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2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Descriptions
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SUNY Oneonta offers students more than 1,400 courses—from Accounting to Zoology—from over 25 separate departments. Requirements for majors and minors and course descriptions are listed under the departments that offer them; and these departments are arranged in alphabetical order. See the “Course Index” for details.
Please note that requirements, courses, and course descriptions are subject to change after publication of this catalog. Contact the appropriate departments for updated information. Also note that some course descriptions have been edited for clarity and consistency. Complete descriptions are available from the instructors or the departments concerned.
Key to Course Descriptions
| Abbreviation |
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Meaning |
| (PACT) |
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Activity course in Health & Fitness |
| CWE |
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College Writing Exam |
| (LA) |
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Liberal Arts (course is a Liberal Arts offering) |
| SUSF |
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Sustainability Focused Courses |
| s.h. |
|
Semester Hour(s) |
| SoS |
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Sophomore standing |
| JrS |
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Junior standing |
| SrS |
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Senior standing |
Course Numbering System
| 100 - 199 |
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Lower-division undergraduate-level courses. |
| 200 - 299 |
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Upper-division intermediate undergraduate-level courses. |
| 300 - 499 |
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Upper-division advanced courses. |
| 500 - 699 |
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Graduate-level courses. |
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Africana and Latino Studies |
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ALS 249 - History of U.S. in the Sixties 3 s.h.
The course examines the political, cultural, and social changes in the United States during the turbulent decade of the 1960’s. Topics include civil rights, the women’s movement, expansion of the welfare state, the war in Vietnam, the formation and demise of the liberal consensus, the emergence of the counter-culture, and the conservative backlash. Offered irregularly.
LA
Cross-listed as AHIS 249 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS or 3 s.h. of 100 level HIST course.
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ALS 250 - African-American Literature 3 s.h.
A study of works by African-American writers since 1890. The forms studied will include novels, short stories, plays, and poems. Offered every 2-3 years.
LA
H3
Cross-listed as ALIT 250 .
Prerequisite(s): COMP 100 or ALS 100 .
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ALS 251 - Cultures of Pan Africanism 3 s.h.
This course examines the intellectual, social and political movements among Africans and African Diasporic peoples who have advocated the political unity or solidarity of all people of African descent. The course will cover pan-African origins among nineteenth century pan-Africanists in the USA and Caribbean, the post WWI Pan-African Congress movement, the interwar anti-colonial arts movements in Western Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa (including negritude) as well as later intercontinental connections due to the influence of Frantz Fanon, Black Power in the USA and pan-Africanism in West Africa. Offered irregularly.
LA
OW3
Prerequisite(s): SoS and ALS 104 .
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ALS 252 - Latinos: Cultures on the Move 3 s.h.
This is a survey of the migration and immigration of Latino(a)s to, as well as within, the United States. The course examines the immigration patterns of Mexican- Americans/Chicanos, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Cubans, and other Central and South American groups. In addition to the specific immigration histories of these groups, attention is paid to the economic and political forces that push and pull individuals and groups to migrate and to historical changes in US immigration laws since the mid 19th century. Offered every two or three years.
LA
BC3
OW3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ALS 255 - Marked Bodies 3 s.h.
This intermediate level class in Women’s and Gender Studies as well as Africana and Latino Studies will work to trace the relationship between power and bodies. Specifically, this course will be interested in sexed, gendered and ethno-raced bodies. The course shall seek to discuss the ways oppressive inequalities, deviance and crime are constructed around particular bodies as power acts on them. It also considers the human and structural consequence of this, as power manifests itself in oppression, privilege and inequalities constructed by and around embodiment. Our discussions will include an attempt at a theoretical understanding of power and of violence, the inclusion/exclusion of certain bodies, the normalization/abnormalization of some bodies, the production of structures that favor and promote certain bodies and not others, old and emerging practices of body modification and sculpting, the visibility/invisibility of various body types, the relationship of our bodies to new sciences and technologies as well as to institutions such as the police, legislature and judiciary. Offered every two to three years.
LA
Cross-listed as WMST 255 .
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ALS 257 - Modern Black Literature 3 s.h.
A study of Black Literature written since 1950, using fiction, essays, poetry, and biography (or autobiography) to illustrate the development and influence of contemporary Black writers. Offered irregularly.
LA
OW3
Cross-listed as WLIT 257 .
Prerequisite(s): COMP 100 or ALS 100 .
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ALS 258 - Latin American Political Theory 3 s.h.
This course is a survey of the various political ideologies associated with Latin America. We will begin with the colonization of the Americas by the Europeans and end with the Liberation Theology movement in the 1990’s. The course will place great significance on the Latin American struggle for recognition (and freedom) from Europe, as well as the United States. We will also spend considerable time considering issues such as colonialism (and post-colonialism), the slave trade, the decimation of the native populations, the various Christian missionary creeds, and the impact of the Europeans on the environment. Offered irregularly.
LA
BC3
OW3
Cross-listed as PHIL 258 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ALS 259 - Citizenship, Democracy, and Identity 3 s.h.
This course considers the relationship between citizenship, democracy, and identity. We will examine what constitutes citizenship and how it is shaped by race, but also ethnicity, gender, class, and religion; how identity is constituted and shaped by race and these other contingent and non-contingent factors; and how citizenship and identity intersect in a democracy through forms of legitimate political representation, means of communication and participation, protest, pluralism, multiculturalism, identity politics, and voting. This course is encouraged for those considering careers in public affairs, international relations, social work, journalism, law, business, or education. Offered irregularly.
LA
BC3
H3
Cross-listed as PHIL 259 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ALS 260 - Philosophy of Protest 3 s.h.
