815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs,
New York, 12866
SKIDMORE PHONE
518-580-5000
Anthropology
Chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work: David Karp
Associate Chair: Michael C. Ennis-McMillan
Professors: Gerald M. Erchak, Jill D. Sweet, Susan Bender
Associate Professor: Michael C. Ennis-McMillan
Assistant Professors: Eileen Rose Walsh, Luce Assistant Professor
of Asian Studies
Research Associate: Richard Wilkinson
The primary purpose of the anthropology program is to facilitate
the cross-cultural study of human groups and social behavior.
The program's curriculum includes archaeological explorations
of past cultures, human biocultural development, and studies
of diverse lifeways of the world's populations. Anthropology
courses, designed to serve students with a general interest
in the discipline as well as those who plan to pursue graduate
training, provide a background for professional training in
international relations, multinational corporations, environmental
studies, social service, education, museums, and historic preservation.
THE ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR: The anthropology major must successfully
complete at least thirty-two credits in anthropology. As a foundation
for the major, students must take AN101
and 102.
Courses of exploration must include AN270
and at least one geographic-area course (AN205,
206,
227,
229,
242,
244,
245,
260,
or 268).
Students must also take one methods course (AN326,
327,
SO226,
or 227)
as well as AN366
as courses of application and synthesis. Courses listed under
sociology-anthropology may be taken for either sociology or
anthropology credit, but not both.
THE SOCIOLOGY-ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR: The sociology-anthropology
major must successfully complete SO101;
either AN101
or 102;
either SO324,
325,
or AN270;
either AN326
or 327
or SO226
or 227;
either AN366
or SO375;
and twelve credit hours of electives in sociology and twelve
credit hours of electives in anthropology. Courses designated
sociology-anthropology may be taken for credit in either sociology
or anthropology, but not both.
HONORS: Students desiring departmental honors in anthropology 0
must:
achieve a GPA of 3.5 or higher for all work in the major and a GPA of
3.0 or higher on all work taken at Skidmore;
obtain senior project
approval from an anthropology faculty member willing to serve as their
project advisor; and
earn a grade of at least A- on a completed
senior project, whether it be for AN 369
(senior research paper) or AN 373
(senior thesis).
Students interested in pursuing a senior honors
project should obtain further information from the department.
Students desiring departmental honors in sociology-anthropology
must meet the requisite grade-point average
and must earn a grade of at least A- on a senior honors project in either sociology or anthropology.
THE ANTHROPOLOGY MINOR: Students
who minor in anthropology must successfully complete eighteen
credits in anthropology including foundational AN101
and 102.
Students must also complete ten credits of anthropology electives
including at least one course at the 300 level. The student
should select a minor advisor who will assist the student in
constructing a program of study. Students are encouraged to
declare the anthropology minor by the end of the junior year.
AN 101. INTRODUCTION
TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 4
An introduction to the basic concepts and problems of sociocultural
anthropology. The culture concept is explored as a central theoretical
and empirical concern. Students learn about cultural diversity
as well as recurrent patterns of cultural adaptation. (Fulfills
social sciences requirement.) The Department AN 101W. HONORS: INTRODUCTION
TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 4
An opportunity for highly motivated students with strong verbal skills to learn the basic concepts
and problems of sociocultural anthropology as well as the opportunity to develop and improve writing skills.
The culture concept is explored as a central theoretical and empirical concern. Students learn about
cultural diversity as well as recurrent patterns of cultural adaptation. The honors section of AN101
provides a smaller class size, a discussion-based format, and explicit attention to social science writing.
Students write and revise essays and respond to one another's work in workshops and peer review sessions.
Students take a general writing placement exam the first day of class to assist the instructor in assessing
whether they have been placed at the proper expository writing level. The course fulfills part of the
foundation requirement for anthropology majors and minors and is most appropriate for first-year students
and sophomores. (Meets expository writing requirement for students who placed at
EN105
level or who have completed
EN103;
fulfills social sciences requirement.) M. Ennis-McMillan AN 102. ANTHROPOLOGY
OF THE HUMAN PAST 4 An introduction to the biological
and cultural evolution of humans. In learning about evolutionary
theory and process, students come to understand concepts of
time and space as critical factors in our ability to reconstruct
the human past. Students engage a variety of biological and
archaeological data in laboratory sessions to clarify how this
reconstruction occurs. (Fulfills social sciences requirement.)
S. Bender AN 175. INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGICAL
FIELD INVESTIGATIONS 5 An introduction to the process of locating, identifying, and excavating
archaeological sites. The focus of class activity is actual participation
in an archaeological excavation and related activities. Offered summer
only. S. Bender AN 201. INTRODUCTION
TO ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2
An introduction to the basic lab methods and theory
involved in organizing, describing, and analyzing archaeological data.
