Anthropology (ANTH)

ANTH 1200 - Introduction to Anthropology

3 Credits

This course provides an introduction to the primary theories, concepts, and methodologies relating to anthropology. The main subfields of cultural anthropology, archeology, biological anthropology, linguistics, and applied anthropology are surveyed and their integration is highlighted for a more in-depth understanding of the complexities in modern human societies and behavior.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Global Citizenship (CAS), Ignatian Service, Service Learning, Sociology Elective, Social Science Req (A&S), UUC:Identities in Context, UUC:Social & Behavioral Sci

ANTH 1210 - Humans Past, Present, and Future: Introduction to Anthropology

3 Credits

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Global Citizenship (CAS), Ignatian Service, Service Learning, Social Science Req (A&S), UUC:Identities in Context, UUC:Social & Behavioral Sci

ANTH 1930 - Special Topics

1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Attributes: Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 2080 - Urban Poverty: A Global Perspective

3 Credits

This class examines urban poverty from a global perspective. It takes as its point of departure a fundamental paradox: The globally connected economy has enabled the accumulation of unparalleled wealth, while at the same time, allowing basic human need to persist at a breathtaking scale. Through a range of texts and films, this class will discuss different ways of thinking about what poverty is, how it is experienced, justified and maintained in cities, and by whom. Our class will also consider the efforts of governmental and non-governmental organizations to alleviate poverty. Through a final project, students will engage with course themes in St. Louis through an outreach experience.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Global Citizenship (CAS), Sociology Elective, Soc-Urban, Imm & Demog, Social Science Req (A&S), UUC:Global Interdependence, Urban Poverty - Applied, Urban Poverty- Introduction, UUC:Social & Behavioral Sci

ANTH 2200 - Cultural Anthropology

3 Credits

This course provides an introduction to the theoretical foundations and methodological approaches of Cultural Anthropology. It focuses on the concept of culture and how it relates to various topics, including ethnicity, language, adaptive strategies, kinship, political systems, gender, and religion. The purpose of the course is to give students a broad perspective on the types of anthropological research and discuss how the work of anthropologists is relevant to understanding the human condition.

Attributes: Global Citizenship (CAS), International Studies, International Studies-General, MLIC Intercultural, Sociology Elective, Social Science Req (A&S), UUC:Global Interdependence, UUC:Social & Behavioral Sci

ANTH 2210 - Biological Anthropology

3 Credits

The course examines humans within an evolutionary context to better understand ourselves as apart of the natural world. Topics include: the history of evolutionary thought, molecular and population genetics; human variation and adaptation throughout the world. We will examine extant (living) and extinct primates (including the human fossil record) as evidence of our own evolutionary history, and the biological and cultural strategies of humans through time.

Corequisite(s): ANTH 2215

Attributes: Neuroscience - Anthropology, Natural Science Req (A&S), Sociology Elective, Soc-Health & Medicine, Social Science Req (A&S), UUC:Natural & Applied Science

ANTH 2215 - Biological Anthropology Lab

1 Credit

This is a 1-credit laboratory course that will give you hands-on experience with many of the subjects covered in the Biological Anthropology lecture course (ANTH 2210). We will study genetics, evolution, systematics, the nonhuman primates, human skeletons and fossil hominins through the use of in-class worksheets, handouts, lab exercises, group projects, and optional zoo field trip, and videos. (Offered annually)

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 2210^*

^* Concurrent enrollment allowed.

Corequisite(s): ANTH 2210

Attributes: Sociology Elective

ANTH 2240 - Archaeology

3 Credits

Archaeology is the study of past cultures through the analysis of their material remains. This course introduces archeology as a subfield of anthropology and emphasizes the scientific methods and procedures, tools and techniques used by archaeologists to investigate, reconstruct, interpret, preserve, and learn from artifacts, features, and ecofacts.

Attributes: Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 2330 - Anthropology of the Apocalypse: Climate Fictions and Future Imaginaries

3 Credits

In this course, we study the climate apocalypse, potential futures that may result from it, and how to respond to those scenarios. The course is founded in cultural anthropology and combines discussions of climate fictions and climate science to think through the future. We learn from diverse cultures and perspectives, and integrate a cross-cultural comparison to our own cultures, and study how certain groups respond to climate change and related management decisions. Students focus on understanding how we as humans envision the world, our place in it, and what we desire for our futures influence how we know and treat the world now, as well as how we react to various possible social and environmental transformations. We apply an anthropological lens to assess diverse ways of imagining the future, understand how various cultures inform social-environmental programs and policies, and interpret the equity and justice implications of climate decisions for society.

