Plattsburgh State

ANT Courses

ANT101 - Introduction to Human Evolution (3 cr.)

An exploration of the scientific evidence related to the origins and evolution of human beings. Topics include the theories and processes of biological evolution, the biological and cultural bases of human variation, humans compared to other primates, and the fossil and archaeological record of human evolution over millions of years. (Fall - Spring). Liberal arts.

ANT102 - Comparative Cultures (3 cr.)

Introduction to and comparison of a variety of world cultures as a means of introducing the approaches and methods of cultural anthropology. Exposure to the intellectual and practical problems cultural anthropologists encounter and the kinds of solutions they propose. Exploration of a wide range of concepts and topics, including culture, ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, reflexivity, social organization, gender, ideologies, subsistence patterns and technology, violence and warfare, poverty, hunger, and inequality. (Fall - Spring). Liberal arts.

ANT104 - Great Archaeological Discoveries (3 cr.)

An introductory exploration of some of the major archaeological discoveries from around the globe that have helped shape our knowledge and understanding of the human past. Specific finds and sites will illustrate the varied, distinctive features and achievements of pre-industrial, non-Western cultures, as well as reflecting the intrigue and approaches involved in reconstructing and interpreting the evolution of human beings and their societies. Consideration is also given to the endangerment and conservation of important sites and monuments. (Fall & Spring). Liberal Arts.

ANT199 - Independent Study (1 to 15 cr.)

Project individually arranged by student and faculty sponsor. Requires completion of the Independent Study form and approval by the Faculty Sponsor, Academic Advisor, Department Chair and Academic Dean.

ANT252 - Introductory Mini Courses (1 cr.)

A series of one-credit, introductory level mini courses on special and specific topics of anthropological concern. (Spring). Liberal arts.

ANT299 - Independent Study (1 to 15 cr.)

ANT301 - "Race" and Human Variation (3 cr.)

The patterns and causes of biological variation among humans. Historical patterns of migration and adaptation to a variety of natural and cultural environments. The adaptive value of specific variations. Race, behavior and intelligence. Biological variation and racism. (Fall). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT101 or any biology course.

ANT303 - Sexuality and Culture (3 cr.)

Sexuality in the evolution of culture. Cross-cultural perspectives on sexual expression and practices, including an examination of sexual attitudes and behavior in contemporary culture. (Fall). Liberal arts.

ANT304 - Nutrition and Anthropology (3 cr.)

A review of the nutritional requirements of the human species; their relationship to the nutritional requirements of related species; the ways specific human behaviors and social organization improve or interfere with the availability of essential nutrients in theory and in ethnography and history; methods of reconstructing diet and foods habits of the past; the history of human nutrition. (Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT101 or ANT102 or BIO100/BIO103 or BIO101.

ANT307 - Tibet and the Himalayas (3 cr.)

Tibetan culture and identity from before the takeover by Communist China in the 1950s to the present. Social, cultural and political life in pre-Communist era Tibet. Life of Tibetans in exile. Tibetan populations in the Himalayas. Tibet in the Western imagination. The exporting of Buddhism to the West. The contemporary political situation and the place of Tibetans in the larger world with particular attention to global processes. (Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102 or POI.

ANT308 - Forensic Anthropology (3 cr.)

Introduction to the uses of anthropology in the investigation of human remains associated with unexplained deaths, including those from crime scenes, with a focus on skeletal remains. Topics include archaeological aspects of data recovery, and physical anthropology techniques used in identifying age, sex, stature, "race" and individual identity as well as analysis of trauma, pathology, cause of death and time elapsed since death. Course includes lab practicum with skeletons. (Every Other Year). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT101 or SOC150 or SOC250 or any biology course.

ANT310 - Language and Culture (3 cr.)

Structure, patterns and regularities of language, comparing the language families and showing the mutual influence of language and culture. (Fall). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102.

ANT316 - Intercultural Communication (3 cr.)

Drawing upon various theories and empirical generalizations about how cultural differences manifest, the course examines various roles that the concept of culture plays in a human communication process. After reviewing differences and similarities in communication behaviors as demonstrated by individuals belonging to a variety of different cultural and sub-cultural systems, the course analyzes a variety of different patterns of interaction among those individuals both in the culturally-diverse United States and in the rapidly-globalizing world community. (Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: CMM226 or CMM288 or ANT102 or POI.

ANT317 - Political Anthropology (3 cr.)

