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ANTHROPOLOGY
Students
who are curious about the similarities and differences
among cultures around the world often find a fresh
analytical perspective in anthropology. This program
emphasizes sociocultural anthropology, which is
the study of contemporary peoples as investigated
directly by anthropologists through field research.
Departmental offerings also provide exposure to
particular cultural areas in which the faculty hold
expertise: Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Native
North America. For majors and minors in anthropology,
the sequence of courses in theory and methods seeks
to encourage analytical skills, provide a foundation
in anthropological theory and develop practical
skills in observation, interviewing, ethics and
interpersonal rapport. The study of anthropology
contributes to the liberal arts education of students
by providing new tools for understanding and analyzing
the diversity of world cultures, as well as our
own.
Career
Opportunities in Anthropology
With
its emphasis on non-Western
cultures and its integration of
perspectives from the humanities
and sciences, anthropology offers
versatile training for students
in our increasingly
interconnected world. A major or
minor in anthropology provides
excellent preparation for careers
in research, education and human
services, especially those which
involve contact with
international and/or
multicultural communities.
Students of anthropology find
employment in both the public and
private sectors, in fields as
diverse as international
development, refugee
resettlement, hospital
administration, museums and
cultural resource management, and
tourism.
Facilities and equipment available to the department
include classrooms, offices and instructional aids
in Eaton Hall, Native American art collections in
the Hallie Ford Museum of Art and library holdings.
REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE ANTHROPOLOGY
MAJOR
(9
credits)
ANTH
150
(US) Controversies and Issues in
Cultural Anthropology (1)
ANTH
361
(W) Ethnographic Methods (1)
ANTH
371
Survey of Anthropological Theory (1)
One
course in a geographic area: (1)
ANTH 210 (IT)
Oral Tradition and Performance in African Literature
(1) [Crosslisted with FREN 210 and CLHI 210]
ANTH
231
(TH; US) Native North American Cultures (1)
ANTH
233
(US) Peoples & Cultures of Asia (1)
ANTH
251
Latin American Cultures [Crosslisted with
LAS 251] (1)
ANTH
252 (US) Rites of Passage (1)
ANTH
358
Special Topics in Anthropology (1)
One
topical course: (1)
ANTH
211
(IT) Folklore (1)
ANTH
303
Museum Studies Seminar (1)
ANTH
335 Visual Anthropology (1)
ANTH
341
Anthropology
of Art (1)
ANTH
343
Ethnomusicology (1)
ANTH
345
Gender Issues in Anthropology (1)
ANTH
351
(AR)
Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights, and the Environment
(1)
ANTH
353
Myth,
Ritual, and Religion (1)
ANTH
355
Warfare,
Violence, and Peace (1)
ANTH
356
(W)
Language and Culture (1)
ANTH
357
Writing Culture: The Crafting of the Anthropological
Texts (1)
ANTH
358
Special Topics in Anthropology (1)
ANTH
394
Internship in Anthropology (1)
Three
additional courses chosen from
geographical and topical
categories, and /or
departmentally approved courses
taken during off-campus programs.
Senior
Year Experience, chosen from:
(1)
ANTH
499
(W) Senior Seminar (1)
REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE ANTHROPOLOGY
MINOR
(5
credits)
ANTH
150
(US) Controversies and Issues in
Cultural Anthropology (1)
ANTH
361
(W) Ethnographic Methods (1)
ANTH
371
Survey of Anthropological Theory
(1)
One
area course from the following: (1)
ANTH
231
(TH; US) Native North American Cultures (1)
ANTH
233
(US) Peoples & Cultures of Asia (1)
ANTH
251
Latin American Cultures (1) [Crosslisted with
LAS 251]
ANTH
252 (US) Rites of Passage (1)
ANTH
358
Special
Topics in Anthropology (1)
One
topical course: (1)
ANTH
303
Museum Studies Seminar (1)
ANTH
335 Visual Anthropology (1)
ANTH
341
Anthropology
of Art (1)
ANTH
343
Ethnomusicology (1)
ANTH
345
Gender Issues in Anthropology (1)
ANTH
351
(AR) Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights, and the
Environment (1)
ANTH
353
Myth, Ritual, and Religion (1)
ANTH
355
Warfare,
Violence, and Peace (1)
ANTH
356
(W) Language and Culture (1)
ANTH
357
Writing Culture: The Crafting of the Anthropological
Texts (1)
ANTH
358
Special Topics in Anthropology (1)
ANTH
394
Internship in Anthropology (1)
FACULTY
Pamela
Moro, Associate Professor
of Anthropology, Chair
Alicia DeNicola, Visiting
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Rebecca J. Dobkins, Associate
Professor
of Anthropology
Joyce Millen, Assistant
Professor of Anthropology
Peter Wogan, Associate Professor
of Anthropology
COURSE
DESCRIPTIONS
ANTH
090X
Native
North
American
Film
(.25)
[Crosslisted
with
AES
090X]
A
study of films and videos about and/or by Native
North Americans. It is intended to introduce the
cultures of indigenous peoples of Canada and the
U.S. through visual media, as well as to explore
and critique the conventions employed by the filmmakers.
