Sep 29, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Anthropology - Material Culture, Technology, and Design Concentration (BA)

The field of anthropology studies the human condition in its full breadth-across time and place. The field is made up of multiple subfields (applied anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, sociocultural anthropology) and the Department of Anthropology at the University of Delaware has world renowned scholars in each of these areas. We integrate approaches from the sciences and humanities to explore cultural, historical, environmental, and biological perspectives on human diversity. Our department supports student experiential learning opportunities through laboratory, ethnographic, and archaeological research. The department’s learning objectives emphasize critical thinking, analytical, interpretative, and communication skills that prepare students to engage the complexities of the global world and pursue professional employment and graduate study.

Students who complete the B.A. in Anthropology will be able to:

DISCOVER and GET EXCITED ABOUT, and USE critical thinking skills to ANALYZE, the cultural, biological, and historical diversity of humans.
DESCRIBE major concepts, theories, and methods of the subfields of anthropology (applied anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, sociocultural anthropology).
INTERPRET specific data and case studies, ASSESS and EVALUATE competing explanatory and theoretical frameworks, and GENERALIZE KNOWLEDGE to consider human commonalities and differences across time and place.
COMMUNICATE core concepts of anthropology effectively in both written and oral formats.
CONNECT and EVALUATE anthropological ideas and knowledge in the analysis of real-world problems.
RECOGNIZE VALUE OF the ethical, professional, and social principles of anthropological research.
IDENTIFY the value of human diversity, and SUSPEND JUDGMENT about differences in order to DEVELOP empathetic and ethical perspectives.

In addition, students who complete the BA in Anthropology - Material Culture, Technology, and Design Concentration will be able to:

DISCOVER and GET EXCITED ABOUT material culture (tools, technologies, art objects, media forms, the built environment) as expressions of humanity’s diversity and as integral to the constitution of societies.
DESCRIBE how humans have designed, produced, exchanged, and related to material culture through time and across societies.
EXPLAIN and ANALYZE the contributions of anthropology to the study of material culture, design, and technology.
APPLY methods and theories from the subfields (applied anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology) to INTERPRET specific data related to material culture and case studies in design.
ANALYZE material culture from a holistic perspective that accounts for multiple factors, such as function, technology of production, aesthetics, politics, economics, and ideology.
EVALUATE how material culture is linked to structures of power, processes of oppression, and forms of resistance across societies.

University Requirements:

ENGL 110 - First-Year Writing (C- minimum)
First Year Seminar (FYS) (0-4 credits)
Discovery Learning Experience (DLE) (three credits)
Multicultural Requirement (three credits)
University Breadth Requirements (C- minimum):
- Creative Arts and Humanities (three credits)
- History and Cultural Change (three credits)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (three credits)
- Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (three credits)
Capstone Experience

College Requirements:

College Breadth Requirements:

The College Breadth requirements are in addition to the University Breadth requirement. Up to three credits from each of the University Breadth Requirement categories may be used to simultaneously satisfy these College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirements. Minimum grade C- required for courses used to satisfy College Breadth.

GROUP A: Creative Arts and Humanities (Nine credits of courses representing at least two departments or appropriate instructional units)
GROUP B: History and Cultural Change (Nine credits of courses representing at least two departments or appropriate instructional units)
GROUP C: Social and Behavioral Sciences (Nine credits of courses representing at least two departments or appropriate instructional units)
GROUP D: Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (Ten credits of courses representing at least two departments or appropriate instructional units and including a minimum of one course with an associated laboratory)

*If the grade earned is sufficient, a course may be applied toward more than one requirement (e.g., breadth and major requirements), but the credits are counted only once toward the total credits for graduation. If all but one course in a group has been taken in one department or program, a course cross-listed with that program will not satisfy the distribution requirement.

Foreign Language:

Completion of the intermediate-level course (107 or 202) in an ancient or modern language with minimum grades of D-.
- The number of credits (0-12) needed and initial placement will depend on the number of years of high school study of foreign language.
- Students with four or more years of high school work in a single foreign language, or who have gained proficiency in a foreign language by other means, may attempt to fulfill the requirement in that language by taking an exemption examination through the Languages, Literatures and Cultures Department.

