Undergraduate-level Anthropology Courses
ANT 101 – 497
Not all courses are offered on a regular schedule. See the Class Schedule on MaineStreet for courses offered each semester.
ANT 101 – Introduction to Anthropology: Human Origins and Prehistory
A survey course focusing on the evolution of humankind, the development of culture, and the beginnings of civilization.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 102 – Introduction to Anthropology: Diversity of Cultures
A survey course focusing on the nature of culture, similarities and differences among the world’s cultures, relationships among cultures, and culture change.
Satisfies the General Education Ethics and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 120 – Religions of the World
A survey of the distinctive features of the major world religions and the most studied Native American, African and aboriginal Australian religions. Focuses on the fit between myth and ritual, the problems involved in trying to understand both “from the believer’s point of view,” and what generalizations can be made about religion in general.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 140 – Cities of the Ancient World
This course explores ancient urbanism in a global context. It includes theoretical approaches to the concept of ‘city’ and weekly explorations of urban landscapes among ancient civilizations of the world.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 170 – Popular Archaeology
Many popular ideas about the past are at odds with what professional archaeologists think they know. Most of us find the past inherently interesting, without embellishment. But we are commonly confronted by intriguing beliefs in visits by ancient astronauts, the lost continent of Atlantis, etc. While some of these ideas may have merit, many do not. Develops methods for evaluating critically the archaeological record, sorting out science from pseudoscience and distinguishing that which is plausible from that which is unlikely.
Credits: 3
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ANT 207 – Introduction to World Archaeology
An overview of the human record as determined by archaeology using examples drawn from the global experience.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement.
Credits: 3
ANT 210 – Biological Anthropology
Introduces current topics in human biology and evolution including human origins and the fossil record, human genetics and population variability, and human and non-human primate behavior.
Satisfies the General Education Applications of Scientific Knowledge Requirement.
Credits: 3
ANT 212 – The Anthropology of Food
Food is the most direct and meaningful connection people have with the environment, a connection that addresses both biological and cultural needs. This course aims at exposing students to the different ways in which anthropologists think about food across its sub-disciplines as a way to understand human origins, behavior, and cultural diversity. Themes include food procurement strategies, influence on human evolution, religious traditions and food, food as pertains to power dynamics, warfare, gender relations and identity, and the role of food in environmental and sustainable development policy-making.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity & International Perspectives and Population & the Environment Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 221 – Introduction to Folklore
A survey of the different genres of folklore, its forms, uses, functions and modes of transmission. Emphasis on belief, custom and legend.
Satisfies the General Education Western Cultural Tradition and the Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 225 – Climate Change, Societies, and Cultures
Surveys the human dimensions of climate change from a cultural perspective: the interactions among societies, cultures, and climate change. Reviews climate change futures and their human implications around the world; Drivers of climate change; and technological, social, and cultural mitigation and adaptation strategies. Perspective throughout is universalistic (all human societies, past and present) and holistic (all realms of thought and behavior, though with particular emphasis on social, political, and cultural dimensions).
Satisfies the General Education Population and the Environment Requirement.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 101 or ANT 102 or Permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 235 – Cultural Perceptions of Nature
Examines the concept of nature in a variety of cultural contexts. Emphasis is on the development of contemporary views and their impacts on environmental management.
Satisfies the General Education Population & Environment
Credits: 3
ANT 240 – Hollywood Archaeology
Archaeology is the systematic study of the past, particularly (but not exclusively) for times and places when and where writing did not exist. Many people find the ancient past romantic and exciting. Consequently, many movies purport to be about, or to involve, archaeology and archaeologists and/or the prehistoric past. Very often, movies propagate perspectives on the past and on the practice of archaeology that diverge widely from what archaeologists do and have learned. Often, movies portray archaeologists acting unethically. In this class, we will discuss the use and abuse of archaeology in Hollywood movies, how to recognize inappropriate and unethical archaeological behavior, what sort of stereotypes about archaeology and archaeologists these movies transmit, and how film might be a medium for a better presentation of archaeology and prehistory.