This course is meant to examine the philosophical issues involved in the process of protest. Primarily, we will look at the development of a theory of righteous protest that coincides with the rise of democratic governance during the Enlightenment. This then gives rise to the idea of civil disobedience as the proper method for legitimate protest, as opposed to the destructive and damaging means of armed rebellion, as witnessed mainly in the French Revolution. But historical events like John Brown’s raid and Nat Turner’s rebellion complicate matters. Offered irregularly.
LA
BC3
H3
Cross-listed as PHIL 260 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ALS 262 - Topics in Racism 3 s.h.
The course examines different topics in western racism from the 16th century to the present. The approach is multidisciplinary and covers issues such as the idea of race, the US legal system and race, segregation, busing, reparations, the US census and race, etc. Offered every two to three years.
LA
OW3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ALS 263 - Slavery and Resistance 3 s.h.
This course explores the social, political, cultural, labor, and gender history of African Americans beginning with African origins and concluding with the Reconstruction era. Through the analysis of primary and secondary sources, students examine black women’s, men’s, and children’s experiences of the Middle Passage, the development of plantation slavery, the lives of free and enslaved blacks in the North and South, slave culture and resistance, interracial cooperation and conflict, African-American participation in the American Revolution and Civil War, slavery’s abolition, and Reconstruction. Major themes include African- American survival under and resistance to institutional oppression; alliances and interactions with whites and non-black people of color; African American interactions with non-black; class, gender, sexual, and political conflict among blacks; and personal identity, family, and community formation. Offered Fall only.
LA
Cross-listed as AHIS 263 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS or 3 s.h. 100-level HIST course.
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ALS 264 - Jim Crow to Black Power 3 s.h.
This course explores the social, political, cultural, labor, and gender history of African Americans since 1865. Through the analysis of primary and secondary sources, students examine: black women’s, men’s, and children’s experiences during and after Reconstruction; the lives of blacks in the Jim Crow South and those who migrated North and West; racial violence and anti- racist activism; black literature, music, and political thought; African American participation in U.S. government wars; the mid-20th century Civil Rights Movement; the urban rebellions of the 1960s; pan-Africanism; black feminism; and the Black Power Movement. Major themes include: African American survival under and resistance to institutional oppression; alliances and interactions with white and non-black people of color; class, gender, sexuality and political conflict among blacks; and personal identity, family, and community formation. By the end of the course, students gain an understanding of the various ways in which African Americans envisioned and pursued freedom as well as resisted efforts to limit or wrest freedom from them. Offered Spring only.
LA
Cross-listed as AHIS 264 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS or 3 s.h. 100-level HIST course.
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ALS 265 - African Politics 3 s.h.
This is a comparative political study of Africa south of the Sahara. Special emphasis is placed on the unique problems connected with the independence and post-independence period of a number of new African states. Political problems of the emerging nations, especially the role of the multinational corporations, will be discussed. Offered irregularly.
LA
OW3
Cross-listed as POLS 265 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS or 3 s.h. POLS.
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ALS 269 - Women of Color in the U.S. 3 s.h.
This course will use a multidisciplinary approach to survey the contemporary experience of women of color in the United States. We will explore the lives of African American, Asian American, Latinas and Native American Women in the context of historical, economic and political arrangements that give meaning to and shape their lives. We will also examine the cultural patterns which under-lie race, class, sexuality, and gender-based inequalities as a basic element of contemporary society. Focusing on individual and community experiences, we will assess the dynamic variation in women’s class, racial-ethnic and gender identity formation, their differential treatment based on race, class, and gender at different levels of society, and their responses to the structural arrangements that affect their lives.
LA
Crosslisted with WMST 269 .
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ALS 270 - Postcolonial Literature and Culture: Africa 3 s.h.
This course examines postcolonial literature culturally, thematically, and theoretically. Students read writers who have responded to the impact of colonialism in such geographies as North, West, and Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. The cultural legacies of British and French imperialism and expressions of resistance to it are explored. Offered every 2-3 years.
LA
OW3
Cross-listed as WLIT 270 .
Prerequisite(s): COMP 100 or ALS 100 .
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ALS 271 - Colonial Latin America 3 s.h.
A survey of the history of colonial Latin America from 1492 to 1762, which covers pre-Hispanic society, the conquest and colonial politico-economic and cultural patterns. Offered Fall and Spring.
LA
OW3
Cross-listed as WHIS 271 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS or 3 s.h. 100-level HIST course.
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ALS 272 - Modern Latin America 3 s.h.
Survey of modern Latin America that begins with the Bourbon/Pombaline reforms c. 1760 and covers independence movements, liberalism and other ideologies as well as U.S.-Latin American relations. Offered Fall and Spring.
LA
OW3
Cross-listed as WHIS 272 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS or 3 s.h. 100-level HIST course.
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ALS 273 - Race, Gender, Class and Culture 3 s.h.
This course will use a multidisciplinary approach to examine some of the ways race, gender, class, and culture intersect in the lives of women and men in various Africana and Latino societies and cultures in the Americas (including the Caribbean and the United States). Attention is focused on the historical, economic, and political context that underlie race-, gender- class- and ethnic- based inequalities that persist in contemporary societies. By exploring individual and community experiences, we will assess the dynamic variation in women and men’s racial-ethnic, class and gender identity formation. Offered Fall and Spring.
LA
OW3
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ALS 274 - Gender and Power in Africa 3 s.h.
This course examines the social conditions and gendered experiences of women and men in Africa contrasting the precolonial, colonial and postcolonial eras. Offered irregularly.
LA
OW3
Cross-listed as WHIS 274 and WMST 274 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ALS 275 - South Africa: Race and Resistance Since 1800 3 s.h.
