Anthropology (ANTH)

ANTH 101     Introduction to Anthropology     3 Credit Hours

Anthropology emphasizes the holistic study of human beings, in both the past and the present, and this course introduces students to the four primary subfields of the discipline (sociocultural anthropology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and archaeology). of the discipline. This course shows students how the sub-fields intersect to explain human biological and cultural diversity, provides students with the ability to better understand their own culture in the context of a globalized world, and discusses the applied skills of the discipline. (F, W, S)

ANTH 201     Introduction to Archaeology     4 Credit Hours

Through hands-on labs and comparison of different sites and research projects, this class provides a survey of the theoretical concepts and methods anthropological archaeologists use to learn about people through material things. Considers topics such as dating methods, site discovery, chemical analyses, mapping, site formation, excavation, legal frameworks, the history of archaeology, theoretical approaches, and archaeological ethics. (W, YR).

ANTH 202     World Cultures     3 Credit Hours

This course is an in-depth exploration of cultural anthropology. Students will read, discuss, and analyze excerpts from some of the best ethnographies ever written and will write a book review of a full-length ethnography of their choice. Topics will focus on anthropology as relevant in the era of globalization and will include: new approaches to culture; fieldwork and ethnography; systems of power (including race), ethnicity, nationalism, gender, and sexuality; kinship; class and inequality; religion; and finally, health, illness, and the body. Students will also have an opportunity to explore ethnographies of language and linguistics. (W, AY).

ANTH 270     Anthropology of Food     3 Credit Hours

The goal of this course is to introduce students to basic food theory and food practices across the world. How do ideas and practices of food and eating relate to such topics as taboo, gender, bodies, religion, kinship, and hierarchy? How are the foods people eat meaningful across multiple cultural contexts? In this course, students will develop and practice basic methodologies for food oriented ethnography including interviews and participant observation. They will also engage cultural politics of food by examining how food intersects with nation building, global networks of food production and consumption, alternative food movements, and sustainability. (OC)

ANTH 303     Introduction to Women's & Gender Studies     4 Credit Hours

This course provides an interdisciplinary overview of the key theories and topics in Women's and Gender Studies. Special attention is given to how gender intersects with class, race, nationality, religion and sexuality to structure women's and men's lives. Students are also introduced to methods of gender analysis and will begin to apply these methods to topics such as women and health, gender roles in the family, violence against women, and gendered images in the mass media.

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is Freshman

ANTH 307     Forensic Anthropology     4 Credit Hours

Forensic anthropology has recently seen a lot of exposure through popular television shows like CSI and Bones. Have you ever wondered how much of what you were seeing was real? Do the dead really "talk" about their lives and how they died? This course is designed as an introductory course for students interested in demystifying and getting to know the real forensic anthropology. Forensic anthropology is a specialized sub-field of biological anthropology that applies many of the methods of biological anthropology to the discovery, excavation, and identification of human remains in a medico-legal context. In this class we learn about the human skeleton and explore the key methods that are used in the identification of individuals, such as age-at-death estimation, sex determination, stature, ancestry, and personal identification. We also deal with assessment of the different types of trauma, and whether or not we can tell the cause and manner of death. The broader ethical roles and responsibilities of forensic anthropologists are also discussed, including discussions of how we determine race/ancestry, as well as ethical responsibilities we have during the investigation of human rights abuses, disasters and criminal inquiries. (OC).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Sophomore or Junior or Senior

ANTH 320     Culture and Global Business     3 Credit Hours

Culture and Global Business lectures, exercises, and case studies explore anthropological concepts and cultural awareness needed by employees, managers, and consultants in multinational and multi-ethnic work environments. Topics include the global economy in anthropological perspective, national culture and business culture, implicit values about work and time, cross-cultural concepts of gender and cross-cultural communication. Special emphasis is given to Asia and developing societies. (F, YR).

ANTH 325     Anth of Health and Environment     4 Credit Hours

Many of the major threats to human health are linked to environmental changes around the world. Population growth, globalization, and economic interests are creating increases in pollution, deforestation, water scarcity, urban sprawl, oil spills, and numerous other kinds of destructive environmental changes. This course explores how these environmental changes shape new illnesses and disease patterns, add to inequalities, and effects the health and wellbeing of individuals in particular communities, locations, and cultures. (W,YR).