Credits: 3
ANT 245 – Sex and Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective
An exploration into the commonality and diversity of sex and gender roles in cross-cultural perspective and an examination of cultural and bio-sociol explanations for why such diversity exists. Foci include contemporary approaches to sex and gender, changing views about men’s and women’s roles in human evolution, the conditions under which gender roles vary in contemporary societies and the issues surrounding gender equality, power and politics.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives and Ethics Requirement.
Credits: 3
ANT 249 – Religion and Violence
Explores the anthropology of contemporary political violence. The ethnographic study of terrorism, guerilla warfare, state terror and human rights will be complemented by examination of the ethical and methodological concerns that arise in this special area of investigation.
Satisfies the General Education Ethics, Social Contexts and Institutions and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 250 – Conservation Anthropology: The Socio-Cultural Dimension of Environmental Issues
Conservation is fundamentally a socio-cultural problem. Examines the different types of human/nature relationships that emerge across various cultural, environmental, socio-economic, and political contexts. Through a comparative approach this course is designed to illustrate how culture is an important variable when creating viable conservation strategies. Themes covered in class include protected areas, indigenous and traditional knowledge, resource management, market-based conservation, environmental economics, and political ecology. Case studies: United States, Africa, Australia, Latin America, and Papua New Guinea.
Satisfies the General Education Population and the Environment and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 252 – Civilization in South Asia
An exploration into the nature of civilization in South Asia, focusing on India. The central religious tradition of Hinduism and the caste order are investigated, with complementary perspectives provided by non-Hindu traditions. The impact of colonialism and development of national identities are also considered. Anthropological views are distinguished from and supplemented by other disciplinary perspectives.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 256 – Ethnic Conflict
An exploration of ethnic conflict and revival today including a survey of anthropological theories of ethnicity, focusing on ethnic revival in the modern world. European and other ethnic groups of the industrialized West provide the major cases to be considered.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 260 – Forensic Anthropology
Provides an introduction to the application of the theory and methods of physical anthropology to medicolegal investigations and problems. The field consists of four basic topics: 1) human skeletal anatomy, 2) developing a biological profile, 3) the science of decomposition, and 4) forensic anthropology in the court system.
Satisfies the General Education Applications of Scientific Knowledge Requirement.
Credits: 3
ANT 261 – Islamic Fundamentalism
A survey of the distinctive ideological and social features of Islamic fundamentalist movements.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 270 – Environmental Justice Movements in the United States
Examines how poor and racialized communities have responded to the incidence, causes, and effects of environmental racism and injustice. Special attention will be given to how the critiques offered by these communities challenge the knowledge and procedural forms of justice embedded in environmental policy and democracy in the United States. Case studies will be drawn from readings on African-Americans, European-Americans, Chicano and Latino Americans, and Native Americans.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 285 – Introduction to Historic Preservation
This course introduces students to the theory, history, legal framework, and cultural contexts of historic preservation. It focuses primarily on historic preservation in the United States with reference to historic preservation topics worldwide. From UMaine’s Lord Hall to Stonehenge, students will explore historic places through an anthropological lens in order to understand why and how humans preserve heritage-based places. The course is designed to give students a basic knowledge of U.S. historic preservation laws, policies, and practices. It also encourages students to think critically about social behavior surrounding place-based heritage.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 290 – Special Topics in Anthropology
Intermediate treatment of specialized problems in anthropology with emphasis on analysis in frontier areas of anthropological research. Topics vary. May be repeated for credit.
Credits: 3
ANT 295 – American Indians and Climate Change
Introduces students to the Indian cultures of the United States and U.S. territories in the South Pacific, paying particular attention to the issues of climate change and how it is impacting indigenous peoples in these regions; also examines climate effects on natural resource conditions as it relates to Indian cultures and the roles indigenous groups play in policy responses to climate change.
Cross-listed as NAS 295
Credits: 3
ANT 311 – Geography of Climate Change
Introduces students to theories of environmental sustainability transitions and resource use in the context of climate change.
Prerequisites & Notes: Any ANT course or GEO course or permission.
