298. Experimental Courses
Reading and Mapping Landscapes: Tools from Environmental Sciences, History and Archaeology
This course will give students basic skills for "reading" the dynamic history of places and landscapes. Through readings, discussions and local field trips, students will learn approaches for investigating and analyzing historical landscapes anywhere in the world. Methods include GPS, landscape archeology, building archaeology, archival research and scientific techniques relevant to landscape analysis. Weekly labs will utilize Geographic Information Systems. Appropriate for future artists, architects, engineers, policy-makers and lawyers as well as those in history, anthropology and the environmental fields.
(Ninian R. Stein, Jenni Lund)
Environmental Anthropology
Clean air, clean water and food are environmental factors that underlie all of our lives. Our cultural backgrounds influence how we understand and perceive where we live and the natural resources around us as well as our ties to more distant environments. Natural resources from land to oil and water are at the heart of recent and historical conflicts as well as many international agreements. In this class, we will use the tools of anthropology to ask questions about society and environment. Topics may include landscapes, development, disasters, indigenous knowledge, activism, gender and sustainability.
Connections:
Conx 23009 The Environment
Native North America
This course introduces students to the major themes that have shaped the lives and experiences of Native American groups north of Mexico. We will explore the social, economic, ethical and legal issues confronting Native communities today such as concerns for sovereignty, repatriation, health, wealth and poverty, race and public representation. The course is interdisciplinary and draws from the fields of archeology, history, cultural anthropology, art, literature, film/media studies, law, and public policy. Prior knowledge of anthropology, Native American cultures, or Native American history is not a prerequisite.