Course work is project based, involves analysis of primary data, and
results in generating answers to central research questions about these
data. Prerequisite:AN102. S. Bender AN 202. INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGICAL
FIELD INVESTIGATIONS 4
An introduction to the process of locating, identifying, and
excavating archaeological sites. The focus of class activity is actual
participation in an archaeological excavation and related activities.
Prerequisite:AN102.
Summer only. S. Bender AN 205. MESOAMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY 3
A survey of the culture history of Mesoamerica, including primarily
the states of Mexico and Guatemala. Inquiry focuses on the origin
of New World agriculture as well as the development of highland
Mexican and Aztec and lowland Mayan civilizations. The course
considers the interpretation of the archaeological remains at
major Mesoamerican site complexes. (Designated a non-Western
culture course; fulfills social sciences requirement.) S.
Bender
AN 206. ARCHAEOLOGY
OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA 3 Archaeological sites located throughout
the eastern United States are analyzed to reveal the history
of human-land and human-human interactions over a 15,000-year
period. Special attention is given to changes in aboriginal
culture effected by the establishment of gatherer-hunter lifeways
in the East and the later transition to village horticulture.
(Designated a non-Western culture course.) S.
Bender AN 227. SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICAN CULTURES 3
A survey of the peoples and cultures of Africa south of the
Sahara in tradition and change. Special attention is given to
key social organizing principles and institutions such as secret
societies, lineage systems, age set organizations, and despotic
political structures. Prerequisite:AN101.
(Designated a non-Western culture course.) G.
Erchak AN 229. MEXICAN CULTURES 3
A survey of the peoples and cultures of Mexico. The course examines
the changes in Mexican cultures in relation to European conquest
and colonization, national independence, the Revolution, and
relations with the United States. Topics include social movements
of principal indigenous groups (such as Nahuatl, Maya, and Zapotecs),
contemporary regional politics, environmental change, and the
ongoing construction of Mexican identities. Prerequisite:
AN101
or 205 or
244,
or permission of instructor. (Fulfills Cultural Diversity requirement.)
M. Ennis-McMillan AN 242. NORTH AMERICAN
INDIANS 3
A survey of indigenous peoples and cultures of North America.
The course examines the history of contact between Indian and
non-Indian populations; the development of United States federal
Indian policies; and the contemporary social problems related
to the reservation system and urban migration. (Designated a
non-Western culture course.) J.
Sweet AN 244. INDIGENOUS CULTURES OF LATIN AMERICA 3
A survey of indigenous peoples and cultures in Mexico, Central
America, and South America. The course examines the persistence
and change of indigenous cultures as they have intersected with
broader social forces since European conquest and colonization.
Topics include contemporary indigenous movements as they influence
regional politics, economic development, environmental change,
nationalism, and the construction of racial, ethnic, and gender
identities. (Fulfills Cultural Diversity requirement.) M.
Ennis-McMillan AN 245. THE MAO YEARS: GENDER
AND REVOLUTION IN CHINA 3
Using gender as a lens, students explore modern China from the turn of
the century to the 1980s, considering some of the main aspects of
family, social and political life in China. The Chinese Communist
Party (CCP) claimed that only through radical social change could
there be true revolution, and publicly espoused gender equality, which
led to attempts to change women’s status in both the public and
private sphere and to construct new Chinese families while
deconstructing lineages. Students will evaluate the Maoist
projects—how successful were they in achieving gender and social
reform, where did they fall short, and why? We will also ask other
questions: How did Chinese communists come to see the family as an
important unit of revolution? What is the relationship among culture,
politics and gender? Is it possible to use politics to change culture
and gender? How much change is possible? The course assumes no prior
knowledge, but discussions will move quickly through historical and
political changes in China. E. Walsh AN 251. THEMES IN
ANTHROPOLOGY 1-4
Examination of a geographic or subject area not available in
existing course offerings. For example, the course may focus
on post-colonial Australia, contemporary Ireland, or studies
in primate behavior. The course in a different subject area
may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: permission
of the instructor. The Department AN 252. NON-WESTERN
THEMES IN ANTHROPOLOGY 1-4
Examination of a non-Western geographic or subject area not
available in existing course offerings. For example, the course
may focus on aboriginal Australia or the music of New Guinea
tribal groups. The course in a different subject area may be
repeated for credit. Prerequisite: permission of the
instructor. (Designated a non-Western culture course.)
The Department AN 260. SOUTHWEST INDIANS 3
An examination of the cultures, histories, and current socioeconomic
situation of Native Americans in the Southwest region of the United States.
