Anthropology

ANTH 1000. Dean's Seminar. 3 Credits.

The Dean’s Seminars provide Columbian College first-year students focused scholarship on specific intellectual challenges. Topics vary by semester. Consult the schedule of classes for more details.

ANTH 1001. Biological Anthropology. 4 Credits.

Survey of human evolution, genetics and physical variation, and primatology. Regular laboratory exercises. Laboratory fee.

ANTH 1002. Sociocultural Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Survey of the world’s cultures, illustrating the principles of cultural behavior. Credit cannot be earned for this course and HONR 2047W.

ANTH 1002W. Sociocultural Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Survey of the world’s cultures, illustrating the principles of cultural behavior. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement.

ANTH 1003. Archaeology. 3 Credits.

Introduction to archaeological survey and excavation techniques and laboratory methods of dating and analysis. Brief history of archaeology and survey of world prehistory. Films and laboratory exercises.

ANTH 1004. Language in Culture and Society. 3 Credits.

Comparison and analysis of how cultures use language to communicate. The relationship of language to issues of human nature, gender, race, class, artistic expression, and power.

ANTH 1005. The Biological Bases of Human Behavior. 4 Credits.

Human behavior from an evolutionary perspective, including issues such as communication, intelligence, reproductive behavior, parental behavior, aggression, and cooperation, and drawing on an understanding of the behavior and biology of the nonhuman primates. Laboratory fee.

ANTH 1099. Variable Topics. 1-36 Credits.

ANTH 2000. Sophomore Colloquium. 3 Credits.

Sophomore colloquia are small, seminar-type classes that deeply engage CCAS second-year students in a discipline, focus on a narrow issue of high interest and impact, and require independent research projects. May be repeated provided topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to CCAS sophomores.

ANTH 2008. Foundations of Anthropological Thought. 3 Credits.

The development of anthropological thought in historical context. Exploration of selected basic concepts and theories of contemporary anthropology. To be taken in the junior or senior year. Prerequisite: ANTH 1002.

ANTH 2008W. Foundations of Anthropology. 3 Credits.

The development of anthropological thought in historical context. Exploration of selected basic concepts and theories of contemporary anthropology. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement. Restricted to juniors and seniors. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W.

ANTH 2406. Human Evolutionary Genetics. 3 Credits.

Introduction to the patterns and processes of human genetic variation. Topics include human origins and migration; molecular adaptations to environment, lifestyle, and disease; ancient and forensic DNA analyses; and genealogical reconstructions.

ANTH 2501. The Anthropology of Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspectives. 3 Credits.

Anthropological representations of gender relations in “other” cultures have provided important case material for feminist theorizing of sex differences and gender roles and statuses. How a cross-cultural approach can inform our understanding of gender. Same as WGSS 2121.

ANTH 2502. Anthropology of Science and Technology: Twenty-First Century Brave New Worlds. 3 Credits.

The relationship between science and society, with consideration of how scientific knowledge and emergent technologies affect our lives, identities, social relations, and material conditions. The sociopolitical context in which scientific knowledge is produced and the ethnographic study of biotechnology, especially genetics and its various applications.

ANTH 2505. Introduction to Ethnomusicology. 3 Credits.

Models of understanding music as a cultural endeavor. Application and critique of models in the design and execution of student independent field research. Prerequisites: MUS 1101 or ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1004 or permission of the instructor. (Same as MUS 2105)

ANTH 2506. Religion, Myth, and Magic. 3 Credits.

Anthropological approaches to religion from a cross-cultural perspective; ethnographic examples of religious beliefs and activity, with emphasis on non-Western societies; religious process and change.

ANTH 2533. Material Culture in America. 3 Credits.

Review and analysis of the cultural messages embedded in our material surroundings. Consideration of a range of humanly created artifacts, ranging from specific objects to vast landscapes. Same as AMST 2533.

ANTH 2750. Latinos in the United States. 3 Credits.

Exploration of the term Latino and its impact on discussions of race, identity, and citizenship expectations throughout U.S. history. How geographic, linguistic, aesthetic, political, and economic factors construct Latino identity and influence policymaking and international relations. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement. Same As: AMST 2750, AMST 2750W, ANTH 2750W.

ANTH 2750W. Latinos in the United States. 3 Credits.

Exploration of the term Latino and its impact on discussions of race, identity, and citizenship expectations throughout U.S. history. How geographic, linguistic, aesthetic, political, and economic factors construct Latino identity and influence policymaking and international relations. Same As: AMST 2750, AMST 2750W, ANTH 2750.

