Course Descriptions
ANTH-1 Physical Anthropology
CSU and UC (3 units lecture)
An introduction to physical anthropology taught within the framework of evolutionary theory. To show how social and biological sciences are related, the course is organized into four major parts: evolutionary theory, nonhuman primates, human evolution, and human variation. In this last section, some study of the impact of inherited disease is presented.
(CAN ANTH2)
ANTH-100 Essentials of Anthropology
(3 units lecture)
An introduction to the basic concepts and controversies in the four subfields of anthropology (cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, archaeology, and linguistic anthropology). Students will be encouraged to improve their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills through a series of classroom activities and several writing assignments. This course is designed to provide the basic terminology and an introduction to key controversies in anthropology that are covered in greater depth in ANTH-1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Note: Students in this class are required to be enrolled in the
Corequisite, Anthropology-theme English 150 course.
ANTH-2 Introduction to Archaeology
CSU and UC (3 units lecture/lab)
An introduction to archaeological methods, theories and application of techniques used to learn about and interpret the life-ways of past cultures. Students will learn about all of the steps involved in the planning, design, management, and conduct of archaeological investigations, including topics such as sampling, mapping methods, excavation strategies, the application of dating techniques, artifact and eco-fact analyses, and horizontal pattern analyses. Additionally, topics such as the legal and ethical responsibilities of archaeologists and job opportunities for archaeologists will be discussed.
ANTH-3 Cultural Anthropology
CSU and UC (3 units lecture)
An introduction to cultural anthropology that offers students an understanding of other peoples in different times and places. Students study the concept of culture and the contents of two specific cultures, the Yanomamo and Modern Maya. Survival, sex, marriage, family, and religion will be discussed by students and the instructor with cultural change and comparisons made.
(CAN ANTH4)
ANTH-4 Folklore
CSU and UC (3 units lecture)
Students will collect, study and analyze forms of folklore such as folk-speech, superstitions, gestures, graffiti, etc. Emphasis will be on the analysis of collections and the use of folklore as a tool for understanding domestic and foreign cultures.
ANTH-5 Great Archaeological Discoveries
CSU and UC (3 units lecture)
A survey of data from noted archaeological sites from around the world. Sites to be discussed in the course will include a variety of cultures from around the world, from the beginning of human history through recent historical occupations. Additionally, the course will explore relationships between archaeologists, the media, and the public.
ANTH-6 Forensic Anthropology
CSU (3 units lecture)
An examination of the science of solving crimes with anthropological data, especially that from human skeletal remains. Basic human skeletal anatomy will be taught in order to set the stage for examining details of criminal investigations. Students will learn how to initially estimate the sex and age of a given individual based on skeletal features. This course will outline the potential that forensic anthropology holds for the determination of population, cause of death, and individual identification. The benefits and problems presented by DNA analysis will be presented. Well-known case studies from around the world will be discussed, and the cultural consequences of forensic analyses will be examined.