University of Missouri - Kansas City : Anthropology (ANTHRO)

An introduction to culture and the basic concepts of anthropology. Topics include kinship, language, and cultural change. Also offered as SOCIOL 103. Offered: Fall/Winter.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 202 R Social Organization

This course focuses on the principles of social organization that undergird all human societies: social groups; age and gender differences; the institutions of family, economy, religion and polity; power; community and other units of residence; and social differentiation based on such factors as wealth and/or prestige. The focus of analysis is on the maintenance of social order, social change, and integration of society. Crosslisted with SOCIOL 202R. Prerequisite: SOCIOL 101. Offered: Every semester.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 205 The Social Life of Things

This course examines the ways anthropologists have studied the connections between people and things. It explores how social relationships are created and changed through the use and exchange of objects, and how objects themselves take on particular meanings and histories in these processes. In questioning the relationship between material culture and human sociality, the course will expose students to a range of ethnographic and historical case studies, as well as introduce them to some core theoretical perspectives and debates within anthropology

3 hrs

ANTHRO 207 Writing Culture: The Craft of Ethnography

This course will explore the contexts in which powerful social groups learn, talk, and write about less powerful groups. The course material will explore how the identities and biases of anthropologists condition how they perceive, analyze, and represent others. Students will compare changes in ethnographic methods, theories, and styles across time and geography.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 212 Global Health

This course will use the lens of critical medical anthropology to analyze the sources of poor health outcomes, health disparities, and the global impacts of health policy. Students will explore the connections between population health and other aspects of social life, such as power, inequality, war, and economics, exploring the ways in which globalization and the privatization of health creates conditions that facilitate disease.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 300 Special Topics In Anthropology

1-3 hrs

ANTHRO 300 CL Cluster Course: Introduction To Women'S Studies

3 hrs

ANTHRO 300 R Special Topics In Anthropology

Each time this course is offered, a different area of anthropology, to be announced, will be examined. Also offered as SOCIOL 300R.

1-3 hrs

ANTHRO 300 Special Topics In Anthropology

1-3 hrs

ANTHRO 300 RF Special Topics In Anthropology

1-3 hrs

ANTHRO 300 RV Special Topics In Anthropology

1-3 hrs

ANTHRO 300 Special Topics in Anthropology

1-3 hrs

ANTHRO 300 Special Topics In Anthropology

1-3 hrs

ANTHRO 302 Social Stratification

The distribution of power, privileges and prestige are examined in a historical and comparative perspective. The process whereby distribution systems develop, become institutionalized, and become transformed are analyzed. Also offered as SOCIOL 302. Offered: Fall

3 hrs

ANTHRO 303 Cluster Course: Terrorism, Civil War and Trauma

This interdisciplinary course examines the modern experience of terrorism and civil war in the light of art, film, history, literature, and philosophy. It explores a number of traumatic events, historic and contemporary, challenging us to think about such contemporary issues as violence and identity formation, civil rights and state-sponsored terrorism, pacifism and patriotism, resistance and collaboration, fundamentalism and fascism, neo-colonialism and anti-imperialism. Cross-listed with ENGLISH 300CN.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 305 Language and Culture

This course is designed to familiarize students with the basic objects, aims, and methods of linguistic anthropology. Students will acquire this familiarity by studying both theoretical and ethnographic articles that focus on some of the major areas of concern within the field including: the evolution of human language, linguistic particularity and universality, the relationship of language to thought, structuralism and semiotics, trope theory, language and emotion, sociolinguistics, the development of writing systems, and language conservation and change.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 306 Culture, Emotion, and Identity

This course introduces students to some of the key theoretical perspectives and debates within the field of psychological anthropology. By drawing upon cross-cultural studies of emotion, personhood, sexuality, illness, and consciousness it seeks to understand some of the ways that culture and society influence human psychology and experience.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 314 Anthropology of Gender

This class explores theories of the social construction of gender in cross-cultural contexts. It will also explore global issues of local and international politics, the economy, work and education as these relate to gender.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 322 Race And Ethnic Relations

The nature, origin and dynamics of ethnic and race relations in the U. S. and other societies. Specific attention will be given to the historical and contemporary contexts of prejudice, discrimination and confrontation. Also offered as Soc 322. Offered: Fall/Winter.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 324 Diversity And You

