2021-2022 Academic Catalog

ANT-Anthropology

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Course Descriptions By Program

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ANT100 - Introduction to Anthropology

This course is an introduction to biological anthropology (primatology, hominid evolution, variation in modern humans), archaeology (methods, evidences of the evolution and diffusion of culture), anthropological linguistics, and cultural anthropology (methods of participant observation, comparative data from non-Western societies, diversity and unity of culture).

ANT101 - Archaeology Field School

An introduction to archaeological procedures by participation in the excavation of a site, this course provides the opportunity for students to be involved in all phases of an archaeological excavation, from initial preparation of the site for excavation through the processing of artifacts at the campus archaeological laboratory.

ANT220 - Aztecs, Mayas and Incas

An introduction and survey of pre-conquest Latin America with special emphasis on the Culture History and Archaeology of Mesoamerica and the Andean Culture areas. The overall purpose of this course is to develop a context for understanding the complex origin of civilizations in Mesoamerica and the Andean Culture areas and the origins of agriculture in the Americas.

ANT231 - Medical Anthropology

. This introductory course emphasizes the contributions from biological anthropology, archaeology and cultural anthropology to the study of human sickness and health.

ANT232 - Fundamentals of Biological Anthropology

This course for both majors and non-majors introduces students to the field of biological anthropology, including the study of evolutionary theory, modern human populations, the behavior and ecology of nonhuman primates, and the primate (human and nonhuman) fossil record. Special emphasis will be directed toward human form and behavior as a result of the complex interplay of biology and culture acting over millions of years of evolutionary change.

ANT245 - Human Osteology

This lab-intensive course is designed to give students a thorough understanding of the complexity and usefulness of the study of human teeth and bones. Osteology is the study of human skeletal remains and is a crucial part of the physical anthropology curriculum. It has applications in archaeology, anatomy, paleontology and forensic science. Students will learn the entire human skeleton and be able to identify bones and teeth from fragments; determine qualities such as sex, age and pathology from osteological remains; and prepare a professional report on these topics. The application of such knowledge and training is extended into the medical profession, forensic investigation and paleoanthropology/archaeology.

ANT254 - Introduction to Forensic Anthropology

This course teaches the basic analysis of human remains for the medico-legal profession, covering the development of the field of forensic anthropology, how the biological profile of an individual is determined from the skeleton, how skeletal traumas are evaluated, estimation of the interval since death, and how far these assessments can be supported. The course includes discussion of investigation of crime scenes, the legal role of the physical anthropologist as an expert witness, and the importance of report preparation. Case studies of documented individuals are used. While the practical aspects of this field will be the primary focus, attention will also be drawn to the incorporation of anthropological approaches to dealing with death and the handling of human remains.

ANT280 - Indians of North America

This course is a Holistic study (historical, cultural and environmental) of selective Native American cultural groups from cultural areas in North America, with an emphasis upon populations living in the United States and Canada. In addition, a brief overview of the prehistory of each cultural area is provided in order to help develop an historical context for each of the cultural groups to be examined.

ANT290 - Introduction to Archaeology

Students are introduced to the subject of Archaeology by focusing upon what archaeologists try to accomplish, how they conduct their work, and why. More specifically, the course focuses on the methods employed by archaeologists to located, recover and to study cultures and peoples ways of life using the shreds of evidence recovered during excavation and from museum collections.

ANT300 - Cultural Views of Women

This discussion-based course is structured around the theme of how various world societies have viewed women. The cross-cultural perspective is the means by which American students learn to appreciate other cultural points of view and become more self-aware of their own cultural views about women.

ANT329 - Anthropology Internship

Learning new ideas and skills, as well as applying those already learned in class, is the objective of an internship. Internships are conducted under the guidance of both an on-site and a campus supervisor. Internships are a means for exploring career opportunities.

ANT340 - Research Laboratory in Physical Anthropology

This course will provide the student practical, hands-on experience in the cleaning/conservation, cataloging process and basic analysis (classification and description) of specimens commonly used in physical anthropology and how to report the results of laboratory analysis. It shows also how analysis and theory are inescapably linked. Hands-on projects use skeletal elements, dental, biological and paleontological specimens. Students will apply the scientific method in their analysis of data and will report the results in a professional manner within the classroom.

ANT341 - Research Laboratory in Archaeology

This course will provide the student practical, hands-on experience in the cleaning/conservation, cataloging process, basic analysis (classification and description) of artifacts from archaeological contexts, and how to report the results of laboratory analysis. It shows also how analysis and theory are inescapably linked. Hands-on projects use faunal, lithic, ground stone and ceramic collections recovered from Late Prehistoric sites from southwestern Pennsylvania. Students apply the principles of hypothesis testing to artifact assemblages from sites that are part of ongoing research into the prehistory of southwestern Pennsylvania and the lower upper Ohio River Valley.

