Anthropology
Anthropology is a broad discipline because its subject matter is the entirety of human diversity. Anthropologists contribute to an understanding of the human condition through interpretations of human biological and cultural variation. Anthropology is often divided into four sub-fields. Archaeology examines the past using material remains, including artifacts, skeletal material, and architecture. Social and cultural anthropology is concerned with contemporary human societies throughout the world, and their complex inter-and intra-relationships. Linguistic anthropology* examines diversity in language, including historical migrations and relationships between languages. Biological anthropology concerns human biological evolution and biological variation, including skeletal and genetic, and the interaction between human biology and our environments.
KPU Anthropology students work toward leadership-based careers integrated with local and global communities. Students will cultivate and demonstrate skills in inter- and intra-cultural communication, analysis, and both scientific and humanistic methodology.
KPU is a participant of the BCCAT Flexible Pre-major transfer agreement for Anthropology. For detailed information pertaining to the Flexible Pre-Major in Anthropology, please visit the Anthropology Department's website kpu.ca/arts/anthropology
Note: The Anthropology Department at KPU does not currently offer courses in Linguistic Anthropology. Students are encouraged to take Linguistics courses through the Department of Language and Cultures at KPU.
Who Studies Anthropology?
Since Anthropology has a four sub-field approach to the study of humankind, our students can specialize in arts and science credits. Anthropology students can excel in both lecture and lab courses. We also believe in teaching about the practical aspects of the world as well as the theoretical.
The student of anthropology has an interest in human cultural and biological diversity. They are inquisitive, tolerant and like studying and learning about the world through multiple perspectives, and know the wisdom of listening to multiple voices. Students in the major degree tend to have a fascination with the human body (inside and out), material remains of past societies, and the unique ways of life of contemporary and historically recent human populations. An anthropology student knows the value of studying the human species from the viewpoints of both the arts and sciences, and believes in applying the methods of anthropology to problems in the real world to help communities both globally and locally. Examples of applied scholarly work include the medico-legal identification of an unknown human body, the documentation and preservation of an indigenous language, or the location and conservation of an ancient archaeological site in an area of recent economic development. Minor students need an understanding of a topic in anthropology, such as the human body, in conjunction with another subject of study, for example a student taking fine arts who want to become a forensic facial recognition artist.
Department's website: kpu.ca/arts/anthropology
A Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology is directly applicable in employment fields such as market research, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and development studies, business, community liaison, legal careers, criminal investigation, environmental assessment and management, teaching, and health care, among many others. We anticipate our graduates will use skills developed during an anthropology degree throughout the rest of their careers. Our current anthropology field school involves direct interaction at a high level with First Nations communities and Anthropology professionals, and has been endorsed by the British Columbia Association of Professional Archaeologists, the first such endorsement in Canada. Our program is also designed to give students a solid foundation for entry into graduate programs.
Some Skills Learned From an Anthropology Education
- Planning projects
- Writing grant proposals
- Interviewing, surveying
- Sampling, gathering and organizing data
- Examining data and artifacts
- Conducting field studies
- Summarizing results
- Communication across cultures/languages
- Recognizing cultural differences/similarities
Archaeology
(Examples of Jobs in Archaeology)
- Field Archaeologist
- Excavation Supervisor
- University or College Professor
- Museum Curator
- Archaeological Lab Technician
- Government Historic Preservation Officer
- Indigenous Reburial Issues
- Consultant, Emergency Site Recovery
- Cultural Artifact Specialist
- Environmental Impact Assessment Researcher
- Cultural Resource Manager
Biological Anthropology
(Examples of Jobs in Biological Anthropology)
- Become a University Professor or Museum Curator. Study the human skeleton and compare the physical appearance of people found all across the world.
- Become someone who studies mummies.
- Become a Primatologist (someone who studies non-human primates — their conservation, research, and similarities to humans). Become a zoo researcher or conservationist. e.g. The Calgary Zoo
- Become a Paleoanthropologist (someone who studies how humans evolved to their modern form).
