Course Descriptions

For the most up to date list of anthropology courses, please see the UTC course catalog.

ANTH 1100 - Biological Anthropology

In order to investigate our human ancestry this course will introduce the concepts of evolution, natural selection, adaptation, and genetic inheritance. Students will examine the human fossil record, comparative nonhuman and human primate osteology and dentition, and modern human biological variation. The course will also address the applied application of this subfield to the study of the evolution of modern diseases and other health related issues. In lab, students will apply and practice content knowledge. Corequisites: ANTH 1100L or department head approval. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed. 4 Credit Hours.

ANTH 1200 - Cultural Anthropology

The comparative study of culture, social organization, economic systems, political systems, sex/gender systems, religions, languages, and arts across diverse societies with special attention to non-Western societies, globalization, and cultural change.

ANTH 1400 – Archaeology

The study of human prehistoric and historic past as derived from the archaeological record. Basic techniques, methods, theoretical approaches, and major conclusions of archaeological investigation. 3 Credit hours.

ANTH 1500 - Anthropology Today

This course investigates the arc of humanity from an anthropological perspective across ancient and modern civilizations, providing insight into the human experience by considering social, cultural, and historic diversity in Non-Western and Western societies. Topics emphasize the shared human experience and current trends in anthropological research, including the origin of language, human evolution, the archaeology of prehistoric societies, culture in contemporary societies, the origin of complexity, globalization, and cultural diversity through anthropological methods.

3 credits; face-to-face

Prerequisites: none

Can be repeated.

No fees or special equipment.

ANTH 1600 - Bodies of Evidence: the Science of CSI

This course examines the role of the forensic practitioner in the legal system by introducing students to various subdisciplines of forensic science, including anthropology; ballistics; blood spatter; digital evidence; entomology; fire and explosives; hair and fiber; pathology; and toxicology. Additional topics to be covered include crime scene investigation, death investigation, expert witness testimony, and contemporary and ethical issues in forensic science. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 2000 - Native Americans

This course explores the prehistory, ethnography, and contact history of indigenous peoples of North America. Topics range from archaeology to contemporary problems facing Native Americans today. 3 Credit Hours.

ANTH 2120 - Human Variation

This course will investigate the variation that exists within our own species, both between and within populations. It will focus on the evolutionary and genetic basis of human variation, as well as its diversity, adaptive significance, and distribution. Topics covered will include: body shape and physiology, blood groups, susceptibility to disease, and skin color. It will survey the historical attempts to classify humans into different races, assess definitions of race as solely a cultural construct, and attempts to link race with intelligence and performance. 3 Credit Hours.

ANTH 2150 - Plagues and Peoples

This course considers the origins, antiquity, and impact of plagues on human societies from an anthropological and biocultural perspective. Students will examine historic, contemporary, and recent plagues through the lens of understanding why they emerge, how their occurrence is intimately linked to human behavior, and how they transform societies. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 2200 - Becoming Human

Origins of the human species, culture, and cognition based on primate models, fossil record, genetic evidence, and prehistoric material culture and sites, as interpreted by anthropologists using the scientific method and evolutionary theory. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 2250 - Wealth, Money, Power: Anthropology of Capitalism and Beyond

This course introduces students to anthropological frameworks for understanding economic processes. Taking a cross-cultural approach, the course will explore how different societies produce resources, how these resources are distributed, and how the creation and distribution of these resources reflect, reinforce, or undermine sociality, power, and social hierarchies. Topics include different forms of currency, neoliberalism, globalization, work/labor dynamics, and ethnographies of capitalism. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 2400 - World Prehistory

Topics of world archaeology covering the Paleolithic in the Old and New Worlds up through the development of agriculture and the search for the prerequisites of civilization. Comparison of differences and similarities in the cultural trajectories for various areas in the world, and their possible causes, will be stressed. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 2500 - Professionalism in Anthropology

This course will introduce students to a variety of topics in anthropology including ethics and professionalism, job market preparedness, and relevant anthropological issues. This course is structured around bringing both internal (UTC) and external experts to the classroom to discuss how you can use you Anthropology degree after graduation. This class is only open to students classified as Sophomores or above.