This course covers the period after the British succeeded the Dutch as rulers of Cape Colony, examining aspects of frontier engagements between Africans and colonizers, the effects of a mining-industrial economy and African resistance to the white state. Resistance to the South African racial formation will be discussed in its myriad expressions: labor, religious, artistic, new social groups. Offered irregularly.
LA
OW3
Prerequisite(s): SoS or 3 s.h. 100-level HIST course.
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ALS 276 - History of Slavery 3 s.h.
A study of the institution of slavery, its origins, continuance, and contemporary residuals. Offered Fall only.
LA
OW3
Cross-listed as WHIS 276 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS or 3 s.h. 100-level HIST course.
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ALS 278 - African Atlantic: Popular Culture 3 s.h.
This course explores popular culture in Africa and among African diasporic communities in the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe. All forms of expression—music, film, drama, video-television and popular writing—are covered but the emphasis of a particular semester may vary. Offered irregularly.
LA
OW3
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ALS 279 - Hip-Hop Culture 3 s.h.
An exploration of Hip-Hop culture, its origins in African American and Latino music, dance and poetry, Asian martial arts and experimental art forms. Offered Spring only.
LA
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ALS 283 - International Political Economy 3 s.h.
A systematic and in-depth analysis of international political economy focusing on both state and non-state actors. Special emphases on multinational corporations in terms of their operating methods, goals and impact; multilateral organizations including the WTO, IMF, and GATT; and issues of government control. Examines issues of sovereignty, free trade, currency devaluations, labor unions, and the environment from several theoretical perspectives. Offered irregularly.
LA
Cross-listed as POLS 283 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS or 3 s.h. POLS.
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ALS 286 - African-American Women Writers 3 s.h.
A study of the history and representative writings of African American and Caribbean American women writers from Phyllis Wheatley in the 18th century to Toni Morrison, Rita Dove, Paule Marshall, Audre Lorde, Maya Angelou and Alice Walker in the 20th. Offered every 2-3 year
LA
H3
Cross-listed as ALIT 286 and WMST 286.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 100 or ALS 100 .
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ALS 288 - Borderlands: Latinos and Latinas in the U.S. 3 s.h.
This course explores the history of the Spanish colonization of northern Mexico and what is today the southwestern United States. Offered irregularly.
LA
Cross-listed as AHIS 288 .
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ALS 290 - Women, Race, and the Law 3 s.h.
This course uses written text and cinematic text to explore the legal conditions of gender and women in diverse contemporary transnational contexts. More specifically the course addresses how laws map out gender, women’s rights and social and ideological symbols. The course emphasizes the ways in which legal definitions and representations of women have been understood in terms of race, religion, occupation and constitutional rights. Coursework and class discussions will be grounded in feminist and cultural theories and critical legal studies.
LA
Cross listed with WMST 290 .
Prerequisite(s): WMST 130 or WMST 255 or ALS 255 or ALS 273 .
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ALS 291 - Gender, Race, and Sexuality in Popular Culture 3 s.h.
This course addresses how popular culture - film, television, music, mass and digital media - reinforces conceptions of gender and sexuality, race, and class. Using methodologies of gender, sexuality, and media studies, as well as critical race theory, we will examine the popular production, consumption, and reception of gendered social relations and roles. The course emphasizes critical inquiry regarding the production of normative and alternative gender and sexual identities, while noting their intersection with multiple, complex categories of identity, including most notably race, ethnicity, class, and nationality.
LA
Cross-listed as WMST 291 .
Prerequisite(s): None.
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ALS 292 - The City in African History 3 s.h.
A survey on the history of Africa’s urban past from the urban centers of antiquity to the megacities of contemporary Africa. Offered irregularly.
LA
OW3
Cross-listed as WHIS 292 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ALS 294 - Special Topics 1 s.h. - 3 s.h.
A focus on current, controversial, interdisciplinary, or specialized topics relating to the African-American and Latino experience. Offered as needed.
LA
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ALS 295 - Teaching Assistant 3 s.h.
This course will allow qualified students to serve as a Teaching Assistant for an ALS/Africana & Latino Studies course. They will aid the instructor in leading discussion sections, advising fellow students on papers, research and exam preparation. In addition to these tasks at the end of the semester the student will prepare a report on their experience. The course gives students a sense of how scholarship is used in the classroom and how courses are designed. The course will be only pass/fail. Offered as needed.
Prerequisite(s): JrS.
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ALS 299 - Independent Study in Africana-Latino Studies 1 s.h. - 6 s.h.
Problem-oriented research designed to sharpen awareness and powers of analysis in intra-cultural and cross-cultural experiences. Study may involve the learning of a foreign language, fieldwork, or research. Offered as needed.
LA
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ALS 320 - Urban Ghana: Past & Present 3 s.h.
This is a course in African urban history which contains an experiential learning or field component in which the class visits Accra, Tema, Cape Coast, Elmina and Kumasi, Ghana. Urbanization is examined as an important feature of Ghana’s history since 1500 with certain changes that broadly reflect West African history. This course has a distance-learning component involving ten days of fieldwork in Ghana (20 hours). Additionally, students will spend ten weeks in the classroom at SUNY Oneonta (25 hours). Offered irregularly.
LA
Cross-listed as WHIS 320 .
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ALS 351 - Literature of the Harlem Renaissance 3 s.h.
A study of Black writers in Harlem between 1920 and 1929. Offered every 2-3 years.
LA
H3
Cross-listed as ALIT 351 .
Prerequisite(s): JrS and COMP 100 or ALS 100 and ALS 273 or LITR 250 .
