Anthropology < Portland Community College

Description

What is Anthropology? The term anthropology comes from the Greek Anthropos, meaning “man” and logos for “study”. In more modern terms anthropology can be defined as the study of human beings or humankind. This study encompasses literally everything about human life. Anthropologists are interested in discovering where, why and when human beings first appeared on earth, as well as understanding how human societies have developed or changed over time. In order to achieve these aims, anthropology often draws on the knowledge and methods of other disciplines such as genetics, biology, history, politics and economics. It also seeks to be holistic, comparative and practical. Anthropologists study differences and similarities among all societies throughout the world.

In addition to identifying features which many societies share, this comparative research highlights the vast diversity of human expression and experience. How individuals impact and are impacted by their society is another prime concern. While anthropologists traditionally concentrated on the study of non-Western cultures today many researchers are investigating the shape of their own society. Because the scope of anthropology is so broad, most anthropologists specialize in one of four sub fields. These fields are biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology and cultural anthropology. The anthropology department at Portland Community College offers classes in all four of these sub-fields.

ATH 101. Introduction to Biological Anthropology. 4 Credits.

Introduces biological anthropology and the study of evolution in the context of modern genetics and primate behavior studies. Examines human fossil record, diversity, and commonality of present and past populations of humankind. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

ATH 102. Introduction to Archaeology. 4 Credits.

Introduces archaeology as the anthropological study of humans in the past. Considers archaeological theories and methods related to site surveying, mapping, excavation, or cultural resource management. Examines systems of power and social inequalities in ancient societies from an anthropological perspective. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

ATH 103. Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. 4 Credits.

Considers contemporary human cultures from an anthropological perspective. Covers fieldwork, language, race, gender, sex and marriage, kinship, politics, world view, religion, economics, and globalization from a cross-cultural perspective. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

ATH 104. Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology. 4 Credits.

Introduces basic concepts, approaches, and perspectives of linguistic anthropology. Explores how language defines the relationship of the individual to society and the role language plays in constituting power, hierarchy, ethnicity, gender, ideology, and other aspects of social identity. Explores how language can also affect the ways that speakers conceptualize actions and organize the world. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

ATH 160. Comparative Cultures. 4 Credits.

Compares cultures from different ethnographic areas such as Asia, Africa, India, Australia, Europe or the Americas. Introduces anthropological theories and methods of inquiry for comparative cultural analysis, including gender, political, historical, ethnographic and indigenous narratives and cross-cultural perspectives. Explores the characteristics of different cultures in major world areas and their development over time. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

ATH 208. World Ethnography. 4 Credits.

Examines classic and contemporary ethnographies from different cultural areas of the world from an anthropological perspective. Considers the impact of ethnocentrism and other forms of cultural bias on individuals or societies. Covers the process of enculturation and how it impacts the development of cultural identity in different societies. Explores anthropologists' roles in the field as advocates and activists as well as scientific observers. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

ATH 209. Culture, Change, and the Individual. 4 Credits.

Describes the processes of cultural growth, change and complexity in different societies. Covers the fields of economic anthropology and applied anthropology. Applies ethnographic theory and method to study cultural change cross-culturally and evaluate its effects on women and other marginalized groups. Examines the impact of systems of power and social justice issues related to culture change and applied anthropology. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

ATH 212. Introduction to Shamanism. 4 Credits.

Examines shamanism as it is practiced in various cultures around the world. Students will be introduced to the shamanic cosmologies, values and world views of different tribal societies and use participant-observation to explore different styles of shamanic journeying. Core shamanism and the interface of shamanism and modern medicine and psychotherapy will be explored. Prerequisite: WR 121Z and MTH 20 or equivalent placement, and ATH 103 or instructor permission. Audit available.

ATH 213. Environment, Food, and Resilience. 4 Credits.

Explores contemporary, historical and ancient examples of human interactions with the environment from an anthropological perspective. Covers concepts, theories and methods of environmental anthropology. Describes systems of power and social justice issues such as colonialism, climate change, and sustainability and their impact on traditional economic systems, subsistence patterns, diets, nutrition, or water, land, plant, animal and fish resource conservation and management. Compares different cultural values, norms and world views about humans, nature and the environment from a cross-cultural perspective. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

ATH 214. Environment, Animals, and Culture. 4 Credits.

Explores contemporary and historical examples of animal symbolism, food taboos, and issues around the ethical treatment of animals or other kinds of human-animal interactions from an anthropological perspective. Introduces ecological anthropology and the sub-field of cultural ecology. Examines systems of power and social justice issues related to sustainability and the equitable use of resources from a cross-cultural perspective. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

ATH 230. Indigenous Cultures and Communities of Oregon. 4 Credits.

Examines the past and contemporary cultures, environments, and languages of Oregon's Indigenous peoples. Covers the values, beliefs, kinship, marriage customs, politics, economics, and technology of Indigenous peoples of Oregon. Considers the impact of colonialism, assimilation, reservations, treaties, government policies, and other factors impacting historical and contemporary Indigenous peoples of Oregon. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

ATH 231. Indigenous Cultures and Communities of the Pacific Northwest. 4 Credits.

Discusses the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest from an anthropological perspective. Covers historical and contemporary cultures, concerns, and issues of Indigenous peoples living in Washington, Alaska, and Southwest Canada. Considers systems of power and social justice issues impacting Indigenous peoples in this region. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

ATH 232. Indigenous Cultures and Communities of U.S. and Canada. 4 Credits.

Discusses Indigenous cultures and communities of United States and Canada from an anthropological perspective. Covers the past, languages, and cultural regions of United States and Canada. Considers systems of power and social justice issues related to the historic and contemporary Indigenous cultures and communities of United States and Canada in different cultural and geographic areas. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

ATH 234. Death and Dying in Cross-Cultural Perspectives. 4 Credits.

Explores cross-cultural variations in human responses to death and dying. Discusses the cultural universal of death from an anthropological perspective as experienced and processed by cultures and individuals in different regions of the world. Covers the history and development of contemporary U.S. views on mortality and health. Recommended: Introductory course in Anthropology or Sociology. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

ATH 235. Archaeology of the Americas. 4 Credits.

Discusses the archaeology of ancient societies in the Americas. Covers topics such as past migrations into the Americas, the archaic period, archaeology of the Great Basin, the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest or the development of pre-Columbian cultures and civilizations such as the Olmec, the Maya, the Aztec, the Inca or their predecessors from an archaeological perspective. Compares the geographies, values, beliefs, social customs, politics, technologies, and resources of past cultures in the Americas. Examines systems of power and social inequality in past societies of the Americas. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

ATH 298. Independent Study: Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Individualized, advanced study in areas of anthropology not considered in other courses, to meet special interests or program requirements. Complete a term project and readings approved by the instructor. Recommended: prior study in anthropology and instructor permission. Audit available.