Anthropology

(Sociology and Anthropology Department)

Henderson Learning Center
Room 218
(785) 231-1010 ext. 1608

Course Offerings

 

 

 

Courses marked with </ are part of the University's General Education program

</AN 112 Cultural Anthropology (3)
A nontechnical survey of the diversity of human culture, including: technoenvironmental adaptation, social and political organization, belief systems and aesthetics.

AN 114 Introduction to Archaeology (3)
The course introduces the data and theory of archaeological science. Drawing on selected examples from world prehistory, the course examines excavation techniques, dating methods, and procedures for reconstructing the artifacts, skeletal remains and events of prehistory.

</AN 120 / MU 106 Introduction to World Music (3)
A survey of music from cultures around the world from musical and anthropological perspectives. *This course has been approved as a multi-cultural course by the Department of Education.

AN 207 / SO 207 Race & Ethnic Group Relations (3)
How racial and ethnic group contacts are resolved, including expulsion, annihilation, segregation, assimilation and pluralism. Social power and intergroup conflict are emphasized. A major segment is devoted to discrimination and racism in the United States. Prerequisite: SO 100 or AN 112.

AN 225 Kansas Archaeology (3)
The archaeological record in Kansas with consideration of the ethno-historic period. Archaeological techniques will be demonstrated and field trips will be taken when weather permits. Prerequisite: AN 112 or 303.

AN 300 Special Topics in Anthropology (1-3)
Topics will vary from semester to semester and will be announced in advance. May be taken for more than one semester. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

AN 302 / SO 302 Culture and Human Sexuality (3)
A theoretical and empirical survey of human sexual beliefs and activities in selected Western and non-western cultures. Prerequisite: AN 112 or SO 100 or consent of instructor.

AN 303 Human Prehistory (3)
A nontechnical survey of human primate background, fossil primates and fossil humans, and the growth and differentiation of human cultures from the earliest beginning to the development of civilization. Prerequisite: AN 112 or 114.

AN 304 / S0 304 The Family (3)
Changes that have occurred in definitions of family and family functions, the effects of the changes on status and roles of family members, and family disorganization, with emphasis placed on the United States family and families in non-western societies. Prerequisite: SO 100 or AN 112.

AN 311 Primate Social Patterns (3)
A comparative study of primate and social structures, emphasizing free-ranging baboon, chimpanzee, and gorilla societies. The course will also survey recent laboratory primate research and will also include observational studies at the local zoo.

AN 312 / S0 312 Culture, Health and Illness (3)
Sociocultural causes of illness; health care delivery systems, patient-practitioner relationships; prevention of illness. Prerequisite: SO 100 or AN 112 or consent of instructor.

AN 313 Religion, Magic and Witchcraft (3)
A cross-cultural examination of the many ways in which human beings have conceived of the “supernatural”, including magic or religious beliefs and practices in both the non-Western and Western worlds. Major theories about the origins and social functions of such beliefs and practices will be explored. Prerequisite: AN 112 or consent.

AN 317 / S0 317 Peoples & Cultures of Africa (3)
A survey of the indigenous cultures and societies of Africa through the study of kinship, politics, economics, religion and contemporary socio-cultural change. Prerequisite: AN 112 or consent.

AN 318 North American Archaeology (3)
A non-technical survey course about the diversity of human experiences in North America form earliest settlement on this continent to the present time. The course will also provide an opportunity to investigate ancient tool making techniques. Prerequisite: AN 112 or AN 114 or consent of instructor.

AN 319 North American Indians (3)
Selected North American Indian cultures from Mexico to Alaska. Includes the major culture areas of North America, such as the American Plains Indians, Pueblos, Eskimo, Northeast Woodlands, Southeast, and contemporary Mexican. Prerequisite: AN 112.

AN 320 Maya and Aztec Civilizations (3)
The high civilizations of Mesoamerica including Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Inca and other cultures. Emphasis is placed on their development and demise and their effect on the remainder of the pre-Columbian world. Prerequisite: AN 112 or 303 or consent of instructor.

AN 321 Anthropology of Women (3)
The roles and statuses of women around the world are examined in the three sub-systems of culture-material, social and ideational- including in-depth studies of women in horticultural, peasant, and modern societies. Prerequisite: AN 112 or consent of instructor.