ANTH 331     Biological Anthropology and Human Evolution     4 Credit Hours

As a broad overview of biological anthropology, this course examines human evolution from early primates to anatomically modern Homo sapiens. It covers evolutionary theory, human growth and development, human biodiversity, the relationship of humans to non-human primates, the fossil evidence for human evolution, and human biocultural adaptation to various environments. (W, AY).

ANTH 340     Beyond Race: Understanding Human Variation     4 Credit Hours

This course examines the concept of race from a biocultural perspective. It focuses on several intertwined themes, including: (1) the nature of human biological variation, (2) how human populations have adapted to diverse environments across the world, (3) how Western scientific thought and colonization influenced ideas about race, and (4) how the concept of race has varied both cross-culturally and over time. Students will be asked to critically evaluate current and historical concepts of race and human variation, and to apply this understanding to contemporary issues. Prerequisite ANTH 101 recommended. (OC).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Sophomore or Junior or Senior

ANTH 350     Prehistoric Archaeology     4 Credit Hours

Uses archaeological evidence to explore issues of central importance to the present, such as the creation of new technologies, the switch to farming, the rise of social inequality, and the beginnings of cities. Considers archaeological sites in Michigan, as well as Egypt, India, China, Europe, Mesopotamia, Mexico, Peru, and elsewhere from 2 million to 500 years ago. (W, YR).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Sophomore or Junior or Senior

ANTH 370     Indians of North America     4 Credit Hours

This course explores the origins, development, and perspectives of indigenous peoples north of Mexico, as well as their struggles, oppression, genocide, and resistance. Students will gain knowledge about the ways in which North American Indians’ worldviews, traditions, and values have influenced the U.S. and other Western cultures. Sophomore standing; ANTH 101 highly recommended. (YR).

ANTH 371     African Exper in the Americas     4 Credit Hours

This course is a survey of African populations and cultures from 1500 to the present throughout the Americas. The focus is on Caribbean and Latin American contexts of these populations, but comparisons to North America will be made. Topics include slavery, the relationship between Africans and indigenous populations, religions, politics, music, and questions of race and ethnicity. Readings will include ethnographic description, history, biography and fiction. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 101

ANTH 373     Anthropology of Middle East     4 Credit Hours

This course explores contemporary life in the Middle East using an anthropological lens. Topics discussed include the geography and diversity of the Middle East; gender, the veil, and Orientalism; Islam, ritual, and everyday family life; and ethics and politics. The course ends with an examination of the Arab immigrant experience in Metro Detroit. Prerequisite: ANTH 101 recommended (F, YR).

ANTH 376     Power & Privilege in Southeast Michigan     4 Credit Hours

An examination of the social and cultural systems that lead to power, privilege, and inequality in American culture. This course takes a local perspective, analyzing systems of inequality as related to such factors as race, ethnicity, gender, social class and sexual orientations. This is an American Service Learning (ASL) course, and requires community service activities outside of class time. (OC).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Sophomore or Junior or Senior

ANTH 390     Topics in Anthropology     3 Credit Hours

Examination of problems and issues in selected areas of anthropology. Title in Schedule of Classes will change according to content. Course may be repeated for credit when specific topics differ. (OC).

ANTH 391     Topics in Anthropology     3 Credit Hours

Examination of problems and issues in selected areas of anthropology. Title in Schedule of Classes will change according to content. Course may be repeated for credit when specific topics differ. Junior standing required. (OC).

ANTH 398     Independent Studies in Anthr     1 to 6 Credit Hours

Readings or analytical assignments in anthropology in accordance with the needs and interests of those enrolled and agreed upon by the student and instructor. Permission of instructor required. (F,W).

ANTH 399     Independent Studies in Anthr     1 to 6 Credit Hours

Readings or analytical assignments in anthropology in accordance with the needs and interest of those enrolled and agreed upon by the student and instructor. (F,W).

ANTH 406     Sexuality and Culture     4 Credit Hours

This course surveys distinct ways in which sex and gender roles, ideologies, expectations and relationships are socially constructed in cross-cultural contexts from an anthropological perspective. A principal focal point of exploration in the course will be the investigation of diversity and fluidity of sex, sexual orientation and gender roles found in cultures throughout the world. Students cannot receive credit for both ANTH 406 and ANTH 506. (W, YR).

