Cascade Campus
Cascade Hall (CH), Room 208
971-722-5251
Rock Creek Campus
Building 5, Room 245
971-722-7327
Sylvania Campus
Social Science (SS), Room 201
971-722-4289
pcc.edu/programs/anthropology/
Description
Anthropology is the study of people. In this discipline, people are considered in all their biological and cultural diversities, in the present as well as in the prehistoric past and wherever people have existed. Students are introduced to the interaction between people and their environments to develop an appreciation of human adaptations past and present.
Anthropology can be a synthesizing focus for data from many fields of inquiry and has integral importance in preparing students to survive and play positive roles in our emergent transcultural world. Students can pursue careers in teaching, research and other fields after completing graduate work.
At PCC, the three introductory courses are offered yearly. All other courses may be offered less frequently.
ATH 101. Introduction to Physical Anthropology. 4 Credits.
Presents physical anthropology and the study of human biological evolution in the context of modern genetics and primate behavior studies. Examines human fossil record, as well as the 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/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
ATH 102. Introduction to Archaeology and Prehistory. 4 Credits.
Introduces archaeology as the anthropological study of humans using scientific inquiry to understand the past through the examination of material and human remains. Traces the evolution of human behavior from lower Paleolithic beginnings, some two to three million years ago, through the development of written histories or European contact. Provides an overview of methods used by archaeologists to locate, map, and excavate sites, to conduct laboratory analysis, to date archaeological materials, and to interpret the past using archaeological theory. Presents a synthesis of the trends of prehistory and history. Emphasizes the influence of environment and social complexity on status, economy, gender, identity, and ritual behavior. 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/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
ATH 103. Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. 4 Credits.
Examines modern human cultures. Analyzes a variety of ethnographic examples from various world societies to understand the diverse aspects of language, technology, economy, social structure, governance, religion, world views and expressive aspects of life. 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/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
ATH 104. Language and Culture. 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.
ATH 207. Cultural Anthropology: Culture Concepts. 4 Credits.
Examines different schools of anthropological thought and the concept of culture from a historical perspective. Emphasis placed upon the importance of culture in explaining similarities and differences in our evolving world system. 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/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
ATH 208. Cultural Anthropology: Cultures of the World. 4 Credits.
Presents the world through ethnographic descriptions and information using a representative example of its contemporary peoples and their cultures. Covers global levels of socio-political integration and various subsistence systems. Considers the effects of population growth, economics, globalization and cultural change. 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, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
ATH 209. Cultural Anthropology: The Dynamics of Cultural Change. 4 Credits.
Examines processes of cultural growth, change, complexity, the development of contemporary anthropological theory and applied anthropology. Presents ethnographic techniques used to examine changing cultures, including the impact of cultural change on our society and its minorities and traditional cultures. Discusses the impact of cultural change on developing nations. 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, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
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 121 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement, and ATH 103 or instructor permission. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
ATH 214. Human Environments: Ecological Aspects. 4 Credits.
Examines the relationship between human societies and their natural and manmade environments. Assesses the culture-environment interaction and the role of culture in it. Emphasizes the systemic and reciprocal nature of this relation. Clarifies the biological and psychological relatedness of humans to the world's natural and constructed ecosystems and the function of culture in these systems. Reviews and considers actual examples of system disruptions in this relation. 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/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
ATH 230. Native Americans of Oregon. 4 Credits.
Presents the history of anthropological research and the prehistory, languages and culture areas of Oregon's native peoples. Individual native groups are studied to better depict the life ways of Oregon's major cultural and geographic divisions. 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, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
ATH 231. Native Americans of the Northwest. 4 Credits.
An in-depth survey of the native peoples of Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Southwest Canada. Individual native groups are studied to depict cultural variation within the 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, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
ATH 232. Native North Americans. 4 Credits.
Surveys anthropology and distribution of the native North American peoples. Presents history of anthropological research and the prehistory, languages and culture areas of native North America. Specific native groups will be surveyed to better depict the life ways of the major cultural and geographic divisions. 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, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
ATH 234. Death: Crosscultural Perspectives. 4 Credits.
Explores cross-cultural variations in human responses to death and the differing cosmological implications these suggest. Addresses the cultural universal of death as experienced by cultures and regions of the world. Covers historical trends and the evolution of contemporary perspectives on mortality. Recommended: a course in Anthropology or Sociology. Audit available.
ATH 235. Survey of Prehistoric Mexico and Central America. 4 Credits.
Study of the development, form and history of pre-Columbian Indian civilizations, surveying the achievements of the Maya, the Aztec and their neighbors. Audit available.
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.