This course will examine diversity from the perspectives of race, ethnicity, class and gender. Emphasis will be placed on the impact of racism, classism and sexism on interpersonal relationships and strategies to encourage diversity in schools, neighborhoods, and the work place. Students may also enroll in "directed research" in conjunction with his course.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 327 Us Government's Indian Policies: Practices Of A Colonizing Nation

This class will convey information about the implementation of US Government policies, from treaty making, establishing reservations, removing, confronting tribes militarily, and abolishing reservations through allotment resulted in consequences detrimental to tribal welfare. The colonization process created ramifications and consequences that Indian people contend with to this day. This class will provide a historical overview of the consequences associated with political, social, and economic processes that divested Indian people of control over their lives and land they originally lived on. Also cross listed as SOCIOL 323.

1 hr

ANTHRO 328 Anthropology Of The Body

The Anthropology of the Body is an interdisciplinary and comparative approach to the study of the body as the subject and object of social processes. Anthropological approaches to ritual, performance, reproduction, and healing will provide a framework for classical as well as contemporary explorations of bodily representation and experiences across a variety of cultural contexts. Prerequisite: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

3 hrs

ANTHRO 329 The Imagery Of The American Indian In Film

This course will trace the imagery of the American Indian used by film makers through the years and how this has played a role in reinforcing certain inaccurate perceptions of American Indian cultural, social, and economic life. The course examines the sociological implications created by persistently showing misrepresented imagtes of American Indians. The goal is to measure and compare the reality of American Indian life (values, traditions, and beliefs) with the images created by film makers from the early years of the 20th century to the present. Also cross listed as SOCIOL 325

1 hr

ANTHRO 331 Urban Anthropology

A course designed to apply anthropological methods to the study of various urban environments. The approach to the subject is comparative, seeking to spell out those features of the urban setting which vary from culture to culture as well as those which are common to all. Also offered as SOCIOL 331.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 339 American Indian Leaders: Past And Present

This course will examine the definition of leadership as it relates to American Indian issues. Consideration will be given to the nuances of leadership by examining the social, cultural, economic, and political situations that gave cause for particular individuals to assume roles of leadership. The course will compare and contrast the notions of leadership within American Indian ranks with those practiced by non-indian leaders. It will trace the evolving nature of leadership within tribal nations and American Indian communitites from past to present, as well as looking at indian leadership roles in time of war and peace. Lives of the major characters of American Indian historical record will be reviewed, such as Geronimo, Crazy horse, Sitting Bull, Osceola, Tecumseh, Pontiac, Black Hawk, Quannah Parker, and Captain Jack. Alsoc cross listed as SOCIOL 326

1 hr

ANTHRO 341 R The Anthropology Of Economic Institutions

Examines in a comparative perspective the social, cultural and political framework of economic activities. Emphasis is placed on socioeconomic systems and the contradictions they generate. Crosslisted with SOCIOL 341R.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 343 Societies And Cultures Of Latin America

A survey of emerging cultures and societies in Latin America; pre-history and geography; the Mayan, the Aztec and Incan civilizations; contemporary Indian, peasant and urban subcultures; the impact of forces such as migration, urbanization, peasant mobilization, and agrarian reform. Also offered as SOCIOL 343.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 346 Cultures Of The African Diaspora

This course will explore the cultures of African people and their descendents who settled in Europe, the Caribbean or the Americas due primarily to the impact of the Trans-Atlantic trade in human beings. The focus will be comparative, with emphasis on cultural adaptation, kinship systems, music and religion.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 347 The American Indian Image: Stereotype Vs. Reality

This class will take a historical, sociological, and cultural approach to review how society at large views American Indians. The course will trace the origin and continued use of American Indian stereotyped views, and assess the socialogical and psychological complications that result when judging indians solely on stereotyped imagery. The course will review the historical content of American Indian life as portrayed in early plays, films, and newspaper accounts and compare these stereotyped images with the reality of American Indian life by providing a depiction of a series of historical events that will offer a more balanced and accurate consideration for American Indian life past and present. Also cross listed as SOCIOL 324.

1 hr

ANTHRO 348 Latin American Immigrants & Refugees in the U.S.

