Department of Anthropology

ANTH 100. City as Culture. 3 Hours.

City as Culture introduces students to multiple aspects of culture and cultural diversity in Birmingham and the UAB campus, drawing from the four subdisciplines of anthropology. The goal is to encourage students to experience and understand the City and campus as rich cultural spaces. Topics include food practices, identity and heritage, religion, language, art, consumption, gender and sexuality, transportation, parks and recreation, pollution and waste, and others. This course meets Blazer Core City in a Classroom requirement with a flag in Global/Multicultural.

ANTH 101. Introducing Cultural Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Introduction to human cultural diversity. Primary emphasis on similarities and differences of contemporary human cultures across the globe. Foundational theories and concepts related to cultural diversity in social organization, ecological/economic adaptation, and ideological domains. Global/local applications in areas of cultural relativism as applied to both the diversity of the world’s cultures and diversity of local subcultural or other groups within society. Applicative tools for real-world problems involving ethnocentrism, racism, sex/gender discrimination, faith-based differences, political division, and other domains of human diversity. This course meets Blazer Core Humans and their Societies with Flags in Wellness/Wellbeing, Global/Multicultural, and Collaborative Assignments.

ANTH 102. Introduction to Biological Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Scientific study of biological anthropology including evolutionary processes, primate evolution and behavior, the human fossil record, living human biocultural diversity. This course meets Blazer Core Curriculum Scientific Inquiry with a flag in Global/Multicultural and Collaborative Assignments.

ANTH 102L. Laboratory in Biological Anthropology. 1 Hour.

Laboratory study of data, analytical techniques, and theories in biological anthropology. Evolutionary processes, Primate and human evolutionary biology, contemporary human biocultural diversity.

ANTH 104. Introduction to Peace Studies. 3 Hours.

An overview of concepts and practices related to conflict, social justice, and peace. Students are introduced to theories, terms, analytical skills and tools in terms of peace building and conflict transformation. This course meets Blazer Core Reasoning with Flags in Justice & Sustainability.

ANTH 106. Introducing Archaeology. 3 Hours.

Introduction to the study of the human past. Primary emphasis on similarities and differences of past human cultures across the globe. Modern archaeological methods and theory are highlighted, providing an overview of the diverse fields and sub-specialties of archaeological research. Case studies are employed to demonstrate how archaeologists use the archaeological record to make interpretations about past life. Emphasis on the importance of archaeology to our current world. This course meets Blazer Core History and Meaning with flags in Sustainability and Global Multicultural Perspectives.

ANTH 120. Language and Culture. 3 Hours.

Introduction to the relationship between language and culture. Primary emphasis on language as an expression of social organization and cultural values. Foundational theories and concepts related to the origin, structure, and diversity of human language. Local /global applications in areas of linguistic diversity as it relates to cultures and subcultures, as well as social identities such as ethnicity, sex/gender, nationality, regionality, and disability. Applicative tools for real world problems involving language biases, discourses, new media forms, and disinformation/propaganda. This course meets Blazer Core Humans & Their Society with flags in Justice and Global/Multicultural Perspectives.

ANTH 200. Applied Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Applied anthropology stresses the practical application of anthropological perspectives, theories, and methods to the real world needs of contemporary communities, organizations, and institutions. Within this context, applied anthropology is viewed as a critically important fifth subfield of anthropology ideally suited to aid in the resolution of modern challenges. Topics addressed include global challenges related to public policy; the environment; sustainable development; health, poverty, social, racial, and gender inequality; social advocacy; and cultural tolerance.

ANTH 202. Science Fiction and Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Anthropological concepts in works of science fiction; the place of anthropology in contemporary science fiction literature, film, and television. Topics include culture, language, archaeology and human evolution.

ANTH 210. Monkeys and Apes. 3 Hours.

Behavior and social organization of humans' closest living relatives. Living primates and why they behave as they do.

ANTH 211. Human Evolution. 3 Hours.

Human organism's evolution as systemic whole. Process of human evolutionary change as depicted in behavior and fossil record.

ANTH 222. Ancient North America. 3 Hours.

This course provides a survey of the archaeology and past Indigenous cultures of North America (north of Mexico), from the initial arrival of the first Americans to European contact. Students will be introduced to the rich diversity and history of past Native American cultures through a comparative archaeological approach that highlights differences in subsistence, settlement, ecology, social and political organization, material culture, and religion, among other topics.

ANTH 226. Archaeological Field School. 1-6 Hour.

Participation in all phases of excavation, laboratory study, and report preparation. Off campus.