Ideally taken concurrently with ANTH
231. On demand. Dobkins
ANTH
150 (US) Controversies and Issues in Cultural
Anthropology (1)
Introduces
students to cultural anthropology, the study of
cultures from various parts of the world, including
the U.S. Through debates, close readings of cultural
case studies, and problem-solving, students critically
evaluate anthropologists' approaches to topics
such as gender, ecology, power, and ritual. Possible
questions: How to explain gender inequalities?
Are universal morals and cultural relativism at
odds? Is human behavior learned or inherited?
Prerequisite: 1st and 2nd year students only.
Understanding Society. Every semester. Staff
ANTH
210 (IT)
Oral Tradition and Performance in African Literature
(1) [Crosslisted with FREN 210 and CLHI 210]
This course explores how contemporary written
literature in Africa continues to derive a great
deal of its vitality from older traditions of
verbal art. Initially the course will examine
sample texts from the oral tradition. It will
next focus on representative texts by major African
writers whose works have made use of said oral
tradition as well as examine their social and
political contexts. The principal concern of the
course will be the analysis of the aesthetic implications
of the transposition of oral techniques and structural
features into the medium of the written/printed
word. Conducted in English. Interpreting Texts.
Annually. Fofana
ANTH
211 (IT) Folklore (1)
Considers
the major forms, functions, origins, methods of
transmission and performance of folklore, as well
as the collection and analysis of folklore. Introduces
a variety of folklore genres (such as myth, joke,
riddle, proverb, ballad), drawing upon cross-cultural
as well as U.S. examples. Students will carry
out independent research and analysis projects.
Interpreting Texts. Annually. Moro
ANTH
231
(TH;
US)
Native
North
American
Cultures
(1)
[Crosslisted
with
AES
231]
This
course offers a survey of the dynamic, changing
cultures of Native North America, from the time
of the first peopling of the continent to the
present day. The approach emphasizes the diversity
of these cultures, as well as the complexity of
the relationships between Native American and
non-native peoples. Particular attention given
to Oregon and the Northwest. Prerequisite: ANTH
150
recommended. Understanding Society, Thinking Historically.
Indigenous Peoples and Cultures Cluster. Fall.