- Become a Forensic Anthropologist (specialists in the biological description of humans; descriptions of wounds and trauma to the skeleton; and genocide investigators). They are usually civilian consultants; and often professors with a Ph.D. in biological or forensic anthropology. Forensic anthropologists can get a job as a consultant for International Human Rights Missions and will document war crimes for future generations.
- Become a Policeman with Forensic Training
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police
- Vancouver City Police
- Become a Forensic Artist and assist police agencies with sketches of missing people, suspects, and victim related crimes.
- Become a Probation Officer
Social-Cultural Anthropology
(Examples of Jobs in Social-Cultural Anthropology)
Entry (Undergraduate) Level
- Analyst
- Caseworker
- Community Development Specialist
- Community Service Administrator
- Curatorial Assistant
- Ecotourism Director
- Employment Recruiter
- Friend of the Court Caseworker
- Immigration Inspector
- Information Officer
- Legislative Aide
- Management Trainee
- Marketing Researcher
- Multicultural Program Leader
- Museum Technician
- National/State Park Interpreter
- Peace Corps Volunteer
- Program Coordinator/Assistant
- Public Relations Specialist
- Research Associate
- Social Worker
- Teacher/Trainer
- Translator
- Travel Agent/Guide/Consultant
- Writer, Editor
Visit the BC Transfer Guide - bctransferguide.ca - for information about course transfer in B.C.
ANTH 1100 3 credits
Social & Cultural Anthropology
Students will study the interrelationships among culture, community and well-being. They will examine the diversity of human thought and behaviour in cross-cultural perspective. Students will focus on topics such as ethnographic research methods, gender, marriage and kinship, culture and adaptive strategies, social and political organization, religion, world view, and globalization.
Level: UG
ANTH 1200 3 credits
Biological Anthropology
Students will explore human ancestry, fossil hominins, non-human primates, and modern human physical variation. They will study human evolution and how our bodies and behaviour have been changed and shaped through our interaction with the environment over millions of years. Students will gain knowledge of the theories of Charles Darwin together with the modern synthesis of his ideas, which show how our genes have evolved in response to our environment.
Level: UG
ANTH 1217 3 credits
Forensic Anthropology
Students will study the concepts and techniques that forensic anthropologists use to identify human skeletal remains for legal purposes. Techniques for assessing age-at-death, stature, and sex to learn how to analyze a skeleton to the level of individual identity will be studied. The class will also explore the challenges, both scientific and social, of determining "ancestry" based on biological remains by learning how forensic anthropologists have come to rely on their understanding of population genetics in the context of forensic individualization and human biological variation. Study of how cause and manner of death, and the postmortem interval affect the ability to apply forensic anthropological techniques will be identified.
Level: UG
ANTH 1300 3 credits
Archaeology
Archaeologists use a variety of methods and perspectives to learn about people in the past. They do not study dinosaurs or hunt for buried treasure! This course will provide a broad overview of archaeology, including how it is applied today in business and academic research, and to understand the past choices of people around the globe. The course will introduce survey, excavation, and dating as data collection methods. It will explore the data interpretation techniques used to reconstruct what people ate, how they organized themselves, and how they engaged with each other and their surrounding environment over the past 3 million years.
