Course Descriptions

Department of Anthropology

Professors V. M. Bryant, Jr., N. Dannhaeuser, D. B. Dickson, D. L. Hamilton, M. R. Waters; Associate Professors M. S. Alvard, D. L. Carlson (Head), K. J. Crisman, T. A. Green, S. A. Grider, C. M. Pulak, C. W. Smith, S. Wachsmann, L. E. Wright; Assistant Professors S. Athreya, D. N. Carlson, D. J. de Ruiter, S. L. Gursky, A. V. Thoms, L. F. Vieira de Castro, C. A. Werner

Anthropology
(ANTH)

201. (ANTH 2346) Introduction to Anthropology. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II, S

An introduction to the discipline of anthropology through the examination of its four sub-fields: archaeology, physical anthropology, socio-cultural anthropology and linguistics.

202. (ANTH 2302) Introduction to Archaeology. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II

An introduction to the study of the human past through the retrieval, analysis and interpretation of material remains.

205. Peoples and Cultures of the World. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II, S

Survey of human cultures around the world using case studies of customs and cultural organization; case studies exemplifying contrasting types of cultures and societies.

210. (ANTH 2351) Social and Cultural Anthropology. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II

Evolution of cultures; differences, similarities and effects of material and non-material culture on economic, social and political organization.

216. Nautical Archaeology. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Underwater shipwrecks, sunken harbors and other submerged evidence of human activities; relationship to cultural geography in general; problems of diving technology, surveying and preservation; relevance to modern problems.

225. Physical Anthropology. (3-3). Credit 4.

Human biology to include examination of evolutionary processes acting on human populations; human genetics; non-human primate anatomy, classification and ecology of primates; the primate paleontological record, and human variation and adaptation. Prerequisites: BIOL 113 and 123; ZOOL 107 or equivalent. Cross-listed with ZOOL 225. Credit cannot be given for both ANTH 225 and ZOOL 225.

229. Introduction to Folklore. (3-0). Credit 3.

Study of folklore through selected examples of traditional cultures, their beliefs, customs and art forms such as: tales, folksongs, proverbs, riddles and material culture.

300. Cultural Change and Development. (3-0). Credit 3.

Anthropological strategies for the study of cultural change and the implication of these strategies for the development of Western and non-Western societies.

301. Indians of North America. (3-0). Credit 3.

Native North American cultures from the Arctic to Mesoamerica; their origins, cultures prior to extensive acculturation and their contemporary situations.

302. Archaeology of North America. (3-0). Credit 3.

Overview of archaeology and prehistory of North America from the arrival of humankind through the development of agriculture to Euro-American contact.

303. Archaeology of the American Southwest. (3-0). Credit 3.

Overview of archaeology and prehistory of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico from the earliest evidence of human occupation to the Spanish conquest.

306. Indians of Texas. (3-0). Credit 3.

Tribal cultures of native and emigrant Texas Indians from prehistoric to contemporary times; origins, traditional cultures and problems of acculturation.

308. Archaeology of Mesoamerica. (3-0). Credit 3.

Development of Indian civilizations in Mexico and Guatemala, including prehistory of the Olmec, Maya, Aztec and other regional cultures to the time of the Spanish conquest.

312. Fossil Evidence of Human Evolution. (3-0). Credit 3.

Detailed review of fossil antecedents of humans including theoretical implications for an understanding of human evolution. Prerequisite: ANTH 225 or approval of instructor.

313. Historical Archaeology. (3-0). Credit 3.

Use and methods of historical archaeology in locating, documenting, restoring and preserving our historical resources.

314. Agrarian Peasant Societies. (3-0). Credit 3.

Major adaptations among traditional agricultural peoples of the world; production and marketing organization; culture of the village; ties between peasants and the nation; contemporary changes in traditional life.

315. Peoples and Cultures of Africa. (3-0). Credit 3.

African cultures and prehistory prior to extensive acculturation and problems facing contemporary African cultures.

317. Introduction to Biblical Archaeology. (3-0). Credit 3.

Application of archaeology in biblical research; basic overview of the material cultures that are the setting for the biblical narratives. Cross-listed with RELS 317.

318. Nautical Archaeology of the Americas. (3-0). Credit 3.

Seafaring in the Americas from the 16th to the 20th centuries based on shipwreck archaeology; ship construction, exploration, commerce, naval warfare and related activity; influence of seafaring on the cultures, economics and history of the Western Hemisphere.

319. Indians of Mexico and Central America. (3-0). Credit 3.

Examination of Mexican and Central American Indian culture and society through ethnographic and historical materials with a focus on the problems of socio-cultural change. Prerequisite: ANTH 201 or 205 or 210.

324. Music in World Cultures. (3-0). Credit 3.

Examines music from an ethnomusicological perspective focusing on musical performance and the complex interrelationship of music to culture, society, and daily life; surveys music from a variety of cultures through a series of case studies. Prerequisite: MUSC 102 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with MUSC 324.

