ANTHROPOLOGY

Professors: Akos …stšr (Chair), R. Lincoln Keiser, Elizabeth Traube

Assistant Professors: Douglas K. Charles, Steven Gregory (Afro-American Studies), Susan F. Hirsch

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), and a course on methods (see below). There are also Distributional Requirements for majors. Anthropology courses have been classified into two categories: Category I, theory-analysis courses; and Category II, ethnography courses. All majors must take at least one course from each of these categories and one additional course, which may be from either category but from outside of 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 courses that may be counted toward the major including classics, religion, history, sociology, American studies, Afro-American studies, and womenÕs studies. Bio-archaeology track: In consultation with the adviser and depending upon the studentÕs 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 may also take advantage of the Wesleyan University/University of Sheffield (England) Cooperative Program in Archaeology in the spring of their junior year. The program will provide four credits toward the major and will fulfill the methods requirement.

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, in the 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.

Joint Major in sociology and anthropology. The purpose of the joint major is less to encourage a unified approach to the two disciplines than to promote a broad exposure to both disciplines and a roughly equal distribution of the remaining program between the two fields. After completing Sociology 151 and Anthropology 201, students may be admitted to the joint major, which requires an additional nine courses. All majors will normally take Sociology/Anthropology 212 and one of the following courses: Sociology 202, 203, 211. In addition, six 200- or 300-level courses in either department are required, of which one must be a research seminar. Normally, the six topical courses will be divided equally between the two departments. All joint majors will present either a senior essay or an honors thesis based on either field or library research.

Double Majors. Students also may have double majorsÑfor 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 studentÕs program. Please consult with the department chair or a department adviser.

ANTHROPOLOGY

Professors: Akos …stšr (Chair), R. Lincoln Keiser, Elizabeth Traube

Assistant Professors: Douglas K. Charles, Steven Gregory (Afro-American Studies), Susan F. Hirsch

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), and a course on methods (see below). There are also Distributional Requirements for majors. Anthropology courses have been classified into two categories: Category I, theory-analysis courses; and Category II, ethnography courses. All majors must take at least one course from each of these categories and one additional course, which may be from either category but from outside of 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 courses that may be counted toward the major including classics, religion, history, sociology, American studies, Afro-American studies, and womenÕs studies. Bio-archaeology track: In consultation with the adviser and depending upon the studentÕs 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 may also take advantage of the Wesleyan University/University of Sheffield (England) Cooperative Program in Archaeology in the spring of their junior year. The program will provide four credits toward the major and will fulfill the methods requirement.

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, in the 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.

Joint Major in sociology and anthropology. The purpose of the joint major is less to encourage a unified approach to the two disciplines than to promote a broad exposure to both disciplines and a roughly equal distribution of the remaining program between the two fields. After completing Sociology 151 and Anthropology 201, students may be admitted to the joint major, which requires an additional nine courses. All majors will normally take Sociology/Anthropology 212 and one of the following courses: Sociology 202, 203, 211. In addition, six 200- or 300-level courses in either department are required, of which one must be a research seminar. Normally, the six topical courses will be divided equally between the two departments. All joint majors will present either a senior essay or an honors thesis based on either field or library research.

Double Majors. Students also may have double majorsÑfor 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 studentÕs program. Please consult with the department chair or a department adviser.