Level: UG
ANTH 2100 3 credits
Ethnographic Research Methods and Ethics
Students will explore the methods and ethics used by Cultural Anthropologists, through conducting an ethnographic research project. They will learn ethnographic methods, including qualitative interview skills and participation-observation. They will review existing academic research on their topic and learn how to complete a research ethics submission. After conducting their research, they will undertake qualitative data analysis and consider types of ethnographic writing before producing a short ethnography. Throughout this process, students will engage with ongoing debates about methods, ethics, and community engagement.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1100
ANTH 2120 3 credits
Cross-Cultural Women’s and Gender Studies
Students will use a cross-cultural perspective to explore the concepts of sex and gender, the cultural construction of gender roles and identities, as well as the social, cultural, and political dimensions of gender relations. They will critically examine anthropological approaches to gender from early studies that overlooked women to feminist anthropology, intersectional perspectives, research on masculinities, and queer anthropology. The class will investigate political and cultural responses to gender inequality and discrimination in diverse cultural contexts.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1100
ANTH 2133 3 credits
Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft
Students will investigate the broadly defined interrelationships between culture and religious beliefs and practices. They will examine topics such as religious symbols, magic, witchcraft, rites of passage, spirit possession, religion and sociocultural change, and religion in popular culture.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1100
ANTH 2142 3 credits
Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Students will explore the diversity of Indigenous peoples and cultures across Canada. They will examine cultural transformations resulting from European colonization and Indigenous resistance to it, including treaty processes, the Indian Act, and Indigenous rights. They will investigate contemporary Indigenous lifeways and activism related to decolonization and cultural and linguistic revitalization. Students may earn credit for only one of ANTH 2142 or ANTH 1260, as they are equivalent courses.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1100
ANTH 2160 3 credits
Culture and the Environment
Students will analyze competing definitions and interpretations of social and physical environments, from various cultural groups around the globe. They will examine the complexity of human relationships with the environment in a world where conflicting cultural systems are often competing for survival. Students will learn to appreciate actions that are crucial to the well-being of environments and the adaptive strategies of threatened cultures.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1100, 1200, or 1300
ANTH 2162 3 credits
Eating Culture: Anthropology of Food
Students will study what food means to different cultures and how food is important to people’s social and cultural life in today’s world. Students will explore a range of foods, food-getting strategies, and manners of eating cross-culturally that relate to various aspects of culture. Topics include food and language, rituals, globalization, gender, and identity. Students will apply course concepts to contemporary social issues such as globalization and food security in Canada.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1100
ANTH 2163 3 credits
Medical Anthropology
Students will engage in a dynamic study of health and well-being from bio-cultural, social, and cross-cultural perspectives. Topics include the origins and ecology of disease, biological and cultural adaptation to disease, epidemiology, plus global health in past and present. They will study and learn to apply knowledge about distress and suffering, practitioner/patient interaction, as well as social suffering and stigma, including medicine and healing systems.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1100 or 1200
ANTH 2190 3 credits
Non-Governmental Organizations in Context
Students will study the role of NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), understood to be not-for-profit or 'third sector' organizations concerned with addressing problems of poverty, social justice and/or the environment. They will explore the concepts of global civil society and emerging features associated with social, cultural, economic, and political activity that operate alongside but outside of state and market processes. They will come to understand the various roles that NGOs fill in providing services, promoting particular values, forming the basis for community self-help initiatives or campaigning on public issues. Students will analyze, and demonstrate their familiarity with organizational behaviours and practices.
Level: UG
Co-requisite(s): ANTH 1100
ANTH 2217 3 credits
Forensic Methods & Analysis
Students will explore scientific hypothesis-testing by performing experiments that evaluate current forensic methods. They will study several forensic fields such as: metric measurement, fingerprint examination, image analysis (including photographs and x-rays), bone trauma analysis, and discriminating human from animal bone. Students will participate in a one-day outdoor archaeological excavation exercise. They will apply the information learned in the course to practice the techniques associated with the recovery and analysis of material evidence and human remains. Students will also reflect on the ethical dilemmas involved in the integration of scientific, anthropological, archaeological, and legal testimony in professional reports and in the court system.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1217
ANTH 2250 3 credits
Biological Anthropology of the Human Lifespan
Students will study how the human body develops and ages throughout one's life. This study of the human skeleton will examine the influence of both natural and human-made environments on growth and development. Students will study evolutionary and biological characteristics of human development by being introduced to the theoretical foundations of growth, development and aging research. Through the application of a bio-cultural approach students will discover how biological, socio-cultural and environmental factors directly and indirectly influence growth, development, aging and health outcomes.