Dobkins
ANTH
233 (US) Peoples & Cultures of Asia (1)
This
course represents an application of the anthropological
perspective (an emphasis on field-collected data
and the common patterns of culture and social
life) to the study of the development and contemporary
life of societies in Asia, including India, China
and Thailand. Specific topics include kinship
and family structures, adaptations to the natural
environment, political and economic structures,
religion, expressive culture and the arts, processes
of urbanization and industrialization, and issues
of social change in the late 20th century. Understanding
Society. Asia Cluster. Fall. Moro
ANTH
251 Latin American Cultures [Crosslisted with
LAS 251] (1)
This course provides an introduction to major
aspects of Latin American cultures (especially
indigenous cultures), including the following:
conquest history, ethnicity, national identity,
religion, healing, politics, gender, media representations,
Lations in the U.S., and language. A service-learning
component involves work with a local community
agency serving Latinos. Spring. Wogan
ANTH
252 (US) Rites of Passage in Chinese Societies
(1)
[Crosslisted with CHNSE 252]
This
course surveys the life-cycle rituals of birth,
marriage, and death in Chinese societies from
folkloristic, anthropological, philosophical,
and historical perspectives. By reading the text,
understanding the context, observing the performance,
and reenacting the rituals, the participants learn
the subject as a disciplinary field and as a body
of knowledge in Chinese culture, and examine the
rituals through such topics as gender role, ethnic
identity, symbolism, belief and behavior, folklore
and tradition, and continuity of culture. Understanding
Society. Asian Cluster. Death Cluster. Fall. Zhang
ANTH
303
Museum
Studies
Seminar
(1)
[Crosslisted
with
AES
303]
This
seminar is designed to introduce students to the
field of museum anthropology and to the theoretical
and practical dimensions of museum studies. As
an applied research experience, it offers the
opportunity to do hands-on work with the Native
American collection and exhibition program at
the Hallie Ford Museum of Art. Topics include
the application of contemporary anthropological
theory to work in museums, particularly in terms
of issues of cultural representation, ethics,
fieldwork, and museum display. Students will learn
and apply skills in collections and archival management,
exhibition development, and museum public programming.
Prerequisite: ANTH
231
or ANTH
351,
and consent of instructor. Spring. Dobkins
ANTH
335 Visual
Anthropology (1)
This
course focuses on a variety of visual texts, from
documentary films about non-Western cultures to
fiction films made in the U.S. Special emphasis
is placed on questions about visual representations
of other cultures, and the way audience responses
to visual texts reflect cultural values. Students
will carry out independent fieldwork projects,
in some cases making use of video-recording technologies.
Prerequisite: One previous anthropology course;
preference given to Anthropology Majors and Minors.
Every third semester. Wogan
ANTH
341 Anthropology of Art (1)
This
course focuses upon art as a dynamic process involving
not only the human creation of objects, but the
circulation of these objects within the various
social, cultural and historical contexts which
give them meaning. Provides a foundation in the
anthropological study of art, aesthetics, museums
and material culture. Special attention will be
given to the arts of Native North America, Africa
and Oceania. No prerequisites, though ANTH
150 or 231
or a background in Art is recommended. On demand.
Dobkins
ANTH
343 Ethnomusicology (1)
This
course considers music in social and cultural
context, with attention to the functions, forms
and meanings of music as an aspect of human behavior.
Introduces techniques for the cross-cultural study
of music. Examples are drawn from a number of
musical traditions, primarily from the non-Western
world. No prerequisites, though ANTH
150 or training in Music is recommended. Alternate
years. Moro
ANTH
345 Gender Issues in Anthropology (1)
An
examination of gender and sex cross-culturally
and in evolutionary perspective, with emphasis
on the non-industrialized world. Some of the topics
we will consider include women and men in prehistory;
notions of masculinity, femininity and sexuality;
the sexual divisions of labor and economic organization;
women’s involvement in ritual and religion;
and impact of sociocultural change on gender issues.
No prerequisites, though ANTH
150 or courses in Women’s Studies are
recommended. Alternate years. Moro
ANTH
351
(AR)
Indigenous
Peoples,
Human
Rights
and
the
Environment
(1)
[Crosslisted
with
AES
351]
This
course focuses upon environmental and human rights
issues affecting indigenous peoples worldwide.
Using the cross-cultural, comparative and field-based
perspectives that distinguish anthropology, this
course examines some of the most pressing problems
facing the world’s indigenous peoples, explores
strategies used by these groups in facing human
rights and environmental violations, and offers
students the opportunity to study about and take
action on these issues. Case studies of specific
indigenous groups will be drawn from different
world areas, including North and South America,
Africa, Oceania and Asia. Prerequisite: prior
course work in Anthropology or Environmental Studies
required. Analyzing Arguments, Reasons and Values.
Indigenous Peoples and Cultures Cluster, Environmental
Cluster. Alternate years. Spring. Dobkins
ANTH
353 Myth, Ritual and Religion (1)
Religion
is found in some form in every culture and the
discipline of anthropology has been much concerned
with exploring and understanding the global diversity
of religious expression. This course introduces
the cross-cultural study of myth, ritual and religion
through case studies drawn from around the world.