ANTH 2821. Myths and Mysteries in Archaeology. 3 Credits.

How archaeological methods and techniques can falsify, or support, exotic beliefs about the past. Topics range from King Arthur to Atlantis.

ANTH 2822. Archaeology in Film and Television. 3 Credits.

The relationships between archaeology, the media, and popular culture; nationalism, descendant communities, gender, race, and colonialism.

ANTH 3099. Variable Topics. 1-12 Credits.

ANTH 3401. Human Functional Anatomy. 3 Credits.

The anatomy of the human body, how it works, and how it differs from other animals, especially other primates. Principles and approaches of functional morphology and biomechanics and how function can be reconstructed from fossils, with special focus on the musculoskeletal system. No prior knowledge of anatomy is required. Laboratory fee. Prerequisite: ANTH 1001.

ANTH 3402. Human Evolutionary Anatomy. 3 Credits.

The structure and function of human anatomy, as compared to our closest relatives, the great apes. Using this comparative approach, the course investigates the fossil record of human evolution, with an emphasis on reconstructing relationships, function, behavior, and adaptation in fossil hominins. Prerequisite: ANTH 1001.

ANTH 3403. Forensic Anthropology Laboratory. 2 Credits.

Identification of human skeletal remains by body part, age, sex, race, and individual disease or trauma history; study of skeletal variation in modern and recent populations. Taught at the Smithsonian. Corequisite: ANTH 3404.

ANTH 3404. Human Variation. 1 Credit.

An overview of human variation, with special emphasis on the skeleton. Includes history of physical anthropology, individual and population variations, archaeological recovery of human remains, paleodemography, growth, paleopathology, and forensic anthropology. Corequisite: ANTH 3403 Prerequisite: ANTH 1001. Same As: ANAT 6252.

ANTH 3406. Advanced Human Osteology. 3 Credits.

Advanced techniques in determination of age, sex, ancestry, and pathological conditions using the skeleton. Taught at the Smithsonian. Prerequisites: ANTH 3403 and ANTH 3404.

ANTH 3407. Conservation in a Changing World: Human and Animal Behavior. 3 Credits.

How humans and animals interact in a wide variety of settings, how human and animal welfare can be ensured, and how we can create a scientifically sound, yet socially and economically acceptable, conservation of the planet’s biodiversity. Prerequisites: ANTH 1001.

ANTH 3408. The Evolution of Human Families. 3 Credits.

Human parental behavior considered from an evolutionary perspective, including parental care among mammals, concepts of parental investment, and parent-offspring conflict. Focus on parenting in the human lineage from early hominins to hunter-gatherers to the modern context. Prerequisites: ANTH 1001.

ANTH 3409. Evolution of Primate Life Histories. 3 Credits.

Human and non-human primate life histories and their evolution; factors such as body size, brain size, fertility, and life span. Features of modern human life histories, proposed explanations for them, and pertinent fossil evidence. Prerequisite: ANTH 1001.

ANTH 3411. Primatology. 3 Credits.

Physical and behavioral characteristics of the various primate groups and their relationship to human physical and cultural evolution. Prerequisite: ANTH 1001.

ANTH 3412. Hominin Evolution. 3 Credits.

The fossil record of human evolution, including its context. Review of the fossil evidence that concentrates on the distinctive features of each taxon. Pleistocene remains. Laboratory fee. Prerequisite: ANTH 1001.

ANTH 3412W. Hominin Evolution. 3 Credits.

The fossil record of human evolution, including its context. Review of the fossil evidence that concentrates on the distinctive features of each taxon. Pleistocene remains. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement. Laboratory fee. Prerequisite: ANTH 1001.

ANTH 3413. Evolution of the Human Brain. 3 Credits.

Examination of how the human brain is unique in comparison to other animals, with an emphasis on understanding our species’ distinctive neurobiology in terms of the evolution of cognitive abilities such as language, social comprehension, tool making, and abstract thinking.

ANTH 3491. Topics in Biological Anthropology. 3-4 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differences. Instructors are drawn from GW faculty and Smithsonian Institution staff. Consult the Schedule of Classes for additional information. Prerequisites: ANTH 1001.

ANTH 3501. Anthropology of Development. 3 Credits.

The impact of the world economy on nonindustrial societies. Analysis of the role of anthropology in international development programs aimed at alleviating problems in the Third World. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W or ANTH 1004 or ANTH 1004W.