Cross listed as GEO 311
Credits: 3
ANT 317 – Fundamentals of Archaeology
Techniques of excavation and analysis; theoretical basis of methods and fundamental principles; application to specific case studies; the use of geological, biological, chemical and other tools in archaeological research. A one-day compulsory weekend field trip to local archaeological sites.
Satisfies the General Education Applications of Scientific Knowledge and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 101 or ANT 170 or ANT 207 or permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 330 – The US Folk Experience
Examines how disenfranchised groups respond through their traditional expressive folklore to the incidences, causes and effect of racism and injustice found in the United States, as well as maintaining and conveying their values, and sense of identity at simultaneous levels (individual, communal, regional) to each other and the larger society. Groups we will read and examine will be Afro-American, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, and Euro-American.
Satisfies the General Education Western Cultural Tradition and Cultural Diversity & International Perspectives Requirements.
Credits: 3
ANT 350 – Mediterranean: Ancient Landscapes, Modern World
Humans are active agents in the physical world and play a pivotal role in its transformation. Consequently, contemporary societies inherit landscapes that are the product of an integrated, long-term relationship between humans and their environment through time. This is of particular interest in the Mediterranean world not only because cultural complexity, urbanization, and the origins of nation-states and empires unfolded over the course of millennia, but also because of the rich historical, archaeological, and paleoenvironmental records that help to characterize this process. This course introduces the ways in which archaeology and other historical sciences can inform on contemporary issues of resource management, conservation and cultural heritage in the Mediterranean in the context of the global change.
Prerequisites: One ANT course or one GEO course or Permission
Credits: 3
ANT 372 – North American Prehistory
The history of North American native peoples from the first evidence to the arrival of the Europeans. Emphasis on major issues such as glacial and postglacial adaptation, development of agriculture, and the emergence of sedentism.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 101 or ANT 207 or ANT 317 or permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 400 – Basic Theory in Cultural Anthropology
A seminar in which the most important theories shaping modern cultural and social anthropology will be presented through the analysis of key monographs. Emphasis placed on developing critical thinking and library research skills. Required of all Anthropology majors.
Satisfies the General Education Social Context and Institutions, Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives and Writing Intensive Requirements.
Prerequisites & Notes: Permission, and ANT 102 and ANT major standing.
Credits: 3
ANT 410 – Human Dimensions of Climate Change
Multi-disciplinary overview of selected social science topics on humans and climate change. Critical anthropological attention to what this literature overlooks and how these omissions can be dealt with.
Credits: 3
ANT 420 – Human Impacts on Ancient Environments
Designed to challenge students to critically evaluate the relationship between humans and their environment, and to assess the local, regional, and global impact of humans on our planet. The long, diachronic approach taken here, particularly over the past 10,000 years, will serve to broaden our understanding of how humans have effected change in our landscapes and resource distribution in the past, and ultimately how this perspective may be integrated with contemporary resource management and environmental policy for the future. Historical ecology is also introduced as a research program structured to evaluate the historical role human agency has played in shaping contemporary landscapes.
Satisfies the General Education Population and the Environment Requirement.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 101 or EES 100 or permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 421 – Inca Society and Peasants of the Andes
Explores the nature of Inca civilization of South America as it began to form in the 15th century. Also explores the organization of Andean peasant communities, which constituted the foundation of Inca society in the past and continues to dominate Andean landscapes today.
Satisfies the General Education Writing Intensive Requirement.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 101 or ANT 207, or permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 422 – Folklore of Maine and the Maritime Provinces
Description: This course covers the major genres of folklore: material culture, verbal expressions, folk song, narrative, performance, revivals and tourism within the major linguistic traditions: English, French, Native American, and other immigrant groups of the Northeast.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT221 or permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 425 – Recorded Interviewing Techniques and Methods
This course will introduce students to the theory and methodology of ethnographic and oral history fieldwork as it is practiced by social scientists and humanities researchers. Students will learn to prepare research plans, develop questions, and conduct and record interviews. They will learn how to navigate the essential practices of permissions, understand the concepts of copyright of research materials as it pertains to interviews, and fulfill the requirements of the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB) – Required Training at the University of Maine. Students will learn about the practices of archiving research materials and how to interpret and incorporate interview research into a research paper or documentary.
