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Anthropology Program Information
 
 
PROGRAM OF STUDY
 
Anthropology provides a special means of understanding people and their cultures. As a formal body of study, anthropology considers such diverse fields as genetics, peoples' physical makeup, culture-conditioned personality, language and language of development, and cultural, social, and political adaptation as well as change among groups as different as bands of mobile hunter-gatherers, sedentary Hawaiian chiefdoms, and modern industrial states. Time poses no limitations for anthropology. Anthropologists study prehistoric peoples and emergent literate civilizations, as well as contemporary and, yes, even future societies. Geography poses no limitations on anthropology either. Its stage is global and timeless.
 
CURRICULUM DESCRIPTION
 
The anthropology curriculum at UL Lafayette offers an array of courses representing the areas of physical anthropology, archaeology and cultural anthropology. In order to obtain this degree, students must take 30 hours in anthropology and must also earn an 18 hour "minor" in another field (such as geology, sociology, psychology or biology) that is in some way related to anthropology or the student's career interests. The curriculum also requires courses in such areas as math, English, modern language, history, behavioral science, computer science, the arts, statistics and biological and physical sciences.
 
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
 
A complete listing of course requirements is available in PDF.
(open PDF in free Adobe Reader to view or print course requirements)
 
2005-2007 / 2007-2009 / 2009-2011
 
COURSE OFFERINGS
 
201.  Cultural Anthropology. (3, 0, 3). Introduction to basic concepts, methods, typologies, and issues in the study of cultural systems.  Fa, Sp.

202.  Physical Anthropology. (3, 0, 3).
Introduction to human variation and evolution.  Topics include evolutionary theory, nonhuman primates, and fossil evidence for human evolution.  Fa.

203.  World Archaeology. (3, 0, 3). 
Survey of human prehistory from the perspective of anthropological archaeology.  The emergence of modern humans, Paleolithic foragers, and postglacial migrations are examined, including major environmental, technological, and cultural developments.  Residential mobility, sedentism, the origins of agriculture, urbanization, social stratification, and the development of archaic states.  Sp.

303.  Archaeology. (3, 0, 3).
An introduction to method and theory in American archaeology.  Fa, Sp.

304.  Primatology. (3, 0, 3).
Evolution, anatomy, and behavior of nonhuman primates. Applications to human biocultural evolution are discussed. Lectures supplemented with audiovisuals and skeletal material. Fa. Prereq: Junior classification or permission of instructor.

305.  Anthropology and Religion. (3, 0, 3)
. World views in folk societies, emphasizing religion and sacred beliefs.  Integration of these beliefs with other areas of culture. Prereq: SOCI 100 or ANTH 201.

310.  Human Variation and Adaptation. (3, 0, 3).
Examination of biological differences within and between human populations from an evolutionary perspective. Emphasis on the environmental, hereditary, and cultural bases for this diversity.  Topics include adaptation to high altitude, temperature, and solar radiation, as well as susceptibility to diseases and nutritional disorders. Sp. Prereq: Junior classification or permission of instructor.

375.  Old World PreHistory. (3, 0, 3).
Prehistory of the Old World from the time of earliest man to the beginnings of civilization. Sp.

385.  North American Prehistory. (3, 0, 3).
Prehistory of North America from the time of continental peopling until the arrival of Europeans. Fa.

386.  North American Indians.. (3, 0, 3).
Introduction to the ethnology of the Native Americans living north of Mexico. Emphasis placed on the Indians of the Southeastern United States. Sp.

To enroll in any 400-level course, students must be admitted to the Upper Division; to enroll in a 400(G)-level course in which there are graduate students, students must have junior or higher standing.

425.  Peoples of Africa. (3, 0, 3). Overview of cultural diversity in Africa from an historical perspective.  Prereq: Junior classification or permission of instructor, and SOCI 100 or ANTH 201.

430.  Forensic Anthropology. (3, 0, 3).
  An examination of archaeological and bioanthropological techniques used in forensic investigations to recover and analyze human skeletal remains.  Topics include search and recovery techniques, and laboratory methods used to determine postmortem interval, age, gender, ethnic background, and personal identification.  Prereq:  Junior classification and permission of the instructor.

450.  Indians of Louisiana. (3, 0, 3).
Prehistory, ethnohistory, and current anthropology of Louisiana's native peoples.  Sp. Prereq: Junior classification or permission of instructor.

454(G).  Gender Across Cultures. (3, 0, 3).
Application of social definitions of appropriate and inappropriate thought, feeling, behavior, and appearance on various gender categories.  Emphasis on multiple cultures and contexts.  {Same as SOCI 454(G)}.  Sp.  Prereq: ANTH 201.  Restr: If prerequisite not met permission of instructor is required.

460.  Medical Anthropology. (3, 0, 3). An examination of biological and cultural adaptations to disease stress.  Topics covered include biological variation, nutritional anthropology, traditional medical systems (ethnomedicine), and the history of human diseases (paleopathology).

480(G). Cultural Resource Management. (3,0,3)
Critical introduction to applied anthropological perspectives and practices in contemporary society. Methods, techniques, theoretical perspectives, legislation, and regulations fundamental to the interdisciplinary field of CRM, especially public archaelogy and heritage conservation.

490(G).  Archaeology Field School. (1, 9, 6). The field experience in archaeology.  Training in actual excavation and field laboratory methods at area archaeological sites.  Prereq:  Permission of instructor.

491(G).  Research in Cultural Anthropology. (3, 0, 3).
Practical introduction to research methods in cultural anthropology.  Emphasis on field work techniques and independent fieldwork investigation of social and cultural patterns.  Prereq:  Junior or senior standing and permission of instructor.

493(G).  Seminar in Anthropology. (3, 0, 3).
Examination of topics in archaeology or in cultural or physical anthropology.  Variable content, may be repeated for credit.  Restr:  permission of instructor required.

497(G)-498(G).  Special Projects in Anthropology I, II. (3 ea.). Independent research or reading in cultural or physical anthropology or archaeology, directed by selected faculty. Prereq: Approval of instructors and department head required.

499(G).  Archaeological Records. (0, 6, 3).
Preparation, management, and curation of technical records resulting from archaeological field work.  Su. Prereq:  Permission of instructor. Coreq:  ANTH 490(G).
 
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
 
Learn about potential career paths and prospective employers.
 
FURTHER INFORMATION
 
Department of Sociology/Anthropology/Child & Family Studies
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
P. O. Box 40198
Lafayette, LA 70504-0198

Office located in Mouton Hall, Room 220
Phone: (337) 482-6044
Fax: (337) 482-5374
Email: handy@louisiana.edu

Web Site: http://soci-anth.louisiana.edu/
 

Document last revised Thursday, June 18, 2009 12:45 PM

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College of Liberal Arts, P.O. Box 40397, Lafayette LA 70504
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