ANTH 231. Archaeology of the Origins of Civilization in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Mediterranean. 3 Hours.

Development of complex society in the Fertile Crescent and surrouding lands in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Mediterranean from origins of agriculture to Alexander the Great.

ANTH 232. Explorers, Mummies, Hieroglyphs. 3 Hours.

This course introduces Ancient Egypt through presentation of more recent “explorers” (e.g., Champollion; Belzoni; Budge; Petrie; Carter), a basic introductory coverage of how to read Egyptian hieroglyphs, and lectures on different aspects of Ancient Egypt: (1) early Egyptology and archaeology, (2) historical background, (3) geography, (4) society and government, (5) religion of the living, (6) funerary beliefs and customs, (7) architecture and buildings, (8) written evidence, (9) the army and navy, (10) foreign trade and transport, (11) economy and industry, and (12) everyday life, spanning late Prehistory through the Ptolemaic-Roman period. This course meets Blazer Core Curriculum History & Meaning with flags in Post-Freshman Writing and Global/Multicultural Perspectives.

ANTH 245. Peoples of the World:Mediterranean. 3 Hours.

This course covers both the western part of the Ancient Middle East and the Mediterranean Area, first introducing Neolithic Europe and Turkey/Anatolia (e.g., Catal Huyuk; Stonehenge), but focusing on Bronze Age Greece, the Aegean, and Anatolia:ca. 3000-1200 BCE. This includes an examination of the Minoans and Mycenaeans in the first part of the course (e.g., Knosso; Thera; Mycenae), and a look at the Hittites and Trojans in the second half of the semester (e.g., Hattusas; Troy), culminating with the Trojan War and Sea Peoples ca. 1200 BCE. Meets Blazer Core Curriculum History and Meaning with flags in Post-Freshman Writing and Global/Multicultural Perspectives.

ANTH 248. Peoples of the World: Latin America. 3 Hours.

Holistic survey of cultures of Latin America from pre-Columbian times to present. Processes of cultural change (including revolution), ethnic group relations, and functioning of contemporary societies.

ANTH 262. Mythbusters! Arch hoaxes, doc. 3 Hours.

This course will provide an in depth examination of a number of known and not-so-well known archaeological hoaxes throughout history, allowing the class to explore the myriad of social, legal, and economic pressures which precipitated such discoveries. The course will explore subjects like the shoroud of Turin, Atlantis, the Jesus Tomb, and the curse surrounding the discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922. As part of the course, students will watch and evaluate a number of documentaries for the "truth" behind the story, and will follow ongoing media coverage of major archaeological discoveries.

ANTH 292. Anthropology of Slavery. 3 Hours.

This course is a mixed format including, lectures, student projects, and potential fieldwork. The class will provide a broad cross-cultural perspective on different types of slavery that have existed across the globe (Americas, Africa, the Near East, Oceania) and examine slavery in the American South, especially Alabama. Issues of race, hierarchy, ethnicity, political, economy, religion, ideology, and social relations will be discussed.

ANTH 309. Egypt in the Age of the Pyramids. 3 Hours.

This course begins with the Prehistoric and Predynastic-Early Dynastic roots of Ancient Egypt, and focuses upon the pyramid building age of the Old through Middle Kingdoms, and concludes with the Second Intermediate Period (i.e., Dynasties 1-17: ca. 3200 ¿ 1550 BCE). It will focus broadly on the archaeology, history, art, architecture, religion, and literature of this period. It is designed to stand independently of its companion course imperial and Post-imperial Egypt.

ANTH 310. Imperial and Post-Imperial Egypt. 3 Hours.

This course focuses mainly on Egypt's imperial period, spanning the New Kingdom (Dynasties 18-20: ca. 1550-1150/1069 BCE), and concludes with a shorter overview of the post-imperial period of Egypt's encounters with the Kushite (Nubian), Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, and Persian empires (Dynasties 21-31: ca. 1069-332 BCE). It focuses broadly on the archaeology, history, art, architecture, religion, and literature of this time span and is designed to stand independently of its companion course Egypt in the Age of the Pyramids.

ANTH 318. Economic Development and Indigenous Societies. 3 Hours.

Effects of industrialization on indigenous societies and role of anthropologists in economic development projects.

ANTH 319. Food and Culture. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to present a broad view of the role of food in human culture through time and in a variety of geographic settings, offering students and opportunity to reflect on the cultural meanings of food in human life. Class lectures, assigned readings, and films will be used to enhance each student s understanding of the subject from a cross cultural perspective. We will examine the biological basis of diet, how foodways develop and change, how and why anthropologists study diet, and variations in foodways around the world.