325. Texas Cultural History. (3-0). Credit 3.

The image of Texas history, tradition and popular culture from the 19th century to the present. Prerequisite: HIST 226 or ANTH 201, 210 or 229. Cross-listed with HIST 325.

330. Field Research in Anthropology. Credit 1 to 9.

Training for students in formulating and solving anthropological problems through field research; problem oriented field research under supervision. Prerequisites: 6 hours of anthropology; approval of instructor.

335. Cultures of Central Asia. (3-0). Credit 3.

Study of anthropological research in Central Asia: ecological adaptations; colonialism and post-colonialism; ethnic politics and ethnic conflict; religion and identity; gender and family; globalization and modernization. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.

340. Folklore and the Supernatural. (3-0). Credit 3.

Introduction to the traditional expressions of the supernatural such as superstition, belief tale and divination classified as folklore genres and their relationships to the cultures in which they develop; theories drawn from anthropology, folklore and related social sciences. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.

350. Archaeology of the Old World. (3-0). Credit 3.

Overview of archaeology and prehistory of Europe, Africa and Asia from the evolution of the hominids to the development of agriculture and the rise of civilization.

351. Classical Archaeology. (3-0). Credit 3.

Origins and spread of Western civilization through the material remains of Minoan, Mycenaean, Etruscan, and early Greek and Roman cultures.

401. Ice Age Humans in North America. (3-0). Credit 3.

Archaeological, environmental and geological evidence related to the timing of human entry into the Americas and megafaunal extinctions at the end of the Pleistocene. Prerequisite: ANTH 202 or equivalent.

403. Anthropology of Religion. (3-0). Credit 3.

Anthropological approach to religion and to the relationship between religion, economics, politics and social structure with particular reference to non-Western, pre-industrial societies. Cross-listed with RELS 403.

404. Women and Culture. (3-0). Credit 3.

Examines women’s lives in evolutionary and cross-cultural perspective; women’s roles in subsistence, politics, religion and economics in traditional cultures; women’s roles in international development; the cultural and social construction of women’s biology cross-culturally including circumcision, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood. Cross-listed with WMST 404.

405. Introduction to the Primates. (3-0). Credit 3.

Survey of nonhuman primates from ecological and evolutionary perspectives covering numerous topics including: taxonomy; primate evolution; behavioral observation; reproductive strategies; diet; and conservation. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.

410. Anthropological Theory. (3-0). Credit 3.

A systematic examination of the basic principles of anthropology. Prerequisite: ANTH 210.

421. Museums and Their Functions. (2-3). Credit 3.

Role of museums, those specializing in natural history and the extent to which they serve the community, state, nation, and the advancement of the sciences included in their programs; history, operations, methods and programs. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification. Cross-listed with WFSC 421.

424. Evolution, Behavior and Culture. (3-0). Credit 3.

Evolutionary biology of human behavior and culture, including sex and reproduction, altruism and cooperation, coevolution of genes and culture, and the relevance of evolutionary biology for understanding human social problems. Previous course work in anthropology, evolution, ecology or ethology recommended.

425. Anthropometry and Osteology. (2-3). Credit 3. I

Concepts and methods used by anthropologists and paleontologists to identify, describe and analyze skeletal and fossil bone materials. Prerequisites: ANTH 225 and 312 or approval of instructor.

426. Anthropology of Food and Nutrition. (3-0). Credit 3.

Anthropological study of human foodways and their nutritional consequences; how environmental, biological and cultural factors interact to produce patterns of food intake, and the effects of such patterns on health, growth and fertility; examples drawn primarily from non-Western societies. Prerequisite: ANTH 201 or 210 or 225 or NUTR 202 or approval of instructor.

427. Human Variation. (3-0). Credit 3.

Biological basis of variation in the physical features of modern humans; details of anatomical and physiological differences of living populations to understand their adaptive and historical significance; history of human variation studies rooted in the historical notion of “race.” Prerequisites: ANTH 225, ZOOL 225 or BIOL 214; junior or senior classification.

430. Applied Anthropology. (3-0). Credit 3.

Theory, ethics and practical applications of anthropological methods and concepts as they relate to planned programs of sociocultural change. Prerequisites: ANTH 210; junior or senior classification.

484. Anthropology Internship. (3-0). Credit 3.

Provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in a variety of settings, including local, state or federal agencies; museums; non-profit organizations; non-governmental organizations; private firms. Prerequisites: ANTH 202, 210 and 225 with a grade of B or higher.

485. Directed Studies. (9-0). Credit 9.

For individual research in anthropology on subjects not included in established courses. Prerequisites: Approval of instructor and department head.

489. Special Topics in… Credit 1 to 4.

Selected topics in an identified area of anthropology. May be repeated for credit.