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Anthropology Course Offerings

Please see the section on "Course Description Symbols and Terms" in the University Catalog for an explanation of course description terminology and symbols, the course numbering system, and course credit units. All courses are lecture and discussion and employ letter grading unless otherwise stated. Some prerequisites may be waived with faculty permission. Many syllabi are available on the Chico Web.

The qualities of being human are examined through the investigation of evolutionary principles, non-human primates, human fossil record, and living peoples. The biological origin, evolution, and variation of humankind are explored. Lower division General Education Breadth Area B2, Natural Sciences-Life Forms. 2.0 hours lecture, 3.0 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (000490)

Significant events in mankind's prehistoric cultural development and their relevance to the present. Human antiquity; the acquisition of culture during the Paleolithic; the beginning of early civilization. Introduction to the methods of archaeology and human paleontology. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000491)

The course explores culture as the basis for understanding the human experience, including an examination of cross-cultural diversity. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000492)

Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Honors Program.

The phenomenon of culture and its profound role in structuring the individual's experience of reality. The range of diversity in human socio-cultural institutions. Some explanations for similarities and differences in human cultures. Exploration of the contemporary relevance of anthropological perspectives, data, and methods. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000493)

A comparative analysis of the interaction of economic and political forces in societies of the non-western world. The diversity with which various cultures address scarcity, the distribution of goods and power. Transition from traditional economic and political institutions over time, and the impact of these changes on the values, attitudes, and lifestyles on developing urban populations. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000495)

A cross-cultural examination of religions and world views. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000499)

An introduction to the people and cultures of Asia, emphasizing India, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The course employs a multimediated approach to learning. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. This course is also offered as ASST 200. (000523)

Students examine the early civilizations of the Levant with foundations in the Early Bronze Age. The class focuses on Middle and Late Bronze Age period Canaan, the development of villages, towns, and societies during the periods of Canaanite and early Hebrew settlement. The focus of the course is with the cultural, demographic, political, and economic emergence of the nation of Israel with comparisons in the Old Testament and extra-biblical accounts of the period. Tools used in the examination include interpretation of evidence from archaeological excavations, historical materials, biblical and other textual sources, and area studies. This is an approved General Education course. (020211)

Survey of Native North America with emphasis on U.S. tribes, their cultures, rituals, and institutions. Brief examination of pre-history. The focus is on historical and contemporary people. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved US Diversity course. This course is also offered as AIST 261. (000383)

See ANTH 380. 9.0 hours supervision, 1.0 hours lecture. (000500)

This course is for special topics offered for 1.0-3.0 units. Typically the topic is offered on a one-time-only basis and may vary from term to term and be different for different sections. See the Class Schedule for the specific topic being offered. (000503)

The quality of "humanness" explored through the investigation of the non-human primates and human fossils. Humanity's present and potential future place in nature. Integrates biological, historical, and ecological considerations. (000489)

Biological evolution and variation in humans, mankind's place in nature, origin, and antiquity as represented in the fossil record; recent studies of non-human primates; the beginnings of culture. 3.0 hours lecture, 3.0 hours laboratory. (000505)

Case study examination of fundamental concepts, methods, and changing theoretical orientations of archaeology. Archaeology in the contemporary world, and archaeology as a profession. (000506)

Case study examination of fundamental concepts, methods, and changing theoretical orientations of cultural anthropology. (000507)

Language as a symbolic communication; structural, comparative, and sociolinguistics; analysis of English and non-western language data. (000508)

A survey of the relationship between science and society by noting the history and nature of the role of the expert witness and the forensic scientist in aiding to resolve various legal issues. (000511)

Through selected case studies, this course examines a series of cataclysmic events, ranging from volcanic eruptions and droughts to massacres and societal collapse, which illustrate that change, even cataclysmic change, is and has long been part of the human experience. The theoretical perspectives which anchor this inquiry into cataclysmic events of the human past are evolutionary, anthropological, and archaeological. This is an approved General Education course. (000512)

This course examines how societies create, understand, and resolve environmental problems. It uses anthropological methods to explore relations between cultural and natural orders in a wide range of human groups. It emphasizes new approaches that can contribute to the well-being and sustainability of living communities in the twenty-first century. (020636)

Examines the categories of "body" and "self" cross-culturally, the emergence of "sexuality" as a sphere of personal definition, and the varied constructions of self and emotion in America and cross-culturally. (000514)

This course examines the cultural diversity of tourism as a global phenomenon, focusing on non-Western cultures and the impact of culture change in the 21st century. The development of tourism as a global industry is discussed as well as an analysis of types of tourists and motivation for travel to various destinations, such as cultural heritage tourism and ecotourism. Case studies illustrate the positive and negative impacts of tourism. (000516)

