Graduate courses
This is not an official university document, and is only meant to serve as a guide to departmental offerings. All interested parties should check with the official UCSB course catalog to confirm the course offerings listed here.
200. Summer
Field School in Archaeology
Staff (8 units)
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Introduction to the planning and implementation of full-scale archaeological
projects. The opportunity will be given to formulate and carry out research
designed and to direct crews in data collection.
201A. Classical
Archaeological Theory
Michael Jochim (4 units)
A survey and critique of archaeological theory from the nineteenth century
through the 1970's with emphasis on shifting paradigms and the implications
for research.
201B. Contemporary
Archaeological Theory
Katharina Schreiber (4 units)
A survey and critique of archaeological theory from the nineteenth century
through the 1970's with emphasis on shifting paradigms and the implications
for research.
202. Psychological
Anthropology
John Tooby (4 units)
Field from Freud and Mead to present; how human nature (universal psychological
mechanisms) and culture interact to form individual psychologies, identities,
genders, social attitudes, worldviews, and traditions; how cognitive development
shapes belief systems, reasoning and symbolism; emotions, preferences, thinking,
and pathologies in cross-cultural perspective.
203 Proseminar
in Archaeological Theory and Practice
Staff (4 units)
A proseminar for all incoming archaeology graduate students. Presentations
and discussions introduce students to the faculty and the discipimages/line,
focusing on research directions and professional preparation and conduct.
206. Current
Problems in Archaeology
Staff (4 units)
Course may be repeated for credit.
Critical examination of a selected aspect of contemporary archaeological research
and theory. Topics will vary from year to year.
207. Problems
in Hunter-Gatherer Archaeology
Michael Jochim (4 units)
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
A problem-oriented seminar focusing on major issues in the archaeology of
hunter-gatherers.
210. Basic
Issues in Physical Anthropology
Phillip Walker (4 units)
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
A review of basic issues in physical anthropology for graduate students in
archaeology.
214 The Anthropology
of Food
Francesca Bray (4 units)
Critical survey of different anthropological approaches of food production
and consumption: biological implications of diet; relations between agricultural
forms and political systems; the meanings of feasting and farting; cooking,
class and gender; food and national identity; fast food and global capitalism.
215 Cultures
of Science, M 2:00-4:50, HSSB 2201
Francesca Bray (4 units)
Modern science claims to produce value-free, universal knowledge. This course
uses feminist and other critical anthropological analyses of scientific activity
and discourse to examine how scientific knowledge is produced and the extent
to which it reproduces cultural values and social hierarchies.
216. Anthropology
of the State and Civil Societies
Mayfair Yang (4 units)
An examination of state and counter-state social formations in ancient and
modern societies around the world with special attention to state projects
of modernity, transnationalism, and civil society in non-western contexts.
218. Problems
in Andean Archaeology
Katharina Schreiber, Mark Aldenderfer (4 units)
An in-depth coverage of prehistoric cultures of the south coast of Peru, with
particular emphasis on Paracas, Nasca, and Wari. Course will stress both data
and its interpretation, and is aimed at understanding the trajectory of cultural
evolution in this part of Andean South America. The course will be run as
a seminar; students will be responsible for several class presentations and
a research paper.
219. War and
Coalitional Aggression
John Tooby (4 units)
The evolution, psychology, and anthropology of warfare and coalitional aggression
will be examined, with emphasis on small-scale societies and face to face
groups, as well as related phenomena such as mob psychology, lynchings, hierarchies,
factions, in-group bias, and ethnocentrism.
222. Ethnography
and Cultural Studies
Elvin Hatch (4 units)
The purpose of this course is to read and assess some of the major ethnographic
works by anthropologists within the area of cultural studies. Emphasis is
upon understanding both conceptual and methodological foundations of this
research.
223. Feminist
Theory and Ethnographic Practice
Mary Hancock (4 units)
Recent debates in feminist theory as they have engaged and reconceived ethnographic
fieldwork and writing: feminist interventions on poststructuralist and postcolonial
theory; feminist critiques of ethnographic writing; current debates on gender
and sexuality.
224. Households
A. F. Robertson (4 units)
A comparative approach to the domestic domain: its theoretical interpretation,
empirical manifestations and the methods appropriate to its analysis. This
graduate class examines, with particular reference to the involvement of women,
problems in the definition and comparison of households, their internal and
external dynamics, the material and emotional relations they contain, and
the issues of structure, power, ideology and sentiment involved in their analysis.
The course seeks interdisciplinary connections, and graduate students in History,
Sociology, Economics and other Departments are welcome.
225. Peasants
and Industrialization: "Traditional" Rural Societies
Juan-Vicente Palerm (4 units)
The interaction between peasant and industrial socioeconomic formations is
examined through three intellectual traditions: late nineteenth century Marxian
writers, twentieth century development anthropologists, and proponents of
the theory of the articulation of modes of production.
226. Power
and Meaning in Religious Experience
Mary Hancock (4 units)
Historical emergence of religion as an anthropological category, cross-cultural
meanings of religion, structure and agency in ritual discourse and practice,
relations between religion and nationalist movements.
