AN - Anthropology
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.
This course will introduce students to culture as a framework for understanding similarities and differences in behavior and values in human societies. The class will look at communities and cultures from around the globe to give a cross-cultural understanding of human behavior.
This class will focus on how humans interact with their environment, concentrating on biological, social and economic aspects. The course will investigate the principles of evolutionary theory with special emphasis on human behavior and cultural diversity. The class will examine adaptive design of traits, behaviors, and life histories of humans in an ecological context, including the role of social and cultural factors in the maintenance or disruption of ecosystems, contemporary ecological concerns and conservation ecology.
An anthropological and sociological investigation of the marriage and family institutions in various cultures and their influences upon both individuals and social organizations. Analysis of family communications; one?s choices in relationships; parenting; life transitions; and the roles of gender, property, power, and love in marriage and family.
This course covers a broad range of prehistoric, historic, and cultural issues pertaining to American Indians. The course will cover diversity among tribes including political organization, social organization, economics, subsistence, and current issues.
Physical anthropology is the study of the biocultural diversity in humans. The interaction between culture and biology produces a variety of human adaptations that are traced through the following venues: Primate fossil records, primate and human behavior, and human biological variation.
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.
An anthropological and sociological examination of ethnic and racial relations and identities within and between different socio-cultural groups. This includes an analysis of beliefs about ethnicity and race, focusing on their development through historical processes.
This class will explore major methods and theories archeologists use to explore North American prehistory from their origins to the present. Regional diversity in tribal adaptations and lifeways are explored by using examples from archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology.
Forensic Anthropology (skeletal forensics) is the use of Biological and Physical Anthropology techniques, methods and theory related to human identification and death investigations. This course will introduce basic knowledge of the human skeleton and basic terms and principles of forensic anthropology including recovery of skeletal remains and reconstructing biological profiles (age, sex, stature, ancestry). The course will also discuss the responsibilities and ethical considerations of working with human skeletal materials.
This class will explore the roots of violence including biological, psychological, social and anthropological aspects so that the student can deepen their understanding of the complexities of violence. The class will explore many dimensions of violence including warfare, domestic violence, political violence and religious violence comparing these across cultures around the world. The class will also explore ways to control and prevent various features of violence.
An overview of the principles, methods, and practice of research in the social sciences. The course will assist students in research design, case studies, conducting field research, analyzing and evaluating their research data, conducting needs assessment, program evaluation, and practice effectiveness.
The Carroll College Archaeological Field School will introduce students to basic archaeological field methods and research design. The 2-week class is designed to train students in the fundamentals of archaeological excavation and survey techniques. Students should be prepared for full days of digging and/or hiking, sometimes in remote areas.
Independent study is open to junior and senior students only. At the time of application, a student must have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. A student may register for no more than three (3) semester hours of independent study in any one term. In all cases, registration for independent study must be approved by the appropriate department chairperson and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
The Capstone Project consists of individualized instruction through which students engage in advance anthropological research (cultural anthropology, physical anthropology or archaeology). The student may conduct original research in conjunction with Anthropology faculty or may review, compile and analyze existing research. A weekly meeting with supervising faculty is required.
The senior thesis is designed to encourage creative thinking and to stimulate individual research. A student may undertake a thesis in an area in which s/he has the necessary background. Ordinarily a thesis topic is chosen in the student's major or minor. It is also possible to choose an interdisciplinary topic. Interested students should decide upon a thesis topic as early as possible in the junior year so that adequate attention may be given to the project. In order to be eligible to apply to write a thesis, a student must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 based upon all courses attempted at Carroll College. The thesis committee consists of a director and two readers. The thesis director is a full-time Carroll College faculty member from the student's major discipline or approved by the department chair of the student's major. At least one reader must be from outside the student's major. The thesis director and the appropriate department chair must approve all readers. The thesis committee should assist and mentor the student during the entire project. For any projects involving human participants, each student and his or her director must follow the guidelines published by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Students must submit a copy of their IRB approval letter with their thesis application. As part of the IRB approval process, each student and his or her director must also complete training by the National Cancer Institute Protection of Human Participants. The thesis is typically to be completed for three (3) credits in the discipline that best matches the content of the thesis. Departments with a designated thesis research/writing course may award credits differently with approval of the Curriculum Committee. If the thesis credits exceed the full-time tuition credit limit for students, the charge for additional credits will be waived. Applications and further information are available in the Registrar's Office.