Mathematics:

The math requirement must be completed by the time a student has earned 60 credits. Students who transfer into the College of Arts and Sciences with 45 credits or more must complete this requirement within two semesters.

Complete one of the following four options (minimum grade D-):

Option One:

MATH 113 - Contemporary Mathematics Credit(s): 3 (designed for students who do not intend to continue to the study of mathematics)

Option Two:

One of the following:

MATH 114 - College Mathematics and Statistics Credit(s): 3 (designed for students who do not intend to continue the study of mathematics)
MATH 115 - Pre-Calculus Credit(s): 3 (designed for students who intend to continue the study of mathematics)
MATH 117 - Pre-Calculus for Scientists and Engineers Credit(s): 4 (designed to prepare students for MATH 241 )

Option Three:

Successful completion of any 200-level or higher mathematics course except: MATH 201 , MATH 202 , MATH 205 , MATH 251 , MATH 252 , MATH 253 , and MATH 266 .

Option Four:

Successful performance on a proficiency test in mathematics administered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences (0 credits awarded).

Second Writing Requirement:

A Second Writing Requirement approved by the College of Arts and Sciences. This course must be taken after completion of 60 credit hours, completed with a minimum grade of C-, and the section enrolled must be designated as satisfying the requirement in the academic term completed.

Major Requirements:

Minimum grade of C- required. The minimum number of ANTH credits required for the major is 33; the maximum number of ANTH credits allowed for the major is 45.

ANTH 200 - History and Theory of Anthropology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 204 - Social Science Methods in Anthropology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 216 - Introduction to Material Culture Studies Credit(s): 3

Anthropology Tutorial:

One of the following:

ANTH 486 - Tutorial in Cultural Anthropology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 487 - Tutorial in Archaeology Credit(s): 3

Capstone Requirement:

choose a second tutorial from the above list, or
a senior thesis (UNIV 402), or
a material culture-related independent study (ANTH 466), or
a material culture-related study abroad, or material culture-related internship (ANTH 464).
capstone courses must be taken for 3 credit hours

UNIV 402 - Senior Thesis Credit(s): 2-4

Concentration Requirements:

Advanced Archaeology Electives:

Three of the following (9 credit hours)

ANTH 103 - Introduction to Archaeology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 105 - Archaeology of Modern World Credit(s): 3
ANTH 218 - Solving Archaeological Mysteries Credit(s): 3
ANTH 222 - Technology and Society Credit(s): 3
ANTH 228 - Native Peoples of the Southwest Credit(s): 3
ANTH 229 - Native North Americans Credit(s): 3
ANTH 239 - Material Culture of Native North America Credit(s): 3
ANTH 265 - Aztec, Inca, and Maya Archaeology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 269 - Archaeology of Africa, Europe, and Asia Credit(s): 3
ANTH 275 - Archaeology of Delaware Native Americans Credit(s): 3
ANTH 318 - Tribal Lifeways Credit(s): 3
ANTH 320 - Native North American Archaeology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 321 - Environmental Archaeology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 323 - Prehistory of South America Credit(s): 3
ANTH 324 - Old World Archaeology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 329 - Archaeology of Agriculture Credit(s): 3
ANTH 338 - Indigenous Arts and Media in the Americas Credit(s): 3
ANTH 341 - Archaeological Research Credit(s): 4
ANTH 342 - Issues in American Culture: Archaeological Perspectives Credit(s): 3
ANTH 379 - Archaeology and Colonialism in North America Credit(s): 3
ANTH 424 - Archaeological Field Methods Credit(s): 1-6
ANTH 463 - Archaeology, Engagement, Heritage Credit(s): 3
ARTC 301 - Care and Preservation of Cultural Property I Credit(s): 3
ARTC 302 - Care and Preservation of Cultural Property II Credit(s): 3

Advanced Cultural Anthropology Electives:

Two of the following: (6 credit hours)