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ALS 353 - Sex & Race in Science & Technology 3 s.h.
Women & People of Color have a special, complex & complicated relationship with science & technology. In historical moments they have been ignored & made invisible by science and technology, in others made objects without agency. Their experiences & their critique of these will be the object of this course which will seek to interrogate these histories & relationships as we consider how science & technology have treated sexed, gendered, ethno-raced, disabled individuals & groups, and how they; in their turn have, & are transforming the workings of science and technology. Topics will include the politics of health & normalcy, hormones, genes and productions of gender & identity; reflections on science & technologies as alienating or constitutive, as disconnecting or empowering, as producers of materiality & meaning, language of science, language in science & technology, Feminist and Critical Race critiques of Science & Technology, controversies over transplants, implants, conception, reproduction, surrogacy, immunity, immunization, contested illnesses & so on.
Cross-listed as WMST 353 .
Prerequisite(s): WMST 130 or ALS 273 or WMST 255 or ALS 255 .
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ALS 368 - Political Development: Problems of Nation-Building 3 s.h.
An intensive study of political development in the developing world focusing on issues of civil society, state legitimacy, and political economy. Comparative examination of themes, including traditionalism and modernization, political culture, ethnic divisions, and economic development. Offered irregularly.
LA
BC3
Cross-listed as POLS 368 .
Prerequisite(s): JrS, passed CWE.
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ALS 394 - Special Topics 1 s.h. - 3 s.h.
A focus on current, controversial, interdisciplinary, or specialized topics relating to the African-American and Latino experience. Offered as needed.
LA
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ALS 395 - Senior Seminar in Africana-Latino Studies 3 s.h.
Brings together various theoretical and methodological issues associated with the study of the African-American and Latino ethnic communities in the U.S. Offered once a year.
BC3
Prerequisite(s): ALS major, JrS, and completion of 15 credits in the major and/or consent of department chair.
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ALS 397 - Africana and Latino Studies Internship 1 s.h. - 15 s.h.
The ALS internship is designed to augment the ALS major or minor by providing students with the opportunity to work and learn in a setting that enables them to see the practical applications of their studies. The ALS internship, like those in other departments, involves a work experience with a not-for profit agency or a business that primarily serves an Africana or Latino population. This includes community and social service organizations, governmental research and advocacy agencies, educational programs for children or adults such as literacy programs, or businesses, especially in the arts.
Prerequisite(s): JrS and have a minimum GPA of 2.0.
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ALS 398 - Seminar in Women’s and Gender Studies 3 s.h.
Group discussions and independent research studies in gender, race, class, and sexuality.
LA
BC3
Cross-listed as WMST 398 .
Prerequisite(s): JrS required, 3 s.h. in Women’s and Gender Studies recommended.
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Anthropology |
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ANTH 100 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3 s.h.
Using a cross-cultural approach, this course provides an understanding of human behaviors and beliefs, kinship systems, world view, social organization, and economic and political systems. Focusing on both cultural diversity and universal values, this course provides an understanding of contemporary human problems and needs, and stimulates concern about change and continuity in the global society. Offered Fall and Spring.
LA
SS3
OW3
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ANTH 130 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology 3 s.h.
An introduction to the study of the origin, evolution, and biological diversity of our species. Topics include the history of evolutionary thought; genetics and evolutionary theory; primate biology, behavior, and evolution; the fossil record of human evolution; and biological variation and recent human evolution. Offered Fall and Spring.
LA
NS3
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ANTH 140 - Introduction to Archaeology 3 s.h.
This class is an introduction to archaeological methods and theory. It defines the nature of archaeology as a social science including major events in the history of archaeology and the different approaches to the study of archaeology. In this class we will learn about the purpose and process of archaeological research and data acquisition and the methods used to date archaeological finds. We will identify and analyze the ways archaeologists reconstruct human behavior and explain the social relevance of archaeology to today’s world. We will cover certain key principles in gaining a better understanding of archaeology. Offered Fall and Spring.
LA
SS3
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ANTH 145 - Prehistoric World Cultures 3 s.h.
This introduction to world prehistory traces our shared human past from the emergence of human beings to the rise of ancient states and empires, with special attention to key developments such as the emergence of art, farming, urbanism and social complexity. Select ancient cultures from around the world are examined in-depth. Emphasis is placed on archaeology as anthropology and the relevance of archaeology to modern human society and politics. Offered Fall and Spring.
LA
OW3
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ANTH 201 - North American Indians 3 s.h.
An ethnographic and ethnohistorical survey of the diverse Native American societies and cultures north of Mesoamerica, illustrating historical and contemporary cultural transformations as political, economic, and cultural circumstances change. Offered Irregularly.
LA
OW3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 209 - Mexican Immigration 3 s.h.
Examines immigration from Mexico to the United States over time, emphasizing anthropological perspectives on contemporary immigration. Course is designed to illustrate the value of ethnographic research to social policy questions. Offered Irregularly.
LA
SS3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 210 - Anthropological Folklore 3 s.h.
A survey of traditional culture—culture which is learned orally or by imitation—on a global basis, with emphasis on folk life (material folk culture), ritual, belief, and oral tradition. Emphasizes the anthropological concepts of holism (traditions as aspects of the “way of life” of a people), functionalism (culture as a system of interrelated parts), and symbolism. Offered Irregularly.
LA
SS3
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 100 , SoS.
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ANTH 211 - Religion, Magic, and Myth 3 s.h.
A study of the anthropology of religion with special attention on the early roots of religion, mythology, systems of magic, and science. Anthropological theories of religion are applied to topics like shamanism, witchcraft, rites of passage, the religious use of drugs, divination, and ancestor worship. Emphasizes ethnographic studies of religion in small-scale societies. Offered Irregularly.
