Introduces anthropology's holistic approach to human nature and behavior. This course uses the tools of cultural, biological, archaeological, and linguistic anthropology to follow the human journey of uniformity and diversity through time and across space.

ANTH 10000 Being Human: Introduction To Anthropology

Being Human: Introduction To Anthropology

Introduces anthropology's holistic approach to human nature and behavior. This course uses the tools of cultural, biological, archaeological, and linguistic anthropology to follow the human journey of uniformity and diversity through time and across space. Typically offered Summer.

ANTH 10000 Being Human: Introduction to Anthropology

Being Human: Introduction to Anthropology

Introduction to the ideas and practices of archaeology that are used in the contemporary study of human prehistory. Emphasis is placed on the social and technological changes that accompanied major turning points in the human past, including the earliest stone tools, the development of farming, through the advent of writing and monumental architecture among ancient states. Typically offered Fall Spring Summer.

ANTH 20100 Introduction To Archaeology And World Prehistory

Introduction To Archaeology And World Prehistory

This course is an introduction to human social behavior from the perspective of biological anthropology, with special emphasis on human evolution and non-human primates. Topics include aggression, communication, learning, maturation, sexuality, and the evolution of social systems.

ANTH 20300 Biological Bases Of Human Social Behavior

Biological Bases Of Human Social Behavior

Surveys our evolutionary journey, from fossil primates to modern humans, through a review of evolutionary theory and genetics, the fossil evidence for current theories in human evolution with insight from modern non-human primates, and the influence of environmental stressors on modern human biological variation. Typically offered Fall Spring Summer.

ANTH 20400 Human Origins

Human Origins

Offers an engaging introduction to concepts, themes, methods, and ethical concerns that guide research and analysis in cultural anthropology. Students will learn how to identify and interpret the complexities of human culture - what makes cultures different, and in what ways are they more alike than we might assume? Topics include: race and racism; ethnicity and nationalism; gender; sexuality; kinship, family, and marriage; class and inequality; the global economy; politics and power; religion; and health and illness. Typically offered Fall Spring Summer.

ANTH 20500 Human Cultural Diversity

Human Cultural Diversity

This course explores the social dimensions of technology from the perspective of ancient, modern, and post-modern society.  Topics include the origins of particular technologies; processes of technical development and dissemination; the politics of everyday artifacts; virtual identities; and technologies of the body.  Suggested courses (not pre-requisite):  ANTH 10000, 20100 and/or 20500. Typically offered Fall Spring.

ANTH 21000 Technology And Culture

Technology And Culture

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the field of Nutritional Anthropology in which we will examine issues related to diet, health and illness from holistic anthropological perspectives. Typically offered Fall Spring.

ANTH 21200 Culture, Food And Health

Culture, Food And Health

Introduction to forensic anthropology, the science that utilizes methods from skeletal biology and archaeology as tools in human identification in a medico-legal context. This course introduces students to methods used to recover and positively identify human remains, and to evaluate trauma and taphonomy in medico-legal situations. Topics include an overview of historical and current developments in the field. Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the sequential order of applied work from the search for forensic scenes through the recovery of remains, and skeletal analysis in the laboratory. Typically offered Fall Spring Summer.

ANTH 21500 Introduction To Forensic Anthropology

Introduction To Forensic Anthropology

Explores gender and sexuality from a cross-cultural perspective. Draws on case studies to explore the complexities of women's and men's lives. Examines gender hierarchies, gender in a globalized world, and the cultural construction of sexuality and gender.

ANTH 23000 Gender Across Cultures

Gender Across Cultures

Students will learn the behavior and conservation of our closest relatives and how early ape studies changed our understanding of what it meant to be human. Topics include gender in science, ethics of research and cross-cultural understandings.

ANTH 23500 The Great Apes

The Great Apes

This course examines why the ancient past inspires so many theories about aliens, dark conspiracies, lost civilizations, and apocalyptic predictions. Topics include the popularity of pseudoscientific theories in American culture and the historical contexts in which common pseudoscientific ideas have emerged; why they persist in the face of archaeological evidence; and the role of pseudo-archaeology in the growing antagonism toward scientific expertise. Through an understanding of datasets and methods archaeologists use to evaluate claims about the past, the course goes beyond debunking ancient aliens and Atlantis to develop important critical thinking skills to evaluate evidence and recognize pseudo-scientific arguments in the media.  Typically offered Fall Spring.