Groups such as the Navajo, Pueblo, and Apache will be studied within
the context of Spanish and Anglo contact to better understand issues
of diversity, resistance to domination, and cultural change. Prerequisite:
AN101
or 242,
or permission of instructor. (Designated a non-Western culture course.) J.
Sweet AN 268. PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN CHINA 3
An examination of human-environment interactions in China. The emphasis
is on sociocultural practices bearing upon the environment. Topics include
historical and cultural ecology, demography, agriculture and land tenure
systems, the role of the state, and Chinese environmentalism. Students
will gain a foundation in the concepts and approaches used in situating
human-environment interactions in their historical and cultural contexts.
They will also learn about the variety of human-environment interactions
in China, both historicaly and in modern times, and understand the complexities
of human-ecological dilemmas in the Chinese context. Prerequisite:
AN101
or ES100,
or permission of instructor. (Designated a non-Western culture course;
fulfills social sciences requirement.) The
Department AN 270. HISTORY OF
ANTHROPOLOGICAL THOUGHT 4
Examination of major debates in the history of anthropology
and a look at central figures whose work helped to fuel these
debates. The careers of people like Boas, Mead, or Malinowski
are studied within the context of the developing discipline
of anthropology. The relationship between past and current anthropological
ideas, fieldwork practices, and anthropological writing are
considered. Prerequisite:AN101
or permission of instructor. J. Sweet
AN 303. ANALYSIS
OF THE HUMAN SKELETON 4
Analysis of the human skeletal system as a record of individual
life history. Major topics include identification of skeletal
anatomy and manifestations of age, sex, health, and nutrition.
Modes of analysis of the information and meaning embedded in
prehistoric burial contexts are also considered. Prerequisite:
AN102
or permission of instructor. S. Bender
AN 325. APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY 4
Applying the anthropological perspectives to the analysis of
national and international sociocultural issues. Topics include
cultural brokerage, advocacy, community development, evaluation,
ethics, and the difficulties facing indigenous peoples and ethnic
minorities within nation-states today. Prerequisite:
AN101. J.
Sweet
AN 326. FIELD
METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 4
An introduction to field methods employed by cultural anthropologists
in their collection of primary data. Students will conduct field
projects in local community settings. These projects call for
pure observation, mapping, formal and informal interviewing,
participant observation, and photo elicitation. Students will
gain experience in formulating research problems, developing
a protocol, as well as organizing and communicating findings.
Central concerns include the establishment of rapport and research
ethics. Prerequisite: AN101
and permission of instructor. J. Sweet, M. Ennis-McMillan
AN 327. ARCHAEOLOGICAL
FIELD AND LABORATORY TECHNIQUES 4
An introduction to the processes of archaeological excavation
and primary data analysis. Course requirements include active participation in a local excavation
and the description and interpretation of excavated materials.
Prerequisite:AN102
or permission of instructor. S. Bender
AN 339. PSYCHOLOGICAL
ANTHROPOLOGY 4
An exploration of the relationships among the concepts of culture,
the self, personality, and behavior, examining crosscultural
evidence and major theoretical models. Brain and mind evolution
is investigated. Descriptive case studies are supplemented by
recent theoretical and empirical work. Both non-Western and
Western (including United States) cultures are discussed. Prerequisite:
Two courses from among cultural anthropology, sociology,
or psychology, or permission of instructor. G.
Erchak AN 344. ANTHROPOLOGY
AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 4
An examination of health issues related to global environmental
change. The course employs perspectives and theories of critical
medical anthropology to explore the connections among broad
patterns of environmental change, local responses to those changes,
and relevant health concerns. Topics include the effects of
population growth, urbanization, water pollution and water scarcity,
epidemics, deforestation, and species extinction in diverse
geographic settings. Special attention is given to how poor
and powerless social groups bear a disproportionate burden of
environmental health problems. Prerequisite:AN101
or ES100
and at least junior standing, or permission of instructor. M.
Ennis-McMillan AN 345. ECOLOGICAL
ANTHROPOLOGY 3
Exploration of the principles by which the environment shapes
human culture and human culture shapes the environment. Topics
include the process of human adaptation, the analysis of human
ecosystems, and the explanation of cultural diversity and change
from an ecological perspective. Prerequisite:AN101 or
ES100
and at least junior standing, or permission of instructor. M. Ennis-McMillan
AN 346. SYMBOLIC
THEORY AND PERFORMANCE 4
An examination of symbolic theory as a vehicle for analyzing
expressive forms found in ritual, festival, myth, and theater.
The human need to seek, construct, and communicate meaning particularly
regarding space, time, the supernatural, the self, and the cultural
other will be explored. Attention will be given to dance, drama,
and music as complex symbolic systems employed by groups in
their search for meaning. Prerequisite:
AN101. J.
