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Language and Human Experience

My goal in this class is to stoke your curiosity and attune your senses to the wonders of human language. Language is at the center of every human's experience, yet its inner workings usually remain unconscious and taken-for-granted. We will delve into the role of language in human experience by focusing on a few big questions: What might it be like to exist without language? How can we compare human languages to other forms of communication among other species? Why are there many different languages rather than one species-wide language?

Environmental Conservation of Africa

This course investigates a wide variety of environmental conservation projects in Africa. We examine efforts by colonial and post-colonial states to preserve wilderness in national parks, and how local residents have responded. We study projects developed by international organizations which link environmental conservation with economic benefits for local people. Finally, we look at indigenous African efforts to conserve natural resources and to restore degraded lands.

Social Movements

Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." This course examines contemporary social movements which organize and mobilize people to effect change, and which therefore challenge existing institutions, cultures, and social orders. We will consider issues related to participation, leadership, organization, strategy, scale, technology, and media representation, among others.

Cultural Anthropology

This course introduces students to the comparative study of human cultures and societies. We will learn important anthropological concepts, methods, and theories as we explore topics like subsistence and exchange, kinship and marriage, politics and law, and social change in a wide range of societies. Ethnographic descriptions are a prominent part of the readings as we explore differences and similarities between human populations and how people from different cultures and societies have interacted with and responded to one another. Restricted to first- and second-year students.

GIS

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is the use of computers to manage, display and analyze spatial or geographical information. This course introduces students to the basic concepts, functions, and applications of GIS. We discuss maps, data sources and management, and geographic techniques, including global positioning systems, aerial photography and satellite imagery. Through a series of lab exercises students explore the analytical functions of GIS, such as proximity, overlay and three dimensional modeling.

JSTOR

Indexes key scholarship in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.  Contains significant full text of books, book chapters, journal articles book reviews, pamphlets, and many primary sources.