ANTH 409     The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease     4 Credit Hours

This is a course about how early childhood experiences shape our growth and ultimately, our health in adulthood. This course provides an advanced undergraduate introduction to the topic of human growth and shows how human growth can be a reliable measure of the psychological, social, economic and moral conditions of a society. A major theme will be the interplay of biology and culture in shaping the patterns of human growth and, consequently, the health of populations and individuals. In this class we will tackle growth and development from a number of perspectives. First, we will explore the theoretical frameworks and concepts that are used to understand growth and development. This includes explorations of our evolutionary past and introductory concepts of biocultural approaches in biological anthropology. Second, we will review all the major milestones of human growth and development. Finally, we will connect human growth to the social and environmental conditions that shape growth and human health. This course will engage with exciting hypotheses in the biological sciences and in anthropology to help us understand how our life course shapes who we are. This course is designed to be intriguing to a broad variety of students, but particularly those interested in careers in the health-related fields. . Emphasis will be placed on critical analysis and communication skills that can be useful to students pursuing careers in any field. Required readings will be selected from a mix of older and contemporary literature and will reflect a diversity of ideas from scholars in many fields. The class is intended to be an interactive learning process with an emphasis on discussion and students are required to take a very active part in class. Students will also learn how to critically analyze research in the field. (F, AY).

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is

ANTH 410     Archaeological Field School and Lab Methods     4 Credit Hours

While participating in a primary archaeological research project, students learn the methods and techniques of field archaeology and basic laboratory work, gaining experience in the scientific research process and complex problem-solving. Depending on the project, some aspects included will be survey, excavation, mapping, historical background research, and/or artifact conservation and analysis. Prerequisite ANTH 201 highly recommended. (F, YR).

ANTH 412     Men and Masculinities     3 Credit Hours

This course addresses the question, "What is a man?", in various historical, cross-cultural, and contemporary contexts. A major focus on the social and cultural factors that underlie and shape conceptions of manhood and masculinity in America as well as in a variety of societies around the globe. Prerequisite ANTH 101 recommended. (AY).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Sophomore or Junior or Senior
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

ANTH 415     Nutrition and Health     4 Credit Hours

The influence of nutrition on physical and mental development from conception to adulthood. Topics include: 1) the definition and function of the essential nutrients for people, 2) basic principles of human growth and development, 3) the causes and consequences of under- and overnutrition, 4) feeding practices for infants and children and the development of food habits, 5) nutrient and food problems in the local region and in global perspective. Students cannot receive credit for both ANTH 415 and ANTH 515. (F, YR).

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is

ANTH 420     Kinship and Marriage     4 Credit Hours

This course draws from some of the best ethnographies of kinship and marriage to introduce students to a diverse range of kinship practices across the world. Topics include procreation, adoption, making kinship through land, houses, or food, LGBTQI families, spiritual kinship, new reproductive technologies, and transnational families. Beginning with the cultural logic of the Euro-American family, this course will spark debate about definitions of kinship and marriage, nature and nurture, and the biological and the social. It will query how and to what extent kinship matters in the 21st century. (F, YR).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

ANTH 421     Education and Culture     3 Credit Hours

The course engages a holistic view of the educational processes, using anthropological concepts to explore how and where people learn. Why are there schools, and how is schooling culturally organized? The course examines the cultural complexity of how the intersection of factors such as ethnicity, race, and gender affects students' school experiences. The course highlights current trends and solutions to contemporary educational challenges from an anthropological perspective. Students cannot receive credit for both ANTH 421 and ANTH 521. ANTH 101 or SOC 200 recommended. (F, AY).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

ANTH 425     Language and Society     4 Credit Hours

An examination of the social functions of speech through readings and exercises, emphasizing schools and other applied settings. Topics include ethnic and social class dialects, codeswitching, and the organization of conversation. Students cannot receive credit for both ANTH 425 and ANTH 525. (OC).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

ANTH 430     Medical Anthropology     4 Credit Hours

This course is a comprehensive examination of the cultural factors that play a role in illnesses and healing. Students will explore and evaluate different perspectives concerning the causes of disease, the prevention and treatment of illness, ways of healing, modern biomedicine, and medical/healthcare systems. (YR) (YR).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Sophomore or Junior or Senior

ANTH 435     Human Genetics     4 Credit Hours

An analysis of human genetic variation in terms of the theory of population genetics considers such polymorphisms as blood groups and variant hemoglobins as well as morphological characters like stature, skin color, and so on. Emphasis is on the genetics of human populations and particular attention is drawn to cultural factors affecting human biology. (OC).

