Mount Allison University Campus

Academic Calendar 2023-2024

Table of Contents

Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of humans across space and time. It is essentially cross cultural, and attempts to understand the way of life of other peoples across the world; how they have attempted to solve pan human problems including food, shelter, and repopulation; and what worlds of meaning and explanation they have created. It is a comparative discipline seeking similarities and differences between societies and environments. Its study leads to a heightened awareness of the importance of culture and a sensitivity to cultural differences.

Note:  The Anthropology program is being phased out. No new students are being admitted to the program.

ANTHROPOLOGY COURSES

Note:  The listing of a course in the Calendar is not a guarantee that the course is offered every year.

Note:  Students must obtain a grade of at least C- in all courses used to fulfill prerequisite requirements. Otherwise, written permission of the appropriate Department Head or Program Co-ordinator must be obtained.

Introduction to Anthropology

The course introduces the major fields of anthropology (physical,archaeological, linguistic and cultural) and the major domains of cultural and social anthropology (types of society, social change,and political, economic, kinship and religious institutions). (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Special Topic in Anthropology

This course either focuses on topics not covered by the current course offerings in a department or program or offers the opportunity to pilot a course that is being considered for inclusion in the regular program. [Note 1: Prerequisite set by the Department/Program when the topic and level are announced. Note 2: When a Department or Program intends to offer a course under this designation, it must submit course information, normally at least three months in advance, to the Dean. Note 3: Students may register for ANTH 1991 more than once, provided the subject matter differs.] (Format: Variable)

Culture and Communication

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 3 credits in Social Sciences; or permission of the Department
This course presents an anthropological analysis of verbal and non-verbal systems of communication as well as the influence of language on human cognition. The aim is to develop an understanding of the role of bodily movements, facial expressions, and the use of personal space and symbolic gestures in the communicative process. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours) (Exclusion: ANTH 3231)

Anthropology and the Life Course

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 3 credits in Social Sciences; or permission of the Department
This course examines the human life course in comparative perspective. It expands on many of the anthropological concepts introduced at the 1000 level, but centres on exploring the relationship between individuals and their ecological and sociocultural environments throughout the life cycle. It covers such topics as birth, infancy, childhood, adolescence, family relations, and work in different cultures. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Environment and Society

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 3 credits in Social Sciences; or permission of the Department
A study of the various types of society, both past and present, that have emerged or been transformed through their interaction with their environments. The course will explore features associated with the major forms of society from foraging, through horticultural and agrarian, to industrial and post-industrial societal types. It will explore such themes as demography, resource exploitation, ecological adaptation, energy access, and environmental impact, in the context of social organization and societal formation.(Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Anthropological Perspectives on Development

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 3 credits in Social Sciences; or permission of the Department
An examination of development issues at the global and local levels, with emphasis on gender and indigenous peoples. The focus will fall on such questions as "What is development?" and "Who benefits?" The course reviews the contribution of applied anthropology, participatory action research, and popular education to development models, theory, and praxis. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Human Variation

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 3 credits in Social Sciences; or permission of the Department
This course explores biological and cultural diversity in terms of evolutionary origin and adaptive significance. It focuses on why differences exist and how humans adapt to varying environments. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours) (Exclusion: ANTH 2991 Human Variation; ANTH 3991 Human Variation)

Special Topic in Anthropology

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 3 credits in Social Sciences; or permission of the Department
This course either focuses on topics not covered by the current course offerings in a department or program or offers the opportunity to pilot a course that is being considered for inclusion in the regular program. [Note 1: Prerequisite set by the Department/Program when the topic and level are announced. Note 2: When a Department or Program intends to offer a course under this designation, it must submit course information, normally at least three months in advance, to the Dean. Note 3: Students may register for ANTH 2991 more than once, provided the subject matter differs.] (Format: Variable)

Classical Theory in Anthropology

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level ; or permission of the Department
A review of the historical emergence of and major approaches taken to cultural and social anthropology. It will introduce the students to the major components of evolutionism, neo-evolutionism, particularism, functionalism, culture and personality, cultural materialism, and ecological anthropology. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours) (Exclusion: Any version of ANTH 3021 previously offered with a different title)

Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Theoretical and Methodological Issues

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
This course explores the epistemology of systems of knowledge of Indigenous Peoples throughout the world. We ask questions such as "How is knowledge constructed?" "What is embodied in the terms "science" and "ethnoscience?" "Does Indigenous Knowledge differ from Scientific Knowledge and are there possibilities for integration in education, development and research?" (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Social Inequality

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level ; or permission of the Department
A critical and comparative analysis of social inequality, one of the original and central issues in social thought. The course will consider the major theoretical interpretations of the various forms of structured social inequality. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Anthropological Research Methods

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
This course introduces students to the central elements in anthropological field research methods, past and present. Topics covered include: research goals and project design; participant-observation and related techniques for acquiring original data; practical and ethical considerations regarding the field experience. (Format: Lecture/Case Studies 3 Hours)

