ANTHROPOLOGY OVERVIEW
The word anthropology comes from the Greek
words ánthropos, meaning "human", and lógos,
which refers to doctrine, theory or science. Loosely defined, anthropology
is the comprehensive study of humankind with an emphasis on culture. It
is a holistic field which can touch on multiple specific disciplines, including
humanistic approaches from history to literature, the empirical or "natural"
sciences from geology to physics, as well as behavioral studies such as
sociology to psychology. Often, anthropological research is multidisciplinary,
with specialized divisions including paleoethnobotany, taphonomy and forensics.
In
the United States, the study of anthropology is sub-divided into four
major areas of specialization: cultural, archaeological, linguistic and
biological anthropology.
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Cultural Anthropology (Ethnology) studies living human cultures
in order to create a cross-cultural understanding of human behavior -
distinguished by field-research conducted via participant observation.
Archaeology focuses on the material remains
of past peoples to study their cultures, investigate causality in the development
of human institutions, and to contribute to a cross-cultural understanding
of human behavior.
Linguistic Anthropology studies the fundamental
structures of human language as well as the culturally patterned usages
of language in social interaction.
Biological Anthropology studies the
emergence and subsequent biological adaptations of humanity as a species
influenced by their environments and uniquely capacitated by their culture.
Applied Anthropology
attempts to address contemporary social concerns through the application
of anthropological principles. Often, the applied anthropologist develops
specifically designed reform programs focusing on matters such as the recognition
of human rights, language revival, preservation of natural resources, or
international business negotiations. Generally, the applied anthropologist
works from within his or her own culture, albeit outside traditional academic
settings.
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What to expect from Anthropology at PLU
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| Anthropology students at PLU will be introduced
to all four of the sub-disciplines, and have opportunities for more specialized
involvement in cultural anthropology and archaeology.
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Check out what's going on during J-Term!
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| Anth. 192J or Anth. 491 - Practicing Anthropology: Makah
Culture, Past and Present
The Makah Nation is located on the Northwest portion of the Olympic Peninsula
in Washington State. The Tribe has an active cultural research program.
It's archaeological, historical, and anthropological research have shed
light on the Makah way of life over the last 3,000 years. This class will
study Makah culture and contribute to a research/ service project arranged
by the Makah Culture and Research Center. Part of the month-long class
will be spent in Neah Bay on the Makah Reservation. Students will receive
instruction in Makah Culture by Makah, contribute to a project, and learn
what life in Neah Bay is like. In addition, the class will examine the
methods of anthroplogical research as well as the ethics and responsibilities
of such research.
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Special Departmental Offerings:
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| Anthropology Laboratory |
The departmental lab emphasizes archaeological
teaching and provides an excellent opportunity for students to apply scientific
methods of hypothesis testing in the context of the social sciences. Among
the goals of the program are to teach archaeological recording techniques,
to develop an understanding of the procedures and mastery of the techniques
of specific instruments, and to familiarize students with the analysis of
artifactual and paleoenvironmental data. |
| Summer Archaeological Field School |
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Both the drama and the routine of an archaeological
dig will be a reality for students enrolled in the summer field experience.
Students will have the opportunity to participate in the excavation and
analysis of a nearby site. |
| J-Term Courses Off Campus |
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In
recent years courses have been taught off-campus in Neah Bay
(Makah Nation), Hawaii, Tacoma neighborhoods and the Navajo
reservation. These and others now in planning stages offer students the
opportunity to learn from experts about their own cultures. |
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Course Offerings: |