ANTH 329. Egypt: Archeological Field Study. 3-6 Hours.

Two week field school in Egypt. Students will visit Egypt old and new, including Islamic Cairo, Coptic churches, the pyramids of Giza, Alexandria, the tombs and temples of Luxor (Valley of the Kings), Aswan (Abu Simbel), and an archaeological excavation. Experience Egyptian folklore through dance and musical performances.

ANTH 330. Nationalism, Ethnicity, and Religious Violence. 3 Hours.

How do some individuals and communities, even those who have lived in relative peace with neighbors, come to support or engage in violence against others? This is a major question in law and the social sciences, and this course will address it by drawing from contemporary theories and empirical studies of identity, culture, and conflict. Attention will also be given to liberation movements, civil wars, and terrorism.

ANTH 340. Archaeology and History Bible Lands. 3 Hours.

Archaeology and History of the Bible Lands. Examination of region spanning modern Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan from 10,000-585 BC.

ANTH 353. Primatology. 3 Hours.

Biology, behavior, and distribution of living nonhuman primates. Field studies of old-world monkeys and apes.

ANTH 360. Ecological Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Interactions among behavioral, technological, organizations, and ideological features of human cultures that serve to adapt societies to their physical environment.

ANTH 371. Service Learning in Anthropology. 3 Hours.

This is a designated service-learning course integrating academic learning, civic learning and meaningful service to the community.

ANTH 400. Human Osteology. 3 Hours.

This class focused on the identification of human skeletal remains. As a combined laboratory and lecture course it provides the groundwork for much of the work in biological and forensic anthropology.

ANTH 401. Forensic Anthropology. 4 Hours.

Applied human osteology, emphasizing ability to identify age, sex, and population type of skeletal material. Effects of disease and behavior on bones.

ANTH 402. Methods in Peace & Human Rights Research & Practice. 3 Hours.

The study of peace, justice, ecology, and human rights draws on a diverse methodological tool-kit and comprehensive skill-sets. This course introduces students to some of these methods such as using online databases, conducting interviews, text analysis, meta-analyses and literature reviews, participant observation, behavior observation, and content analysis. Concrete examples of research methods and practice reveal the interconnectedness of basic and applied research as well as theory and practice.

ANTH 404. Human Rights, Peace, and Justice. 3 Hours.

This course offers an introductory exploration of theories, concepts, and issues involved in the study of peace, human rights, social justice, and conflict resolution. It considers the relationship of human rights to achieving peace with justice, including the role of international law. It introduces the concepts of positive peace, human security, and global interdependence. Finally, the course includes an examination and critique of anthropological approaches to peace and the associated practical applications to real world conflicts, rights violations, and global challenges.

ANTH 407. Peace Ethology. 3 Hours.

This course provides insights into causes, mechanisms, development, function, and evolution of peaceful behavior in humans and nonhuman animals. The course shows how studying the role of peaceful behavior in the survival and propagation of animal life has direct significance for improving our understanding of the evolved abilities for peace in humans.

ANTH 408. Conflict Resolution in Cross-Cultural Perspective. 3 Hours.

This course explores conflict and conflict management from an anthropological perspective. It includes ethnographic examples from around the globe. Do all societies engage in war? How are conflicts handled in other cultures? The course will challenge a Western view that humans are naturally violent and warlike and consider some interesting anthropological controversies. Specific topics considered include conflict models, origins of war, conflict resolution, socialization of conflict styles, third party mediation, and ways to reduce violence and prevent war.

ANTH 409. Peace through Global Governance. 3 Hours.

Global governance represents a new dimension in social organization. Anthropology has much to contribute to understanding it. Global governance has the potential to promote social progress and human development, the protection of human rights, peace, and human security. The course examines security—-military, collective, and human security—-and the evolution of international identity, norms, values, and laws and their contributions to the development of global civil society.

ANTH 410. Bones. 3 Hours.

This course allows students to critically explore the anthropological sub-discipline of biological anthropology with a focused study of bone, the skeleton, and ways of interpreting skeletal remains. It begins with human osteology and forensic anthropology, including anatomy and historically important methods for determining race/ancestry and sex from the skeleton. Next, it presents comparative anatomy, zooarchaeology, and paleoanthropology to understand how anthropologists use the skeleton to support arguments about animal evolution (including humans and their extinct relatives), and the ways humans fit into and shaped ancient ecosystems.