ANTH 25400 Archaeological Hoaxes, Myths And Frauds

Archaeological Hoaxes, Myths And Frauds

Alcoholic beverages are an important aspect of foodways, the cultural practices and values surrounding food and drink. This course provides an overview of the ancient origins of beer and other alcoholic beverages globally, and examines the cultural context and social role of these innovations through a combination of archaeology, material culture studies, historical texts, and ethnography. In addition to examining archaeological case studies of the production and consumption of beer and other alcoholic beverages, topics to be covered include: evolution of brewing and fermenting technology, biology and chemistry of brewing and fermentation, residue and materials analysis, origins of agriculture, emergence of social complexity, sexual division of labor, social identity (gender, class, ethnicity), and recent trends in production and consumption.  Typically offered Fall Spring.

ANTH 25600 Archaeology Of Beer

Archaeology Of Beer

This course provides an introduction to the broad statistical methods used throughout the 4-fields of Anthropology. It covers elementary probability theory, basic concepts of statistical inference and study design. The course will motivate statistical methods through data analysis and visualization. It is designed for students who intend to focus in an anthropological discipline. It would also benefit a variety of students interested in 1) quantitative science literacy and planning for graduate work, 2) joining the workforce and becoming part of the educated citizenry. There are no pre-requisites from the Statistics or Mathematics Departments.

ANTH 30600 Quantitative Methods For Anthropological Research

Quantitative Methods For Anthropological Research

Explores the history of anthropological theories pertaining to the understanding of commonality and variation in human biology, behavior, society, and cultures as they have developed over the approximately two centuries since anthropology was founded as a separate discipline. Considers those social, cultural, and historical factors that have influenced the history of anthropological ideas. Permission of instructor  required.

ANTH 30700 The Development Of Contemporary Anthropological Theory

The Development Of Contemporary Anthropological Theory

Explores how death is treated or has been treated in diverse world cultures and time periods. Death is viewed as an expression of social behavior and as an expression of symbolic meaning.

ANTH 31000 Mortuary Practices Across Cultures

Mortuary Practices Across Cultures

Selected topics on the archaeology of ancient Near Eastern cultures in Mesopotamia, the circum-Mediterranean area, Egypt, and the Nile Valley, emphasizing an anthropological interpretation of the political, social, religious, and economic systems that contributed to their development. Typically offered Summer Fall Spring.

ANTH 31200 The Archaeology Of Ancient Egypt And The Near East

The Archaeology Of Ancient Egypt And The Near East

Archaeological overview of North America emphasizing Indigenous cultures prior to the arrival of Europeans, but including Contact and Post-Contact communities of the Historic Period. Topics will include the peopling of the Americas, culture and environment, social complexity, and Cultural Resource Management.

ANTH 31300 Archaeology Of North America

Archaeology Of North America

This course provides a general overview to the field of environmental anthropology, and surveys key methods, and theories that anthropologists use to interpret human-environment interactions. Topics include culture ecology, agroecology, ethnobiology, political ecology, and environmental justice.

ANTH 32700 Environment And Culture

Environment And Culture

This course is an introduction to the primate order and primate studies. The emphasis is on field studies. Ecological influences on social organization and behavior, learning, play, and communication will be considered as adaptations within an evolutionary framework. Typically offered Fall Spring.

ANTH 33500 Primate Behavior

Primate Behavior

Biological differences between human individuals and groups, causes of variations, the role of genetics, concepts of race, and the interrelationship between the social and biological meanings of race will be considered. Typically offered Fall Spring.

ANTH 33600 Human Variation

Human Variation

This course will survey humans evolving relationship with food over the last few million years; from our Plio-pleistocene origins (foraging) through the origins of agriculture to modern industrial food production.

ANTH 33700 Human Diet: Origins And Evolution

Human Diet: Origins And Evolution

This course examines health issues and risks faced by individuals around the world, but especially in resource poor geographical areas.  We will explore in-depth the gendered, ethnic, cultural, and class dimensions that underlie the patterning of disease and illness worldwide. Typically offered Fall Spring.

ANTH 34000 Global Perspectives On Health

Global Perspectives On Health

A cross-cultural survey stressing different basic personality types and the processes by which adult personality is acquired. Case studies of selected non-Western cultures will be used to provide comparative perspective. Typically offered Fall Spring Summer.

ANTH 34100 Culture And Personality

Culture And Personality

A study of the history, structure, uses, and educational concerns of African American speech communities and the culture at large.

ANTH 36800 Sociolinguistic Study Of African American English

Sociolinguistic Study Of African American English

Selective global survey of societies whose mode of subsistence is/was based on the collection of wild food resources.  Topics to be covered include: the development and current state of theory, ecology, social organization, land use, demography, subsistence rights, and worldview.  Typically offered Spring.

