Current Undergraduate Courses

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall, Summer 1 & Summer 2, 2025

In this course students examine the nature of cultural variation of populations in the present and recent past. Its subjects include social, political, economic, and ideological aspects of human cultures.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall & Summer 1, 2025

This lecture and accompanying laboratory course examine fundamental aspects of the biological nature of humans. Course content is divided into topics devoted to explaining the scientific method, evolutionary theory, genetics, speciation, variation and adaptation, nonhuman primates, and human evolution.

Field | Archaeology
Term | Fall & Summer 2, 2025

This lecture and accompanying laboratory course examine the basic principles of archaeology. It includes a study of the kinds of sites; classification of stone artifacts; methods of archaeological survey and excavation; methods of dating by geological, faunal, and radiometric means; and the theoretical approach to archaeology.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

This course offers tutelage in professional scholarly writing, word processing software, library research, scientific and ethnographic writing styles, and effective use of anthropological literature. Because it provides core skills presupposed by advanced anthropology courses, students should enroll in it alongside their first writing-intensive anthropology electives.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

This course surveys the breadth of careers open to people holding anthropology degrees. Issues discussed include professional ethics, specialized skill sets, the transferable skills of liberal arts degrees, broad trends in the labor market, and steps toward pursuing relevant careers.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

This course is an ethnographically-based analysis of major theoretical positions and debates in contemporary anthropology.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

This course provides an introduction to the study of linguistic anthropology. We will focus on the origin of language and its evolution and diversity, the interactions between language, culture and society, and modes of communication. This course will enhance a student’s awareness of the complex interrelationships between language and other aspects of culture.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

Bioarchaeology is the study of human skeletal remains in relation to the archaeological record. In this course students will study theories and methods used in the analysis of human skeletal remains in bioarchaeology to reconstruct patterns of subsistence, diet, disease, demography, biological relatedness, and physical activity of past populations.

Field | Archaeology
Term | Summer 2, 2025

An examination of magic and religion in cultures of the world with an emphasis on recent works dealing with mysticism and the occult.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

This course discusses the impact of evolutionary discourse within the context of its history. Students will develop a thorough understanding of evolution and its importance to anthropology, as well as to other scientific disciplines.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

Through films, lectures, and discussions, students explore the various ways that ethnographic film interprets the cultural environment and social interactions of small-scale cultures around the world. We will also discuss anthropological interpretations of how historically U.S. (American) culture has dealt with concepts of the “other” and supernatural phenomena through film. 

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

This course is a general introduction to the contemporary peoples and cultures of Africa. Students will examine the social structure, economy, political systems, and religions of African cultures in the context of the radical economic and social transformations affecting the area. 

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall & Mini Session | May 8 - 29, 2025

This course provides exploration of Mexican American culture with an emphasis on the US-Mexico transborder region. The course integrates history, anthropology, and ethnic studies to capture the broad diversity of Mexican American experiences. Some of the topics covered include identity, social movements, Chicana feminism, transnational migration, spirituality, and cultural expressions such as visual art, film, music, and performance. 

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

This course will provide students the opportunity to conduct hands-on anthropological research on a variety of topics in local communities.

Field | Archaeology
Term | Fall 2025

This course will teach students how to interpret sediments and the nature of sediment accumulation at archeological sites. Course topics include sedimentology, natural depositional environments, weathering processes and soil development, stratigraphic analysis, and archaeological site formation processes. 

Prerequisite: ANTH 2302 or GEOL 1410 either with a grade of "D" or better.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

An examination of the long and diverse record of human and nonhuman biological adaptations as viewed from the fossil record. It examines the functional and ecological challenges that may have been responsible for the path of human development.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall & Mini Session | May 8 - 29, 2025

In this course, students will learn about the behavior, ecology and conservation of nonhuman primates (lemurs, lorises, monkeys, and apes).

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

This course examines the physical variation observable within and between human populations. It emphasizes a functional approach whereby variation is examined in relation to biological adaptation. It explores the biological mechanisms responsible for change and evaluates the potential of biological components in human behavior.

Field | Archaeology
Term | Fall 2025

This course examines the development of culture from early hunters and gatherers through the appearance of agriculture to the rise of civilization. The focus of the course is on the emergence of complex society among groups such as the Olmec, Aztec, and Maya.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Mini Session | May 8 - 29, 2025

This course provides instruction on the ecology and conservation of primates and the flora and fauna in their ecosystems.

Field | Archaeology
Term | Fall 2025

This course is designed to provide students with an intensive overview of historical archaeology method, theory, and artifacts in Texas and North America. Using the methods and theories of historical archaeology, students analyze historical narratives, which incorporates research, documents, and material culture from historic period sites.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025, Mini Session | May 8 - 29, & Summer 2, 2025

Forensic Anthropology is the recovery and analysis of human skeletal remains for modern legal inquiry. This course is an overview of the field of Forensic Anthropology illustrated with real forensic cases.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

The foundation of biological anthropology is the study of the human skeleton. This is a lab-intensive course in which students will learn how to identify skeletal elements, both whole and fragmentary.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Summer 1, 2025

This course seeks to introduce students to the fundamentals of linguistic anthropology, and the use of linguistics in anthropological fieldwork through lecture, discussion, and "hands on" class exercises.

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Summer 2, 2025

This course consists of a definition of civilization and its components, its geographic setting, and the roles of religion, art, and the institution of the “Divine King” in the development of dynamic state societies in Egypt, Sumeria, the Indus Valley, and China in the Old World and that of the Olmec in Mexico and Chavin in Peru. 

Field | Cultural Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

This course teaches students how to conduct field research in cultural anthropology. Topics include research ethics, problem formulation, participant observation, interviewing, and other techniques for data collection and analysis. Students will conduct their own field research project under the instructor’s supervision.

Field | Biological Anthropology
Term | Fall 2025

This course is for students who wish to advance their osteological skills. Students will learn how to identify isolated and fragmentary skeletal remains to estimate age, sex, ancestry, stature, and health of an individual in past and present contexts.