ANTH 3502. Cultural Ecology. 3 Credits.

Basic principles of cultural ecology. Human interaction with the ecosystem both past and present; emphasis on the application of anthropological precepts to current environmental problems. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W or ANTH 1004 or ANTH 1004W or permission of the instructor.

ANTH 3503. Psychological Anthropology. 3 Credits.

The cross-cultural study of the relationship between culture and personality. Topics include emotion, conceptions of the self, mental health and illness, sexuality, marriage and parenting, and cognition. Psychobiological, cultural, ecological, and psychoanalytical theories are examined. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or permission of the instructor.

ANTH 3504. Illness, Healing, and Culture. 3 Credits.

Introduction to medical anthropology. What the record of human evolution and prehistory tells about human health; epidemiology of health and illness; how different cultures define disease; understanding illness and healing systems cross-culturally. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W or ANTH 1004 or ANTH 1004W; or permission of the instructor.

ANTH 3506. Politics, Ethnicity, and Nationalism. 3 Credits.

Comparative analysis of political systems; political processes, such as factionalism, styles of leadership, and political ritual. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W; or ANTH 1004 or ANTH 1004W; or permission of the instructor.

ANTH 3507. Kinship, Family, and Community. 3 Credits.

Cross-cultural analysis of how people form, maintain, and transform social groups and boundaries. Focus on how communities such as family, ethnic group, and nation are defined in moral terms. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or permission of the instructor.

ANTH 3508. Art and Culture. 3 Credits.

The role of art in culture, with emphasis on small-scale societies. Influences upon the artist, and beliefs and practices associated with art production. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W; or ANTH 1004 or ANTH 1004W; or permission of the instructor.

ANTH 3513. Anthropology of Human Rights. 3 Credits.

Issues of basic human rights and their violation by different cultures, states, and organizations. Genocide, ecocide, abuses on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or similar factors, and treatment of those seeking asylum. Rights of informants and groups studied in anthropological research. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W; or ANTH 1004 or ANTH 1004W; or permission of the instructor.

ANTH 3513W. Anthropology of Human Rights. 3 Credits.

Issues of basic human rights and their violation by different cultures, states, and organizations. Genocide, ecocide, abuses on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or similar factors, and the treatment of those seeking asylum. Rights of informants and groups studied in anthropological research. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W.

ANTH 3521. Visual Anthropology and the Social Lives of Images. 3 Credits.

Exploration of what still and moving images do in different cultural contexts, their social lives as they circulate, and how they are transformed as objects and a technology in diverse settings. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W; or ANTH 1004 or ANTH 1004W; or permission of the instructor.

ANTH 3531. Methods in Sociocultural Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Approaches to field research. Conceptual bases and biases in the delineation of problems and in the selection, analysis, and organization of data. Students design and carry out their own field projects in the Washington area. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W or ANTH 1004 or ANTH 1004W.

ANTH 3601. Language, Culture, and Cognition. 3 Credits.

The role of language and culture in the organization of human experience. Beginning with debates about linguistic relativity, the course explores the way language use shapes cognition and practice in a variety of cultures and social contexts. Same as LING 3601. Prerequisite: ANTH 1004. Laboratory fee.

ANTH 3602. Ethnographic Analysis of Speech. 3 Credits.

Linguistic variation and change in discourse practices; social and political correlates of linguistic interaction; recording, transcription, and analysis of verbal interaction. Prerequisites: ANTH 1004. (Same as LING 3602)   

ANTH 3602W. Ethnographic Analysis of Speech. 3 Credits.

Linguistic variation and change in discourse practices; social and political correlates of linguistic interaction; recording, transcription, and analysis of verbal interaction. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement. Prerequisite: ANTH 1004.

ANTH 3603. Psycholinguistics. 3 Credits.

Language as species-specific property of the human mind. Psychological processes involved in the encoding and decoding of language; first and second language acquisition and bilingualism. Same As: SLHS 3603.

ANTH 3604. Culture and Media. 3 Credits.

Media as culturally situated communication. How definitions and uses of media vary according to social categories such as race, gender, and class. Contemporary issues, including those surrounding the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1004.

ANTH 3625. Ethnographic and Historical Perspectives on Data Ethics. 3 Credits.

An introduction to ethics of data sciences from two disparate perspectives: historical and ethnographic. For students in all fields interested in understanding and evaluating the ethical implications of data and algorithms. Same As: AMST 3625.