Field Course in Anthropology

This course is designed to provide students with an intensive field experience, during which they pursue research on a topic to be chosen by the Instructor. As such, the course is not designed to be offered during the Fall and Winter terms, but may be available to students during the Spring/Summer term. Completion of ANTH 3311 (Anthropological Research Methods) is recommended before registering for this course. [Note 1: Permission of the Department is required.] (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Belief Systems

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
This course explores the relationship between ideas, beliefs and social/cultural context. It covers a wide range of phenomena, among which are magic, witchcraft, shamanism, initiation and other types of rituals, and religious movements. (Format: Lecture/Case Studies 3 Hours)

Folklore

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
A survey of the various types of folklore - tale, song, rhyme, riddle, proverb, belief, and custom with particular attention to their form and function in relation to their contextual setting. Collection and analysis of examples by students will be combined with the use of materials from the Mary Mellish Archibald Memorial collection in the Library. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Family and Kinship

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
A study of a central principle of social organization and a major institution in society. The course will investigate the forms and functions of kinship and the role of and changes in the family in relation to pre-industrial, industrial and post-industrial societies. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Ethnobotany

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
Ethnobotany is the systematic study of how people of a particular region use and relate to plants. The scope of the course is global with special emphasis on the ecosystems of the Atlantic Region. Each year focuses on a different ecosystem. This is a field course, incorporating field trips and site visits as a class and for independent study, and providing basic skills for carrying out ethnobotanical fieldwork - plant identification and description, taxonomies, applications of specific plants for food, technology and medicine in different cultural traditions, ethnobotanical research methods and ethical issues. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Health and Culture

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
A review of the relations between human health and culture, biology and environment, with reference to the social dimensions of health, sickness, disease, and treatment. Through cross cultural and historic comparisons, connections between mainstream and alternate medicine are explored, and the role of anthropology in clinical settings and international health is discussed. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Forensic Anthropology

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
This course focuses on the application of osteology to the medical-legal investigation of death, including description and identification of the victim, determination of cause and manner of death, and estimation of time of death. It also examines the methods of archaeological recovery of physical evidence. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours) (Exclusion: ANTH 3991 Forensic Anthropology)

Aboriginal Peoples and Cultures of Canada

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
This course is a survey of the dynamics of Aboriginal life in Canada linking its rich and varied past with the challenges of the present. It follows the development of Aboriginal societies in Canada drawing on archaeological, linguistic and ethnographic data to reveal a complex picture of regional cultural diversity. Attention is given to contemporary issues of rights, economic development, and governance. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours) (Exclusion: ANTH 2801)

Maritime Aboriginal Cultures in Ethnographic Perspective

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
This course focuses on the aboriginal cultures of Atlantic Canada, offering an overview of the region and critical appraisal of ethnographic materials relating to its various peoples. Topics covered include: oral tradition, language and identity, healing and traditional medicine, spirituality, relations with Euro-Canadians, political movements, and issues of resource management. (Format: Lecture/Case Studies 3 Hours)

Areal Ethnography

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
An ethnographic study of an area other than those covered in other 3800 courses. [Note 1: Students may register for ANTH 3831 more than once, provided the subject matter differs.] (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Southeast Asian Ethnography

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
A course addressing social, cultural, and political issues in Southeast Asia from historical and contemporary perspectives, and considering social change and culture persistence in the region and in particular countries. Current topics such as refugees, biodiversity, gender, trade and development, nationalism, the legitimization of power, and relations between ethnic minorities and the state will be examined. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

Arctic Ethnography

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
A survey course exploring the diversity of the circumpolar regions, Siberia, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia and the Canadian North. How indigenous cultures have flourished in the harshest environment on earth will be examined. In addition, current issues facing indigenous peoples today such as, land claims, self-government, intellectual property rights, and transnational linkages, will be discussed. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

African Ethnography

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
A course in which ethnographic studies of African peoples will be considered from a critical perspective. through course-readings and lectures and in extended class discussions covering a range of topics including art, ritual, gender, history, economy and world view. Students will be called upon to question the ways in which Africa and African people have been represented in anthropological, colonial and popular discourses. Current issues that dominate academic and popular writing on the continent and its inhabitants will be approached from this same critical stance. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

North African and Middle Eastern Ethnography

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
This course explores the themes of similarity and difference among Muslim, Jewish, and Christian populations of North Africa and the Middle East in historical and contemporary perspective. Topics include the relationship between state and society through such institutions as family, gender, ritual, law, and foodways. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours) (Exclusion: ANTH 3831 - Areal Ethnography Mideast/Middle East and North Africa)