227. Critical
Studies in Ethnography
Mary Hancock (4 units)
Recent work in anthropology that problematizes ethnographic research and writing.
Exploration of the impact of feminist and critical theory, postcolonial and
developmentalism critiques, cultural studies, globalization and transnationalism
on ethnographic projects.
228. Culture
and Spatial Practice
Mary Hancock (4 units)
Exploration of the sociocultural production of built form and the impact of
social space on human action. Readings drawn from cultural anthropology, cultural
geography, art history, and social theory. Assessment based on weekly essays,
participation, and final project.
229A. History
of Cultural Anthropology
Staff (4 units)
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
A history of cultural anthropology as revealed in the writings on major theoretical
problems beginning in the 1850s, the disputes, the solutions, and final appraisal
of where we stand today.
229B.
Foundations of Modern Social Theory
Staff (4 units)
Seminar introduces major post-enlightenment debates on social life and modernity.
Selections of Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Freud as well as major responses, revisions
and critiques in critical and subaltern theory, cultural studies, structuralism
and poststructuralism. Close readings of primary texts emphasized.
229C.
Issues in Contemporary Anthropology
Staff (4 units)
Survey of major theoretical trends since the 1960’s. Topics include:
political economy and Marxism; evolution, history, and anthropology; symbolic
anthropology; development studies; gender studies; colonialism and nationalism;
structuralism/post-structuralism; modernity and post-modernity; ecological
anthropology. Topics may vary with each professor.
234. Advanced
Theory and Method in Evolutionary Psychology
John Tooby (4 units)
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Interdepartmental research practicum in evolutionary psychology, biology,
and anthropology for students and faculty planning or working on evolutionary
research projects. Focus on experimental design, cross-cultural methods, organism
design theory, new adaptationist hypotheses, and the criteria for testing
them.
237. Anthropology of Development
Staff (4 units)
The role of anthropology in process of development stressing theory and practice.
238. Economic
Anthropology
Mattison Mines (4 units)
A critical examination of the main themes and theories of economic anthropology.
239A.
Research Design and Writing in Archaeology
Staff (4 units)
Prerequisite: graduate standing in archaeology.
How to design a fieldwork project and write a dissertation research proposal;
the search for funding agencies; how to deal with funding institutions, professional
organizations, publishers and employers; issues of a career in anthropology.
239S. Research
Design and Writing in Sociocultural Anthropology
Staff (4 units)
Prerequisite: graduate standing in sociocultural anthropology.
How to design a fieldwork project and write a dissertation research proposal;
the search for funding agencies; how to deal with funding institutions, professional
organizations, publishers and employers; issues of a career in anthropology.
240. Research
Methods in Cultural Anthropology
Susan Stonich (4 units)
Designed to give students a solid grounding in basic research methods in cultural
anthropology. Focus on the role of fieldwork, preparation for field research
(ethics, health, and gender), systematic data collection, qualitative data
base management, and analysis.
242. Archaeology
of Imperialism
Katharina Schreiber (4 units)
Theoretical and archaeological approaches to prehistoric empires. Overview
of major empires. In depth treatment of Andean empires.
245A. Quantitative
Data Analysis in Archaeology
Mark Aldenderfer (4 units)
This course is an introduction to the practical analysis of commonly-encountered
archaeological data using simple quantitative and statistical procedures,
such as exploratory data analysis, sampling, regression, and spatial analysis.
The course is taught in a computer-assisted (multimedia) format.
245B. Quantitative
Data Analysis in Archaeology
Mark Aldenderfer (4 units)
Prerequisite: Anthropology 245A.
A working knowledge of quantitative methods that aid recognition of patterns
in archaeological data; an understanding of the sorts of archaeological problems
that can be attacked quantitatively; and experience in research designs which
yield data that can be effectively analyzed.
246. Anthropology
of the Body
Staff (4 units)
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Examination of how culture is embodied and how the body is encultured. Topics
include: symbolism and ritual, objectification and discipline, health and
medicalization, cultures of perception (sight, smell, taste), sexuality and
eroticism, fashion and commercialization, emotion, and food.
249. Agricultural
Anthropology
David Cleveland (4 units)
Analysis of selected current world agricultural problems and alternative solutions,
integrating philosophical, sociocultural and biological approaches, and using
detailed case studies.
Prerequisite: Anthro/ES 149 or consent of the instructor. Limited to 10
students.
250AA-ZZ. Method and Theory in Anthropology
Staff (4 units)
A discussion of general problems in anthropology. Consult with department
office for faculty designation.
251. Methods
of Prehistoric Subsistence Analysis
Michael Glassow (4 units)
Assessment of approaches archaeologists use to reconstruct subsistence systems
and identify subsistence change among prehistoric hunter-gatherers and farmers.
254. Interpretive
Theory and Anthropology
Mayfair Yang (4 units)
Interpretive Anthropology proceeds from a recognition that human beings are
situated in a socially and culturally constructed world where our perceptions
and actions are mediated by language and symbolic/ideological representation.