ANTH 3691. Special Topics in Linguistic Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Prerequisites: ANTH 1004 or permission of the instructor. (Same as LING 3691)

ANTH 3701. Native Peoples - North America. 3 Credits.

Comparative study of Indian groups representative of the different culture areas of the United States and Canada. Contemporary issues involving indigenous groups, the wider society, and the state. Prerequisite: ANTH 1002 or permission of instructor.

ANTH 3702. Anthropology of Latin America. 3 Credits.

Culture history and ways of life in a selected region of Central or South America. Regional focus to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W or ANTH 1004.

ANTH 3703. Cultures of the Pacific. 3 Credits.

Culture history and ways of life among native peoples of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1004.

ANTH 3704. Cultures of Southeast Asia. 3 Credits.

Anthropological introduction to the cultures of Southeast Asia; the role of biocultural evolution, political economy, gender, colonialism, nationalism, and globalization, particularly in Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

ANTH 3705. Anthropology of East Asia. 3 Credits.

Intensive study of the culture and history of selected peoples of East or Central Asia. Specific area to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W or ANTH 1004.

ANTH 3707. Anthropology of the Middle East. 3 Credits.

Key themes in the anthropology of the Middle East, including nations and states, urban life, minorities, mobility, religion, and gender. Emphasis on the Arab world. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1004.

ANTH 3708. Anthropology of Africa. 3 Credits.

Comparative examination of the history, cultural development, and contemporary problems of sub-Saharan African cultures. New World African cultures are also considered. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1004.

ANTH 3709. Japanese Culture Through Film. 3 Credits.

Survey of the Japanese cultural heritage presented through films. Topics include literature, philosophy, art, religion, and social history from premodern times to the modern era. Lectures and discussion in English. Same as JAPN 3162.

ANTH 3710. Latin America Cinema, Indigenous Media, and Social Movements. 3 Credits.

Major topics in Latin American film and media studies. Political, economic, social, and cultural forces that have shaped Latin American cinema. The role indigenous artists, activists, and social organizations play in shaping Latin American cinema. Same As: ANTH 6710.

ANTH 3791. Topics in Regional Anthropology. 3-4 Credits.

Culture, history, and ways of life in a selected region of the world. Topics vary. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Prerequisites: ANTH 1002 or ANTH 1002W or ANTH 1004.

ANTH 3801. African Roots from Australopithecus to Zimbabwe. 3 Credits.

The development and contributions of Africa from human beginnings through medieval states. Topics include human evolution, origins of art, technology, trade, and animal/plant domestication, rise of African states, early relations with Europe and Asia, antecedents of contemporary African diversity. Prerequisites: ANTH 1003 or permission of the instructor.

ANTH 3801W. African Roots from Australopithecus to Zimbabwe. 3 Credits.

The development and contributions of Africa from human beginnings through medieval states. Topics include human evolution, origins of art, technology, trade, animal/plant domestication, rise of African states, early relations with Europe and Asia, antecedents of contemporary African diversity. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement. Prerequisite: ANTH 1003.

ANTH 3802. Human Cultural Beginnings. 3 Credits.

Survey of prehistory in Europe, Africa, and Asia from the earliest hominid cultures to the beginnings of agriculture. Prerequisite: ANTH 1003.

ANTH 3802W. Human Cultural Beginnings. 3 Credits.

Survey of prehistory in Europe, Africa, and Asia from the earliest hominid cultures to the beginnings of agriculture. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement. Prerequisite: ANTH 1003.

ANTH 3803. Old World Prehistory: First Farmers to First Cities. 3 Credits.

Archaeology of the Near East, Egypt, Europe, and other areas, from the beginnings of agriculture to the rise of Babylon. Prerequisites: ANTH 1003.

ANTH 3803W. Old World Prehistory: First Farmers to First Cities. 3 Credits.

Archaeology of the Near East, Egypt, Europe, and other areas, from the beginnings of agriculture to the rise of Babylon. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement. Prerequisite: ANTH 1003.

ANTH 3804. Origins of the State and Urban Society. 3 Credits.

Emergence of urbanism and the state in the prehistory of various world regions. Regions covered might include India, China, Mexico, and the Pacific, among others. Prerequisites: ANTH 1003.

ANTH 3805. Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands. 3 Credits.

The archaeology of Israel and adjacent areas (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon). Examination of many major sites and monuments. Significant problems and current debates. Same as AH 3106.