ANTH 411. Field Archaeology. 3-6 Hours.

Archaeological field and laboratory techniques, including excavation, surveying, and artifact analysis and description; general problems of archaeological interpretation.

ANTH 412. Peaceful Societies and Peace Systems. 3 Hours.

This course explores peaceful societies, some of which are internally peaceful and some of which do not make war, as well as peace systems, that is, clusters of neighboring societies that do not make war on each other and possibly not with any outside groups either. The main questions addressed in the course are: How do peaceful societies and peace systems manage to successfully keep the peace? What lessons do peaceful societies and peace systems hold for creating a less violent and warless world?.

ANTH 413. Peace & Environmental Sustainability. 3 Hours.

By highlighting that ecology sets the stage for the social and economic domains, this course traces our interdependence with nature and makes the case that sustaining the natural conditions that are essential for the functioning of the ecosystem on which our lives depends equals sustaining peace. The course takes a positive peace perspective on environmental sustainability goals and methods to achieve them.

ANTH 414. Prehistory of War and Peace in North America. 3 Hours.

This course explores the origins, development, and consequences of conflict and warfare among the prehistoric and early historic Indigenous cultures of North America, as well as the complimentary processes of cooperation and peace-making. Archaeological, biological, and ethnohistorical sources are utilized to understand the ways in which war and peace were carried out among Native American cultures from the earliest evidence of human occupation to European contact and beyond. Both Indigenous and European practices of war and peace are considered.
Prerequisites: ANTH 101 [Min Grade: C] or ANTH 106 [Min Grade: C]

ANTH 415. Ethnographic Field Methods. 3-6 Hours.

Classroom instruction and practical experience in techniques of ethnographic fieldwork, including participant observation, household surveys, structured and unstructured interviewing, and genealogies.

ANTH 416. War & Peace in Ancient Mesopotamia. 3 Hours.

“War & Peace in Ancient Mesopotamia” (ca. 10,000 - 323 BCE) begins with an introduction to the advent of farming, urban life, various crafts, writing, and other innovations in the region of the "Two Rivers," namely the Tigris and Euphrates' flood plain. It proceeds with the rise and fall of early state complex societies and empires in the Bronze and Iron Ages, and terminates in the Persian period. Although providing much focus on diverse issues dealing with war, alliances, diplomacy, treaties, and peace, this course also integrates a comprehensive background context and overview of other aspects of past societies in this region, including history, archaeology, language, literature, religion, architecture, art, material culture, and trade. The course material is introductory, with no specific prerequisite, but a prior enrollment in either ANTH 245 (Peoples of the Mediterranean), or ANTH 340 (Archaeology & History of Bible Lands), is helpful since these courses introduce past societies from contemporary, adjacent regions frequently in direct contact with Ancient Mesopotamia.

ANTH 417. Anthropology of Peoples and their Dogs. 3 Hours.

This course explores how a comprehensive assessment of the long-term mutualistic relationship between humans and dogs can yield insights and offer ways in which modern global challenges of peace and sustainable development can be approached. The course takes a four-field approach as it discusses the evolution of the domestic dog from its wild ancestor the grey wolf, investigates the archeology of dog domestication, looks into the etymology of words used to describe dogs and the specifics of their bond with humans across multiple cultures, and investigates and describes the origins of modern dog breeds within their relevant cultural context. The emergence of the evolutionary, economic and social relationships between humans and dogs serves as an example of the relationships that exist between humans and all other domestic and wild animals. Dealing with global challenges of peace and sustainable development requires a perspective that not only places humans squarely among other animals, but also considers the shifting relationships between people and all other organisms. The dog-centric and four-field approach of this Anthropology course aims to provide a new model for future academic inquiry and engagement with both local and global peace agendas.

ANTH 418. The Power of Nonviolence. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of nonviolence as a manner of social change and as a philosophy. The course explores some of the classic writings on nonviolence such as those by Tolstoy, Gandhi, and King as well as current research findings on the efficacy of nonviolent social change, for instances, the work of Sharp, Nagler, Ackerman, and Chenoweth. Readings, films, small group and whole class discussions, guest lectures by activists will contribute to an understanding of the necessary skills for practicing and promoting nonviolent social change. Students will develop projects and presentations that utilize an online nonviolence database.

ANTH 419. Religion, Reconciliation, and Forgiveness. 3 Hours.

This course will focus on ethnographic and scientific studies of forgiveness, the role of religion in forgiveness and reconciliation, and the foundational theories of justice and conflict resolution.