This cross-cultural study of women emphasizes changing constructions of gender and gender relations from the Paleolithic period to the rise of the state. This is an approved Global Cultures course. This course is also offered as WMST 339. (000517)

This course examines the social and cultural contexts of food production and consumption in a cross-cultural, global and historical perspective, including contemporary social, environmental and policy issues associated with food. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (020625)

Native peoples of California, their origin, prehistory, languages, culture, and interaction with Europeans. Selected case studies, with special emphasis on the local area. This is an approved US Diversity course. This course is also offered as AIST 362. (000519)

Native peoples of the Arctic, range of material and social culture, problems of acculturation and stress, current policies of various governments in the economic and social development of the Far North. (000520)

Survey of the anthropology of Mexico, Mesoamerica, South America, and the islands of the Caribbean. This course emphasizes historical change, religious diversity, and transnational economic developments to understand the syntheses of indigenous, African, and European traditions in the region today.. (000521)

Study of the Native peoples of South America, Mexico, and Central America from European contact to the present. The course emphasizes contemporary ethnography and interaction of indigenous people with colonialism and the modern nation-state. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000522)

Case studies of peoples of Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Analysis of origins of indigenous peoples and cultures. Discussion of traditional cultures in this ecologically diverse area. (000524)

Case studies of traditional and contemporary cultures south of the Sahara Desert, focusing on the use of ethnographic data for the functional and ecological analysis of changing African societies. (000525)

This course examines Muslim cultures in the daily, national and global contexts in which Islam is practiced. Students read ethnography, fiction, history, and poetry in order to appreciate, respect and understand contemporary Islamic cultures. (020635)

Archaeological survey and excavation; research aims and strategies; archaeological mapping, photography, and recording. 1.0 hours lecture, 9.0 hours supervision. (000526)

This course is for special topics offered for 1.0-3.0 units. Typically the topic is offered on a one-time-only basis and may vary from term to term and be different for different sections. See the Class Schedule for the specific topic being offered. (000532)

Prerequisites: Faculty permission.

This course is an independent study of special problems and is offered for 1.0-3.0 units. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only. (000533)

The principles of museum administration, including staffing, finances, educational programs, and ethics. (000545)

Prerequisites: ANTH 111, ANTH 300, or ANTH 301.

Evolution of the human being as a biological entity and as a culture-bearing primate. Emphasis is placed upon ecological principles and problems as they relate to the fossil record. (000552)

Prerequisites: ANTH 111, ANTH 300, or ANTH 301.

The nature of human biological variation and an examination of its genetic and cultural basis. (000553)

Prerequisites: ANTH 111 or ANTH 301, ANTH 302

This course will familiarize the student with current applications, developments, and methods in bioarchaeology. The course will emphasize the value of human skeletal studies in the interpretation of past human lifeways, and will address theoretical developments that intersect subfields within physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, and archaeology. Classes will be a combination of lecture, discussion, and student presentations. (020600)

Prerequisites: ANTH 111, ANTH 300, or ANTH 301.

The individual from prenatal period through growth and sexual maturation to old age and death. Special emphasis upon the cross-cultural and holistic approaches to the study of people and their role in human evolution. (000555)

Prerequisites: ANTH 111, ANTH 300, ANTH 301, or ANTH 311.

Anthropological principles and knowledge applied within the legal system. Topics include the history of the field, biological parameters determined from the skeleton, postmortem interval, and ethics. (000557)

An examination of the data and major theories concerning the rise of civilizations, using as case studies early Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Mexico, and Peru. The significance of food production, ecology, writing, and the centralized state in the evolution of complex societies. (000561)

The study of prehistoric North America north of Mexico. An investigation of cultural origins, development, and differentiation based on the analysis of selected archaeological complexes and traditions. Case study examples of contemporary method and theory in American archaeology. (000562)

A comparative study of the prehistoric cultural traditions of the Mesoamerican and Andean regions. The Aztec, Inca, Maya, and their predecessors viewed as case studies in cultural evolution in the New World. (000568)

This course serves as an introduction to the evolutionary processes influencing human behavior grounded in the paleoanthropological study of foraging peoples and an examination of cross-cultural patterns in human behavior. Emphasis will be placed on an evolutionary ecological perspective where aspects of human adaptation are viewed as the result of long-term survival strategies. (000570)

Prerequisites: ANTH 112 or ANTH 302, or permission of instructor.

This course provides an overview and examination of the historical development and prehistory of archaeology in California. Topics include archaeological method and theory, cultural chronologies, regional and temporal patterns in the archaeological record, important sites and their potential links to native peoples in California. Controversial issues and contributions to modern archaeology are also considered. (000572)

Prerequisites: ANTH 112 or ANTH 302, or permission of instructor.

