ANTR1006 Introduction to Anthropology 1 (3 Credits)

In this course, students will be introduced to two of the four traditional pillars in anthropology, namely the pillars of physical anthropology and archaeology.  While all Anthropologists are interested in the past and present human conditions, including human origins and evolution of global cultures, this course will focus on human physical variation and adaptations, comparisons of human to primate societies, exploration of what is known about human evolution, and the gathering and interpreting of past human behaviours.  Students cannot retain credit for both ANTR1005 and ANTR1006.

ANTR1007 Introduction to Anthropology 2 (3 Credits)

This course provides the student with a general introduction to Social/Cultural Anthropology, consisting of a general survey of the field, with a concentration on cross-cultural analysis; Anthropological Linguistics, focusing on the origin, structure, distribution, and social/cultural aspects of human languages; and Applied Anthropology, concerning the identification and resolution of practical problems via anthropological methods.  Prerequisite: ANTR1006 or special permission. Students cannot take both ANTR1005 and ANTR1007.

ANTR2016 Human Biological Variation, Adaptation and Health (3 Credits)

This course will provide the broad Anthropological perspective on human biological diversity and will examine the evolutionary, genetic, ecological, demographic, and cultural factors contributing to this biodiversity.  Genetics, the concept of evolution, and discussions on race, types, and ethnic groups provide a foundation for exploring and explaining physical variation within and among populations. This course will review the multiple ways that humans respond to environmental conditions.  The goal of this course is for students to develop an understanding of the nature and basis of biological variation in modern humans.  Prerequisite: ANTR1006 and ANTR1007 or permission of the instructor.  Students cannot retain credit for both ANTR2016 and ANTR2015.

ANTR2017 Human Evolution (3 Credits)

This course will examine human evolution through a biocultural framework. Major themes will include a discussion of relevant evolutionary theory and fossil record, palaeoprimatology and primatology (the study of non-human primates), and palaeoanthropology (the hominid fossil record and its interpretation). Computer laboratory sessions and research papers will familiarize students with the research methods and techniques in this area of physical/biological anthropology.  Prerequisite: ANTR1006 and ANTR1007 or permission of the instructor. Students cannot retain credit for both ANTR2017 and ANTR2015.

ANTR2036 Ethnology of North American Native People (3 Credits)

Description and comparative analysis of the sociocultural systems of the original peoples of North America as they were at the time of contact with Europeans. After an introduction to the peopling of North America and the development of North American Native culture areas and languages, this course compares the forms of social organization and adaptation of Native North Americans. The following aboriginal culture areas north of Mexico are surveyed: Southeast, Eastern Agriculturalists and other Eastern Woodland groups, Plains and Prairies, Southwest, Intermontane area (including Great Basin, California and Plateau), Northwest Coast, Sub-Arctic, and a brief examination of the Arctic.  Prerequisite: ANTR1006 and ANTR1007 or permission of the instructor.

ANTR2046 World Ethnology: Peoples of the World (3 Credits)

This course introduces the students to the varieties of cultures and people around the world to analyze their ways of life, to gain an understanding of the historical and contemporary relations between cultures, to examine actual and future global issues and challenges which affect their survival and socioeconomic and cultural maintenance. Special emphasis will be given to ‘traditional’ and indigenous societies to analyze the complex effects of multiple identities, transitions and marginalization. The course will help students to develop an understanding of complex issues such as modernization, globalization, acculturation, multi and interculturalism through various case studies of world cultures chosen in different continents.  Prerequisite: ANTR1006 and ANTR1007 or permission of the instructor.  Students cannot retain credit for both ANTR2046 and ANTR2045.

ANTR2096 World Pre-History & Archeology 1 (3 Credits)

This course uses archaeological and other anthropological data to study the major aspects of human cultural evolution from a worldwide perspective. The subject matter encompasses three major periods in the human past – food foraging during the Pleistocene and early Holocene, early food producing societies, and the first civilizations. In all cases we explore the reasons for cultural changes and we use both Old and New World examples. Case studies illustrate particular archaeological cultures and standard archaeological cultures and standard archaeological techniques and methods.  Prerequisite: ANTR1006 & ANTR1007 or instructor’s permission. Students cannot retain credit for both ANTR2096 and ANTR2095.

ANTR 097 World Pre-History & Archeology 2 (3 Credits)

This course uses archaeological and other anthropological data to study the major aspects of human cultural evolution from a worldwide perspective. The subject matter encompasses three major periods in the human past – food foraging during the Pleistocene and early Holocene, early food producing societies, and the first civilizations. In all cases we explore the reasons for cultural changes and we use both Old and New World examples. Case studies illustrate particular archaeological cultures and standard archaeological cultures and standard archaeological techniques and methods.  Prerequisite: ANTR1006 & ANTR1007 or instructor’s permission. Students cannot retain credit for both ANTR2096 and ANTR2095.

ANTR 3016 Anthropological Theory:  Historical Background (3 Credits)

The history and analysis of theory in anthropological thinking, from ancient scholars to the present. Particular attention is paid to Europe and North America after 1860; the development of key concepts such as evolution, culture, cultural relativism and holism; and the main historical schools of thought within the discipline.  Prerequisite: ANTR1006 and ANTR1007 or permission of the instructor.

ANTR3017 Anthropological Theory:  Current Perspectives (3 Credits)

This course investigates anthropological ways of knowing, understanding, and explaining humankind. Contemporary research questions, and the theories used to explain them, are based on more than 150 years of anthropological research and theory building.  Prerequisite: ANTR1006 and ANTR1007 or permission of the instructor.

ANTR3047 Public Health & Epidemiology (3 Credits)

Public health is often described as having the population or community as its patient, in contrast to the individual-level focus of clinical medicine. This focus on community creates a natural foundation for partnership between public health and anthropology, which takes as its primary focus the study of people in groups, and especially in local communities. From a four field approach, this course will examine the contributions of Anthropology to public health and epidemiology.

ANTR3087 Ethnomedicine: Cross-Cultural Healing (3 Credits)

This course offers a worldwide cross-cultural survey of the myriad healing traditions, approaches and diagnostic modalities available today in “mainstream” and “complementary alternative” medicine (CAM). Empirical, theoretical and traditional ideas about healing are examined from a comparative and integrative perspective. The major scholarly healing traditions (conventional Western medicine, homeopathy, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and Unani Tibb) are examined in greater detail.  Students cannot retain credit for both ANTR3087 and ANTR3085.

ANTR4006 Food Disease & Prevention (3 Credits)

The kind and amount of substances ingested is a major determinant of human health. In this course, we will discuss the evolutionary, cultural, and historical reasons for dietary choices, and their relation to disease patterns through the bio-cultural approach. We will also focus on understanding the industrial aspects in contemporary production of foods, the globalization of food, and cuisine through research and a meal visit to investigate the representation of this cuisine. Various dietary fads and approaches to eating in North America and the popular press will be introduced and reflected against known worldwide cultural dietary patterns and our evolutionary past. Examples of nutritional disease, malnutrition, and over-nutrition, as they relate to different time patterns and cultural dietary approaches will be covered during this course.  Prerequisites: One of ANTR2016, ANTR3047, ANTR3086, ANTR3087 or permission of the instructor.

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