Level: UG
ANTH 2300 3 credits
Archaeological Methods
Students will conduct an in-depth review of current methods in anthropological archaeology. They will study the nature of the archaeological record, including categories of data and site formation processes. Students will study a brief overview of archaeology history to place the discipline within a modern context. Students will study research design, data collection, dating methods and classification of artifacts. They will critically evaluate methods used to examine technology, environmental reconstruction, subsistence and diet, and trade patterns. These methods are commonly used to investigate the deep history of Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1300
ANTH 2310 3 credits
Archaeology of Death
Students will examine concepts, theories, and methods that archaeologists use to analyze the funerary rituals and burial practices of ancient, historical, and recent societies around the world. Students will evaluate survey and mapping methods, visual and spatial analysis, and preservation and restoration techniques at different types of mortuary sites. They will explore social and ideological aspects of mortuary behaviours and how different social groups use these in the construction of memory and identity. Students will consider ethical and legal issues involved in the analysis of human remains and other mortuary materials found in archaeological sites and the importance of understanding cultural perspectives and beliefs, with special attention to Indigenous peoples.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1100, 1217, or 1300.
ANTH 2320 3 credits
Archaeology of Africa, Asia and Europe
This course will introduce the archaeology of Africa, Asia and Europe beginning with the appearance of modern humans approximately 200,000 years ago. We will study the movement of people from Africa into Asia and Europe and the development of densely populated communities and cities with organized political and social systems that depended on food production economies. The course will investigate the relationships between people and their environments to understand how, why and when these migrations took place from Africa to Asia and Europe and beyond. We will examine the human choices that led to the development of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, the early European states and Southeast Asia over the last 5,000 years using an archaeological perspective, which includes the related fields of bioanthropology, linguistics and genetics.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1300
ANTH 2340 3 credits
Archaeology of the Americas
Students will examine the archaeological record of North and South America. They will examine culture history of the indigenous groups from these continents. Cultures or geographical areas examined can include the Inka, Aztec, Maya, Moche, Nazca, Amazonia, Norte Chico, Olmec, Hopewell, Haudenosaunee, Northwest Coast, Ancestral Pueblo, or others. Students will also critically examine theoretical or ethical problems particular to the archaeology of the Americas, including the impact of colonialism, the first peopling of the continents, the role of descendent communities in archaeology, and the evolution of urban societies, language, and agriculture. Students may earn credit for only one of ANTH 2340 or ANTH 1216, as they are equivalent courses.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 1300
ANTH 3100 3 credits
Anthropological Theory
Students will develop their understanding of how cultural anthropologists use social theory in conducting research, interpreting social and cultural processes, and presenting the results of ethnographic research. They will examine how political, intellectual, and cultural contexts have influenced the historical development of anthropological theory. Students will study theoretical writings and ethnographies that reflect a range of theoretical perspectives, time periods, geographical regions, and ethnographic genres. Note: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 9 credits including (a) ANTH 2100 and (b) 6 credits from courses in ANTH at the 2000 level or higher
ANTH 3150 6 credits
Ethnographic Field Studies
Students will examine and practice the techniques and ethical conduct of ethnographic research in Cultural Anthropology, building on previous knowledge and experience. They will also explore a topic in Cultural Anthropology, including theoretical and methodological approaches, through developing, conducting, and presenting the results of individual or small group original ethnographic research projects.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at 1100 level or higher, including ANTH 1100, and permission of the Departmental Selection Committee.
ANTH 3160 3 credits
Environmental Activism
Students will analyze competing definitions and interpretations of social and physical environments, in both urban and rural contexts. They will examine the complexity of human connections to the environment, in a globalized world where conflicting cultural systems often come into play. Students will learn to appreciate how the adaptive strategies of threatened cultures function in the current context, with specific reference to Indigenous rights. Note: Students who have taken ANTH 2160 may not take ANTH 3160 for further credit.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including one of the following: ANTH 1100, ANTH 1200, or ANTH 1300.