LA
H3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 214 - Psychological Anthropology 3 s.h.
The history of the culture and personality movement will be outlined and emphasis will be then placed on cultural universals and specifics. Cross cultural biobehavioral practices will be considered along with their varied expression in specific cultural settings. Offered Irregularly.
LA
SS3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 217 - Visual Anthropology 3 s.h.
Examines human creative expression from the Paleolithic Period to modern day with examples in media such as the visual arts, architecture, sculpture, personal adornment, and film. Explores how cultural beliefs are manifested in these media and how artworks create and sustain a culture’s belief systems, values and social relations. Enables students to recognize correlations between complexity of art styles and the nature of artworks in ancient, modern, Eastern and Western societies. Reveals that social context is an inextricable facet of creative expression which determines how artwork is circulated and received within individual cultures. Offered Irregularly.
LA
H3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 219 - Anthropology of Death 3 s.h.
Why study death? What is death? What is good death, brain death, undead? All living things experience death, but humans are unique because we purposefully bury our dead, often accompanied by ceremony or other rituals. We build pyramids for some people, while others are buried in unmarked graves. Some societies have yearly celebrations of the dead, others visit cemeteries on a daily basis, and still others never speak the name of the dead again. Why is there so much variation among people when it comes to death? Together we will explore these questions, examining how culture has a significant impact on a biological process. We will explore what death is from both biological and cultural perspectives, and we will examine how perspectives of death can and do change over time. Offered Irregularly.
LA
SS3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 220 - Linguistic Anthropology 3 s.h.
Surveys the anthropological study of language, including theory and methods. Topics include language, culture, and thought; language acquisition and language socialization; language and human evolution; language change; language as social action; ethnographies of communication. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 221 - Anthropology of Sexes and Genders 3 s.h.
Introduction to the comparative, cross-cultural study of gender. Part One focuses on the life cycle, including evolution and biological development, sexuality and reproduction, parenting and bonding, and nutrition. Part Two views women and men cross-culturally, comparing their roles and responsibilities in diverse settings. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 227 - Cultural Identities 3 s.h.
Examines major forms of cultural identity - ethnicity, race, nationalism - from an anthropological perspective. Explores how people create, maintain, and use cultural identifies, how social context shapes their form and content, and how form and content support social relationships. Students will explore case studies and theoretical perspectives, and write a research paper based on library research. Offered Irregularly.
LA
SS3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 229 - Critique of Civilization 3 s.h.
This course explores the concept of civilization and its opposite, the primitive or savage, from anthropology’s unique cross-cultural perspective. We will examine how these paired concepts figure prominently in the origin and development of anthropology, and how anthropology ultimately challenges the validity of both. This intellectual history touches upon the ideologies and social consequences of progressivism, romanticism, colonialism, neocolonialism, environmentalism, indigenism, the New Age, neoconservativism, and traditionalist social movements. The course is lecture based and includes several writing assignments. Offered Irregularly.
LA
OW3
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 100 or ANTH 105 or ANTH 140 .
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ANTH 230 - Primate Behavior 3 s.h.
An introduction to the study of nonhuman primate behavior, biology, and ecology, with broad coverage from prosimians to apes. Topics include classification, evolution, communication, social organization, and cognition. Includes laboratory and field studies of selected species. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Cross-listed as PSYC 230 .
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 100 or ANTH 130 or PSYC 100 .
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ANTH 232 - Human Biology and Culture Change 3 s.h.
This course examines the biological impact of culture change within the human species over the past 12,000 years, focusing primarily on changes in health and disease and demography in foraging, agricultural, and industrial societies. Topics include: principles of epidemiology, the ecology of disease, principles of demography, health and demography of foraging societies, the transition to agriculture, the rise of civilization and urbanism, culture contact, the epidemiologic and demographic transitions of modern times, and contemporary and future issues. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 233 - Race, Genetics, and Variation 3 s.h.
This course examines the ways in which genetic variation in the world today is used to explore questions of race and ancestry and the history and adaptation of human populations. Topics include: the history of race and the study of human variation; race in biocultural perspective; genetics, ancestry, and population history; and human adaptation and variation. Emphasis is on the contrast between racial and evolutionary approaches to human variation. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 130 .
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ANTH 236 - Medical Anthropology 3 s.h.
An introduction to issues in medical anthropology, explores the interaction of biology and culture in the production of health and illness. We will engage in comparative study and consider the diversity of ideas and practices that constitute health and illness across cultures and societies. The goal is to understand health and illness as products of cultural and social practice. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 100 or ANTH 130 .
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ANTH 238 - Anthropology of Reproduction 3 s.h.
This course examines women’s and men’s experiences of reproduction in anthropological perspective, including childbearing, childbirth, menarche, and menopause across cultures and societies. Emphasizes reproduction as a cultural and social experience. Offered Irregularly.
LA
SS3
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 100 .
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ANTH 239 - History of Human Evolution 3 s.h.
This course provides a historical review of the discovery of the fossil record for human evolution from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. This review examines how new data have been used to develop and test hypotheses in human evolution, with particular focus on the divergence of ape and human lines, the evolution of the first hominins, the origin of bipedalism, the origin of tool use, and the origin and dispersal of different hominin species including modern humans. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 130 .
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ANTH 245 - Native American Archaeology 3 s.h.
An examination of prehistoric populations in North America, from the peopling of the New World to contact. Emphasizes description, analysis, and interpretation of regional cultural sequences and systems from an archaeological perspective. Offered Irregularly.
