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Anthropology
Anthropology | Courses
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215 Machmer Hall
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Contact: Arthur Keene
Office: 209 Machmer
Phone: 545-0214
E-mail: keene@anthro.umass.edu
Web page: http://www.umass.edu/anthro/
Chair of Department: Professor Ralph H. Faulkingham. Professors Cole, Dincauze, Godfrey, Keene, Paynter,
Pi-Sunyer, Proulx, Swedlund, Thomas, Wobst; Associate Professors Leidy, Page, Urla; Assistant Professor Samuels; Adjunct
Faculty Abel, Chrisman, Di Giacomo,
Forward, Goodman, Harper, Holzberg, Kerewsky-Halpern, Martin, Mira,
Mulholland, Pader, Root, Wikander.
The Field
Anthropology is concerned
with the study of human beings, past and present. Through the systematic
investigation of the biological, social, cultural, and communicative characteristics
of people, anthropologists work to identify and account for both similarities
and differences among human groups and individuals. The anthropological
perspective assumes that questions relating to human differences and similarities
should be approached cross-culturally; anthropology is the only discipline
among the social sciences that has this orientation. Anthropologists are
impressed with the amount of variability that exists, not only between
societies, but also within single societies. It is one of the main tasks
of anthropology to discover and explain such variability in how people
live.
Traditionally there are four subdivisions of anthropology:
cultural/social anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, and
linguistic anthropology. Cultural/social anthropology is the largest of
these subdisciplines. Here the general focus is on culture, the set of
symbols and ideas that govern the learned behaviors of human beings and
on social relations and organization. Culture is the basic means of human
adaptation and is the major attribute that distinguishes human beings
from all other animals. Cultural/social anthropologists study people's
lives in different societies, including their social, political, economic,
and religious systems. They study a variety of peoples ranging from hunting
and gathering groups in Africa or Australia to urban dwellers in North
America, not only as distinct communities but also in terms of how they
are connected with each other. In attempting to account for the differences
and similarities between societies, cultural anthropologists are concerned
about the how, when, where, and, especially, the why of cultural variation.
Cultural anthropologists use their knowledge to help in the analysis and
planning of social change.
Archaeologists are a type of cultural anthropologist,
since they are concerned with societies and patterns of cultural behavior
in the past. They reconstruct past societies from their material remains.
The study of human cultural evolution is central to archaeology, as archaeologists
examine how and why historic and prehistoric societies have developed
and changed. Increasingly, archaeologists also investigate how material
culture helps to constitute society in the present.
Another type of
cultural anthropologist is the linguistic anthropologist. Anthropologists
are interested in language because language is perhaps the most important
element that has made the human, cultural type of adaptation a success.
Linguistic anthropologists study the ways in which language facilitates
both complex thinking processes and the development and maintenance of
the complicated social interactions associated with human life. Since
both language and culture are symbolic systems, the linguistic anthropologist
is interested in the ways in which these two types of systems interact
and affect each other. Linguistic anthropologists also specialize in the
description and analysis of languages and in the historical reconstruction
of early languages and their associated cultures.
Biological anthropologists are concerned with the biological
and biocultural dimensions of humanity. They study the origins and the
evolution of human beings as organisms, their biological variations, and
the interrelationships between human biology and culture. Since human
beings are closely related to the great apes, some biological anthropologists
specialize in the study of primate behavior and anatomy to help understand
our physical and social origins. Patterns of health and disease, human
genetics, demography, and questions of race and racism are other central
interests in biological anthropology.
The Major
The Anthropology Department
is one of the largest in New England, with 15 full-time faculty members,
about 210 undergraduate majors, and 85 graduate students. All four subdisciplines
are represented by the faculty of four archaeologists,
four biological anthropologists, and seven socio-cultural anthropologists,
including one anthropological linguist. The department offers more than
50 courses for undergraduates, comprising a full complement for each of
the subdisciplines.
Majors have a flexible set of requirements, reflecting
the very broad scope of the field. Students develop depth and breadth,
and select specific programs of study to suit their individual interests
and requirements. The advising system encourages students to consult frequently
with their faculty advisers about their course selections and their educational
and career goals. Undergraduate majors are represented on all administrative
committees of the department, are formally organized as the Undergraduate
Caucus, and sponsor social and educational events during the year.