ANTH 440     Religion and Culture     3 Credit Hours

What is religion and how does it shape us? This course begins to answer these questions by exploring religious diversity around the world through the lens of a variety of topics in the anthropology of religion. These include sacred symbols, ritual and rites of passage, prayer, shamanism, witchcraft, and spirit possession. We examine changing approaches to the study of religion and address the myriad ways religion intersects with other aspects of social life including kinship, food, and politics. Students end the course by conducting their own ethnographic research of a religious event, ritual specialist, or sacred place. (AY). (W, AY).

ANTH 451     Family Diversity & Power     4 Credit Hours

This course investigates the changing possibilities for forming families and intimate relationships, with a focus on how social and cultural systems create and respond to these changes. Selected topics include the meanings of sex, love, marriage, and relatedness in different historical moments; struggles for recognition and protection of diverse families, including (but not limited to) interracial, interfaith, same-sex, polygamous and multi-partner relationships; LGBTQ kinship and care structures; and new technologies and their implications for family life. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): (WGST 303 or SOC 303 or ANTH 303 or PSYC 303 or HUM 303) or (SOC 200 or SOC 201) or (ANTH 101 or ANTH 202)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Sophomore or Junior or Senior

ANTH 455     Immigrant Cultures and Gender     4 Credit Hours

The history and culture of immigration since 1965, including the: (1) formation and cultural maintenance of immigrant communities; (2) relations between the homeland and the immigrant; (3) impact of migration on family life and gender roles; (4) chidren of immigrants; and (5) racial and ethnic identities. Prerequisite and junior or senior standing. Students may not receive credit for both WGST 4555 and WGST 5555. For graduate credit take WGST 5555. (F, AY).

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 101 or WGST 275 or WST 275 or PSYC 275 or SOC 275 or ANTH 275 or HUM 275 or WGST 303 or PSYC 303 or SOC 303 or ANTH 303 or HUM 303

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is

ANTH 470     Doing Anthropology: Ethnographic Methods and Applied Practice     4 Credit Hours

In this course students will learn about anthropological theory, different types of anthropology research methods (e.g., participant observation, ethnographic interviews), and explore ways to reduce biases that can occur in research. Students will engage in their own research by designing a study, gathering data, and interpreting the findings. Students cannot receive credit for both ANTH 470 and ANTH 570. ANTH 101 is highly recommended. (YR) (F, YR).

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Level is

ANTH 481     Gender and Globalization     4 Credit Hours

Mass media, politics and academia are full of references to globalization, and a future "world without borders." This interdisciplinary course considers the implication of globalization for women's lives, gender relations and feminism. Topics covered include the global factory, cross-cultural consumption, human rights, global communications, economic restructuring, nationalism and environmental challenges. Rather than survey international women's movements, this course explores how globalization reformulates identities and locations and the political possibilities they create.

Prerequisite(s): HUM 303 or PSYC 303 or SOC 303 or WGST 303

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

ANTH 482     Psychological Anthropology     3 Credit Hours

This course explores how individuals’ mental processes and behaviors are shaped by culture. Students will engage in a cross-cultural comparison of theories (from both Western and non-Western cultures) about human nature, emotion, identity, personality, mental illness, resiliency, and psychological health/wellbeing. Students cannot receive credit for both ANTH 482 and ANTH 582. ANTH 101 and PSYC 101 are highly recommended. (AY).

ANTH 495     Anthropology Capstone: Contemporary Issues in Anthropology     4 Credit Hours

This course is designed as a capstone for anthropology majors, and it will provide a well-rounded conclusion to undergraduate studies in anthropology. This course has three primary goals in mind: 1) to explore and critically evaluate contemporary anthropological method and theory around a central theme; 2) to provide students with opportunities to gain real research skills; and 3) to help students prepare for the job market inside and outside of academia. (W, AY).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Junior or Senior

ANTH 498     Independent Study     1 to 6 Credit Hours

Readings or analytical assignments in anthropology in accordance with the interests and needs of students enrolled and agreed upon by the instructor and student. Written permission of instructor required.

ANTH 499     Readings in Anthropology     1 to 3 Credit Hours

For students desiring study not available in the regular course offerings. Students cannot receive credit for both ANTH 499 and ANTH 599. (F,W)