Prior course work in Anthropology or Religion
recommended. Alternate years. Dobkins, Moro
ANTH
355 Warfare, Violence and Peace
(1)
This
course will critically examine
anthropological theories about
the causes, functions, and
meanings of warfare, violence,
and peace. In particular, the
following topics will be
addressed: 1) the causes and
nature of warfare according to
competing theories from
materialist, functionalist,
symbolic, and biological
perspectives; 2) the function and
meaning of headhunting,
cannibalism, human sacrifice,
torture, gang violence, and
organized crime; 3) changes from
violent to peaceful practices.
Various case studies will be
examined, with special emphasis
on small-scale societies.
Prerequisite: One previous course
in anthropology. Taught 2003-2004
academic year. Wogan
ANTH
356 (W) Language and Culture
(1)
This
course introduces students to the
major issues and methodologies in
the study of language in its
cultural context. In particular,
the course focuses on linguistic
questions related to the
following: 1) gender; 2) power;
3) ethnic, racial, and national
identifies; 4) literacy; 5)
poetic, verbal performance; and
6) intercultural communication.
Analysis often centers on video
and cassette texts from films,
conversations, and the students'
own fieldwork data. Prerequisite:
Previous coursework in
Anthropology recommended.
Writing-centered. Every third
semester. Wogan
ANTH
357 Writing Culture: The Crafting
of Anthropological Texts
(1)
How do anthropologists represent
other cultures? This course
examines the most significant
mode of writing within
anthropology: the ethnography.
Students will read a selection of
ethnographies representing a
variety of issues, theoretical
approaches, and styles of
crafting ethnographic text.
Topics to be explored will
include the establishment of
authorial voice, the integration
of data into text, contemporary
experimentation with and critique
of the ethnographic format.
Specific content and reading
lists will rotate depending on
instructor. Prerequisite: At
least one prior course in
Anthropology. On demand.
Staff
ANTH
358 Special Topics in
Anthropology (1)
This
course provides the flexibility
to offer special topics of
interest in anthropology. The
course may study a particular
subfield of anthropology, or a
particular anthropological
problem in depth. Prerequisite:
ANTH
150
or consent of instructor. On
demand. Staff
ANTH
361 (W) Ethnographic Methods
(1)
A
practical writing-centered
introduction to the field
techniques of anthropology, with
an emphasis on student-conducted
research. Topics include ethics,
rapport, gathering and recording
data (focusing upon techniques of
participant-observation and
interviewing), writing
description and qualitative
analysis. Each student will
design and carry out an
independent, semester-long
research project. This course is
intended for anthropology minors
and majors. Prerequisite:
ANTH
371.
Spring. Moro
ANTH
371 Survey of Anthropological
Theory (1)
This
course surveys the history of
anthropological theory, with an
emphasis upon contemporary
schools and movements within the
discipline. Topics range from the
nineteenth-century intellectual
history of the discipline to
current trends and critiques in
anthropology. Appropriate for
students of anthropology and
others interested in cultural
studies or theory in the social
sciences. Prerequisite:
ANTH
150
or permission of instructor; not
open to 1st year students. Fall.
Dobkins, Wogan
ANTH
394 Internship in Anthropology
(1)
This course provides an
opportunity for practical
experience (minimum 12 hours per
week) in an off-campus setting
related to the study of
anthropology and to the student's
emerging research and
professional interests. The
student will be supervised by an
on-site professional as well as a
faculty member. A paper, journal,
and periodic consultations with
the faculty member are required.
The internship is open to
advanced majors in anthropology
only; completion of
ANTH
371
and ANTH
361
are recommended. The course does
not fulfill the senior experience
requirement. Fall/Spring.
Staff
ANTH
490 Independent Study (.5 or
1)
This
course provides the opportunity to conduct a major
research project which cannot otherwise be pursued
through any existing course in the department’s
curriculum. Students must have standing in anthropology
and will work under faculty supervision. This
course cannot replace ANTH 499 (W), Senior Seminar.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. On demand.
Staff
ANTH
499 (W) Senior Seminar
(1)
Students
will read and discuss current
research in anthropology. Each
student will write and present a
major paper. Writing-centered.
Prerequisite: ANTH
371
and senior standing. Spring.
Staff
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