Anthropology

Course Descriptions

Some of the major coursework in the suggested program for an A.A. Degree with an emphasis in Anthropology is listed below.  WWCC offers many other practical, student-oriented courses. Check the WWCC official catalog  for
more information.

ANTH 1100
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Physical Anthropology covers the development and evolution of both living and fossil man. Included are primate studies, man’s physical variations, genetics, osteology, and early behavior habits. The study of man’s evolution, his distribution, and fossil forms is emphasized.
Prerequisites: None

ANTH 1200
INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Studied are the structures and functioning of various societies and cultures, including aspects language, warfare, religion, kinship, economics, and political organizations. A number of widely divergent but representative cultures are examined in detail, along with their resultant changes due to industrial contact.
Prerequisites: None

ANTH 1250
INTRODUCTION TO WYOMING ARCHAEOLOGY
The course will cover the prehistory of Wyoming from the earliest known sites to A.D. 1700 when the horse and other trade items were introduced. The major focus will be on the Archaeology of southwest Wyoming with reference to other areas as appropriate. Topics will include a brief summary of archaeological concepts and methods, the role of the federal government, laws and policies, hunting techniques, plant and animal food resources, burials, artifacts, and rock art. A field trip to a local site may also be included if time, weather, and interest permit.
Prerequisite: None

ANTH 1300
INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY
Archaeology covers the excavation of man’s past culture, tool traditions, social developments, migration patterns and independent developments of civilization on various continents. Included are dating methods, site analysis, comparative studies, and various archaeologic techniques used in the field and laboratory.
Prerequisites: None

ANTH 1350
ROCK ART:
Students will examine rock art throughout the region. The course will introduce the student to rock art as an important part of the cultural landscape and provide an introduction to the cultural, historical, and diagnostic features of rock art in the West.
Prerequisite: None

ANTH 2200
WORLD ETHNOGRAPHY
This course surveys peoples and cultures in various areas around the world. The geographic careers to be considered will be indicated each semester the course is taught. Generally, it is a survey course on the prehistory and culture at the time of contact of the major island groups of the Pacific. The areas concentrated on are New Guinea, Samoa-Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Easter Island, and Hawaii. Of lesser importance are discussions of other island groups and the history of contact relations.
Prerequisites: None

ANTH 2210
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS
A comparative study of North American Indians using the culture-area concept. Major areas covered are the Arctic, Northwest Coast, Northeastern and Southeastern Interior, Plains, Mountains and Basin, Southwest, Mexico, and Yucatan. This includes a brief history of the various groups since European contact.
Prerequisites: None

ANTH 2310
ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD METHODS:
Students in this course will study Archaeological field methods used throughout the world. This course is designed to help the student gain knowledge about specific Archaeological methods by working on location, and how to work and live in diverse cultures.
If repeated, a maximum of 4 credits will be applied toward graduation.
Prerequisite: None

ANTH 2311
PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS
The class will deal directly with several important areas of field archaeology: inventory, site documentation and evaluation, and excavation. Course topics will include appropriate techniques of site identification and recordation, accepted techniques of site testing and evaluation criteria, and research topics for data recovery during large scale excavation projects. Participants will be introduced to site instrument mapping, principles of natural and cultural stratigraphy, proper testing and excavation techniques, and proper methods of recordkeeping and provenience collection.
If repeated, a maximum of 4 credits will be applied toward graduation.
Prerequisite: None
Flexible Entry

ANTH 2312
HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS
Archaeology is the study of human behavior by means of its material traces through all time in all places. This course will deal with excavation, treatment, cataloguing, and analysis of artifacts excavated from historical sites around southwestern Wyoming, such as South Pass City, Ft. Bridger, stage stations, and other sites of roughly the last 200 years (in Wyoming this means roughly 1790 to the present).
If repeated, a maximum of 4 credits will be applied toward graduation.
Prerequisite: None
Flexible Entry

ANTH 2800
ANTHROPOLOGY ACADEMIC Portfolio/CAPSTONE
This course is designed for students who have completed a minimum of 45 credit hours towards graduation. It is geared towards two objectives. The first is to insure the student can effectively prepare a technical report in archaeology. The second is to provide students with the opportunity to prepare a comprehensive electronic Portfolio which may help them transfer to another college or gain employment. In this course, students will gather documentation of their abilities to demonstrate the WWCC Goals for Student Success.
Prerequisite: Students must have completed a minimum of 45 credit hours.