LA
SS3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 250 - Anthropology of the Southwest 3 s.h.
A survey of sociocultural diversity and change from prehistory to the present in the greater Southwest, a region recognized as a major cultural borderlands and blending zone of Native, Latin, and Anglo-American influences. Archaeological, historical, and ethnographic examples from California to Texas, and northern Mexico to Colorado, explore the cultural outcomes of migration, trade, resistance, conquest, slavery, capitalism, activism, and ethnogenesis. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 251 - The Aztecs and Their Ancestors 3 s.h.
A survey of the prehistoric and early historic cultures of Mesoamerica, with particular focus on the first people in Mesoamerica, emerging agricultural traditions, and the civilizations of the Olmecs, Toltecs, Mayans, and Aztecs. Topics include the relationship between Mesoamerican past and present, cultural traditions, and the relationship of Mesoamerica to other cultures across the world. Offered Irregularly.
LA
OW3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ANTH 252 - The Incas and Their Ancestors 3 s.h.
Surveys the pre-Columbian history of the Andean region of South America, and investigates archaeological approaches to understanding that history. Outlines the development of Andean cultures from initial peopling of the continent to the fall of the Inca Empire at the time of European conquest. The Inca and several prehistoric cultures are examined in detail, such as Chavin, Moche, and Tiwanaku. Simultaneously explores select topical issues, such as human-environment interactions, plant and animal domestication, the emergence of inequality, gender, mummies and ancestor worship, art as communication, and the rise and collapse of states and empires. Offered Irregularly.
LA
OW3
Prerequisite(s): SoS, ANTH 100 or ANTH 140 .
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ANTH 253 - Women and Gender in Prehistory 3 s.h.
Introduces students to archaeological research and perspectives on women and gender in prehistoric societies and ancient civilizations, emphasizing cross-cultural variation in the past. Outlines the historical development of gender archaeology and contemporary approaches to engendering the past. Examines facets of gender (ideology, relations, sexuality, age, class, alternative genders, etc.) in past cultures and in a range of prehistoric cultural contexts (early hunter-gatherers, farmers and pastoralists, states and empires). Select ancient cultures (Andean, Mesoamerican, Egyptian, etc.) are examined in more detail. (Emphasis is on non-Western ancient cultures.) Offered Irregularly.
LA
Cross-listed as WMST 253 .
Prerequisite(s): 100 level ANTH or WMST 130 , SoS.
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ANTH 254 - Archaeology and Environmental Change 3 s.h.
This course examines, from an anthropological perspective, the interrelationship between past peoples and the environments in which they lived, over the course of world prehistory. The focus is on issues of environmental change: understanding how various peoples in the past have responded to climate change, how human activities have impacted and altered their environments, the various social and cultural factors and conditions that influenced human decision-making and behaviors during times of environmental change, and the outcomes (positive and negative) of those actions. Offered Irregularly.
LA
SUSF
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 140 or ANTH 145 .
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ANTH 259 - Anthropology and Dying 3 s.h.
Why study death and dying? How do we die? What is a near-death experience? Dying is a part of living, but we rarely spend time thinking of the process of dying. Additionally, death in the 21st century can be highly political and contentious. Do you know what a physician-assisted death is? What is euthanasia? These questions and more will be addressed throughout the semester. Together, we will explore the political and legal nature of death and dying. We will consider death and dying from both cultural and biological perspectives in order to have a more holistic understanding of the issues surrounding dying.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 100 or ANTH 130 .
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ANTH 294 - Special Topics in Anthropology 1 s.h. - 6 s.h.
Various topics in cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, or archaeology. Consult department or current schedule of classes for specific offering. May be repeated for credit if different topics are offered. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): varies with content of course.
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ANTH 299 - Independent Study in Anthropology 1 s.h. - 3 s.h.
Individual study (reading and/or research related to any aspect of Anthropology) under the sponsorship of a faculty member with conferences and written report(s).
LA
Prerequisite(s): SoS, permission of instructor.
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ANTH 312 - Exhibiting Cultures in Museums 3 s.h.
What are some of the challenges that museum professionals face when creating representations of other cultures? By studying several examples of exhibits in various institutions, students will gain appreciation for these challenges. In this class, we will discuss theories, methodology and issues in representing other cultures in a museum setting. The format for this class will be readings, film and lectures. Participants will be challenged to work together as an exhibit team for a small, culminating project. This course will provide practical experience to students interested in pursuing post-graduate education in museum studies and/or a career in the field. Offered Irregularly.
LA
BC3
Prerequisite(s): SoS, ANTH 100 or ANTH 130 or ANTH 140 .
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ANTH 313 - Ethnohistory 3 s.h.
Introduces students to the use of historical data in reconstructing the cultural past of a society. Ethnohistory addresses the spaces between studies of prehistoric societies based on archeology and studies of current societies based on ethnography. It is especially useful for studies of social and cultural change and ethnogenesis. The focus of the course is the use of primary documents (i.e. civil and religious records, censuses, images, texts, oral histories, etc.) to reconstruct and interpret social relations of the past, including kinship, social networks, social status and mobility, ethnic identity, and gender roles. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): SoS; ANTH 100 or ANTH 130 or ANTH 140 .
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ANTH 325 - Applied Anthropology 3 s.h.
Explores the use of anthropology in application to solving human problems. Traces the history of applied anthropology and teaches the process of applied research and practice through one or more team projects. Course projects are determined in advance by the instructor and are subject to change. Past projects have addressed local development options, historic textile preservation and interpretation, immigration policy debates, and cultural preservation policy cases. Offered Irregularly.
LA
BC3
Prerequisite(s): SoS and ANTH 100 or ANTH 130 or ANTH 140 .