Satisfies the General Education Ethics Requirement.
Prerequisites & Notes: Permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 426 – Native American Folklore
An overview of folklore and folklife covering various genres of traditional expressive culture.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement.
Credits: 3
ANT 430 – Who Owns Native Cultures?
The answer to the simple question of who owns Native American/American Indian/indigenous cultures and cultural productions is surprisingly complex and engages the history of anthropology and the nature of anthropological knowledge itself. This course will examine the evolving relationships between anthropologists, historians, and other researchers with indigenous peoples (in particular American Indians) and what kinds of ethical and legal relationships have evolved over time to address this question. It will also look at the ways in which contemporary cultural resource management by indigenous peoples serves as a key articulation of indigenous nationhood and sovereignty. Special attention will be given to recent scholarship by indigenous researchers that decolonizes standard academic practices and roots the ownership of Native cultures and research in Native communities.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts & Institutions and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 102 or NAS 101 or permission
Credits: 3
ANT 431 – Folklore, the Environment and Public Policy
Examines the interaction of humans with the environment from the perspective of folklore, and reviews its impact on public policy at the local, state, federal and international levels.
Satisfies the General Education Population and the Environment Requirement.
Credits: 3
ANT 448 – Ethnography Through Film
A critical analysis of film from an anthropological perspective. Students will be introduced to the history of the use of ethnographic film in anthropology, and they will consider how professional anthropologists living at different times have used motion pictures to capture aspects of human cultural behavior. Students will also examine how ethnographic films, documentaries, and popular motion pictures (past and present) have been used to represent people in a variety of cultures. We will ask how professional anthropologists may differ from other types of filmmakers in their treatment of the same cultural groups and/or subjects.
Satisfies the General Education requirements for Ethics, and Writing Intensive (fall 2016).
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 102 or permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 451 – Native American Cultures and Identities
Covers both traditional culture patterns and modern developments and problems. Includes consideration of traditional culture areas, emphasizing adaptations and cultural dynamics, past and present.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 102 or NAS 101 or permission.
Cross-listed as NAS 451
Credits: 3
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ANT 459 – Peoples and Cultures of South America
Social, political, economic and religious institutions of native and mestizo peoples of South America, using examples from selected areas (Amazonian lowlands, Andean highlands, southern cone.) Traditional culture patterns and modern developments and problems, including syncretism of European and native systems and role of modern beliefs about pre-European lifeways.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 102 or permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 460 – Research Design and Methods
This seminar course for upper level undergraduate students emphasizes the integration of social science theories and methods for the development of research proposals. In this course, students define a research problem, identify a set of research questions or hypotheses, and design a plan of action to carry out their own research. In the process, students become familiar with research ethics, IRB protocols, and a suite of methodological tools used by anthropologists and others to produce social science research. In-class discussions allow students to critically assess benefits and limitations of various field methods, qualitative vs. quantitative approaches, and analytical techniques. In-class workshops allow students to discuss their own research ideas on a regular basis with classmates and instructor. By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of the research process while gaining hands-on experience designing, researching, writing, and presenting their work while building relationships with faculty and peers.
Satisfies the General Education Application of Scientific Knowledge and Writing Intensive Requirements.
Prerequisites & Notes: Senior standing, permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 464 – Ecological Anthropology
Comparative study of human populations in ecosystems. Topics include the adaptive nature of culture, implications of the ecological approach for anthropological theory, sociocultural evolution and change, and contemporary problems. Case studies from simple and complex societies.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions, and Population and the Environment, and Writing Intensive Requirements.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 102 or ANT 250 or permission. ANT 464 & ANT 564 cannot both be taken for degree credit.
Credits: 3
ANT 466 – Economic Anthropology
Comparative study of production, consumption and exchange in selected Western and non-Western societies. Emphasis on factors influencing economic decisions in a variety of social and cultural settings.
Satisfies the General Education requirements for Social Contexts and Institutions, and Writing Intensive (fall 2016).
