The Anthropology Minor at Rowan University
B.A. Sociology: Anthropology Specialization
Maria Rosado, Advisor
Robinson Hall
856.256.4586
rosado@rowan.edu
ANTH 02280: Old World Archaeology 3 S.H.
Prerequisite: ANTH 02203
This course will explore the ancient cultures of the Old World from an archaeological perspective. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, European Prehistory, Ancient Egypt, Archaeology of Greece and Rome, African Prehistory, Indus Valley Prehistory, and the Prehistory of China. Emphases will be placed upon: current research trends and findings particularly in the last three decades; prehistoric cultural ecology; culture change and culture process; and current new and traditional controversies, from the earliest hunter-gatherers to settled societies, animal and plant domestication, to the impact civilizations and empires, and the impact of archaeological conservation. Students will research articles on discoveries and debates, prepare a research report, and apply learned archaeological methods in a simulated excavation.
ANTH 02290: Museum Studies 3 S.H.
This course provides an introduction to the history, purposes, and internal workings of museums from an anthropological perspective. Students will learn how museums that focus on natural history and cultural history related to the anthropological studies of archaeology, human evolution, and world ethnography operate in both physical museum exhibit space and virtually on the worldwide web. It will cover the relevance of anthropological training to careers in the museum field, as well as the importance of conducting anthropological investigations in the museum environment. This course may not be offered annually.
Minor in Anthropology
Maria Rosado, Advisor
Robinson Hall
856.256.4586
rosado@rowan.edu
The Minor in Anthropology consists of six 3-credit courses. The first three courses constitute a common core taken by all minors. These are:
ANTH02.202 Cultural Anthropology
ANTH02.221 Human Variation
ANTH02.203 Archaeology
Minors select the remaining three courses in consultation with their minor advisor (whom the student may choose at any point prior to taking the final three courses). Each student will be encouraged to concentrate in a particular subfield of anthropology (cultural, physical or archaeology). Those who have an interest in which no class is offered may elect an independent study or research course as a final course choice. Interested students may elect to take more courses than the minimum required by the minor. If graduate studies in anthropology are anticipated, the student is encouraged to take a minimum of 8 courses.
Anthropology Courses:
ANTH 02202: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3 S.H.
This course presents cultural anthropology as a coherent system of data and theory designed to explain the variety of human group behavior, giving special emphasis to the structure and function of non-western cultures.
ANTH 02203: Introduction to Archeology 3 S.H.
This course covers the rudiments of archeological field techniques, methods of analysis and dating methods.
ANTH 02210: Natives of South America 3 S.H.
The pre-history and cultures of native South Americans are examined in this course via the archeological record and ethnographic accounts. The concepts of culture, cultural evolution, and adaptation are emphasized while undertaking a comprehensive survey of the diverse native South American societies and their environments.This course is offered annually.
ANTH 02215: Medical Anthropology 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: ANTH 02201 or BIOL 01100
Medical anthropology surveys the cultural, genetic and environmental factors that influence the development of human disease, the history and distribution of illnesses and the culturally prescribed varieties of medical treatment and health-promoting behaviors. Students will gain an understanding of the important influence that social behavior and commonly-held beliefs have on the course of illness and its cure. This course may not be offered annually.
ANTH 02221: Human Variation 3 S.H.
In this course, the genetic, immunological, anatomical and physiological variation among modern populations of humans across the globe is examined. The course will enable students to explain human biological adaptation to the bicultural environments in which they live, as well as to understand environmental influences on the human life cycle such as on fertility, growth, and longevity. No prerequisites
ANTH 02250: Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics 3 S.H.
Students in this interdisciplinary course will engage in the scientific study of language with particular reference to the relationships among the languages, thoughts, and cultures of speech communities living all over the world, including within the United States, France, India, Canada, Spain, Japan and Peru, among others. Additional course topics include the process of human language acquisition, structures of human language, bilingualism and the ways in which race, class, gender, and other social
characteristics may be displayed through the use of language. This course is offered every other year, beginning in 2009.
ANTH 02270: New World Archaeology 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: ANTH 02203
This course covers the prehistoric and early historic cultural adaptations of the native peoples of the Americas. Emphases will be placed upon: current research trends and findings particularly in the last three decades; prehistoric cultural ecology; culture change and culture process; and current new and traditional controversies, from the earliest Native American hunter-gatherers to settled societies, animal and plant domestication, to the impact of colonization, and the impact of archaeological conservation. Students will research articles on discoveries and debates, prepare a research report, and apply learned archaeological methods in a simulated excavation. This course may not be offered annually.
ANTH 02301: Human Evolution 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: One of the following; ANTH 02201, ANTH 02221, BIOL 02100, BIOL01.104, BIOL 01110, BIOL 01113, BIOL 01310
Students of Human Evolution will study anthropological genetics and, evolutionary theory, basics of primate and human skeletal anatomy, dating and excavation techniques and the fossil evidence of hominid evolution from 7 million years ago to the present. Recent discoveries and controversies will be discussed and evaluated. The course will be offered annually.