The department has large research and study collections
in archaeology and biological anthropology, videotape and recording equipment,
an extensive collection of anthropological films, and several laboratories
for biological anthropology and archaeology. Field work opportunities
are provided by the departmental Field School in Archaeology (summers),
by the departmental Field Program in European Anthropology (spring semesters),
and through student participation in other ongoing research. Cooperative
agreements are being developed for anthropological practica with other
institutions, and internships are encouraged.
The major in anthropology is not restricted, but students
must meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in order to be admitted
to the major and determine who will serve as their advisers. Details of
the major and minor requirements are spelled out in the Guide to Undergraduate
Studies, Department of Anthropology. The Guide also
provides information about the departmental
Honors track, individual faculty interests, careers in the field,
and special programs. The department publishes a weekly newsletter, Megamemo,
available from the department office, 215 Machmer, which reports on matters
of interest to faculty and students in the region.
The Anthropology major requires a minimum of 36 credits
in anthropology, of which at least 30 must be in courses numbered at 200
or higher. These must include: 1) At least one course each in three of
the four sub-fields of anthropology; 2) At least one "hands-on" course
or project (e.g., a laboratory course, a prac-ticum); and 3) Two required
courses: ANTH 364 Problems in Anthropology I, and ANTH 481 Research Methods. ANTH 100 cannot be counted
toward the major; and ANTH 104 and ANTH 106 cannot both be counted toward the major.
Career Opportunities
Many anthropology majors
attend graduate school, although not necessarily in anthropology, since
the B.A. in Anthropology is a general degree. Anthropology provides a
good background for a wide variety of people-oriented occupations. The
cross-cultural perspective offered by anthropology is good preparation
for careers in governmental agencies, the diplomatic corps, personnel
management, human service agencies, teaching, and other settings. Also,
high schools are beginning to introduce anthropology courses into their
curriculum, and the need for teachers with anthropological training can
be expected to increase at the secondary level. At present, the demand
for anthropologists at the B.A. level (particularly archaeologists and
biological anthropologists) is rapidly increasing for jobs in cultural
resource management, the health care field, and international programs.
The Minor
The anthropology minor
enables students to gain preparation and grounding in some particular
facet of the discipline, without fulfilling the full range of requirements
of the major. The minor should be a focused course of study; it may focus
on: a) one of the four subfields of anthropology (cultural, linguistic,
biological, or archaeological); or b) the past and present cultures of
some specific region of the world (e.g., Latin America, Europe), or a
topical specialty that cross-cuts the subfields of anthropology (e.g.,
medical anthropology, cultural ecology, non-state societies). The range
of minors in anthropology is sufficient to allow a program of study with
maximum compatibility with the student's major, interests, and career
goals. There are no prerequisites for the minor.
The student interested in the anthropology minor must
first consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Department,
who records the student's entry into the minor, establishes the student's
advising file, and assists in selecting a faculty member to act as the
student's minor adviser. Each student undertaking the minor in anthropology
is required to work with an adviser, with whom the student then consults
to articulate the focus of the minor and to select the courses to fulfill
the minor requirements.
Although each student selects a set of courses tailored
to individual focus and needs, each minor must conform to the following
stipulations about the distribution and number of courses:
1. Five courses (total
15 credits) in anthropology constitute the minimum required for the minor,
with none taken Pass/Fail.
2. Of those courses, one
must be at the 100 or 200 level (3 credits).
3. Four of the five courses
must be at the 200 level or above (12 credits).
A checklist of requirements
for the minor is kept in the advising file of each student minoring in
anthropology. The student may review it at any time.
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged
to consider one or two semesters studying abroad as part of the major
or minor in Anthropology. Study abroad offers a valuable opportunity to
experience another culture in all its complexity as well as an opportunity
to gain a different vantage point on one's own cultural heritage. The
academic and personal challenges of such an experience can make a significant
contribution to the study of anthropology as a field as well as providing
a unique experience and developing a level of maturity often sought after
by employers. International Programs, tel. 545-2710, provides information
on opportunities in 25 countries through University-sponsored programs
and additional information on programs around the world through a variety
of institutions both here and abroad.
Experiential Education: Internships, Practica,
Community Service
Anthropology majors benefit
by acquiring as much practical experience in their majors as possible.
The department encourages students to do internships, carry out practica,
and to engage in the new Community Service options. Such experiences help
students to see what being an anthropologist is like and helps prepare
them for employment or graduate schools. Opportunities for this practical
training are usually negotiated with the help of the Director of Undergraduate
Studies, the student's adviser, or the department's Experimental Education
Coordinator.
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