This course examines the method and theory of American historical archaeology as it specifically relates to the broader study of American material culture and sociocultural experiences in North America from the period of European exploration to the recent past through archaeological and documentary evidence. (000574)

Geoarchaeology studies traces of past human behavior that are embedded in the subsurface rock and soil environment and how archaeologists uncover and interpret this evidence. It reconstructs past environments examining the physical context of sedimentary materials focusing on processes of dynamic physical environments. The course reconstructs processes of landscape evolution, human occupation of that landscape, cultural patterns in it, and the changes in human cultural materials and burials caused by long-term deposition beneath the soil. (020604)

Mythic narratives of stars and creators; the construction of the universe by various people in many cultures through 5000 years of time; solar and lunar calendars and their communsuration; navigation by the stars; moral imperatives known to be written in the stars; celestial coordinates; naked-eye observations: all these are considered from a variety of cultural perspectives from the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians through European megalithic builders to Meso-American and South American cultures to contemporary Native Americans. Seminar format. (000576)

Prerequisites: ANTH 303 or RELS 480 or instructor's permission.

This course examines the contemporary theoretical underpinnings of the anthropology of religion, considering especially performative, gendered, psychological, semiotic, and political aspects of religion in cross-cultural perspective. (000577)

Surveys the relationships among disease, curing, culture, and environment. Topics include problems of adapting modern medicines to diverse cultures; explication of the social and cultural correlates of physical and mental health and disease; nutritional implications of culture change; anthropology contributions to health-policy decisions and makers in non-Western countries. (000579)

Explores the historical and contemporary global movements of people, commodities, technology and ideas. Surveys the impacts of colonial relationships on the contemporary world, post-colonialism and the rise of the development era, and contemporary trends resulting in the increased social and cultural integration and differentiation of individuals and groups around the world. (000582)

This course examines economic phenomena such as production, exchange, reciprocity, and consumption. It explores anthropological insights into the relationships between moral and economic values, gifts and commodities, and traditional and modern aspects of contemporary societies. (000584)

Prerequisites: ANTH 303 or faculty permission.

This course explores visual aspects of culture and the use of images for the description, analysis, communication, and interpretation of human behavior. Media examined include, photography, film, video, new media, and art. Students develop ethnographic projects based on original research and using available media technologies. (000586)

This course introduces students to material culture studies, broadly defined as the study of human-made artifacts or objects that reflect the beliefs, values, ideas, attitudes, and assumptions of a particular culture or society at a given point in time. This course investigates the rich potential of things and their interpretation from an anthropological perspective. (000587)

Offers practical training in collections management techniques, including registration methods, curatorial practices, and the care, preservation, and conservation of museum specimens. 6.0 hours activity. (000596)

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

This course serves as an introduction to the method and theory of preserving objects for the purposes of exhibit, research, and for posterity. The course is structured in a seminar/laboratory format designed to familiarize students with the chemicals, equipment, and procedures used in treating artifacts. The course covers conservation ethics and guidelines, deterioration processes, and the conservation of organic and inorganic materials. 3.0 hours laboratory, 2.0 hours lecture. (000598)

This course introduces students to all stages of the exhibit planning process, from the initial concept to the final product. Students are introduced to the methodologies and approaches of current museum practices, including industry standards in design and implementation, the importance of visitor studies, and the underlying educational foundation for developing interpretive museum exhibits. 6.0 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000619)

This course focuses on the creation of an actual museum exhibit for the annual spring Museum of Anthropology student-created exhibition. Students are required to undertake all phases of the research and design process and final installation. 6.0 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000621)

Prerequisites: ANTH 112 or ANTH 302.

Zooarchaeology involves the identification and interpretation of animal remains from archaeological sites. Topics covered include the nature of the archaeofaunal record, units of quantification, taphonomy, the selective utilization of animals and subsistence strategies. A variety of case studies will also be reviewed. Laboratory activity centers around the identification of archaeofaunal remains from selected locations in California. 2.0 hours lecture, 3.0 hours laboratory. (000602)

Prerequisites: faculty permission.

An intensive field-based introduction to identification techniques and interpretive procedures used in the analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites. Ecological principles will be explored through field observations. A laboratory component will involve the identification of vertebrate osteological remains from sites in Northern California and the Great Basin. 1.0 hours lecture, 6.0 hours laboratory. This course is also offered as BIOL 479. (000603)

Prerequisites: ANTH 380.

Advanced individual training in archaeological fieldwork, including organization of projects, supervision of field crews, use of specialized field techniques, and preliminary analysis of field data. 9.0 hours supervision, 1.0 hours lecture. (000604)

Prerequisites: ANTH 301.

Physical anthropological methods and techniques, such as anthropometry, dermatoglyphics, osteology, and paleopathology as applied to problems of human identification. Credit for repeating this course depends upon your taking it from a different instructor each time. 2.0 hours lecture, 3.0 hours laboratory. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000607)

Independent supervised training in the methods of data description, interpretation, and presentation. Methods of describing, classifying, analyzing, and illustrating archaeological finds, and the preparation of reports for publications. 6.0 hours activity. (000609)

Prerequisites: ANTH 303 or permission of instructor.