Attributes: Social Science Req (A&S), UUC:Global Interdependence, UUC:Social & Behavioral Sci

ANTH 2400 - Linguistic Anthropology

3 Credits

This course explores fundamental questions about the relationship between language and culture: How do the structures of our language influence our perception of reality? How does language shape who we are and who we are taken to be? How do we transcend our individual perspectives to participate in a shared world? How does language draw attention to its own beauty? Students will leave this course with an understanding of key themes and problems that interest linguistic anthropologists. They will also sharpen their academic writing skills, hone their analytic capacities, and adopt a range of strategies for participating in intellectual exchange. (Offered as needed)

Attributes: Global Citizenship (CAS), Linguistics Elective, MLIC Linguistics, Neuroscience - Anthropology, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 2470 - Medical Anthropology

3 Credits

States of illness and health are not simply the result of biological processes. If we want to understand why people get sick and how they get better, we must attend to the social and cultural aspects of medicine and disease. This course is an introduction to medical anthropology: the study of cultural meanings, social relations, and systems of power that shape experiences of illness and health. Medical anthropological research produces powerful insights about the extra-biological aspects of health and health care that can reduce disease burdens and improve health outcomes. (Offered occasionally)

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Sociology Elective, Soc-Health & Medicine, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 2510 - Asylum: Sanctuary in a Bordered World

3 Credits

In a bordered world, those placed outside its borders are often denied their rights, dehumanized, and even killed with impunity. This course surveys the broad literature on “asylum” to examine how our bordered world came to be, and how those at humanity’s edges seek and often fail to find asylum. How did the political right of asylum develop historically and what explains its demise today? What remains of “the human” when people no longer have “a right to have rights”? What does a world where the stateless are systematically persecuted do to our common humanity? Addressing these difficult ethical and political questions, this course asks us to consider how we are all inevitably entangled in complex formations of violence at a global scale, and what a different, more equal, and less violent world might look like.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, UUC:Dignity, Ethics & Just Soc, UUC:Reflection-in-Action, UUC:Social & Behavioral Sci

ANTH 2930 - Special Topics

1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Attributes: Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 2980 - Independent Study

1 or 3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

ANTH 3200 - Anthropological Theory

3 Credits

This course introduces the major theories that inform anthropology. The course investigates a range of topics including issues of agency, subjectivity, history, social change, power, culture, and representation. The course objectives include: the appreciation of history of the anthropological study, anthropological theory, reading literacy in the discipline, and its communication.

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1200

Attributes: Global Local Justice-Theory, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 3210 - Science and Pseudoscience

3 Credits

This course will explore the data surrounding notable claims such as Atlantis, Piltdown man, Shroud of Turin, and other myths and hoaxes in anthropology. Students will learn the nature of scientific inquiry and how the scientific method is applied to archaeological as well as other areas of social science research.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 3220 - Water Worlds: The Anthropology of Water

3 Credits

Dive into the fascinating world of cultural anthropology through the lens of one of the planet's most vital and elemental resources—water. In "Water Worlds," you will embark on a captivating journey through diverse cultures and their intricate relationships with water, from serene riverbanks to Oceania and arid desert oases. This course offers a unique opportunity to explore how societies across the globe shape and are shaped by water. We will examine the cultural, ecological, and socio-political dimensions of water use and management, and how they have transformed over time. By studying a wide range of case studies, ethnographic accounts, and interdisciplinary perspectives, you will gain a deep understanding of the complex interplay between human societies and the hydrosphere.

Attributes: Social Science Req (A&S), UUC:Global Interdependence, UUC:Social & Behavioral Sci

ANTH 3240 - Anthropology of Sex & Gender

3 Credits

This course examines human sexuality in an anthropological context, highlighting the importance of integrating biological and cultural aspects of sexuality. Broad perspectives on sexual behavioral patterns across, and within, human cultures are taken. Topics include sexuality in an evolutionary perspective, the physiology of sex, human sexual practices around the world, and gendered sexuality.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Sociology Elective, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 3260 - Peace and Conflict

3 Credits

This course examines cooperation and conflict in human sociality. We compare the underlying assumptions that humans are innately aggressive or war-like with data to the contrary. We look at cross-cultural examples through a series of readings by contemporary social science authors, and also examine our evolutionary past for clues to what is really 'human nature'.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, International Studies, Sociology Elective, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 3270 - Climate Change & Environmental Futures

3 Credits

This course examines current ecological problems and conservation/management efforts around the world, and combines case studies with classic anthropological theory to explore the ethical, cultural and biological ramifications of habitat use and environmental change. Topics include population growth, large-scale development, biodiversity conservation, sustainable environmental management, indigenous groups, consumption, and globalization.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Sociology Elective, Soc-Health & Medicine, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 3280 - Forensic Anthropology

3 Credits

This course is an introduction to the field of forensic anthropology, which involves the analysis of human skeletal remains within the context of a legal investigation. We will explore knowledge of human osteology, dentition, skeletal variation, and pathology to identify human remains.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 3290 - Native Peoples of North America

3 Credits

This course is an introduction to past and present indigenous cultures of North America. The course explores the beliefs, behavioral systems, economic and sociopolitical systems, and regional attributes of North America's indigenous peoples.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Social Science Req (A&S), UUC:Dignity, Ethics & Just Soc, UUC:Social & Behavioral Sci, Diversity in the US (A&S)

ANTH 3340 - World Archaeology

3 Credits

This course discusses significant archaeological discoveries throughout the world that serve to inform us about our human past, from human origins to the advent of writing, focusing on major cultural changes documented through archaeology.