ANTH 37700 Anthropology Of Hunter-Gatherer Societies

Anthropology Of Hunter-Gatherer Societies

General survey of Native cultures of the Americas.  Topics to be covered include prehistory, language, religion, aesthetics, culture contact and change, contemporary issues, and social, economic and political organization.  Typically offered Fall (and occasionally in the Spring).

ANTH 37900 Native American Cultures

Native American Cultures

The use of anthropology in practical contexts. What anthropological practice is, how it originated, how it can be applied in non- academic and interdisciplinary contexts and careers. The main contemporary issues surrounding anthropological practice, including training, ethics, relevance, and rigor. For majors and non-majors.

ANTH 38000 Using Anthropology In The World

Using Anthropology In The World

This course is about designing for people. You will use anthropological knowledge and skills to better understand human and technology interactions. With students from other fields, you will learn how to apply an anthropological perspective to human centered design and design with the needs of a specific user group in mind. Typically offered Fall Spring Summer.

ANTH 38400 Designing For People: Anthropological Approaches

Designing For People: Anthropological Approaches

This course offers hands-on service learning experience with local community organizations involved with minority and immigrant populations. Part of the semester will include class meetings to explore issues and experiences of immigrant and ethnic groups in the U.S.

ANTH 38500 Community Engagement In Anthropology

Community Engagement In Anthropology

Individual research or reading in an area of anthropology under the guidance of an anthropology faculty member. Permission of instructor required.

ANTH 39000 Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Research

ANTH 39000 Individual Research In Anthropology

Individual Research In Anthropology

ANTH 39000 Ind Research Anth

Ind Research Anth

Various topics in anthropology that may change from semester to semester are presented by anthropology faculty members.

ANTH 39200 Food, Culture And Power

Food, Culture And Power

ANTH 39200 Amazonia And Film

Amazonia And Film

ANTH 39200 Pregnancy, Birth & Babies

Pregnancy, Birth & Babies

ANTH 39200 Colonial Globaln Food Justice

Colonial Globaln Food Justice

ANTH 39200 Medicine, Science & Culture

Medicine, Science & Culture

Various topics in anthropology that may change from semester to semester are presented by anthropology faculty members. Typically offered Fall Spring Summer.

ANTH 39200 Migration, Borders&Walls

Migration, Borders&Walls

ANTH 39200 Visual Anthropology

Visual Anthropology

ANTH 39200 ANTH Of Asia & Asian Diaspora

ANTH Of Asia & Asian Diaspora

(ENGL 39300) This course is the lynchpin of the undergraduate Certificate in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. It will present a series of case studies, core concepts, and problem questions that integrate the following three academic approaches: 1) Human Dimensions and Environment/Sustainability, 2) Engineering and Environment/Sustainability, and 3) Environmental/Sustainability Sciences. Typically offered Fall Spring Summer.

ANTH 39300 Interdisciplinary Approaches To Environmental And Sustainability Studies

Interdisciplinary Approaches To Environmental And Sustainability Studies

This course introduces students to the basic methods of ethnographic research: the collection, analysis, and presentation of data derived from the systematic, direct observation of human behavior and interviewing of key informants. Students are required to complete a field project.

ANTH 40500 Ethnographic Methods

Ethnographic Methods

Culminating experience required for all anthropology majors. Course synthesizes four-field anthropology coursework and training, and discusses academic/career options that benefit from anthropological training. Major element of the course will include synthesis paper and presentation, senior portfolio, and professional development.

ANTH 41001 Senior Capstone In Anthropology

Senior Capstone In Anthropology

An exploration into the nature of human communication, particularly the structures, functions, and substance of human language. Focus is on the interpenetration of language, culture and cognition, on the evolution of language and speech, and on their uses in everyday life. Typically offered Fall.

ANTH 41400 Introduction To Language And Culture

Introduction To Language And Culture

Introduction to the theory and methods of contemporary American archaeology. Basic field and laboratory methods are placed in the context of theoretical viewpoints and problems. Major theoretical issues in the field are explored, showing the integration of American archaeology with anthropology.

ANTH 42500 Archaeological Method And Theory

Archaeological Method And Theory

This class examines the fossil evidence for human evolution and theories proposed to explain the development that led from the origin of primates to modern humans. This course will include lectures, exercises with fossil casts, presentation, and discussions.

ANTH 43600 Human Evolution

Human Evolution

A critical examination of some major works in anthropology and sociology, both classical and modern, and of some current theoretical and substantive issues in these disciplines. Open only to students in the departmental honors program. Typically offered Fall Spring.

ANTH 49700 Senior Honors Seminar

Senior Honors Seminar

Requires a substantial paper on a topic approved by the instructor. The student is expected to work closely with the instructor on the paper's content and style. A presentation of the results of the work is made at the end of the semester. Open only to students in the departmental honors program.