Attribute: ARTS
ANTH 3162 3 credits
"Trash Talk": Dirt and Disorder Across Cultures
In this course, we apply an anthropological lens to constructions of contamination, disorder, and disposability. Students will explore cross-culturally the ways that various objects, people, and spaces are framed as sources of contagion that must be properly contained for the good of ‘all.’ By taking an ethnographic approach to a range of topics – from the politics of landfills and personal hygiene to abandoned buildings, zombies, and ‘bad hombres’ – students will explore the arbitrariness of cultural categories and the politics of belonging.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including ANTH 1100
Attribute: ARTS
ANTH 3171 3 credits
Latin America and the Caribbean
Students will explore anthropological perspectives on the diverse cultures and societies of Latin America, the Caribbean, and their diasporas. Students will examine how anthropologists have studied, interpreted, represented, and politically engaged with, contemporary societies through their research. They will explore ethnographic studies on religious expressions, social hierarchies, legacies of colonialism, Indigenous and Afro-descendant political struggles, genders and sexualities, popular culture, social movements, and migration, transnationalism, and globalization.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including ANTH 1100
Attribute: ARTS
ANTH 3190 3 credits
Non-Governmental Organizations in Practice
Students will carry out a detailed investigation of an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), understood to be a not-for-profit or 'third sector' organization concerned with addressing problems of poverty, social justice, and the environment. They will complete a case study of a particular organization, or of a particular set of problems that surround a group of organizations. Students will submit original research and analysis. They will also develop an understanding of how stakeholders work towards the solution of social, political, and/or environmental problems.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 2190
ANTH 3211 3 credits
Forensic Science: Fact and Fiction
Popular forensic science television programs have generated believable misrepresentations of forensic science that have become known as “The CSI Effect”. Students will go through a process of discovery to determine which information is an accurate portrayal of forensic science in popular culture. The exploration of various forensic science fields of study will introduce students to the practical and logistical applications of forensic methods. The course also focuses on the differences between the Canadian and American legal systems. These differences have a tremendous impact on expert witness testimony; in particular, the interpretation of forensic science evidence. Furthermore, our Americanized academic literature rarely reflects these legal system distinctions.
Level: UG
ANTH 3220 3 credits
Human Osteology
Students will undertake a comprehensive study of the human skeleton through hands-on identification, interpretation and analysis of complete and fragmentary skeletal and dental elements. They will study and identify stages of skeletal growth and development, variation in human skeletal anatomy, as well as distinguish human from animal bone. They will also appraise the form and function of soft tissue attachments on bone, in order to determine individualizing characteristics such as age-at-death, sex and other research interests. Notes: This course is considered essential for students planning future work in the interpretation of modern and archaeological human remains. This course is lab intensive.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including both of the following: ANTH 1200 and ANTH 1217
Attribute: ARTS
ANTH 3242 3 credits
A Survey of the Primates
Students will study the diversity, behaviour, and conservation status of a group of mammals called primates. They will better understand humans by exploring the social organization, social interactions, and ecology of non-human primates. Students will consider the implications of the high number of non-human primate species that are at risk of extinction by exploring the ethical and conservation issues arising from human activities such as the pet trade and the use of non-human primates for medical experiments. They will begin to recognize the significant connection between the animal and human world.