ANTH 421. Technological Monitoring of Cultural Resources, Human Rights and Conflict. 3 Hours.

This class will give students an overview of how cultural heritage and humanitarian work intersects with innovation and technological advances. The class will introduce students to how social media, remote sensing technologies/drones, cell phones, open source, crowd sourcing, Big Data, cloud computing, the Internet, and sensors are all changing how we collect data and interpret the world around us, and how that information is revolutionizing cultural preservation efforts as well as humanitarian and conflict monitoring.

ANTH 422. Landscape Archaeology. 3 Hours.

The course will cover the techniques and strategies employed by archaeologists to reconstruct past landscape, which involves scientific testing, remote sensing, GIS, survey, excavation and environmental analysis. Examples will be drawn from projects across diverse landscape types in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Central America and Asia. In-field and laboratory application of techniques will be emphasized.

ANTH 423. Vikings: Raiders, Traders, Farmers. 3 Hours.

The Vikings are most popularly thought of as warriors raiding settlements along the northern coastline of Europe during the Viking Age (ca. 793 – 1050 AD), but their society and activities extended well beyond this scope. This course furnishes an overview of Viking social structure, subsistence, art, architecture, religion, language, and literature. It covers hostile and peaceful interactions with the peoples of Greenland, the Arctic, Labrador and Newfoundland and considers the evidence for Norse explorations and influence in North America.

ANTH 424. Anthropology of Transitional Justice and Human Rights. 3 Hours.

This course centers on anthropological studies of violence, post-conflict justice, and the aftermath of human rights violations. Topics include conceptions of justice, truth-seeking, post-conflict memory and education, reparations, institutional reform, criminal tribunals and hybrid courts, and the intersection of communities in transitional justice and the international human rights system.

ANTH 425. The Law of Historical and Cultural Resources. 3 Hours.

This survey course will familiarize students with federal and state laws and regulations relevant to archaeology and anthropology, such as the Antiquities Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Archeological and Historic Preservation Act (AHPA), Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and among others. It will also introduce students to other legal issues such as obtaining National Register listings, preservation easements and federal income tax rehabilitation credits.
Prerequisites: ANTH 106 [Min Grade: C]

ANTH 426. NAGPRA, Repatriation, and Indigenous Rights. 3 Hours.

Debates over the return of Native American cultural property from university and museum settings across the country lie at the forefront of modern archaeological research in the United States. Central to these debates are critical questions about the rights of Indigenous peoples, the intellectual freedom of researchers, the importance of cultural resource and heritage management, and the history and role of museums today. This seminar course introduces students to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) as federal law and further examines the impacts of this law through a multiplicity of involved perspectives. Class discussions will examine legal, ethical, anthropological, museum, and tribal perspectives, including both the theoretical and practical aspects of NAGPRA compliance and repatriation.
Prerequisites: ANTH 106 [Min Grade: C]

ANTH 427. Archaeological Laboratory Methods. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to the principles and practice of archaeological laboratory research. The goal of the course is to familiarize students with the stages of archaeological research that follow fieldwork and precede publication. Emphasis is placed on practical, hands-on experience in identifying and analyzing archaeological remains, as well as building interpretations of the past through their analysis.
Prerequisites: ANTH 106 [Min Grade: C]

ANTH 428. Drugs and Culture. 3 Hours.

This course takes a cross-cultural perspective on experiences with mind-altering substances. It explores world views about what counts as a ‘drug’ and how drugs fit in with systems of moral judgement and social relationships. Together, we will consider case studies that explore how drugs fit into cultural and social contexts around the world. Specific topics include drug use in human history, drugs in contexts of healing, spirituality, and recreation; addiction, drug production and trade as a form of livelihood, and legality and the War on Drugs (considering drug penalties, public health vs. criminal approaches, social justice & human rights, etc.). We will also examine career contexts where cross-cultural knowledge of drugs would be beneficial.

ANTH 429. Food & Culture. 3 Hours.

The preparation and consumption of food is a human universal, but beliefs about food and how foodways are practiced vary considerably across cultures. Our course examines this variability and uses food as a lens to analyze anthropological topics including gender, the body, ethnicity, identity, class, globalization, mass media, and power. The course evaluates how anthropologists investigate the past, connect it with human complexity and food culture in the present day, and imagine what may lie ahead in humanity’s future.

ANTH 431. Memory and Memorialization. 3 Hours.