ANTH 49800 Senior Honors Paper

Senior Honors Paper

Focuses on the development of archaeological theory, discussing several theoretical positions and genres of archaeological research. Students gain experience in working with theory in their own research and achieve literacy in archaeological theories.

ANTH 50400 Archaeological Theory

Archaeological Theory

Introduces contemporary sociocultural anthropology theory and practices, relating material to anthropology's history and its place in the social sciences. Covers problem formulation, study of cultural change, representation of human cultural diversity, and key case studies. Typically offered Fall.

ANTH 50500 Culture And Society

Culture And Society

Theoretical orientations (evolutionism, historicism, functionalism, cultural ecology), types of culture theory (technoeconomics, social structure, ideology, personality), and methods of formal analysis (ethnoscience, structuralism, symbolic) will be examined. Typically offered Fall.

ANTH 50700 Theory In Sociocultural Anthropology

Theory In Sociocultural Anthropology

Connects the theoretical foundations of anthropology throughout the development of the discipline and related disciplines. Unpacks the when, how, and why of various theoretical positions, their shaping of research, and their concomitant logics of evidence.

ANTH 50700 History Of Theory In Anthropology

History Of Theory In Anthropology

Investigates the varieties of communication in human behavior, while exploring linguistics as a tool in social science research. Also considers origins of human language and speech, and relations of language with other aspects of culture, with societal phenomena and with individual cognition.

ANTH 51400 Anthropological Linguistics

Anthropological Linguistics

(AUSL 58900, COM 50700, ENGL 57000, LC 57000) The study of languages, literatures, and other systems of human communication. Includes a wide range of phenomena which can be brought together by means of a general theory of signs. The course deals with three fundamental areas: 1) verbal communication, 2) nonverbal communication (iconic systems, gestures, body language, etc.), and 3) communication through art forms. Typically offered Spring.

ANTH 51900 Introduction To Semiotics

Introduction To Semiotics

This course will introduce students the skills of spatial thinking, basic functions of Geography Information Systems (GIS), and spatial research methods that are most relevant to humanities and social science. The course will start with an introduction to basic GIS concepts and technology, then move onto GIS applications during the research process, including spatial research design, data acquisition, management, visualization, and spatial analytical techniques. Practical work will be introduced and completed using ESRI ArcGIS Pro software.

ANTH 52300 GIS For Humanities And Social Science Research

GIS For Humanities And Social Science Research

Anatomy of the human skeleton and dentition. Detailed study of skeletal elements and teeth, morphology, function, disease, and pathology. Identification of human remains with regard to age at death, gender, growth, and development in biocultural context.

ANTH 53400 Human Osteology

Human Osteology

Covers topics in biological anthropology, applying to both living and extinct humans and to non-human primates. Topics include: evolutionary theory; genetics; human variation and the race concept; intersections of biology and culture; fossils and paleoanthropology; ecology and speciation, primate behavior, and theories on the social behavior of early and contemporary humans. Typically offered Fall.

ANTH 53500 Foundations Of Biological Anthropology

Foundations Of Biological Anthropology

( ENGL 56300, LC 56300) A survey of mechanisms and motivations of linguistic change. Topics include: phonological, morphological, semantic and syntactic change, comparative and internal reconstruction, linguistic variation, language contact, and linguistic typology. Typically offered Fall Spring.

ANTH 56300 Historical Linguistics

Historical Linguistics

(SLHS 56500, COM 56500, ENGL 56500, LC 56500, LING 56500) An introduction to language in its social context, focusing on uses and users of language. Topics include social class, ethnic group, gender, language attitudes, and bilingualism.

ANTH 56500 Sociolinguistics

Sociolinguistics

This course provides instruction in the methods and theories used by archaeologists and materials scientists to study ancient and historic technology. The course focuses on the analysis and interpretation of archaeological artifacts and provides opportunities for hands-on learning.  Typically offered Fall Spring.

ANTH 58900 Archaeology And Materials Science

Archaeology And Materials Science

Individual research or reading in an area of anthropology under an anthropology staff member. Does not include thesis work. Permission of instructor required.

ANTH Courses

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ANTH Courses

.css-1o363pe{width:var(--chakra-sizes-4);height:var(--chakra-sizes-4);}BoilerClassesis an unofficial catalog for Purdue courses made by Purdue students, based in West Lafayette, Indiana. We'd love to hear your feedback!

BoilerClassesis an unofficial catalog for Purdue courses made by Purdue students,
based in West Lafayette, Indiana. We'd love to hear your feedback!