1 credit; face to face

Prerequisites: none

Can be repeated.

No fee.

ANTH 2600 - Food, Society, and Identity

Critically examines food as a fundamental aspect of social and cultural life and key concept in the development of anthropological theory and methods. Topics include power relationships; community building; exchange and reciprocity; symbolism; cultural rules and rituals; globalization; and memory.

3 credits; face to face

Prerequisites: none

Can be repeated.

No fees or special equipment.

ANTH 2800 - Underwater Archaeology

This course is a survey of the history, theory, methods, and problems of underwater archaeology. Particular attention is paid to the types of investigations and environments in which underwater archaeology is conducted and to the field's unique contributions to anthropology. Prerequisite is ANTH 1400 or permission of instructor.

3 credits; face to face

Prerequisites: ANTH 1400 or permission of instructor.

Can be repeated.

No fee.

ANTH 2850 - Historical Archaeology of the Americas

This course explores theoretical, methodological, and thematic developments in historical archaeology of the Americas from AD 1400 through AD 1900. This course provides insight into globalization; the archaeology of the African Diaspora and enslavement; and the archaeology of capitalism and colonization in New World societies. Topics emphasize field methods, underwater archaeology, conquest, colonization, plantations, the slave trade, bioarchaeology, curation, public archaeology, and the use of primary archival data in archaeological fieldwork. This class evaluates cultural diversity in the historic period through archaeological methods and introduces students to basic classes of material culture from the historic period. Every other Spring semester. 3 credit hours. 

ANTH 2900 - Tennessee Archaeology

The archaeology of prehistoric and historic Tennessee. Based on archaeological research, an overview of the history of human occupation in the state of Tennessee is presented. Emphasis on local sites whenever possible. Prerequisites: ANTH 1200 or ANTH 1400 or ANTH 3360 or department head approval. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 2999r - Group Studies

Department may have additional prerequisite requirements. On demand. Prerequisites: department head approval. 1-9 Credit Hours.

ANTH 3030 - Primate Behavior and Ecology

A comparative survey of the ecology, social behavior , and cognitive ability of nonhuman primates, especially monkeys and apes, with emphasis on the evolutionary factors that have shaped primate behavior. Prerequisites: ANTH 1100 or PSY 1010 or department head approval. May be registered as PSY 3150. No credit in both ANTH 3030 and PSY 3150. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 3125 - Cultures of Latin America

This course is an introduction to the many cultures of Latin America. Topics cover the sociopolitical and economic systems of indigenous peoples, rural-urban migration, peoples of the rainforests and their interaction with the local ecology, labor migration to the United States, and the survival of native culture in Latin America. Prerequisites: ANTH 1200 or Department Head approval. 3 credit hours. 

ANTH 3160 - Chinese Society and Culture

This course provides a general introduction of the culture and social structure of China. Topics of discussions include the origin of the Chinese culture, family and social organization, religion, ideology, and tradition vs. modernization. Prerequisites: ANTH 1200 or department head approval. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 3210 - Anthropological Theory

A systematic survey of the development of major theories in anthropology with particular attention to theories of culture. Prerequisites: 9 hours of anthropology or department head approval. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 3220 - Health and Illness: Socio-Cultural Perspectives

Cross-cultural study of medicine and disease; the relationship between the development of medicines and medical care, including-non-Western medical systems, and cultural beliefs, social systems, ecological adaptations, and cultural changes of human groups. Prerequisites: ANTH 1200 or department head approval. May be registered as SOC 3650 or PSY 3220. Credit allowed in only one of the three courses. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 3230 - Anthropology of Death and Burial

This seminar will examine cross-cultural variation in mortuary behavior. The goal of this seminar is to provide students with foundational knowledge in the anthropological literature of mortuary studies. Students will be introduced to theoretical approaches to studying burial practices in the archaeological record as well as ethnographic examples of various mortuary rituals in modern societies. Course discussions will center on various case studies from ethnographic and archaeological examples. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 3250 - Human Osteology

This course introduces the concepts and methods used in the identification of human skeletal remains from forensic and archaeological contexts. Course content focuses on the relationship between soft tissues and whole bone anatomy, as well as skeletal biology, growth, and development. The skills learned and practiced in this course provide a strong foundation for more advanced studies in comparative anatomy, bioarchaeology, forensic anthropology, and paleopathology. This course includes lectures, workshops, and practical applications. 3 credit hours. 