This course explores the cognitive and cultural functions of memory, how memories construct the past, and the complex relationship between cultural identity and collective memory. Additional consideration is given to the uses of historical narratives, artifacts, nationalism and national memory, traumatic memory and social amnesia in post-conflict settings, and conflicting narratives over monuments and memorialization.

ANTH 432. Villains, Victims, & Vigilantes. 3 Hours.

This course examines ways in which the concepts of “rights” and “justice” are understood and enacted in local communities, particularly in regions of the world experiencing high rates of violent criminality. Beginning with a review of formal law and legal principles underlying state systems of justice, the course surveys settings in which dissatisfaction with state efforts to protect rights have induced communities to develop alternate policing and judicial institutions.

ANTH 433. Anthropology of Art. 3 Hours.

This course surveys the anthropology of art, focusing on economic, historical, and aesthetic dimensions of Western and non-Western art forms. The course considers the problem of whether “art” is a universal cultural phenomenon and examines cross-cultural aesthetics; form, style, and meaning in multiple cultural contexts; and the convergence of anthropology, art history, museum studies, and the marketing of culture. The course concludes with a brief discussion of contemporary art practices with respect to expressive culture and considers the power of art as it relates to knowledge, language, and culture.

ANTH 434. Observing the Earth from Space. 3 Hours.

The course will give students the ability to analyze remotely sensed data from satellite images as part of the newly established Joint Programs for Remote Sensing and Health. Students will learn about the physics and mathematics behind remote sensing. They will also learn about wide range of satellite images and techniques to analyze them via ERDAS Imagine, ER Mapper and other programs. Applications of remote sensing to a variety of fields will form a key component of the class. The course will culminate in a term project involving remote sensing applications to the UAB faculty-led initiatives in health, medicine, geography and anthropology. There will be a weekly lab component of the course.

ANTH 436. Anthropology Internship. 3-6 Hours.

Application of anthropological approaches in a professional setting.

ANTH 437. Real World Remote Sensing Applications. 3 Hours.

This course will be offered as a research seminar focusing on real world applications of remote sensing technology. Students will work closely with UAB professors and scientists at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville doing original remote sensing research on new satellite datasets. These datasets cover diverse areas including terrorism, global warming, health, anthropology / archaeology, atmospheric studies, urban expansion and coastal management. Students will be responsible for analyzing the satellite imagery and presenting papers to NASA.

ANTH 438. The Conquest of Mexico. 3 Hours.

This course examines the Spanish conquest of Mexico from both Spanish and indigenous perspectives. It further surveys the institutionalization of Spanish control over the fallen Aztec Empire the broader intellectual and material consequences of the conquest.

ANTH 439. Ethnography of Mexico. 3 Hours.

Survey of the incorporation of rural Mexican communities into the country's devloping industrial economy.

ANTH 441. Anthropology of Human Rights. 3 Hours.

Examination of conceptual, political, and legal aspects of human rights from an anthropological perspective. Topics considered may include: state violence; the history of human rights claims; the opposition of cultural rights and human rights claim; human rights as a form of political discourse; human rights practices in select contemporary settings.

ANTH 442. Historical Archaeology. 3 Hours.

This course involves all stages of archaeological filed work at a historical archaeology site. Students will learn survey skills, excavation, mapping, recovery, and post-field analysis techniques.

ANTH 443. Propaganda, Fake News, and Hate Speech. 3 Hours.

The course draws from anthropology to understand how misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech interact with culture, politics, and public discourse, and ultimately influence individual decision-making. The course also makes connections to human rights, peace studies, and law to explore contemporary challenges regarding speech freedoms, prohibitions against hate speech, international speech crime trials, and current measures taken by social media companies, courts, and governmental agencies to regulate speech online.

ANTH 444. Theories of Anthropology. 3 Hours.

This course provides an overview of the discipline and theories of anthropology, taking into consideration perspectives from the classic four anthropological sub-disciplines. It is intended for students entering the UAB graduate program who do not have a strong background in the four sub-fields of anthropology. Concepts and theory are covered in cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology.

ANTH 445. Medical Anthropology & Health Disparities. 3 Hours.

This course explores the bio-cultural basis of health and cross-cultural variation in illness and healing which includes theoretical bases of medical anthropology, comparative health care systems, and social, political, and economic issues related to health care delivery around the globe.

ANTH 446. Explorers, Mummies and Hieroglyphs. 3 Hours.