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 102 or ANT 300 or permission. ANT466 & ANT 566 cannot both be taken for degree credit.
Credits: 3
ANT 475 – Environmental Archaeology
Introduces historical and current theoretical literature which addresses cultural environmental relationships in prehistoric contexts. Emphasis on outlining the kinds of environmental data that survive in the historical record (geological, floral, faunal, soils, etc.), the sampling methods used to collect different kinds of data and types of inferences that can be made from surviving data regarding fossil cultural environmental relationships.
Satisfies the General Education Population and the Environment Requirement.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 101 or ANT 317 or permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 476 – Ancient Maya
Examines the origins and development of ancient Maya civilization beginning with precursors to Maya culture in the first two millennia BC and ending with the final conquest of the last independent Maya kingdom in 1697. Among the topics covered will be the rise of complex society in the Maya region, the history of individual Maya city-states and rulers, social and political organization, art and religion, craft production and economy, commoner life, hieroglyphic writing, human-environment dynamics, and the Classic Maya collapse.
Satisfies the General Education Writing Intensive Requirement.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 101 or ANT 170 or ANT 207 or permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 477 – Field Research in Archaeology
Introduction to archaeological field techniques through excavation of an archaeological site. Intensive training in site survey, excavations techniques, recording, analysis and preliminary interpretation of archaeological materials. Generally conducted on prehistoric and historic sites in Maine. Admission by application only.
Satisfies the General Education Applications of Scientific Knowledge and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements. (Offered summers only.)
Prerequisites & Notes: Permission.
Credits: 2-6
ANT 478 – Zooarchaeology
A laboratory course covering techniques for analysis and interpretation of osteological remains from archaeological sites. Rec 2, Lab 2.
Satisfies the General Education Lab in the Basic or Applied Sciences Requirement.
Prerequisites & Notes: ANT 317 or permission.
Credits: 4
ANT 479 – Laboratory Techniques in Prehistoric Archaeology
Hands-on experience in lab techniques using real archaeological materials. Includes analysis, classification and synthesis of the data. Rec 1, Lab 2.
Satisfies the General Education Applications of Scientific Knowledge Requirement.
Credits: 3
ANT 480 – Andean Prehistory
Prehistoric archaeology of the Andean region of western South America from the first arrival of people to the Spanish Conquest. Changing lifeways as Andean peoples adapted to and with new and changing environments and technologies. Origin and development of complex society in the region, culminating with the Inca Empire.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives and the Population and Environment Requirements.
Prerequisites: ANT 101 or ANT 170 or ANT 207 or permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 490 – Topics in Anthropology
Advanced treatment of specialized problems in anthropology with emphasis on analysis in frontier areas of anthropological research. Topics vary. May be repeated for credit.
Credits: 3
ANT 493 – Anthropology Senior Seminar and Capstone Research Project
This senior research seminar is designed to give students an opportunity to draw on their academic experience and explore a particular anthropological topic or debate of their choosing. Students will complete one of two research options: 1) write a traditional research review paper of professional, publishable quality; or 2) develop materials that promote public knowledge about a specific anthropological topic of their choice to an audience of their choice. This project will allow students to gain valuable hands-on experience designing, researching, writing, and presenting work while building relationships with faculty and peers. The course will allow students to engage in anthropological inquiries and debates while honing skills in communication, argumentation, and problem solving that will be useful beyond the classroom.
Satisfies the General Education Capstone Experience Requirement for majors in anthropology, international affairs (culture, conflict, and globalization concentration), and human dimensions of climate change; Writing Intensive
Prerequisites & Notes: Junior or Senior standing in the Anthropology, International Affairs, or Human Dimensions of Climate Change major.
Credits: 3
ANT 494 – Method and Theory in Archaeology
The history of, and current debates in, archaeological methods and theory, with a focus on Americanist archaeology.
Prerequisites: ANT 317 or ANT 300 or permission.
Credits: 3
ANT 497 – Department Projects
A special project course. Specific content, scheduling and credit hours proposed by student in consultation with instructor. Maximum of 3 credit hours.
Form: Independent Study In Anthropology (PDF)
Credits: Arr
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