ANTH 3806. Art and Archaeology of the Aegean Bronze Age. 3 Credits.

Excavational and multidisciplinary aspects of classical archaeology. Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations (1700–1200 B.C.) Same as AH 3104.

ANTH 3808. Archaeology and the Celts. 3 Credits.

The archaeology and history of the Celtic peoples, particularly how ethnicities and identities are defined and how these can be recovered from material culture; how archaeological ideas of the Celts have informed modern group identities Prerequisites: ANTH 1003.

ANTH 3811. Historical Archaeology. 3 Credits.

Survey of the basic data and methods of research in the material culture of recent history. Same as AMST 3811.

ANTH 3812. The Aztec Empire. 3 Credits.

Using archaeology, art, and ethnohistoric documents, focuses on the importance of power in Aztec society and how the normalization of violence created a form of social cohesion central to the state. Prerequisites: ANTH 1003. Credit cannot be earned for this course and CAH 3116.

ANTH 3813. Archaeology of North America. 3 Credits.

History of American archaeology; survey of North American culture history from human entry into the Americas during the Pleistocene period until the time of the first European contacts. Focus on peoples north of Mexico. Prerequisite: ANTH 1003.

ANTH 3814. Ancient Mexican Civilizations. 3 Credits.

Cultural history of pre-Columbian societies in Middle America. The emergence of Mesoamerican civilization from the earliest hunter-gatherers and first farmers to the Aztec Empire. Same As: AH 3107, CAH 3107.

ANTH 3823. Archaeology of Ritual and Religion. 3 Credits.

Archaeological and ethnographic examples from around the world are used to critically evaluate how archaeologists make inferences about ritual practices and the religious lives of past peoples. Issues include the origins of symbolic behavior, sacred landscapes, shamanism, ancestor veneration, and sorcery/witchcraft.

ANTH 3831. Paleoanthropological Field Program. 0 Credits.

Field research in paleoanthropology, including excavation methods, identification and analysis of materials, paleoecology, archaeology, and human anatomy. Conducted at selected sites in Eurasia, Africa, or Australia. Departmental approval required. Restricted to fellowship students. Credit cannot be earned for this course and ANTH 3832.

ANTH 3832. Paleoanthropological Field Program. 4 Credits.

Field research in paleoanthropology, including excavation methods, identification and analysis of materials, paleoecology, archaeology, and human anatomy. Conducted at selected sites in Eurasia, Africa, or Australia. Visits to comparative sites and collections in the region.

ANTH 3833. Field Research: New World. 1-6 Credits.

Survey, excavation, and/or laboratory analysis at localities in North or South America. See Schedule of Classes for details.

ANTH 3834. Field Research: Old World. 1-6 Credits.

Survey, excavation, and/or laboratory analysis at Neolithic or later localities in Eurasia, Africa, or Oceania. See Schedule of Classes for details.

ANTH 3835. Historical Archaeology Field Program. 3 Credits.

Practical experience with a variety of excavation and laboratory techniques in historical archaeology; specific site and topics announced in the Schedule of Classes. Same as AMST 3835.

ANTH 3836. Koobi Fora Field School (Fellowship). 0 Credits.

Field research in paleoanthropology, including excavation methods, identification and analysis of materials, paleoecology, archaeology, and human anatomy. Visits to comparative sites and collections in the region. Instructor approval required. Restricted to fellowship students.

ANTH 3838. Theory and Practice in Archaeology. 3 Credits.

The primary literature in archaeology theory since the 1960s. Ethics, topical issues, and archaeological practice. Prerequisite: ANTH 1003.

ANTH 3838W. Theory and Practice in Archaeology. 3 Credits.

The primary literature in archaeology theory since the 1960s. Ethics, topical issues, and archaeological practice. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement. Prerequisite: ANTH 1003.

ANTH 3839. Lab Research Methods in Archaeology. 3 Credits.

Research methods and techniques used by archaeologists. Emphasis on hands-on experience in one or more techniques. Prerequisite: ANTH 1003.

ANTH 3891. Special Topics in Archaeology. 3 Credits.

Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Prerequisites: ANTH 1003 or permission of the instructor.

ANTH 3991. Special Topics. 3 Credits.

Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs.

ANTH 3991W. Special Topics. 3 Credits.

Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement.

ANTH 3995. Undergraduate Research. 1-12 Credits.

Individual research problems to be arranged with a member of the faculty. May be repeated for credit. Permission of the instructor required prior to enrollment.