ANTH 02310: Indians of North America 3 S.H.
This is an ethnographic and archaeological survey of the native peoples of North America, emphasizing cultural diversity and adaptation. The course will cover the time span from the settling of North America to the present. It analyzes the present-day problems of reservation life, the contributions of Native Americans, and the Native Americans’ place in society. Students will analyze issues affecting Native North Americans.
ANTH 02311: People and Cultures of Africa 3 S.H.
This is an ethnographic and archaeological survey of the peoples of Africa, emphasizing cultural diversity and adaptation. The course will cover the time span from the settling of Africa to the present. It analyzes the present-day problems of preservation of traditional cultures and the contributions of African peoples to world cultures. Students will analyze issues affecting African peoples
ANTH 02312: Anthropological Perspectives on Physical Growth and
Development 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: BIOL 01110 or BIOL 10210 or ANTH 02201
This course examines the normal course of human physical growth and development and inter-populational differences in attainment of puberty and final adult height, weight and body shape. It also focuses on the effect of the environment, heredity, disease and nutrition in producing a variety of fat patterns, trunk/limb proportions and delays in growth in different human groups. Finally, students learn to assess critically different types of growth studies and methods of forecasting growth. This course may not be offered annually.
ANTH 02315: Forensic Anthropology 4 S.H.
Prerequisites: ANTH 02201 or BIOL 10210
Forensic Anthropology employs the methods of physical anthropology and archeology to identify human skeletal remains. Proper excavation technique for recovery of remains in order to fulfill the requirements of the legal system will be taught. Students will learn to determine age, sex, height, life history, cause of and time since death and population affinity from the human skeleton. There is a weekly Friday morning laboratory session in addition to classes. A weekend day-long excavation is required. Grading is based on homework, a case report, performance on exams and a final paper. This course may not be offered annually.
ANTH 02321: Cultural Ecology 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: ANTH 02202
This course examines the relation of human groups to their environments as mediated by culture. It emphasizes the interaction of significant variables in the natural habitat, technology, and social institutions. This course may not be offered annually.
ANTH 02322: Sex and Sex Roles in a Cross Cultural Perspective 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: ANTH 02202
This course examines the impact of sexuality on the structure of human cultures, and on how sexualityand gendered behavior are expressed and employed in different cultural contexts. This course may not be offered annually.
ANTH 02323: Anthropology of Magic and Religion in Primitive, Tribal, and
Peasant Cultures 3 S.H.
This course examines the diversity of magical and religious beliefs in human cultures and explores how religious systems are interconnected with environment, economics, politics, and family structures. Course material emphasizes use of a comparative approach to explore the relationship between culture, magico-religious practices, and spirituality. The course will be offered annually.
ANTH 02326: The Maya 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: ANTH 02202 or ANTH 02310
This course traces the development of Maya culture from its earliest archaeological evidence to the eve of Old World contact, focusing on its adaptation to a variety of ecological settings, its interaction with other mesoamerican cultures, the development and transformation of city states, Mayan cosmology and world view, and the development of an indigenous system of writing. This course may not be offered
annually.
ANTH 02350: Comparative Cultures 3 S.H.
Students conduct a survey and comparative study of a variety of cultures around the world, analyzing both cultural forms and the methods used by anthropologists to study them. This course may not be offered annually.
ANTH 02371: Anthropological Approaches to Culture Change 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: ANTH 02202 or SOC 08120
Using a sociocultural approach emphasizing both the theoretical and applied aspects (i.e. the "anthropology of development"), this course promotes awareness of the complexities involved in efforts to implement "development" and "progress," especially in the Third World. Recommended for students considering careers with multinational corporations, foreign service, U.N., etc. This course may not be offered annually.
ANTH 02420: Culture and Personality 3 S.H.
This course explores how the culture into which an individual is born influences the development of that person's personality and sense of self. Course material is grounded in a cross-cultural comparative approach to understanding perception, emotion, and behavior. Child-rearing practices, psychological functions of art and religion, and various cultures’ responses to deviant behaviors will also be explored. This course may not be offered annually.
ANTH 02491: Independent Study in Anthropology 3 S.H.
Students have an opportunity to pursue individual specialized topics under the guidance of a staff member. This course may not be used as a substitute for a course offered by the department. This course may not be offered annually.
ANTH 02492: Undergraduate Research Seminar in Anthropology: Special
Topics 3 S.H.
Students participate in planning a research project, collecting data and preparing a report suitable for publication. Subjects of research (e.g., applied anthropology, Egyptology, theory, current issues and controversies, visual anthropology) are selected according to student interest. This course may not be offered annually.