ANTH 3330 - The Archaeology of Latin America

This course is designed to familiarize students with the prehistory of their Latin American neighbors, highlighting some of the major cultural groups of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, including the Olmec, Maya, Zapotec and Aztec. It will provide the foundation needed to understand contemporary Latin America, highlighting continuities between the region’s prehistoric cultures and today’s indigenous groups. Prerequisites: ANTH 1400 or department head approval.

ANTH 3360 - Southeastern Native Americans

Native Americans of the Southeast, their subsistence patterns, social organization, political structures, and belief systems, as derived from archaeological, documentary, and ethnographic sources. Emphasis is given to the late prehistoric and early historic periods. Prerequisites: ANTH 1200 or ANTH 1400 or department head approval. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 3380 - Sociocultural Studies of Aging

A basic course in social and cultural studies of aging using multidisciplinary and comparative approaches to provide a comprehensive introduction to the human experience of aging. Prerequisites: ANTH 1000 or ANTH 1200 or SOC 1510 or SOC 2150 or department head approval. May be registered as SOC 3570. Credit not allowed in both ANTH 3380 and SOC 3570. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 3410 - Culture, Environment, Power

Examines recent approaches to the study of the relationship between humans and the environment. Considers historical relationship between nature, science, and colonial expansion as well as key issues of contemporary environmental concern: conservation, environmental justice, sustainable development, and social movements. Prerequisites: ANTH 1200 or department head approval.

ANTH 3650 - Ethics in Forensic Science

This course examines the roles, responsibilities, and ethical considerations of the practicing forensic scientist in the criminal justice system. It considers how the criminal justice system was born and how it has been shaped and reshaped through forensic practice and societal change. Students will discern between rigorous scientific methods and “junk science” and reflect on the foundations of ethical forensic practice. The course will also prepare students to pursue careers in forensic science. The course concludes with a mock deposition to provide students the opportunity to practice serving as expert witnesses. Prerequisites: ANTH 1600 or Department Head approval. 3 credit hours. 

ANTH 3700- Emotions in Social and Cultural Contexts

Emotion is not only an integral part of human life, it is also, human life itself. Even though the abilities of having and expressing emotions are biologically based, the specific ways we experience and express emotions are however socially and culturally constructed and shaped. This course, relying on the use of anthropological/sociological/psychological literature on the study of emotions from both western and non-western societies provides students with cross-cultural and comparative approaches in examining and illustrating the social and cultural forces in shaping and regulating the personality, the meanings and practices of emotion expressions, and how these practices play a role contributing to human, family, and social relations and population health. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 4100 - Applied Anthropology

A systematic inquiry of various applications of anthropology to solve human problems, both internationally and within the United States. Discussions include the history of applied anthropology, ethical considerations, methods and the roles of anthropologists in contemporary cultural and economic development. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 4140 - Research Seminar

The use of social research techniques to report on social and cultural phenomena; data collection and analysis, writing of a research report. Research project required of all students. Prerequisites: SOC 3140 or ANTH 3100 or department head approval. May be registered as SOC 4140 . Credit not allowed in both SOC 4140 and ANTH 4140. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 4200 - Ethnographic Methods

This course introduces the key elements of ethnographic research and the role it plays in generating social and cultural knowledge. Topics include ethnographic research design, participant observation, interviewing, data analysis, and developing ethnographic projects. Prerequisites: a statistics course (SOC 2500 recommended) and ANTH 1200 or ANTH 1300, or department head approval. 3 credit hours. 

