Current Undergraduate Courses

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Summer 1, 2 & Fall 2024

In this course students examine the nature of cultural variation of populations in the present and recent past. Its subjects include social, political, economic, and ideological aspects of human cultures.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Summer 2 & Fall 2024

This lecture and accompanying laboratory course examine fundamental aspects of the biological nature of humans. Course content is divided into topics devoted to explaining the scientific method, evolutionary theory, genetics, speciation, variation and adaptation, nonhuman primates, and human evolution.

Field | Archaeology
Term | Summer 2 & Fall 2024

This lecture and accompanying laboratory course examine the basic principles of archaeology. It includes a study of the kinds of sites; classification of stone artifacts; methods of archaeological survey and excavation; methods of dating by geological, faunal, and radiometric means; and the theoretical approach to archaeology.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2024

This course offers tutelage in professional scholarly writing, word processing software, library research, scientific and ethnographic writing styles, and effective use of anthropological literature. Because it provides core skills presupposed by advanced anthropology courses, students should enroll in it alongside their first writing-intensive anthropology electives.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2024

This course surveys the breadth of careers open to people holding anthropology degrees. Issues discussed include professional ethics, specialized skill sets, the transferable skills of liberal arts degrees, broad trends in the labor market, and steps toward pursuing relevant careers.

Field | Cultural Anthropology 
Term | Fall 2024

This course is an ethnographically-based analysis of major theoretical positions and debates in contemporary anthropology.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Summer 1 & Fall 2024

 This course provides an introduction to the study of linguistic anthropology. We will focus on the origin of language and its evolution and diversity, the interactions between language, culture and society, and modes of communication. This course will enhance a student’s awareness of the complex interrelationships between language and other aspects of culture.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2024

In this course students learn the methods applied cultural anthropologists use to address social problems such as poverty, sustainable development, conflict, climate change, community health, workplace and product design, education, and cultural heritage, as well as the value “thinking anthropologically” has for a wide range of careers.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2024

This course presents a survey of the prehistoric human record throughout the world. It focuses upon the achievements of early and modern humans, world colonization events, and the development of complex societies.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2024

This course discusses the impact of evolutionary discourse within the context of its history. Students will develop a thorough understanding of evolution and its importance to anthropology, as well as to other scientific disciplines.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2024

This course explores the nature of innovation under late capitalism via entrepreneurship. Drawing on the anthropology of business, design, organizations, economics and technology, students will review with a critical lens how people strive for better futures and what anthropology can do to improve these efforts.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2024

In this course, students will learn about the behavior, ecology and conservation of nonhuman primates (lemurs, lorises, monkeys, and apes).

Field | Archaeology
Term | Fall 2024

This course describes human settlement of North America from the end of the Pleistocene to European discovery. It considers early occupation of arctic, plains, and forested regions and development during archaic times of Adena, Hopewell, and Mississippian societies in the Southeast and Mogollon, Hohokam, and Anasazi in the Southwest.

Field | Archaeology
Term | Fall 2024

The Incas were the largest Pre-Columbian empire in the Americas and this course will explore the origins of this civilization and how they conquered such a large area of South America. Using archaeological and historic information the class will examine various aspects of Inca society including religion, economics, and kingship.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2024

Forensic Anthropology is the recovery and analysis of human skeletal remains for modern legal inquiry. This course is an overview of the field of Forensic Anthropology illustrated with real forensic cases.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2024

The foundation of biological anthropology is the study of the human skeleton. This is a lab-intensive course in which students will learn how to identify skeletal elements, both whole and fragmentary.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Summer 1, 2024

This course seeks to introduce students to the fundamentals of linguistic anthropology, and the use of linguistics in anthropological fieldwork through lecture, discussion, and "hands on" class exercises.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2024

This course teaches students how to conduct field research in cultural anthropology. Topics include research ethics, problem formulation, participant observation, interviewing, and other techniques for data collection and analysis. Students will conduct their own field research project under the instructor’s supervision.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2024

This course is for students who wish to advance their osteological skills. Students will learn how to identify isolated and fragmentary skeletal remains to estimate age, sex, ancestry, stature, and health of an individual in past and present contexts.