This course provides a thematic approach to pharaonic Egypt in general, with one portion covering diverse aspects such as geography, an overview of the history of Dynasties 1-31, society and government, daily religion, mortuary religion, architecture, literature, the military, trade, economy, and daily life. Another portion of the course provides several documentaries regarding early to more recent explorers and Egyptologists (e.g., Belzoni; Champollion; Petrie; Carter; modern Egyptology) with written responses. The third part introduces Egyptian hieroglyphs in eight grammar classes and follow-up user-friendly, in-class exercises, aiming to enable students to translate basic hieroglyphic texts.

ANTH 447. Advanced Peace Studies. 3 Hours.

Intensive exploration of concepts and issues involved in the study of peace, social justice, nonviolence, and conflict resolution. Students will engage in an in-depth examination and critique of anthropological approaches to peace and the associated theoretical and practical problems and applications. ANTH 104 (Introduction to Peace Studies) is recommended before taking this class, but not required.

ANTH 448. Cleopatra’s World: Alexander to Caesar. 3 Hours.

“Cleopatra’s World: Alexander to Caesar” (ca. 359–31 BCE) begins with an overview to the geographical and political setting in the Mediterranean prior to and during the Hellenistic period. It proceeds with a historical summary of the reigns of Philip II and Alexander the Great (including the Macedonian defeat of the Persian Empire). It continues with the Macedonian-Ptolemaic kingdom in Egypt and surrounding regions (touching upon the fight for the succession to Alexander’s empire, the formation of Hellenistic kingdoms, the foundation of Ptolemaic Egypt and Alexandria, and the end of Ptolemaic Egypt, particularly Cleopatra VII, Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony, and Octavian [Augustus]). After furnishing the historical background to key Ptolemaic rulers, the course proceeds with covering various themes, including Ptolemaic kingship, society in Egypt (especially Greeks versus Egyptians), settlements (including the foundation and nature of Alexandria and other key Greek and Egyptian settlements), agriculture, mines, and the economy, religion (including tombs, temples, beliefs, and practices), art and architecture, the military (army and navy), and other aspects (e.g., the Meroitic Empire; late Roman Republic).

ANTH 450. Advanced Cultural Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Critical review of theoretical approaches in cultural anthropology.

ANTH 451. Archaeological Ethics and Theory. 3 Hours.

This course examines the theoretical approaches of 20th century archaeology: historical, processual, and post-processual. This reading intensive seminar is focused on theory and its impact on practice and the development of the subdiscipline of archaeology relative to anthropology.

ANTH 452. Advanced Linguistic Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Historical development of theory and field practice of linguistics; acquisition, sociolinguistics, nonverbal communication, semiotics, and ethnosemantics; applied linguistics.
Prerequisites: ANTH 120 [Min Grade: C]

ANTH 453. Advanced Biological Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Human evolution and primatology; race; human genetics. Tasks performed by physical anthropologists.
Prerequisites: ANTH 102 [Min Grade: D]

ANTH 454. Biological Anthropology and Contemporary Issues. 3 Hours.

This course applies a biological anthropological perspective to explore what it means to be human and to develop critical perspectives on our culture, science, and media. How did humanity arrive in its current position? How do we understand human diversity? What can we learn from the differences among people, their overwhelming biological similarity, and their common humanity? How do we use this knowledge to build a sustainable future for ourselves?.

ANTH 455. Archaeology of Alabama and the Southeast. 3 Hours.

This course explores the archaeology of Alabama and adjacent areas of the Southeastern United States, spanning some 13,000 years of human history. Students will be introduced to the fascinating diversity of past Indigenous cultures of the Southeast, from big game hunters of the Ice Age to mobile foraging groups to the rise of large, complex chiefdoms. Numerous case studies, presented in both instructor and student led discussions, will be employed to demonstrate how archaeologists use the archaeological record to make interpretations about the lives of past peoples throughout the ancient Southeast.

ANTH 456. Current Issues in Cultural Heritage. 3 Hours.

Students will be taken around the world, and under the ocean, delving into the most pressing issues around cultural heritage: war, climate change, propaganda, media, tourism, politics, colonialism, and economics. Students will get hands on experience working through current projects and will design their own cultural heritage site management plan. This class will prepare students to think critically about numerous issues impacting cultural heritage today.

ANTH 457. Anthropology of Gender. 3 Hours.

This course examines the cultural construction of gendered identities and lived experiences. We will examine the history of feminist theory in anthropology as well as cross-cultural comparative anthropological approaches to current topics in gender and sexuality studies.

ANTH 458. Human Sexuality. 3 Hours.