Sweet AN 347. WOMEN AND
GENDER IN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE 3
A critical examination of the evolutionary reconstruction of
human behavior from feminist perspectives. Using information
from primate studies and anthropological ethnography, students
investigate how assumptions about gender have shaped traditional
observations and interpretations of archaeological remains.
Feminist reconstructions of human prehistory are given close
attention in an attempt to uncover a human past that incorporates
women as active historical agents. Prerequisites:AN101
and 102
or permission of instructor. S. Bender
AN 349. MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 4
A survey of the field of medical anthropology that introduces
students to the crosscultural study of the body, health, disease,
illness, suffering, and healing. The course examines several
theoretical perspectives (ethnomedical, biocultural, interpretive,
and political economic). Topics include birthing, maternal and
child health, infectious diseases, death and dying, and other
issues across the life cycle in diverse geographic settings.
Prerequisite:
AN101
and 270
or permission of instructor. M. Ennis-McMillan
AN 351. TOPICS IN
CULTURAL OR BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 1-4
Examination of a theoretical or subject specialization (with
a strong theoretical component) not available in existing course
offerings. For example, the course may focus on the behavior
of macaques or the anthropology of tourism. The course, in a
different subject area, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite:
Permission of instructor. The Department AN 352. TOPICS IN
ARCHAEOLOGY 1-4
Examination of a theoretical or area specialization not available
in existing course offerings. For example, the course may focus
on zooarchaeology or lithic technology. The course, in a different
subject area, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite:
Permission of instructor. The Department
SA 355. LANGUAGE
IN SOCIETY 4
Examination of the varied aspects of the social organization
of language using techniques from sociological, anthropological,
psychological, and linguistic theory. Special attention is given
to regional, social, and individual variation; nonstandard dialects
and their social impact; the relationship of language, thought,
and culture; the role of language in socialization and in the
maintenance of social structures; and the type and extent of
cultural variation in language use. Prerequisite: SO101
or AN101
or permission of instructor. (May be taken for either sociology
or anthropology credit.) J. Devine
AN 366. SENIOR SEMINAR
IN ANTHROPOLOGY 3
Advanced readings in theoretical or applied anthropology, with
special focus on current developments in the discipline. The
course is designed as a capstone experience for senior anthropology
majors. Prerequisite:AN270
or permission of instructor. The Department
AN 369. SENIOR
RESEARCH PAPER 1-2
Individual project supervised by an appropriate faculty member. The
experience is designed for highly motivated students who want the
challenge of writing and revising a research paper on an advanced topic
in anthropology. The course must be taken in conjunction with one of the
project advisor's 300-level courses. In addition to completing all
regular requirements for the 300-level course, students in AN369 will
complete an analytical paper of greater depth and length than is
typically required by the course. Permission to enroll must be obtained
from an anthropology faculty member willing to serve as their project
advisor. Students who wish to take this option for honors must submit a
written proposal to the project advisor during the first weeks of class.
Prerequisite:AN270
and permission of instructor. Open to senior majors only. The Department
AN 370. PREPARATION
FOR SENIOR THESIS IN ANTHROPOLOGY 1
Required for students who intend to write a formal thesis on a
particular anthropological question. During this preparation period,
students must develop a thesis statement, construct an outline, and
document a literature search. Students must take AN370 the semester
before enrolling in AN373. Prerequisite:AN270
and permission of instructor. Open to senior majors only. The Department
AN 371, 372. INDEPENDENT
STUDY OR FIELD RESEARCH 3, 3
Individual reading and/or field research in anthropology under
the guidance of a member of the department. Students must be
self-motivated and have a written proposal in hand.
They must seek approval from a
member of the anthropology faculty to act as advisor and instructor of
record. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. The
Department
AN 373. SENIOR THESIS
IN ANTHROPOLOGY 3
Designed for highly motivated students
who want the challenge of writing and revising a formal thesis
on a particular anthropological question. Students work with
the guidance of a project advisor and are expected to produce
a major critical paper. As preparation for AN373, students should
successfully complete
AN370
during the fall semester of the senior year. With approval by the project
advisor, students may replace
AN370 with
AN371.
Prerequisite:AN370
or permission of the instructor. Open to senior majors only. The
Department AN 399. PROFESSIONAL
INTERNSHIPS IN ANTHROPOLOGY 3, 6, or
9
Professional experience at an advanced level for juniors and
seniors with substantial academic and cocurricular experience
in anthropology. With faculty sponsorship and department approval,
students may extend their educational experience into such areas
as museum studies or work within appropriate state, federal,
or human service agencies. Prerequisite: at least three
courses in anthropology. Non-liberal arts.