Therefore, social phenomena cannot be merely explained in terms of observed
behavior. We need ways with which to take into account the role of meaning
systems both for the people and cultures we study as well as ourselves, the
observers. The course will cover varieties of interpretive theory in such
areas as economy, power, gender, and ethnographic writing. In addition, we
will also read some examples of interpretive anthropology. Authors include:
Clifford Geertz, Marshall Sahlins, Michel Foucault, Marilyn Strathern, Gayle
Rubin, Pierre Bourdieu, Edward Said, and Michael Taussing.
255. Anthropology
of Mass Media and Popular Culture
Mayfair Yang (4 units)
The study of mass media and popular culture, especially in non-Western contexts,
from an anthropological perspectiverole of media in constructing national,
gender, and ethnic identity.
257. Culture/Custom/Power/Law
Eve Darian-Smith (4 units)
This graduate seminar presents a critical review of the anthropology of law
and law-related processes. We explore classic and contemporary ethnographic
analyses of law and link these to wider theoretical issues involving colonialism,
postcolonialism, and globalization. Topics of contemporary significance will
include human rights, immigration and citizenship, and new electronic technologies
of censorship and surveillance.
258. Social
Theory in Transition
Eve Darian-Smith (4 units)
This seminar is designed as a broad introduction to some of the major theoretical
debates, epistemological shifts and topical interests in the 1960's, 1970's
and 1980's that characterize a transition from classic social theory to poststructuralism.
259. Governing
Societies: Modern Sociolegal Theory
Eve Darian-Smith (4 units)
Exploration of western theorists concerned with modernity, globalization,
and shifting relations between individuals and increasingly powerful bureaucratic
states. What is law, and how does it feature in the works of Hobbes, Rousseau,
Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Kafka, Foucault, Habermas, and Santos?
260. Cognitive
Adaptations and Cultural Transmission
John Tooby (4 units)
Cultural transmission between individuals and the distribution of representations
within groups and across cultures are governed by underlying cognitive adaptations.
New research in developmental, cognitive, and evolutionary psychology is related
to theories of culture, ideology, conceptual systems, and social institutions.
261 Proseminar:
Survey of Biological Anthropology
John Tooby (4 units)
A reading-intensive survey of the major issues, methods, and findings relevant
to biological anthropology, including basic paleoanthropology, primatology,
behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, and the study of physiological
and psychological adaptations.
270D. Problems
in South Asian Ethnology
Mattison Mines (4 units)
Seminar in selected problems in ethnology of South Asia.
270F. Problems
in Oceanic Ethnology
Staff (4 units)
Seminar in selected problems in ethnology of Oceania.
275. Problems
in Archaeological Ceramic Analysis
Stuart Smith (4 units)
Current methods and techniques of ceramic analysis for graduate students.
Covers both theoretical issues and data acquisition and analysis, including
residue analysis.
276. Culture
Contact and Interaction
Stuart Smith (4 units)
Examination of culture’s role in human history, with an emphasis on how
the combination of archaeological, historical, ethnohistorical and ethnographic
data can yield insights into the dynamics of interactions between different
groups at various times and places.
284. Advanced
Settlement Pattern Analysis
Katharina Schreiber (4 units)
The acquisition, manipulation, and interpretation of prehistoric settlement
pattern data. Includes quantitative approaches.
297. Graduate
Studies
Staff (4 units)
Prerequisites: graduate standing, consent of instructor and department. Maximum
of 4 units may be applied towards M.A. degree with consent of the graduate
advisor.
Graduate tutorial involving regular conferences with instructor and directed
research toward seminar paper(s). Attendance at relevant upper-division lectures
also required.
501. Teaching
Assistant Practicum
Staff (4 units)
Prerequisite: appointment as a teaching assistant in anthropology. No unit
credit allowed toward degree.
The course, designed to meet the needs of the graduate student who serves
as a teaching assistant, includes analyses of texts and materials, discussion
of teaching techniques, conducting discussion sections, formulation of topics
and questions for papers and examinations, and grading papers and examinations
under the supervision of the instructor assigned to the course.
502 Practicum
on Computer and Multimedia Applications in Ethnology
Staff (4 units)
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of microcomputers.
Students learn applications of computers, peripherals, and/or multimedia (audio,
video, slides, text, graphics) technologies to ethnology, analysis of ethnological
data, and construction of data banks. Reading assignments made. Students demonstrate
knowledge gained in a hands on demonstration. Final report written.
596. Directed
Reading and Research
Staff (2-6 units)
Normally no more than half the graduate units necessary for the master's degree
may be taken in 596.
Individual tutorial.
597. Individual
Study for Master's Comprehensive Examinations
Staff (2-6 units)
No unit credit allowed toward degree.
Individual tutorial.
598. Master's
Thesis Research and Pre-Candidacy Preparation
Staff (2-6 units)
No unit credit allowed toward degree.
Individual tutorial.
599. Dissertation
Research and Preparation
Staff (2-12 units)
No unit credit allowed toward degree.
Individual tutorial.
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Last updated: June 15, 2000 by EHH