ANTHROPOLOGY

Professors: R. Lincoln Keiser, Ákos Östör, Elizabeth Traube

Associate Professor: Douglas K. Charles (Chair)

Assistant Professor: Susan F. Hirsch

Visiting Assistant Professors: Sara Ohly (fall, spring 1995/96), Nicole Polier (spring 1996)

The field of anthropology is diverse, being as much one of the humanities as one of the social sciences, and with affinities with the natural sciences through its bio-archaeological component. Although anthropology majors choose one of the two basic tracks, socio-cultural anthropology or biological anthropology-archaeology, they are expected to become acquainted with the major subfields of the discipline. Students who elect a major in anthropology are encouraged to devise, in consultation with their advisers, individually tailored sequences of courses. These individual programs should draw upon the backgrounds and interests of the students and the courses available in this and other departments.

Majors are required to take Contemporary Anthropological Theory (201), the History of Anthropological Thought (383), a course on methods (see below), and one additional course from outside their track.

The methods requirement and courses from other departments countable toward the major are different for the two tracks. Socio-cultural anthropology track: Students must take Problems in Anthropological Field Research (362) to fulfill their methods requirement. Various departments and programs offer cross-listed courses that can be counted toward the major including Classical Studies, Religion, History, Sociology, American Studies, African American Studies, and Women's Studies. Bio-archaeology track: In consultation with the adviser and depending upon the student's interests, a course will be designated as fulfilling the methods requirement. Courses from other departments (e.g., ecology, genetics, geology, or statistics) can be counted toward the major. Students are emcouraged to take advantage of semester-abroad programs (for example, at the University of Sheffield, England during the spring of their junior year), and/or participate in Wesleyan- or other-institution-sponsored summer excavation projects.

All majors in both tracks are required to write a senior paper based either on field or library research: It may take the form of an extended essay or an honors thesis, either of which will earn one credit. Additionally, thesis candidates are expected to enroll in Anthropology 402, an Individual Tutorial, during spring semester of the junior year.

The junior year will typically include Anthropology 362, Problems in Anthropological Research (fall semester) followed by an Individual Tutorial (for thesis candidates) in the spring, or courses at an approved academic program abroad. The spring semester should build on the work accomplished in Anthropology 362 and prepare the student for summer research toward a senior essay or thesis. The department has limited funds for field or library research for the use of thesis candidates. Those wishing to compete for these funds must submit a full research proposal (including a budget) to the department by the beginning of the spring final examination period.

All majors must register in the fall of the senior year for Research Analysis (400) and for a Senior Tutorial (410) in the spring. Departmental honors in anthropology are contingent upon successful completion of a senior thesis within the constraints of the deadlines set by the Honors College, recommendation for honors by the tutor, and approval for honors or high honors by a committee consisting of the tutor and at least two other members of the faculty, one of whom is in the Anthropology Department and one of whom is not.

Double Majors. Students also may have double majors--for example, anthropology/history, anthropology/biology, anthropology/music, anthropology/film, anthropology/English, or anthropology/environmental studies. All the requirements of the two majors must be met, except when faculty representatives of the two departments approve alterations in a student's program. Please consult with the department chair or a department adviser.

The Anthropology Department also offers a concurrent BA/MA for qualified candidates. A written description of the BA/MA progam is available in the anthropology office or will be mailed on request.