ANTH 4008. Seminar: Contemporary Anthropological Theory. 3 Credits.

The development of major trends in anthropological theory. How anthropologists from the four fields—sociocultural, linguistic, biological, and archaeology—have deployed and developed the ideas of theorists in their own empirical research and theorizing about specific processes. Prerequisite: ANTH 2008.

ANTH 4008W. Seminar: Contemporary Anthropological Theory. 3 Credits.

The development of major trends in anthropological theory. How anthropologists from the four fields -- sociocultural, linguistic, biological, and archaeology -- have deployed and developed the ideas of theorists in their own empirical research and theorizing about specific processes. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement. Prerequisites: ANTH 2008 or ANTH 2008W.

ANTH 6101. Proseminar in Biological Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Comprehensive overview of theory and practice in biological anthropology.

ANTH 6102. Proseminar in Sociocultural Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Comprehensive overview of theory and practice in sociocultural anthropology.

ANTH 6103. Proseminar in Archaeology. 3 Credits.

Survey of the most recent archaeological techniques and theoretical approaches to reconstructing and interpreting the cultures of the past.

ANTH 6104. Proseminar in Linguistic Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Contemporary anthropological studies of language in biological, social, and historical perspectives.

ANTH 6200. Museum Anthropology. 3 Credits.

How anthropological collections take shape in the past and carry meaning in the present. Critical examination of artifacts and forms of documentation. Application of material culture theory to museum records, collected objects, the changing meaning given to objects, and the context of collecting.

ANTH 6201. Methods in Museum Anthropology. 3 Credits.

How anthropological collections take shape in the past and carry meaning in the present. Research and analysis of existing collections; issues in museum anthropology.

ANTH 6203. Preventive Conservation Concepts. 3 Credits.

Historical development of preventive conservation in museums, conservation ethics, team approaches to conservation, interactions of various materials with agents of deterioration. Basics of materials testing, preparation of condition reports, choosing museum storage and exhibition materials, and risk assessment. Same as MSTD 6203/ AH 6286.

ANTH 6204. Preventive Conservation Techniques. 3 Credits.

Practical applications of preventive conservation of materials, monitoring environmental conditions, conducting risk assessments, evaluation of exhibit and storage areas; developing plans, policies, and procedures for collections care; grant proposal preparation for collections care initiatives. Same as MSTD 6204/ AH 6287.

ANTH 6205. Problems in Conservation. 3 Credits.

Individual conservation projects to determine composition, construction, decomposition of materials, and possible stabilization techniques. Conservation laboratory experience. AH 6286 or ANTH 6203 may be taken as a corequisite. Prerequisites: AH 6286 or ANTH 6203.

ANTH 6230. Internship in Museum Anthropology. 1-6 Credits.

Supervised individual research and/or field work at the Smithsonian Institution or other area museums, arranged in consultation with the museum and the Anthropology Department. Admission by arrangement with the department chair or museum training advisor. May be repeated for credit up to a maximum of 6 credits.

ANTH 6291. Special Topics in Museum Anthropology. 3 Credits.

The social context and changing meaning of selected cultural processes or aspects of material culture that are represented in museums or public monuments. Topics vary by semester. See department for more details.

ANTH 6301. The Anthropology of Development. 3 Credits.

Theoretical perspectives that distinguish the contribution of anthropology to understanding processes of change in the Third World. Focus on health, population, environment, gender, and tourism issues. The role of anthropology in planning and implementing projects and policy.

ANTH 6302. Issues in Development. 3 Credits.

Topic to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs.

ANTH 6330. Internship in Development Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Supervised participation in a selected development agency or other relevant organization. Opportunity to observe agency procedures and gain practical experience. Admission by permission of instructor or department chair.

ANTH 6331. Research Methods in Development Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Anthropologists’ roles in research-related activities, such as feasibility studies, social soundness analysis, and evaluations. Innovative research techniques, such as interactive data gathering, team survey methods, and rapid rural appraisal. Admission by permission of instructor.

ANTH 6391. Anthropology and Contemporary Problems. 3 Credits.

Exploration of anthropological perspectives on a current issue, such as refugees, ethnic violence, national mythologies, and women’s health in developing countries. Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs.

ANTH 6401. Human Functional Anatomy. 3 Credits.

Growth and function of the musculoskeletal system, including the development, anatomy, and histology of bone, biomechanics of muscle and skeletal tissue, craniofacial and dental growth and morphology, and locomotion. No prior knowledge of anatomy required. Laboratory fee.