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ANTH 330 - Paleoanthropology 3 s.h.
A detailed examination of the fossil record of human evolution and the methods of paleoanthropological research. The course covers evoluntionary events from the initial divergence of ape and human lines through the origin of anatomically modern humans. Emphasis is on the analysis of morphology and phylogenetic analysis. A substantial part of the course consists of examining, describing, and analyzing fossil cast material. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 130 .
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ANTH 331 - Human Skeletal Anatomy 3 s.h.
Introduces students to the study of the human skeleton (osteology) and the physiological and cultural processes operating on it. Topics covered include human skeletal and dental anatomy, and skeletal growth and development. Emphasis is on the identification of individual skeletal and dental elements and features. Course serves as a foundation for other courses in biological anthropology that utilize and study the human skeleton. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): JrS and ANTH 130 or BIOL 100 .
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ANTH 332 - Human Population Genetics 3 s.h.
An introduction to the study of population genetics, the mathematical basis of evolutionary theory and its particular application to human populations. Topics include: Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, mating systems, mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. Case studies focus on human populations. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 130 or BIOL 212 .
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ANTH 333 - Human Biological Variation 3 s.h.
A detailed examination of the data and methods used to analyze human biological variation, with an emphasis on phenotypic traits. Variation is examined in craniometrics, anthropometrics, osteometrics, skin color, dental measures, and dermatoglyphics. Variation is analyzed in relationship to sex, age, natural selection, and population history. A substantial part of the course consists of in- class lab experience in the measurement and analysis of variation. Offered Irregularly.
LA
BC3
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 130 .
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ANTH 336 - Forensic Anthropology 3 s.h.
Explores the field of Forensic Anthropology through lectures and exercises that replicate the methods commonly used. Students will learn about the methods forensic anthropologists use to assess age, determine sex, identify ancestry, estimate height, and identify traumatic injuries. The course also addresses how individual identifications are made and the role of the forensic anthropologist in law enforcement and in legal settings. Offered every two years.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 331 or BIOL 205 .
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ANTH 337 - Advanced Skeletal Anatomy 3 s.h.
This course will provide students the opportunity to apply their knowledge of skeletal anatomy attained during ANTH 331 and/or ANTH 336 to the indentification of fragmentary remains and the remains of subadults (fetal and children). Portions of the course will be dedicated to bone histology (i.e. examining bone at the cellular level) and dental anatomy. This course will be more focused and intensive for students who have had prior exposure to human skeletal anatomy. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 331 or ANTH 336 .
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ANTH 338 - Bioarchaeology 3 s.h.
This course will provide students the opportunity to learn about the multidisciplinary field of bioarchaeology. Students will be exposed to the various areas of inquiry within bioarchaeology, such as infectious disease, activity patterns, dietary reconstruction, and stress and deprivation. Students will examine photographs and casts of various pathological conditions in order for them to learn how to differentiate between the different conditions. Students will also learn the entire scientific procedure followed in bioarchaeology, from the development of hypotheses and collection of data through data analysis and interpretation. Offered every other year.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 130 or ANTH 140 .
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ANTH 341 - Zooarchaeology 3 s.h.
This course provides students with a background in the methods of zooarchaeology, the analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites used to reconstruct the interrelationships between people, animals, and the environment. Both theoretical and methodological issues are explored, with emphasis on the use of comparative vertebrate skeletal collections in zooarchaeological research, specifically those animal species commonly found in eastern North American prehistoric and historic archaeological sites. Laboratory experience is a central focus of the course. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 140 or ANTH 145 .
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ANTH 342 - Understanding Stone Tools 3 s.h.
The analysis and interpretation of archeological lithic (stone) artifacts. Teaches methods and techniques of analysis and identification of stone artifacts, and the use of lithics to investigate and understand the human past. Students will handle and analyze actual stone artifacts, hear lectures, and engage in reading and discussion. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 140 or ANTH 145 .
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ANTH 343 - Archaeological Laboratory Methods 3 s.h.
This course introduces students to methods archaeologists use to find, identify, preserve, analyze and interpret remains from archaeological sites. Students will learn field survey and sampling methods and laboratory analysis of artifacts from Native American and Colonial period sites. Students will learn how to gain insight into the past by studying the materials left behind by ancient cultures. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 140 or ANTH 145 .
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ANTH 345 - Field School in Archaeology 6 s.h.
This course is a summer field program that introduces students to methods that archaeologists use to identify, excavate, record, and interpret sites. The emphasis is on providing students first-hand experience with methods of archaeological analysis in the field and preliminary artifact processing techniques. Course readings, lectures, and discussions complement this field program. Offered every other summer.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 140 or permission of instructor.
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ANTH 349 - Cities and Architecture 3 s.h.
This course intends to understand and analyze the relationship between the nature and development of cities and functionalities, meanings, and symbolic power of architecture from a cross-disciplinary approach. Other than general introduction to the concepts and theories in the disciplines, selected cities will be compared. A city will be chosen as a case study each term. An intensive and exciting trip to a city may be required. This course will use interdisciplinary approaches to understand the formation of a city and the functionality and symbolic meanings of the architecture that builds a city. Theories are drawn from multi- disciplines such as geography, anthropology, communication and media, history, and sociology. This course can be repeated once. Offered Irregularly.
LA
Cross-Listed as: COMM 349 .
Prerequisite(s): 6 s.h. from ALS, ANTH, COMM, ECON, FAMS, GEOG, HIST, AHIS, EHIS, WHIS, POLS, PSYC, SOC, or WMST.
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ANTH 355 - Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology 3 s.h.