Political organization in historical and cultural contexts and its relative implications for social justice issues. Comparative, ethnographic study of the range of political organization found across human societies. Investigation of political interaction and processes from multiple dimensions, such as the role of myth and symbols, rituals, political language and rhetoric, issues of power relations, authority, and conflict. Critical appraisal of modern political organization and institutions at local, international and transnational levels. (Fall/Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite ANT102 or any introductory course in political science, sociology, or history.

ANT318 - Anthropology of Human Rights (3 cr.)

An exploration of the historical, cultural, political and legal parameters associated with human rights at local, national, regional, and international levels. Issues addressed include the evolution of the global human rights regime since its inception following WWII to the present, and the way that human rights serve as a medium of social and political power. The consequences for human rights of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks on the U.S. are also assessed. At a more local level, human rights are considered from the standpoint of ethical action in relation to poverty and health care, refugee rights, and undocumented residents, and asylum claimants. (Every three to four semesters). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102 or any other introductory social science or history course.

ANT320 - Archaeology (3 cr.)

Method and theory of archaeology. Principles of site survey and excavation; techniques for dating prehistoric and reconstructing past environments; interpretations of social, economic, and ideological organization from archaeological remains; reconstruction of prehistoric events, and theoretical applications of archaeology to problems of culture change. (Fall/Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT101 or ANT102.

ANT322 - The Inkas and Andean Civilization (3 cr.)

The emergence of complex (state level) societies in South America as revealed through archaeological and ethnohistorical investigations. Emphasis is on the Inka Empire and earlier societies of the central Andes, up to European contact in the 16th century. Topics include an analysis of factors related to increasing social, political, economic, and ideological complexity, as well as the recognition of distinctive sociocultural patterns and achievements. (Fall/Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT101 or ANT102 or POI.

ANT323 - Peoples and Cultures of Latin America (3 cr.)

Introduction to the diversity and complexity of peoples and cultures throughout Latin America. Focus on the intersection of politics, religion, gender, race, class, ethnicity and nationalism in post-colonial Latin America. Critical exploration of current cultural, political and economic transformations and their impact on the indigenous peoples of Mexico, Central America and South America. (Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102 or POI.

ANT328 - Archaeological Site Excavation (6 cr.)

Excavation of an actual archaeological site in the Plattsburgh area. Practical experience in field archaeology including techniques of survey, excavation, preservation, reconstruction and laboratory analysis of artifactual materials. (Summer). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: POI.

ANT330 - Primates (3 cr.)

Comparative survey of prosimians, monkeys, apes and humans, with an emphasis on the living primates. Anatomical and behavioral characteristics, and the variability of primate social adaptations and problem solving. Implications for understanding the origins of human language and culture by assessing their prototypes in nonhuman primates. (Every Other Year). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT101 or POI.

ANT336 - Civilization and Health (3 cr.)

Examination of the relationship between cultural/biological factors and human health and disease, including topics such as group structure and size, the transition from hunter/gatherers (nomadism) to agriculturalists (sedentism), the rise of urban society, and the environmental and social factors that accompany different economic strategies. Problems of nutrition in the past and the evolution and history of infectious diseases will be examined as well as the recent emergence of new diseases. Methods of analyzing prehistoric health, and the problems with these methods, will be discussed. (Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT101 or ANT102

ANT337 - Israeli Culture and Society (3 cr.)

Cultural, social, and political development of modern Israel. Emphases on western ideological basis of Zionism and the Israeli political system, cultural diversity and conflict, internal social dynamics and regional political relations. Historical, religious, economic, and political factors as bases of contemporary Israeli culture and lifestyles. (Fall/Spring/Summer). Liberal arts.

ANT338 - Illness and Healing (3 cr.)

Anthropological approaches in the study of illness and caring. The interaction between human behavior and the ecology of various diseases. Common cultural and psychodynamic features of illness. The nature and efficacy of non-Western curing procedures. (Fall). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT101 or ANT102.

ANT340 - Culture and Belief (3 cr.)

Anthropological approach to the meaning and function of religion in social life. The nature of thought or belief systems that give rise to the different forms of religious life. (Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102.

ANT344 - Comparative Social Organizations (3 cr.)

Nonindustrial cultures, past and present, in respect to the role of kinship as well as nonkinship principles in social, political, economic, and religious behavior and group formation. Examples of kinship in industrialized societies examined for contrastive purposes. (Fall). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102.

ANT349 - Middle Eastern Cultures (3 cr.)

Sociocultural systems of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Southwest Asia with emphasis on Islamic cultures and Arab peoples. Ecological and historical bases of contemporary cultures and the contribution of village, nomadic and urban ways of life to Middle Eastern civilizations. (Fall). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102 or sophomore standing.