The course is an introduction to the study of the culture and societies of U.S. citizens and immigrants of Latin American heritage living in the U.S. The course emphasizes recent anthropological as well as historical and cultural studies. Topics covered: ethnohistory, kinship, labor, intergenerational relations, gender transnationalism and immigration and cultural diffusion over successive generations.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 373 Anthropology of Religion

This course explores the ways anthropologist have gone about studying religion from the opening decades of the 20th century to present. The course introduces students to the diversity of human religious expression and experience through anthropological literature and to the diversity of anthropological expression especially as it has been revealed in social scientific studies of religious life. The course is designed to generate a critical dialogue about the special role that religion has played in the ongoing anthropological engagement with "other" societies and cultures over time.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 374 Anthropology of Childhood

This course explores how children's lives are shaped by cultural, economic, and political forces and relations. Drawing upon a range of case studies and disciplinary perspectives it will consider how and why children emerge as sites of contestation and debate, and it will examine the various ways in which the category and experience of childhood unfold in different socio-historical contexts. The main objective of the course is to better understand the social construction of childhood and use the study of childhood as a privileged window for exploring the articulation of cultural, economic and political relations within the context of contemporary global society.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 381 Archaeological Resources Management

This class examines contemporary issues managing archaeological resources. The class is intended for students seeking work in Cultural Resources Management (CRM); those already working CRM, or student anthropology, environmental studies, geology, geography, public administration and other fields likely to deal with archaeological and historical resources in a research or employment setting. This class does not require a background in archaeology. Cross-listed with GEOLOGY 407.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 382 Archaeological Field Survey Methods

This class offers instruction in the basic skills required to conduct field surveys in archaeology and other geosciences disciplines. In the classroom, students learn about the development of archaeology as a scientific discipline and how to recognize some of the basic field data sought by archaeologists. Students learn about mapping and land navigation techniques. The field phase of instruction includes visits to archaeological sites in the region. Cross-listed with GEOLOGY 408.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 383 Field School in Archaeology

This class offers students an opportunity to attend a field school in archaeology. Students will be taught how to: design archaeological research, set-up excavation, keep a wide range of excavation records, make maps and drawings, take photographs related to excavation problems, identify and receiver a broad spectrum of artifact and faunal remains, collect samples for specialized analysis and use a wide range of excavations tools. This course will also introduce students to recording and analyzing excavated materials in the archaeological laboratory. Cross-listed with GEOLOGY 409.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 384 North American Prehistory

This class offers instruction in the archaeological survey of prehistoric North America from the Arctic to northern Mexico. The course outlines cultural developments within this region from the peopling of the Americas near the end of the last Ice Age to the arrival of Europeans over 10,000 years later. The diversification of Native American societies across this time span is examined in relation to social and environmental challenges, including the transformation of hunter-gatherer groups into chiefdoms and complex agricultural societies. Cross-listed with GEOG 457. Offered: On Demand.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 385 Archaeology as Anthropology: The Development of Human Societies

This class examines the development of archaeology as a distinctive branch of anthropology, and archaeology�s role in a centuries-long debate about the causes of cultural variation and the development of human societies. This class examines how the Enlightenment, colonialism, the geological discovery of :Deep Time� and the Darwinian Revolution not only give rise to anthropology and archaeology, but launched an enduring debate about how and why we study cultural behavior. Cross-listed with CLASSICS 370.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 386 Introduction to Prehistoric and Classical Archaeology

An introduction to archaeological research methods that traces human origins and cultural development from the earliest fossil evidence to the threshold of written history and civilization. This class emphasizes the evolutionary and cultural developments that allowed our ancestors to colonize the continents and develop lifeways involving hunting and gathering, farming and urbanism. Also cross-listed with HISTORY 400C and CLAS 360.

3 hrs

ANTHRO 414 Feminist Theories

This class introduces the major feminist theories and their primary authors over the last 200 years. The class takes both a historical view (beginning with two millenia of male-centered theories about women) and a conceptual approach (theories are grouped by common ground) and familiarizes the student with both the historical processes that necessitate feminist theories as well as with the breadth and depth of the historically and currently available scholarship. Prerequisite: Introduction to Women's Studies Offered: Winter Semester

3 hrs

ANTHRO 441 Developing Countries

Focuses on issues of economic development, social stratification, political institutions, and political mobilization in societies where colonialism provided the context for their long-term disadvantages in the international economic order. Specific attention is paid to the intersection of the international components that define the options and limits for societal development (e.g., market shifts, international institutions and contracts, foreign policies, and migration) and the distinct social, political and cultural implications of these factors for developing societies. Crosslisted with ANTHRO or SOCIOL 441.

3 hrs

ANTHRO H300 Special Topics In Anthropology

1-3 hrs