ANTH 6403. Primate Behavior. 3 Credits.

Behavioral diversity and trends found in primates, both within and between primate species. How ecology relates to behavior, biology, and individual fitness. Presents pertinent theoretical models and draws from non-primate examples as appropriate. Restricted to Students in the MS and PhD in human paleobiology and MA and PhD in anthropology programs (other graduate students and undergraduates with the permission of the instructor).

ANTH 6404. The Evolution of Primate Life Histories. 3 Credits.

Recent developments in the study of human and non-human life histories. Life history theory. Life history traits compared among primate groups in order to determine how selective pressures have shaped extant primate life history patterns. Laboratory fee.

ANTH 6407. Anthropological Genetics. 3 Credits.

Molecular approaches to understanding human evolution and diversity; current research findings and new methodologies; social and ethical issues, including commercial DNA testing and ownership of biological samples.

ANTH 6412. Paleoanthropology. 1-3 Credits.

Survey of current research in hominid and hominoid evolution, focusing on the integrated nature of the field. Contributions from the geological and biological sciences are stressed, together with innovative geochemical techniques for establishing chronological sequences. Prerequisites: ANTH 3412 or BISC 2450.

ANTH 6413. Analytical Methods in Human Evolutionary Studies. 3 Credits.

A survey of methods and approaches for data collection and analysis in human evolutionary biology research. Topics include comparative methods and basic and multivariate statistics.

ANTH 6414. Grant Writing for Biological Anthropology. 1-3 Credits.

Preparing grant proposals to support dissertation research. Generating effective figures and tables; maximizing broader impacts, budgets, and logistics; general tips for writing in academia. For students who have already chosen a dissertation topic. Restricted to graduate students with the permission of the instructor.

ANTH 6423. Evolution of the Human Brain. 3 Credits.

Unique aspects of the human brain in comparison to those of other animals. Understanding human neurobiology in relation to the evolution of cognitive abilities such as language, socialization, tool making, and abstract thought. Restricted to graduate students.

ANTH 6491. Topics in Biological Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. Instructors are drawn from GW faculty and Smithsonian Institution staff. May be repeated for credit if topic varies. Credit cannot be earned for this course and FORS 6290.

ANTH 6501. Gender and Sexuality. 3 Credits.

Study of new theoretical and methodological approaches developed in the anthropology of gender; postcolonialism, sexuality, and literary representations of gender. Same as WGSS 6257.

ANTH 6502. Social Study of Science and Technology. 3 Credits.

Concepts, theories, and cases in contemporary science and technology studies with an emphasis on the public and policy relevance of theory. Ethnographic material includes studies of laboratories, technomedicine, and environmental controversies. Restricted to Graduate Students only (advanced undergraduate students with permission of instructor).

ANTH 6503. Anthropology of Space and Time. 3 Credits.

Anthropological examination of space, time, and their intersection, including how they are perceived and experienced, through themes such as belonging, narrative, memory, landscape, borders, death, and futurity. Restricted to graduate students.

ANTH 6504. Social Study of Science and Technology. 3 Credits.

Concepts, theories, and cases in contemporary science and technology studies with an emphasis on the public and policy relevance of theory. Ethnographic material includes studies of laboratories, technomedicine, and environmental controversies.

ANTH 6505. Medical Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Concepts and theories in contemporary medical anthropology, including “critical” versus “conventional” medical anthropology, changes in approaches since the mid-twentieth century; structural and cultural construction of illness and suffering; ethnographic and epidemiological perspectives.

ANTH 6506. Topics in Medical Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit if the topic varies.

ANTH 6507. Nationalism and Ethnicity. 3 Credits.

Major theoretical and ethnographic issues in the study of nationalism worldwide. Explores how ethnic groups emerge in colonial and contemporary plural societies and how states attempt to integrate ethnic groups into nations.

ANTH 6508. Ethics and Cultural Property. 3 Credits.

Survey of ethical issues in anthropology, focusing on cultural property and repatriation; the epistemological, ethical, and political dilemmas of excavating, collecting, and owning cultural artifacts.

ANTH 6510. War and Memory. 3 Credits.

The lived experiences of violent conflict through an anthropological lens. Focus on war’s toll and theories of memory; witnessing and reckoning with genocide; diasporic memory; memorials, monuments, and the missing. Restricted to graduate students.