ANT351 - Women in Cross-Cultural Perspective (3 cr.)

Comparison of sex roles in non-Western sociocultural systems and development of new perspectives on the position of women in modern industrial societies. The influence of sex role patterning in anthropological research and reinterpretation of socio-cultural systems from a female point of view. (Fall). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102 or WMS201.

ANT354 - Education and Culture (Spring) (3 cr.)

Transmission of knowledge, values, attitudes and behavior patterns to new members of social groups. Cross-cultural regularities in socialization and schooling. Contemporary American education in anthropological perspective. (Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102.

ANT359 - Ecology, Systems and Culture (3 cr.)

Theory and application of cultural ecology as an approach to studying culture as an adaptive mechanism. Systems theory used to analyze the interrelationship of such factors as environment, technology, subsistence activities, culture change and cultural evolution. (Fall/Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT101 or ANT102.

ANT362 - Anthropological Perspectives: Global Issues (3 cr.)

Application of anthropological perspectives to issues affecting humans in most societies. Specific focus on violence, poverty, deviance, gender, ethnicity, environmental degradation, development and indigenous people, food systems and hunger. (Fall - Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102 or social science general education requirement or POI.

ANT366 - Technology, Culture, and Society (3 cr.)

Examines the relationships between technology, culture, and society. Following an examination of the history of technological development, the course will focus on the role of technology in the conversion of nonmonetary capital into money and the affect this process has on the environment, individual freedom, and patterns of social relationships. Participants will gain insight into how technology is central to the process of economic growth and the price people pay for growth. (Fall/Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102 or junior standing.

ANT375 - West Asia: Culture & Conflict (3 cr.)

Overview of the cultural and political systems of West Asia (sometimes referred to as the Levant) with particular emphasis on ethnic diversity and propensity to conflict in the region both inter- and intra-state. The role of culture in the maintenance of violence and creation of political identity. Focus on Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Israel, Palestine, and Iraq. Topics include ethnic violence, terrorism, insurgency, the Palestinian-Israel Conflict, Lebanese Civil War, the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and the Gulf War. (Fall/Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: ANT102 or other social science or history course.

ANT380 - Doing Anthropology (3 cr.)

An exploration of the practical and theoretical foundations for conducting ethnographic research, including the fieldwork methods used by cultural anthropologists, ethical issues in research and writing, and an introduction to anthropological theory. Readings will expose students to a variety of ethnographic research and writing styles. Writing assignments will provide practice on research methods, including taking field notes, a variety of interview formats, and trained observation. Additional skills to be emphasized include appropriate library and electronic research, and writing research questions and proposals. Approved AWR. (Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisites: six credits in cultural anthropology, junior standing.

ANT399 - Independent Study (1 to 15 cr.)

ANT430 - American Indian History (3 cr.)

Examines major themes, events, and trends in North American Indian history. Focuses on the historical experiences of Native Americans and their struggles to retain their cultures while adapting to the challenges posed by catastrophic population decline, expansion and conquest by colonizing powers, and the "Indian policies" adopted by the United States. Liberal arts. (Every Other Fall). Prerequisites: HIS101 or HIS102 or ANT102.

ANT431 - First Nations of Canada (3 cr.)

Examines major themes, events, and trends in the history of Aboriginal people in what is now "Canada." Explores the cultures and historical experiences of Indigenous people, including their struggles to retain their culture, land, and sovereignty in the face of catastrophic population decline, expansion and conquest by colonizing powers, and the policies adopted by the provinces and the federal government. (Fall). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: HIS101 or HIS102 or HIS132 or HIS171 or HIS172 or ANT102 or CAS111.

ANT451 - Topics in Anthropology (3 cr.)

Selected topics for in-depth classroom discussion and research by students. Exposure to current anthropological methods, theories and other topics as reflected in particular research interests of the anthropology faculty. (Fall - Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisite: nine ANT credits.

ANT480 - Advanced Research Seminar (3 cr.)

Capstone advanced research project in anthropology, focused particular subdisciplinary interests of student. Special mentoring with faculty who share that interest. (Fall - Spring). Liberal arts. Prerequisites: ANT380 and senior standing or POI.

ANT496 - Teaching Practicum (1 to 3 cr.)

Assist instructor in planning, preparation, class discussion, tutoring, and/or group projects. Each student and instruction will complete a contract specifying the student's duties. Can be repeated for different courses. Prerequisites: ANT101 or ANT102 and POI.

ANT499 - Independent Study (1 to 15 cr.)

(Spring, Fall)

ANT599 - Independent Study (1 to 15 cr.)

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