Level: UG
ANTH 3300 3 credits
Archaeological Theory
This class examines what theory actually is, as well as the application of theory in current archaeological research and practice. This class will critically analyze theories of cultural and environmental change, cultural interaction and relationships, cognition, gender and ethnicity, and how they are applied to and used to create actual archaeological data sets. The course addresses the importance of ethics, cultural resource management, decolonization, community collaboration and public engagement in archaeological practice. Note: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): One of: ANTH 2100, 2217, 2310, 2320 or 2340
ANTH 3301 3 credits
Archaeological Methods for Cultural Resource Management
Students will develop a hands-on understanding of several aspects of archaeological methodology central to cultural resource management (CRM) work. They will learn to apply these quantitative and qualitative methods to the analysis of archaeological and landscape data, including how to report and organize the results of these analyses. Students will also be tasked with other important aspects of methodology in CRM, which include mapping, site forms, reporting, budgets, and proposals. NOTE: This course is co-requisite with ANTH 3361 and offered as field school studies during summer term. Students may earn credit for only one of ANTH 3301 or ANTH 2301.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 30 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including ANTH 1300.
Co-requisite(s): ANTH 3361
ANTH 3330 3 credits
East Asian Archaeology
Using an archaeological perspective, this course will explore cultural interaction and developments that occurred within and between China, Korea and Japan in ancient times. The focus will be to understand early human migrations within the region and the development of foraging, farming and urban societies. A critical analysis of the current methods and theories used by archaeologists in studying the developments of East Asian societies will be undertaken. The course will also explore how contemporary people in East Asia interpret and use the findings of archaeology as a source of reflection and discussion on cultural and ethnic identity.
Level: UG
ANTH 3340 3 credits
British Columbia Archaeology
Students will examine the deep pre-colonial history of Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia and will follow this history through into the colonial period. They will study the environmental adaptations and complex cultural developments of both interior and coastal groups and develop an understanding of the great diversity and depth of Indigenous cultures in the province. Students will analyze archaeological evidence from the earliest occupations up to and including the colonial period, which was fundamental to the modern configuration of British Columbia. Note: This course is usually offered as part of the Archaeological Field School during summer term. During field school, the course is often delivered in the context of indigenous supervision of our field project. Indigenous knowledge, cultural information, and material evidence are all important for an understanding of the deep history of British Columbia.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 30 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including ANTH 1300.
ANTH 3361 6 credits
Archaeological Field Studies
This course involves students in active archaeological field research at one or more sites in British Columbia. Students will complete archaeological investigations using field techniques such as site survey and mapping, GPS data collection, excavation, analysis of site stratigraphy; and documentation, collection and curation of field data. Students will clean, sort and properly store archaeological materials in field and in the laboratory and will undertake data analysis. When the field research involves an Indigenous site and is supervised by Indigenous nations students will learn about the role of Indigenous knowledge, cultural information, and material evidence in archaeological field research. Note: This course consists of a six-week field studies project and is offered only during the summer term. The co-requisite course is ANTH 3301.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): Both (a) 30 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including ANTH 1300 or equivalent, and (b) permission of the department selection committee.
Co-requisite(s): ANTH 3301
ANTH 3501 3 credits
Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology
Students will examine a selected topic in Cultural Anthropology. They will critically analyze relevant literature and develop a comprehensive understanding of particular theories, methods, and themes. Students will question and evaluate recent developments in the topic area and debate future directions of possible study. Note: The specific course content will be established in advance by the instructor. Students may take this course multiple times for further credit on different topics.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including ANTH 1100.