This course will explore human sexuality and gender from an anthropological perspective, including biological and cultural perspectives, as well as the areas where anthropology meets psychology. The evolution of sexual behavior in humans and in non-human primates will be examined, as well as how sexuality is embedded in socio-cultural context both across and within societies.

ANTH 459. Politics, Drugs and Society in Latin America. 3 Hours.

This course will examine the role of drug production and the drug trade in the economic and political life of Latin American societies. Viewed historically and ethnographically, the course will include coverate of the traditional uses of drugs in indigenous societies as well as the more recent globalization of the industry.

ANTH 461. Environment and Health. 3 Hours.

This course engages students in critically examining anthropological perspectives on the relationship between the biophysical environment and human physical health, with an emphasis on practical and theoretical approaches to contemporary environmental health challenges in the contexts of disease, food production, natural disasters, radioactivity and toxicity, urban environments, mental health, and social inequalities. The course includes consideration of positive ways forward.

ANTH 463. Technical Writing for Archaeology. 3 Hours.

This course will familiarize students with the structure, style, and requirements for writing Cultural Resource Management (CRM) reports for archaeological sites. Students will learn how to interpret archaeological data from CRM excavated sites and translate that data into detailed and specifically formatted reports based on laws and regulations regarding archaeological sites. Students will also practice making archaeological knowledge more accessible to the non-archaeologist.

ANTH 464. Political Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Individuals and associations of individuals in all societies variously compete and cooperate in the course of daily life. This course will draw upon the global inventory of ethnographic information to examine these political processes. Whereas the causes of socio-political competition and cooperation vary widely from one culture to the next, socio-political competition and cooperation are nevertheless universal facts of life for individuals living in a society.

ANTH 467. Museum Studies. 3 Hours.

Designed for students interested in museums and museum-related careers, this course introduces the field of museum studies, with a focus on anthropology and natural history museums. This course uses case studies, guest lectures and field trips, hands-on collections work, and problem-based learning exercises to demonstrate real-world museums work to students. Topics covered include museum legal and ethical guidelines, standard collections care, organization and display of exhibits, and collaboration with museum communities and visitors, as well as key contemporary issues such as contested rights to collections and the representation and interpretation of cultures in museum settings.

ANTH 468. Comparative Religion. 3 Hours.

Surveys the world’s major religious traditions. Identifies culturally relative meanings and ritual practices associated with the sacred, including supernatural agency, witchcraft, cults, magic, myths, taboos, moral obligations, and spiritual authorities. Examines ethnographic case studies of particular religious practices to explore theories of religion and their evolution.

ANTH 483. Intern in Peace, Justice and Environmental Study. 1-3 Hour.

Individually designed program that places students in local environmental organizations, divisions of local businesses or government, or special projects to gain professional experience in preparation for careers focused on peace, social justice, and/or environment.

ANTH 486. Special Problems in Applied Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Supervised study of specified topic area; defined problem explored in depth; topics determined by student and instructor interest.

ANTH 487. Special Problems in Peace Research. 1-3 Hour.

Supervised study of specified topic area in peace studies; defined problem explored in depth. Topics are determined by student and instructor interest.

ANTH 488. Special Problems in Human Rights. 1-3 Hour.

Supervised study of specified topic area in Human Rights; defined problem explored in depth. Topics are determined by student and instructor interest.

ANTH 490. Special Problems in Cultural Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Supervised study of specified topic area; defined problem explored in depth; topics determined by student and instructor interest.

ANTH 492. Special Problems in Archaeology. 3,6 Hours.

Supervised in-depth study of specified topic area in archaeology. Topics determined by student and instructor interest.

ANTH 493. Anthropology Capstone. 3 Hours.

The capstone in anthropology will engage students in scientific research, hands-on-learning, teaching, and public outreach. The course will include the development of teaching tools (multimedia teaching kits, designed and created by students) and materials used in outreach activities such as the creation of posters, information posters, videos, websites and other digital platforms. The course is designed for anthropology students to synthesize and apply anthropological knowledge and to provide research-driven experiences in public and academic communication and outreach. Students research projects will combine two of the four fields of anthropology to illustrate the holistic approach of anthropology.

ANTH 494. Special Problems in Linguistics. 3 Hours.

Supervised in-depth study of specified topic area in linguistics. Topics determined by student and instructor interest.

ANTH 496. Special Problems in Biological Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Supervised, in-depth study of specified topic area in biological anthropology. Topic determined by student and instructor interest.

ANTH 497. Special Topics in Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Topics vary. See class schedule for topic.

ANTH 498. Honors Thesis Research. 3-6 Hours.

Independent development of research project.