ANTH 6531. Methods in Sociocultural Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Epistemology; the definition of research problems; selection of research subjects and sites; techniques of data collection (e.g., surveys, interviews); data management and organization; ethical protocols; issues of safety; grant writing and funding.

ANTH 6561. American Folklife. 3 Credits.

The materials of American folk culture, concentrating on folk architecture, crafts, and art. Major organizing themes are regionalism and the use of objects as indicators of cultural intention. Same as AMST 6561.

ANTH 6562. Folklore Theory. 3 Credits.

An intellectual history of American folklore research; analysis of particular theories and methods. Same as AMST 6562.

ANTH 6591. Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit if the topic varies. Credit cannot be earned for this course and AMST 6190.

ANTH 6691. Topics in Linguistic Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit if the topic varies.

ANTH 6702. Issues in Latin American Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Intensive study of a selected topic in the anthropology of Central and/or South America. Topic to be announced.

ANTH 6707. Issues in Middle East Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Selected topics in the anthropology of the Middle East. Topic to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs.

ANTH 6710. Latin America Cinema, Indigenous Media, and Social Movements. 3 Credits.

Major topics in Latin American film and media studies. Political, economic, social, and cultural forces that have shaped Latin American cinema. The role indigenous artists, activists, and social organizations play in shaping Latin American cinema. Same As: ANTH 3710.

ANTH 6801. Paleolithic Archaeology. 3 Credits.

Current problems relating to materials from the Old World.

ANTH 6802. Problems in Eurasian and African Archaeology. 3 Credits.

Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. Topics may include Bronze Age conflict, the Celts, etc. May be repeated for credit.

ANTH 6803. Problems in New World Archaeology. 3 Credits.

Current archaeological problems relating to the origin and development of aboriginal cultures. Specific topic to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit.

ANTH 6804. Problems in Mesoamerican Archaeology. 3 Credits.

Topics range from specific civilizations, such as the Olmec, to pan-Mesoamerican topics, such as religion and exchange. May be repeated for credit.

ANTH 6806. Technology. 3 Credits.

Cross-cultural examination of the form, function, meaning, and use of material culture (such as ceramics or stone tools) and the behavior patterns involved in its production. Topic vary by semester. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details.

ANTH 6807. Public Archaeology. 3 Credits.

The use and creation of the past and the relationship between archaeologists and different publics.

ANTH 6832. Paleoanthropological Field Program. 4 Credits.

Intensive course on field research in paleoanthropology, including excavation methods, identification and analysis of materials, paleoecology, archaeology, and human anatomy. Conducted at selected sites in Eurasia, Africa, or Australia. Visits to comparative sites and collections in the region.

ANTH 6833. Field Research: New World. 1-6 Credits.

Survey, excavation, and/or laboratory analysis at localities in North or South America. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details.

ANTH 6835. Historical Archaeology Field Program. 3-6 Credits.

Practical experience with a variety of excavation and laboratory techniques in historical archaeology; specific site and topics announced in the Schedule of Classes. Same as AMST 6835.

ANTH 6836. Koobi Fora Field School (Fellowship). 0 Credits.

Field research in paleoanthropology, including excavation methods, identification and analysis of materials, paleoecology, archaeology, and human anatomy. Visits to comparative sites and collections in the region. Instructor approval required. Restricted to fellowship students.

ANTH 6838. Archaeological Theory. 3 Credits.

Overview of major theories and positions in American archaeology; examination of new issues and directions in which the field appears to be moving.

ANTH 6839. Lab Research Methods in Archaeology. 3,4 Credits.

Research methods and techniques used by archaeologists. Emphasis on hands-on experience in one or more techniques. Laboratory fee.

ANTH 6891. Topics in Archaeology. 3 Credits.

Major issues related to the theory and practice of archaeology. Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes.

ANTH 6995. Research. 1-12 Credits.

May be repeated for credit.

ANTH 6999. Thesis Research. 3,6 Credits.

Development of a thesis project and accompanying research.

ANTH 8695. Linguistic Field Methods. 3 Credits.

The relationship between language and thought in dialogue with the study of a particular foreign language. Ethnographic study of language and cognition and the application of linguistic theory and method to anthropological research. Methods of elicitation and textual analysis, and technologies used for storing and analyzing linguistic data. Restricted to graduate students.

ANTH 8998. Advanced Reading and Research. 1-12 Credits.

May be repeated for credit. Restricted to doctoral candidates preparing for the general examination.

ANTH 8999. Dissertation Research. 3-12 Credits.

May be repeated for credit. Restricted to doctoral candidates.