Special Topic in Anthropology

Prereq: ANTH 1011; 6 credits from ANTH at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department
This course either focuses on topics not covered by the current course offerings in a department or program or offers the opportunity to pilot a course that is being considered for inclusion in the regular program. [Note 1: Prerequisite set by the Department/Program when the topic and level are announced. Note 2: When a Department or Program intends to offer a course under this designation, it must submit course information, normally at least three months in advance, to the Dean. Note 3: Students may register for ANTH 3991 more than once, provided the subject matter differs.] (Format: Variable)

Contemporary Theory in Anthropology

Prereq: ANTH 3311; 3 credits from ANTH 3021, 3031; 3 credits from ANTH at the 3000 level; or permission of the Department
This seminar course is an advanced consideration of theory in anthropology since 1980. It explores the emergence and impact of major national styles of anthropological thought as well as the contribution of key individuals. (Format: Seminar 3 Hours)(Exclusion: Any version of ANTH 4021 previously offered with a different title)

Critical Ethnography

Prereq: ANTH 3311; 3 credits from ANTH 3021, 3031; 3 credits from ANTH 3800 series; or permission of the Department
An advanced seminar exploring the relationship between anthropological field research - fieldwork - and anthropological writing - ethnographies. This course deals with issues of form, content and purpose in contemporary ethnographies. The status of ethnographic 'facts' and 'truth' is a central concern. (Format: Seminar 3 Hours)

The Anthropology of Performance

Prereq: ANTH 3311; 3 credits from ANTH 3021, 3031; 3 credits from ANTH 3401, 3421; or permission of the Department
This course investigates the ongoing construction and interactional nature of culture. This seminar addresses contemporary discussions surrounding performance as an analytical tool in the context of ritual, representation, identity, mimicry and mimesis, everyday life, and art, through a variety of theoretical perspectives. (Format: Seminar 3 Hours)(Exclusion: ANTH 4401)

Cultural Ecology

Prereq: ANTH 3541; or permission of the Department
This course explores the relationship amongst human groups and their social, symbolic and physical surroundings. It discusses cultural systems as the means by which humans adapt to, interact with, and invest meaning into, their environments. Students will become familiar with current theoretical, methodological and applied issues in cultural ecology with special emphasis on traditional plant knowledge. (Format: Seminar 3 Hours)

The Body in Culture

Prereq: ANTH 3311; 3 credits from ANTH 3021, 3031; 3 credits from ANTH 3800 series; or permission of the Department
A seminar course exploring contemporary ethnographies that focus on the body as a site and instrument of culture. Topics addressed may include the senses, violence, adornment, foodways, and movement. (Format: Seminar 3 Hours)

Globalization and Social Change

Prereq: ANTh 3311; 3 credits from ANTH 3021, 3031; 3 credits from ANTH 3800 series; or permission of the Department
This course uses ethnographic materials to explore the meanings and central processes of globalization as a force in reshaping social and cultural life everywhere. Particular concerns include the relationship between globalization, inequality and poverty, the fate of cultural diversity in a globalizing world, and issues of gender, ethnicity, the environment, social justice, and human rights. (Format: Seminar 3 Hours)

Issues in Anthropology

Prereq: 3 credits from ANTH 3021, 3031; 3 credits from ANTH at the 3000 level; or permission of the Department
A study of specific issues in Anthropology. (Format: Seminar 3 Hours)

Independent Study in Anthropology

This course permits senior students, under the direction of faculty members, to pursue their interest in areas not covered, or not covered in depth, by other courses through a program of independent study. [Note 1: Permission of the Department/Program Advisor is required. Students must obtain consent of an instructor who is willing to be a supervisor and must register for the course prior to the last day for change of registration in the term during which the course is being taken. Note 2: A program on Independent Study cannot duplicate subject matter covered through regular course offerings. Note 3: Students may register for ANTH 4950/51 more than once, provided the subject matter differs.] (Format: Independent Study)

Independent Study in Anthropology

This course permits senior students, under the direction of faculty members, to pursue their interest in areas not covered, or not covered in depth, by other courses through a program of independent study. [Note 1: Permission of the Department/Program Advisor is required. Students must obtain consent of an instructor who is willing to be a supervisor and must register for the course prior to the last day for change of registration in the term during which the course is being taken. Note 2: A program on Independent Study cannot duplicate subject matter covered through regular course offerings. Note 3: Students may register for ANTH 4950/51 more than once, provided the subject matter differs.] (Format: Independent Study)

Honours Thesis

[Note 1: Prereq: Permission of the Department is required] (Format: Independent Study/Thesis)

Special Topic in Anthropology

Prereq: 6 credits from ANTH at the 3000 level; or permission of the Department
This course either focuses on topics not covered by the current course offerings in a department or program or offers the opportunity to pilot a course that is being considered for inclusion in the regular program. [Note 1: Prerequisite set by the Department/Program when the topic and level are announced. Note 2: When a Department or Program intends to offer a course under this designation, it must submit course information, normally at least three months in advance, to the Dean. Note 3: Students may register for ANTH 4991 more than once, provided the subject matter differs.] (Format: Variable)