Attribute: ARTS
ANTH 3502 3 credits
Special Topics in Biological Anthropology
Students will engage in an intensive study of a particular topic in biological anthropology. Potential topics will focus on one of the major areas of the field: forensic anthropology (an applied aspect); evolution and heredity; non-human primate studies; human evolution; or modern human biological variation. Students will examine and evaluate recent developments in the specific focus area, assess the implications of these developments, and identify future research directions. Note: Students may take this course multiple times for further credit on different topics.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including ANTH 1200 and ANTH 1217
Attribute: ARTS
ANTH 3503 3 credits
Special Topics in Archaeology
Students will study a particular topic of archaeology selected by the instructor. They will examine how archaeology attempts to document and interpret the course of human developments and to trace the emergence and changes of cultural traditions in various areas of the world. The course will emphasize critical evaluation of the methodological, technical, and academic literature relating to archaeological interpretation and how students are able to apply this knowledge to a selected project. Note: The area of study will be established in advance by the department. Please check with the department for proposed offerings. Students may take this course multiple times for further credit on different topics. This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including ANTH 1300
ANTH 3510 3 credits
Anthropology of Genocide
Anthropology provides a multidisciplinary approach to the study of genocide. The class will explore the following topics: why anthropology is so well situated to inform the discourse and research on genocide; the definition of genocide and ethnocide; study of aggression from the perspective of our nearest animal relatives; the limitations of forensic investigations in documenting crimes against humanity for future generations; cultural issues, including racial, ethnic and religious concerns; historical and contemporary political issues (local, national, regional, and global through an examination of the United Nations, and other non-government organizations); modern literature and popular culture; and healing processes. Using case examples from Canada and across the globe, students will investigate the complexities of this subject.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including ANTH 1100, 1200, 1217 or 1300.
Attribute: ARTS
ANTH 4101 3 credits
Advanced Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology
Students will study a current topic in cultural anthropology at an advanced level. They will identify key concepts and examine relevant literature, tracing the development of contemporary theory and methodology in relation to its historical context and potential future implications. Students will synthesize current themes and debates arising from a variety of perspectives through discussion, library research, practical observation, and presentation. They will engage with ethical questions including the entanglements of ethnographers and the communities with whom they work. Students will determine ongoing areas of research that they may utilize for future study or job-related research. Note: The specific course content will be established in advance by the instructor. Students may take this course multiple times for further credit on different topics.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including all of (a) ANTH 1100 and (b) 3 credits from courses in ANTH
ANTH 4500 3 credits
Culture, Community, & Well-Being
Students will bring together a number of theories, methods, and themes in anthropology. They will utilize a multidisciplinary approach to examine contemporary issues and they will address the contributions of a number of fields of study to further explore the department focus on "Culture, Community, and Well-Being". Students will explore topics such as Indigenous studies; gender & women's studies; biological, medical & environmental anthropology; methods & ethics in anthropological research; human rights issues; audio-visual anthropology; religion and spirituality; and specific geographic area studies with an emphasis placed upon the holistic and applied approach to anthropology. Note: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 6 credits from courses in ANTH
Attribute: ARTS
ANTH 4501 3 credits
Selected Problems in Anthropology
Students will engage in the study of a particular issue in the field of anthropology. They will analyze critically the relevant literature and attendant ethical problems, and examine public awareness of the issue, thereby developing a comprehensive understanding of disciplinary considerations. Students will evaluate recent developments in methods and particular approaches, assess the implications of these developments, and identify future directions for the field of anthropology itself. Note: Students may take this course multiple times for further credit on different topics.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 6 credits from ANTH.
ANTH 4502 3 credits
Regional Focus in Anthropology
Students will carry out a detailed investigation of a particular region, as identified by the course instructor. They will use specific anthropological approaches to provide insights into the society and culture of the specified region. They will be required to identify relevant sources of information, provide a summary of the literature and develop a discussion of relevant problems. Note: Students may take this course multiple times for further credit on different topics.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 6 credits from ANTH
Attribute: ARTS
ANTH 4510 3 credits
Applied Bioarchaeology Research
Students will complete an applied interdisciplinary research project integrating theory and methods from biological anthropology and archaeology. Contextual research by students will critically analyze logistical and ethical conduct of research in applied anthropology. They will use and apply bioarchaeological methods to a specific real-world problem, possibly including action research, advocacy anthropology, cultural resource management (CRM), methodological design, or a forensic human recovery and identification problem. Note: Students may take the course twice for credit, but the research subject of each course must be different.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including one of the following methods courses: ANTH 2217 or 2300 or 3301
Attribute: ARTS
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