ANT345 - Cultural Politics of Food and Eating

An advanced interdisciplinary course on the cross-cultural study of cultural differences and similarities in the display, exchange and consumption of food both prehistorically and historically. Since food serves more than just a dietary need, studying how it is manipulated can shed light on the political, social and economic agendas of individuals, groups and governments. The course draws from the fields of psychology, sociology, political science, history and anthropology.

ANT355 - Prehistoric American Indians

The course provides an overview of North American Prehistory, with a special emphasis on the eastern United States. Using the traditional chronology developed for the eastern United States in the 1950’s, the social, economic, subsistence and political systems of these populations will be examined in some detail using archaeologically recovered remains, beginning with the initial occupation sometime prior to 15,000 B.C. and concluding during the 17th century.

ANT360 - Historical Archaeology

The course provides an introduction to the field of historical archaeology. It uses a combined lecture/discussion format and is divided into two main parts. The first half is descriptive and covers the definition of the field, its history, and methodology. The second half used a topical approach and provides an introduction to some of the ways that historical archaeologists have examined our historic past.

ANT370 - Forensic Archaeology

Forensic Archaeology is an interdisciplinary course designed to introduce archaeology, forensic anthropology, and criminal justice majors to the procedures associated with the location, identification, recovery and documentation of buried human remains. The course contains three main components: identifying human remains, strategies of locating human remains, and procedures for the recovery and documental of those remains. Students will obtain practical, hands-on training in each of the three areas.

ANT379 - Special Problems in Anthropology

Special Problems in Anthropology is a topics course. Areas not covered by the existing curriculum can be explored in a focused study on a topic identified by a faculty member.

ANT385 - Primate Societies and Behavior

This course is an advanced study of the nonhuman primates, including classification to the generic level.

ANT390 - Human Origins

Contemporary biological study of human origins, emphasizing evolutionary theory, genetics, non-human primates, and Paleoanthropology. The importance of technology and the emergence and development of culture are also emphasized.

ANT400 - Fundamentals of Archaeological Theory

The course is devoted to an examination of how archaeologists know what they know and how validity of archaeological interpretation is assessed. The course reviews major theoretical and methodological approaches and issues in the discipline from the 18th century to modern times. Topics that may be addressed include: examination of settlement patterns, identity and affiliation, sample bias and its impact on interpretation, interdisciplinary approaches in archaeology, research design, and applied archaeology.

ANT421 - Anthropological Thought

Within a seminar context, the history of anthropological thought is examined from the period of the Enlightenment to modern times. Particular emphasis is placed on the emergence of the various schools of anthropology that have developed and waned over the past 100 years.

ANT445 - Advanced Methods in Archaeology

A study of applications of technology to the study of archaeological remains, this advanced course focuses on geophysical reconnaissance, GIS, microscopic study of use-wear patterns on bone and stone tools, aerial photography, and other analytical techniques for the study of specific categories of archaeological remains. This course allows the students to acquire hands-on experience that is not available in any other course.

ANT446 - Advanced Forensic Anthropology

Forensic anthropology is an applied area of physical anthropology. Students in this lab-intensive and lecture course will become familiar with the use and limitations of the most important osteological methods currently used by forensic anthropologists. This course employs methods developed in osteology, skeletal biology, bioarchaeology and paleopathology to the recovery and identification of human remains in a medico-legal context.

ANT455 - Anthropology of Death & Dying

This seminar course explores death and dying from multiple cultural perspectives, utilizing both scientific and humanistic approaches in anthropology and related fields. This course investigates varied cultural views on the causes, meanings, and impacts of death and dying on humans, from the earliest archaeological evidence to modern times.

ANT497 - Seminar in Physical Anthropology

This is an advanced course for studying a specific theoretical and/or methodological issue in physical anthropology. Examples of topics include primatology, classification and systematics, dental anthropology, and paleopathology. The selection of the topic or topics to be examined will vary in accordance with the research interests of the instructor and the students.

ANT498 - Seminar in Archaeology

An advanced course for studying a specific theoretical and/or methodological issue in archaeology. Examples of topics include settlement pattern archaeology, evolutionary archaeology, household archaeology, classification, systematics and cultural history units such as the Late Prehistoric and the Late Woodland. The selection of the topic or topics to be examined will vary in accordance with the research interests of the instructor and students.

ANT499 - Senior Seminar in Anthropology

All seniors are required to take this course. The senior seminar is an in-depth examination of issues relevant to the health, vitality and practice of anthropology. Some of the topics to be discussed include epistemology, paradigms, interdisciplinary research, discipline goals, professional ethics, publication and careers.