Attributes: International Studies, MLIC Elective, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 3390 - Studies in Culture: Spain

3 Credits

This course explores cultural diversity, change, and continuity in contemporary Spain, considering the legacy of the Civil War and dictatorship in shaping aspects of Spanish culture. Topics include changing attitudes toward sex, sexuality, and gender roles; the influence of the Church; immigration and multiculturalism; and separatist movements. Students critically engage with findings from ethnography, social survey, and popular media.

Attributes: Cultural Diversity in the EU, International Studies, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 3410 - Psyche: Culture and Power

3 Credits

How does the world shape our minds? Organized around this central question, this course examines how cultural milieus, social structures, and historical contexts have shaped the thoughts, feelings, and desires of people living in different times and places. Have people always and everywhere felt anger? How does speaking different languages shape how we sense the world? Where Western psychiatric diagnoses are absent or insufficient, how is “mental illness” interpreted and experienced? How do unequal economic and political systems shape our psyches, and our very understanding of how the psyche operates? To examine the question of the relation between mind and world, this course puts psychological anthropology into conversation with social and cultural psychology, history, social theory, philosophy, and film.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Social Science Req (A&S), UUC:Identities in Context, UUC:Social & Behavioral Sci

ANTH 3460 - Global Mental Health

3 Credits

This course will discuss how anthropologists think about emotions and emotional support across cultures, the meanings of illness and disease, and the historical construction of psychiatric knowledge and power in East Asia, Western Europe, and North America.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Global Citizenship (CAS), International Studies, International Studies-Health, Sociology Elective, Soc-Health & Medicine, Social Science Req (A&S), UUC:Global Interdependence, UUC:Social & Behavioral Sci

ANTH 3910 - Internship

1-6 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Prerequisite(s): (CORE 1000 or UUC Ignite Seminar with a minimum score of S); (CORE 1500^*, SLU English Placement with a minimum score of 1500, SLU Math Placement with a minimum score of 0000, or LP Spanish Placement with a minimum score of 1)

^* Concurrent enrollment allowed.

Attributes: UUC:Reflection-in-Action

ANTH 3930 - Special Topics

1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Attributes: Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 3980 - Independent Study

1 or 3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

ANTH 4240 - Primate Social Behavior

3 Credits

This course examines the social lives of primates. The course includes an introduction to primate evolution and taxonomy and behavioral ecology. The course covers topics such as conservation, behavior, physiology, reproduction, and evolution of social organization will be highlighted.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Neuroscience - Anthropology, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 4530 - Urban Ethnography: Cities in a Global Perspective

3 Credits

This class draws on ethnographic texts set in cities the world over to help understand recent tensions in St. Louis. Highlighted are the (uneven) circulation of people, objects, and opportunities within cities. We consider how the ethnographic method can inform the work of urban planners and policy makers.

Prerequisite(s): (SOC 1100, SOC 1110, SOC 1120, or ANTH 1200)

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Global Citizenship (CAS), Sociology Elective, Soc-Urban, Imm & Demog, Social Science Req (A&S), Urban Poverty - Applied

ANTH 4540 - Environmental Impact

3 Credits

This course examines the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability in cities around the world. Also examined are policies and opportunities to address the challenges of sustainability from both developed and developing countries.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Sociology Elective, Soc-Urban, Imm & Demog, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 4710 - Field Recovery Methods

4 Credits

This course emphasizes the scientific methods and procedures used by archaeologists and forensic scientists to investigate, reconstruct, interpret, preserve, and learn from artifacts, features, and eco-facts. Students learn to process, inventory, analyze and interpret the archaeological record and write a preliminary report on their findings.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 4720 - Archaeological Lab Method

2 Credits

This course introduces archaeology, a subfield of anthropology, and the scientific methods and procedures used to investigate, reconstruct, interpret, preserve, and learn from artifacts, features, and ecofacts. Students learn to process, inventory, analyze and interpret the archaeological record and write a preliminary report on their findings.

Attributes: Anthropology Elective

ANTH 4800 - Research Activity: Supervised

1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

This course provides students with research experience under the guidance of a faculty member. Student involvement in various components of the faculty member's research project(s) is the typical form. The course provides competitive advantages for students interested in applying to graduate schools.

Prerequisite(s): (ANTH 4240, ANTH 4530, ANTH 4710, SOC 2000, SOC 4015, or SOC 4025)

Attributes: Anthropology Elective, Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 4870 - Capstone in Anthropology

3 Credits

This course allows anthropology majors to write a rigorous 25-page paper that focuses on a single topic in depth. Develop a serious scholarly manuscript that you could use for graduate school applications, or (in exceptional cases) as a paper that could be presented at conferences or submitted to third-tier anthropology journals.

Attributes: Social Science Req (A&S)

ANTH 4930 - Special Topics

1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

ANTH 4980 - Advanced Independent Study

1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)