This course presents theories and methods of ethnography as well as the ethics of ethnographic fieldwork. Students conduct supervised ethnographic research and present their results both orally and in written format. 6.0 hours activity. (000610)

Methods and techniques of locating archaeological and historical cultural resources in the field. Proper site recordation by means of photographs, drawings, maps, and appropriately filled-out site survey forms for cultural resource management purposes. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000613)

A survey of selected mathematical and logical methods and models of relevance to various problems in anthropology. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of anthropological data. (000530)

The social and institutional frameworks, legislative bases, procedures, and practices of prehistoric and cultural resources management taught by means of case studies of legislative documents, management studies, and environmental impact reports. The investigation of selected resources and preparation of appropriate descriptive, evaluative, and management reports. (000617)

Prerequisites: Faculty permission.

This internship is offered in the area of physical anthropology. Work experience in the community or region is designed for each student. A maximum of 6 units of internship may be counted toward the major. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only. Formerly ANTH 489. (000622)

Prerequisites: Faculty permission.

This internship is offered in the area of archaeology. Work experience in the community or region is designed for each student. A maximum of 6 units of internship may be counted toward the major. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only. (020235)

Prerequisites: Faculty permission.

This internship is offered in the area of cultural anthropology. Work experience in the community or region is designed for each student. A maximum of 6 units of internship may be counted toward the major. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only. (020236)

Prerequisites: Faculty permission.

This internship is offered in the area of museum studies. Work experience in the community or region is designed for each student. A maximum of 6 units of internship may be counted toward the major. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only. (020237)

Prerequisites: ANTH 303 or permission of instructor.

Applications of sociocultural anthropology to the understanding and resolution of contemporary social problems. Seminar format. (000630)

Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; ANTH 303.

Investigation of the history of the development of theory and method in anthropological thought and practice from the nineteenth century to the present. Seminar format. This is a writing proficiency, WP, course; a grade of C- or better certifies writing proficiency for majors. (000631)

Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, ANTH 303, acceptance into the Honors Program.

This investigation of the method and theory of anthropological thought of the last century is directed to individual research interests and problem development for the honors thesis. Seminar format. This is a writing proficiency, WP, course; a grade of C- or better certifies writing proficiency for majors. (000632)

Examines current developments in theory and research in the entire field of anthropology through a series of presentations by a wide variety of individuals who are actively involved at the frontiers of anthropological knowledge. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only. (000633)

This course is for special topics offered for 1.0-3.0 units. Typically the topic is offered on a one-time-only basis and may vary from term to term and be different for different sections. See the Class Schedule for the specific topic being offered. (000634)

Prerequisites: ANTH 496H and faculty permission.

Independent study resulting in a piece of scholarly or creative work involving substantial research to be completed and publicly presented. The course must be taken during the second semester of your senior year, subsequent to successful completion of ANTH 496H. This course is not available to graduate students. (000639)

A critical examination of the basic foundation literature in the subdisciplines of anthropology. (000640)

A critical examination of selected theories and methods in physical anthropology, and/or the generation of new theories and methods pertinent to selected problems in physical anthropology. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000645)

A critical examination of selected theories and methods in archaeology, and/or the generation of new theories and methods pertinent to selected problems in archaeology. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000650)

A critical examination of selected theories and methods in cultural anthropology, and/or the generation of new theories and methods pertinent to selected problems in cultural anthropology. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000657)

A critical examination of selected theories and methods in museology and/or the generation of new theories and methods pertinent to selected problems in the museum field. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000658)

Prerequisites: Instructor permission.

Credit/no credit grading only. (000666)

Prerequisites: Consent of Museum Studies Coordinator.

See description below You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only. (000667)

Prerequisites: Consent of Museum Studies Coordinator.

See description below. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only. (000668)

Prerequisites: Consent of Museum Studies Coordinator.

See description below. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only. (000669)

Prerequisites: Consent of Museum Studies Coordinator.

See description below. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only. (000670)

Prerequisites: Consent of Museum Studies Coordinator.

ANTH 689A - ANTH 689E: Work experience in off-campus museum designed for each student. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only. (000671)

Prerequisites: Graduate status.

This course is for graduate students taking the Candidacy Exam only. (015814)

This course is a graduate-level independent study offered for 1.0-3.0 units. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000673)

Weekly seminars and supervision for those students who plan to prepare themselves for a career in college teaching of anthropology. This course is acceptable for credit toward the Master of Arts in Anthropology. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 4.0 units. (000672)

This course is a master's study offered as a Master's Thesis for 1.0-3.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 3.0 units. (000675)