ancient Maya of Mexico and Central America. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ANTH 100 or ANTH 101 or ANTH 102 or ANTH 103 or ANTH 110 or ANTH 115 or ANTH 120 or ANTH 130 or ANTH 140 or ANTH 150 or ANTH 170 or ANTH 180 or ANTH 195 or departmental approval.

ANTH301: Methods in Anthropological Research and Practice

An overview of nonstatistical research methods commonly used in anthropology, including participant observation, interviewing, questionnaire design, cultural domain analysis, ethnographic decision tree analysis, and network analysis. Emphasis on practical experience in applying these methods to research and applied problems. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.