ANTH 4300 - Archaeological Field Methods

Theory, method, and techniques of field research in archaeology, training and practice in surveying, photography, field recording, and other basic skills. Prerequisites: department head approval. 3 or 6 Credit Hours.

ANTH 4400 - Archaeological Laboratory Methods

An overview of laboratory methods in archaeology. This course is designed to give students fundamental proficiency in the skills expected of them on today’s job market should they gain employment in an archaeological laboratory or continue to pursue graduate studies in archaeology. This course will give students hands-on experience with artifact cleaning, sorting and identification, conservation, cataloging, data entry, and basic data analytics. Students will also learn the basics of analyzing various materials, including but not limited to lithics, ceramics, faunal and floral remains, sediments, metals, and glass. Class will culminate in collaborative work cleaning, sorting, cataloging and analyzing a real archaeological assemblage collected by UTC students. There are no prerequisites for this course.

3 credits; face to face

Prerequisites: ANTH 1400 or instructor approval.

Can be repeated.

No lab fee or special equipment.

ANTH 4500 - Archives, Collections Management, and Curation

This course provides an overview of museum collections management and curation, focusing on archaeological materials and archives in anthropology. Through lectures, field trips, and hands-on lab experience, students will learn theory, method, and techniques related to the long-term care of artifacts and records. Also covers challenges of preservation, related legislation, and the ethics of archaeological preservation in museum collections.

3 credits; face to face

Prerequisites: ANTH 1400 or prior approval of the instructor

Can be repeated.

No lab fee or special equipment.

ANTH 4600 - Forensic Anthropology

This course focuses on the application of biological anthropology within the realm of forensic science. It examines the work of a forensic anthropologist and how individual identifications are made from skeletal and dental remains. Emphasis is given to the role of the forensic anthropologist within the environment of a medical examiner’s office. Topics include the osteological assessment of age, sex, ancestry, stature, trauma, pathology, taphonomy, and the estimation of the postmortem interval. This course includes lectures, readings, and anatomical laboratory exercises that will underscore the medicolegal importance of the human skeleton. Prerequisites: ANTH 1100 or department head approval. 3 credit hours.

ANTH 4940R - Anthropology Internship

This internship provides opportunities for “hands on” experience in an anthropological research setting, integrating classroom theory with practice within the discipline of anthropology. Interns will work with faculty mentors to develop the requisite competencies necessary for an anthropological practitioner through directed research, independent studies, service learning, and/or other duties as assigned. Prerequisites: ANTH 2500, minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, or department head approval. Interns must also have personal interview with and approval of their faculty mentor prior to registration. Anthropology major or minor. Junior standing. 

ANTH 4950R - Community Engagement Internship

Supervised internship with a community partner; provides students with hands-on experience applying anthropology outside the classroom, professional development, and insight into community needs. Admission requires written application filed with the internship coordinator no later than two months prior to the first day of the semester in which the student plans to enroll in the course. Prerequisites: ANTH 2500, 2.75 overall GPA, or Department Head approval. Student must file application with the internship coordinator no later than two months prior to the first day of the semester in which the student plans to enroll in the course. In addition, student must have personal interview with the internship coordinator and approval of instructor. Anthropology major or minor. Junior standing. Satisfactory/No Credit. Effective Spring 2024. 

ANTH 4995R - Departmental Thesis

Department may have additional prerequisite requirements. Student must submit an Individual Studies/Research Contract to the Registrar at the time of registration. Every semester. Requires University Honors approval. 1-3 Credit Hours.

ANTH 4997R - Research

Department may have additional prerequisite requirements. Student must submit an Individual Studies/Research Contract to the Registrar at the time of registration. Every semester. Prerequisites: department head approval. 1-9 Credit Hours. 

ANTH 4998R - Individual Studies

Department may have additional prerequisite requirements. Student must submit an Individual Studies/Research Contract to the Registrar at the time of registration. Every semester. Prerequisites: department head approval. 1-9 Credit Hours.

ANTH 4999R - Group Studies

Department may have additional prerequisite requirements. On demand. Prerequisites: department head approval. 1-9 Credit Hours.