Spring Term Courses 2009
Contact Information
Anthropology is the study of humankind. It incorporates both scientific and
humanistic approaches to explain and understand human behavior and cultural
diversity. By making the strange familiar and the familiar strange, anthropologists
aim to promote intercultural understanding and respect between people.
The Department of Anthropology at Western Oregon
University offers a comprehensive training in anthropology, equipping students
with a set of skills that allows them to critically examine and understand human
behavior and cultural diversity in their own and other societies, skills that
are increasingly important in today's globalizing world. In addition to introductory
courses in all four sub-fields of anthropology - archaeology, linguistic, physical,
and sociocultural anthropology - the department offers an exceptionally varied
program due to the diverse teaching interests of the faculty, which range from
Northwest Indian Cultures to Environmental Anthropology to the Anthropology
of Africa. Majors in our program conduct independent research for their Senior
Project. Working closely with faculty, students design research, conduct fieldwork,
and write it up in a senior thesis. We encourage our students to do research
abroad. In previous years students have gone to Europe, the Middle East and
Africa.
The anthropological training students receive
and the skills they develop - critical and clear analytical thinking, independent
research, inter-cultural communication - prepare students for a wide range of
professional careers in research, policy, and consultancy, as well as graduate
studies.
| Note: ANTH 213-216 cover the four subfields of anthropology and may be taken in any order. Any three may be used to satisfy the 12 cr. Social Science LACC requirement. |
ANTH 213D Language and Culture (4)
MW 1000-1150 in HSS 235
Dr. Doug Smith |
Introduces the anthropological study of language
and communicative behavior. Examines the basic concepts underlying linguistic
analysis and reviews anthropological studies of conversational practice
and social variation in language and speech. Our central concern is to understand
the complex interplay between language, culture and social relations.
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ANTH 214D Physical Anthropology (4)
TR 1400-1550 in HSS 110A
Mr. Jordan Hofer |
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Biological aspects of the human experience, especially
interactions between biology and culture. A review of the modern synthetic
theory of evolution; fossil evidence of early primate and hominid populations;
the mechanisms of heredity, human variation and adaptation; and the development
of culture in human evolution. Attention throughout the course to the nature
of science as a cultural construct. |
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ANTH 215D Archaeology (4)
section 1 TR 1000-1150 in HSS 107
section 2 TR 1200-1350 in HSS 235
Dr. Robin Smith
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| Understanding the human past through the study
of material remains. A review of the methods used to collect and analyze
data and the theories used to construct chronologies, reconstruct ancient
life styles and explain the processes of cultural evolution. Examines some
of the major contributions of archaeology and discusses the relevance of
archaeology to everyday life. |
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ANTH 216D Cultural Anthropology (4)
MW 1400-1550 in HSS 110A
Dr. Isidore Lobnibe |
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Examines the concepts and methods of cultural
anthropology through ethnographic case studies of people around the world.
Focuses on culture, or the learned beliefs, behaviors, and symbols unique
to each society. |
ANTH 369D Visual Anthropology (4)
MW 1200-1350 in HSS 110B
Dr. Robin Smith |
We begin with the earliest uses of moving images
to capture and re-present human behavior for research, teaching and entertainment
in the 1890s. Over the next 100 years we see the influences of technology,
social and political movements, aesthetic styles, and anthropological debates
on the work of ethnographers and filmmakers. Styles of cinematic expression
and changing relationships amongst ethnographer, filmmaker, subject, and
audience are addressed. Having acquired a vocabulary and set of concepts
for talking and writing about film, watching intently and sharing what we
see, and sampling broadly across cultures and topics of human experience,
we come to see human life in a new way.
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ANTH 372D Social Constructions of Race (4)
MW 1600-1750 in HSS 235
Mr. Jordan Hofer |
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Course provides a critical perspective on racial/ethnic
categorizations. Through lectures, discussions, readings, and films, students
become acquainted with the social, cultural, historical, and evolutionary
context of modern human diversity.
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ANTH 380D Cultures of Africa (4)
MW 1000-1150 in HSS 110B
Dr. Isidore Lobnibe |
Survey of African societies that compares classic and contemporary
anthropological texts covering similar structures and processes in very
different, colonial and postcolonial contexts. The goal is to come to an
anthropological understanding of how political, economic, historical and
cultural factors shape contemporary African societies.
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ANTH 388D Transnational Migration (4)
TR 1000-1150 in NS 122
Dr. Isidore Lobnibe |
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Introduces students to the field of environmental
anthropology, which explores relationships between culture, society, and
the physical aspects of environments across the globe. The course examines
major theories in ecological research in anthropology, then moves to a critical
exploration of significant issues in the field today, such as religion and
resource use, indigenous environmental knowledge, economic development,
conservation, cultural and human rights, and environmental social movements.
Readings cover a variety of environmental contexts and social groups.
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ANTH 392D Applied Anthropology (4)
TR 1200-1350 in HSS 332
Dr. Doug Smith |
This course applies insights from cultural anthropology to
contemporary social issues. The course reviews the history of applied anthropology
in U.S. and then explores ways in which anthropology may provide a framework
for approaching solutions to real-world problems. The course will include
the following domains of inquiry and action: health and medicine, international
development, education, law and criminal justice, the environment, and the
ethics of research and intervention.
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ANTH 407 U.S. - Mexico Border (4)
MW 1400-1550 in CH 101
Dr. Doug Smith |
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Course will examine contemporary political, economic,
social, and cultural issues germane to U.S.-Mexico border and border crossings.
Will look in particular at questions of migration
and immigration in the post-NAFTA context, including the experience of (primarily)
Mexicans in the U.S. |
Robin Smith, Head
Anthropology Department
HSS 209
Western Oregon University
Monmouth, OR 97361
(503) 838-8372
smithr@wou.edu |
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WOU portal | text only 