ANTH 201 - Visual Anthropology: Film, Media, and Culture Credit(s): 3
ANTH 235 - Food and Culture Credit(s): 3
ANTH 239 - Material Culture of Native North America Credit(s): 3
ANTH 245 - Contemporary Native American Culture Issues Credit(s): 3
ANTH 251 - Anthropology of Art Credit(s): 3
ANTH 312 - Asian Women in the Global Economy Credit(s): 3
ANTH 330 - Development and Underdevelopment Credit(s): 3
ANTH 332 - Global Environmental Sustainability Credit(s): 3
ANTH 338 - Indigenous Arts and Media in the Americas Credit(s): 3
ANTH 344 - Anthropology of Clothing and Fashion Credit(s): 3
ANTH 372 - Colonialism and Culture Credit(s): 3
ANTH 375 - Peoples and Cultures of Contemporary Latin America Credit(s): 4
ANTH 381 - Cultural Representations of Native Americans Credit(s): 3
ANTH 382 - Capitalism and Culture Credit(s): 3
ANTH 383 - Globalization on the Ground: Cultural Diversity and Contemporary Life Credit(s): 3
ANTH 308 - Sex, Money, and Power Credit(s): 3
ANTH 222 - Technology and Society Credit(s): 3
ANTH 223 - Food, Gender, and Culture Credit(s): 3
ANTH 228 - Native Peoples of the Southwest Credit(s): 3
ANTH 311 - Anthropology of Tourism and Travel Credit(s): 3
ANTH 318 - Tribal Lifeways Credit(s): 3
ANTH 337 - Indigenous Peoples of Latin America Credit(s): 3
ANTH 360 - American Anabaptists: Amish, Mennonite and Brethren Cultures Credit(s): 3
ANTH 370 - Global Food Problems Credit(s): 3
ANTH 384 - Cinema and Global Cultures Credit(s): 3
ARTH 243 - Design and the Decorative Arts Credit(s): 3
FASH 214 - Development of Fashion: Ancient World to 1600 Credit(s): 3
FASH 224 - Development of Fashion: 1600 to World War I Credit(s): 3
FASH 319 - Dress and Textiles in World Cultures Credit(s): 3
FASH 426 - Fashion and Textile Collection Management Credit(s): 3
MCST 243 - Design and the Decorative Arts Credit(s): 3
MCST 402 - Material Culture Studies Research Seminar Credit(s): 3
MCST 435 - Seminar in American Art Credit(s): 3-12
MCST 449 - Sociology of Art and Culture Credit(s): 3
MCST 464 - Material Culture Studies Internship Credit(s): 3-6
MSPE 203 - Introduction to Museums Credit(s): 3
MSPE 385 - History Behind the Scenes Credit(s): 1-6
MSPE 401 - Curatorship and Collections Management Credit(s): 3
MSPE 402 - Archives and Paper Collections: Curatorship and Management Credit(s): 3
MSPE 405 - Park and Site Management Credit(s): 3
MSPE 407 - Museum Education and Interpretation Credit(s): 3
MSPE 410 - Exhibitions Credit(s): 3
MSPE 411 - Topics in Museum Administration Credit(s): 1-3
MSPE 413 - The Digital Museum Credit(s): 3
MSPE 447 - Curating Hidden Collections & the Black Archive Credit(s): 3
UAPP 330 - Public and Nonprofit Administration Credit(s): 3
UAPP 429 - Historic Preservation Theory and Practice Credit(s): 3
UAPP 430 - Methods in Historic Preservation Credit(s): 3
UAPP 454 - Architecture of Everyday Life Credit(s): 3
UAPP 472 - Nonprofit Organizations: Scope, Frameworks and Dynamics Credit(s): 3
ARTC 301 - Care and Preservation of Cultural Property I Credit(s): 3
ARTC 302 - Care and Preservation of Cultural Property II Credit(s): 3

Advanced Biological Anthropology Electives:

One of the following: (3 credit hours)

ANTH 102 - Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution Credit(s): 3
ANTH 104 - Introduction to Archaeology and Biological Anthropology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 202 - Genes, Bones, and Human Evolution Credit(s): 3
ANTH 205 - What is Human Nature? Credit(s): 3
ANTH 306 - Human Variation and Adaptation Credit(s): 3
ANTH 401 - The Idea of Race Credit(s): 3
ANTH 404 - Human Osteology Credit(s): 4

Electives:

After required courses are completed, sufficient elective credits must be taken to meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.