AN 322 Peoples & Cultures: Anthropology Thru Film (3)
Historical and modern cultures of the world. Selected cultural examples will be analyzed in terms of various theoretical approaches. Prerequisite: AN 112.

AN 323 / SO 323 The City and Urban Life (3)
Comparative study of the origin and development of cities. Focuses on processes of development, rural-urban migration, interrelationships between people, urban cultures, social institutions, use of space and competing theoretical perspectives. Examines Latin American, African, European as well as American cities. Prerequisite: AN 112, SO 100, or consent.

AN 324 History and Theory of Anthropology (3)
The course explores the development of key themes in anthropology, such as the origins of the human species, the “nature-nurture” debate, the sources of cultural diversity, and the direction of social change. The approaches of various influential thinkers are compared and contrasted, and the major current “schools of thought” are clarified. One of two capstone courses required of Anthropology majors. Prerequisite: declared major, junior/senior standing, or consent.

AN 326 / S0 326 Aging and Society (3)
The social position of the aged, paying particular attention to American society, using historical and cross-cultural considerations. The situation and problems of older persons will be examined from the vantage point of sociological theories of aging and related empirical studies. Prerequisites: SO 100 or consent of instructor.

AN 333 Culture and Personality (3)
Cultural, social and psychological dimensions of significant relationships that affect personality development. Attention will be given to cross-cultural studies of personality. Prerequisite: SO 100 and AN 112; PY 100.

AN 335 Applied Anthropology (3)
Uses of anthropology in, the modern world, and its relationship to planned cultural change. Prerequisite: SO 100, AN 112, or consent.

AN 336 Work & Life in a Changing Economy (3)
An examination of changes now taking place in economic life around the world and their impact upon employers, workers, and consumers. Topics include workplace unrest, the “global assembly line”, the impact of multinational corporations, and practical ethical problems raised by international marketing and management. Prerequisite: AN 112 or consent.

AN 337 Creativity &Society: Anthropology & “The Arts” (3)
An exploration of the relationship between the artist, “the arts”, and the wider society. Considers what constitutes “creativity” in different cultures, how the artist’s role varies, and the social functions served by visual art, music, literature, dance, drama, and other expressive forms. Cases are drawn from a wide range of culture, including the contemporary U.S. Prerequisite: AN 112 or consent.

AN 338 Advanced Social Problems: Strategies for Change (3)
This course examines possible solutions to major contemporary social problems, including poverty, racism, sexism, educational inequality, and environmental abuse. Theories of social change are explored and alternative futures for American society are considered. Prerequisite: SO 100, 101, or consent.

AN 340 Childhood and Society (3)
A cross-cultural survey of how the phenomenon of "childhood" is defined, viewed, and experienced in various societies around the world. Prerequisite: AN 112.

AN 361 Supervised Study (1-3)
Under supervision, Anthropology majors may undertake a research project or undertake extensive reading in some aspects of the discipline or engage in a field experience. Prerequisite: declared major, junior /senior standing and consent. May be elected twice for a maximum of three hours.

AN 362 / SO 362 Methods of Social Research (3)
Specific research techniques employed by Sociologists, Anthropologists, and other social scientists are considered, including polls and surveys, the interview and participant observation. Each student will complete an outside project. One of two capstone courses required of Anthropology majors. Prerequisite: declared major, junior/senior standing, 12 hours of Anthropology or consent.

AN 363 Internship (1-3)
Field training to provide students with experience in an operational or research setting through assignment to local social agencies or museums approved and supervised by a faculty member. Prerequisite: declared major, senior standing and consent. May be elected twice for a maximum of three hours.

AN 368 Experimental Archaeology (3)
The course is designed as a technical analysis of material culture including lithic technology, artifact reproduction and lifestyle reconstruction. Prerequisite: AN 112 or 114 or consent.

AN 372 Archaeological Field School (1-6)
Field experience in excavation procedure, laboratory preparation and artifact analysis. Offerings include classroom instruction in regional and site prehistory. Prerequisite: AN 112 and 114 or consent.

AN 400 Special Topics in Anthropology (3)
Topics will vary from semester to semester and will be announced in advance. May be taken for more than one semester. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

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