This course introduces students to the practical skills and field methods used by anthropologists. Included in this are: problems of participant-observation; how to conduct an interview; design of questionnaires and structured interviews; techniques of data analysis; still photography and audio/visual recording; and proposal and report writing. The skills taught in this course will be valuable not just to those planning field work, but also in many of the professions available to Social Science graduates. Students will learn through participation in ongoing faculty research. Offered Fall only.
LA
BC3
Prerequisite(s): ANTH 100 and permission of instructor.
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ANTH 390 - Issues in Anthropology 3 s.h.
What does it mean to be human? Are there human universals? How is behavior fashioned by nature and nurture? Is a unified discipline of anthropology possible? This seminar will assist students in answering basic questions about the nature of the human experience by considering practical and theoretical issues of interest to anthropologists and others. Students will discuss general questions in both cultural and biological anthropology, as well as examine anthropological perspectives on current events. Guest lecturers, film, readings, and discussion will form the basis of the seminar. Offered Fall or Spring.
LA
BC3
Prerequisite(s): JrS, 18 s.h. of ANTH coursework, and instructor permission.
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ANTH 393 - History of Anthropological Thought 3 s.h.
A seminar-style course examining the historical development of anthropology as an academic discipline, as well as common and unique trends within the four subfields of anthropology: cultural anthropology, archeology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Emphasis is on the unique nature of anthropology as a discipline that has roots in natural science, social science, and the humanities. Offered Fall or Spring.
LA
Prerequisite(s): JrS, 18 s.h. of ANTH coursework and permission of instructor.
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ANTH 395 - Teaching Assistantship in Anthropology 3 s.h.
Heightens the advanced student’s awareness of anthropology through preparation of materials for teaching introductory courses. Student works directly under the instructor of a selected course and is assigned special readings related to the teaching of anthropology to undergraduates. Students required to attend all formal class sessions and weekly meetings throughout the semester with the faculty supervisor.
LA
Prerequisite(s): 18 s.h. ANTH and permission of instructor.
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ANTH 396 - Research Assistantship in Anthropology 1 s.h. - 3 s.h.
Provides research experience to a qualified undergraduate student who will work under the supervision of a faculty member to support on-going research. Activities may include literature review, data collection and analysis, preparation of reports, papers, and presentations.
Prerequisite(s): JrS, 12 s.h. ANTH and permission of instructor.
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ANTH 397 - Internship in Anthropology 1 s.h. - 15 s.h.
Internships are available in institutions, agencies, and facilities such as the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, Opportunities for Otsego, Inc., Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, New York State Museum, Rape Crisis Services, Iroquois Indian Museum, and others by arrangement. A limited number of internships are available through the Albany Semester Program. See the department chair for details.
Prerequisite(s): JrS, 12 s.h. ANTH and permission of instructor.
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Arabic |
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ARAB 101 - Introductory Arabic I 3 s.h.
An introduction to the basics of Arabic. The course will be proficiency based, covering all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). We will place emphasis on active use of the language both in class and in daily homework assignments. By the end of the semester, students can expect to know the Arabic alphabet, to be able to read simple texts using a limited range of vocabulary and structures, to deliver an address about oneself in Arabic, and to engage in limited conversations with classmates, instructors and sympathetic native speakers. Students will also develop an acquaintance with some aspects of Arab culture through the exploration of Arabic-language media and Arabic-related web sites.
LA
FL3
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Art History |
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ARTH 109 - Survey of the Visual Arts I 3 s.h.
A survey of the visual arts from the Paleolithic to the Gothic period. Offered Fall and Spring.
LA
A3
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ARTH 110 - Survey of the Visual Arts II 3 s.h.
Discussion of major trends in art style and history from c.1300 through the 20th century, with emphasis on development of visual acuity and ability to recognize and discuss major trends in the history of art. May be taken before ARTH 109 . Offered Fall and Spring.
LA
A3
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ARTH 200 - The Language of the Visual Arts 3 s.h.
An introductory course designed to familiarize the viewer of art with the means to understand it. Examines philosophy, concepts, vocabulary, and processes of art though lectures, readings, slides, and exhibitions. Offered Fall and Spring.
LA
A3
Prerequisite(s): SoS.
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ARTH 209 - History of Greek and Roman Art 3 s.h.
Surveys development of the visual arts of the Greek and Roman worlds. Examines origins of Greek art in the Minoan-Mycenaean civilization; the development of art in the historical phases of Greek civilization from Archaic through Hellenistic; and the visual arts of the Roman Empire. Offered irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ARTH 109 or ARTH 110 .
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ARTH 212 - History of European Medieval Art 3 s.h.
A survey of the visual arts in Western Europe from the end of the Ancient world to the late Gothic period. Emphasis placed on the development of regional styles and the survival of the Greco-Roman tradition. Offered irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ARTH 109 or ARTH 110 .
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ARTH 213 - History of Italian Renaissance Art 3 s.h.
Traces the development of Italian art from c. 1250 to 1500, noting major trends and stylistic peculiarities of particular artists. Painting, sculpture, and architecture are discussed. Offered irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ARTH 109 or ARTH 110 .
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ARTH 214 - History of Northern Renaissance Art 3 s.h.
A survey of painting and sculpture in France, the Netherlands, England, and Germany from the 14th to the 16th century. Offered irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ARTH 109 or ARTH 110 .
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ARTH 215 - Art of 17th Century Europe 3 s.h.
Traces the development of art, architecture, sculpture and treatment in 17th century Europe, with emphasis on the development of individual and nationalistic styles and concurrent social phenomena. Offered irregularly.
LA
Prerequisite(s): ARTH 109 or ARTH 110 .
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