Anthropology is the study of human societies by exploring different languages and cultures, looking at the past through material evidence, and analyzing biological differences in our health and diet.
Anthropology at Francis Marion University
Anthropology is part of the Department of Sociology here at FMU. Within the discipline, students can take a variety of courses in the four subfields: biological, cultural, and linguistic anthropology, as well as archaeology (through the Department of History). Students learn important concepts associated with each subfield in order to leave the program with a well-rounded view of the world around them. Through the course of their studies, students gain the basic understanding of not only founding thoughts in the field, but also contemporary key views among anthropologists in order to apply that to future jobs or graduate school.
Currently, students interested in Anthropology can work toward either a minor or a collateral in the field. Anthropology courses also count toward students’ General Education requirements, fulfilling the Social Science elective.
Faculty
Dr. Kiley Molinari serves as the department’s Anthropologist. She joined the faculty in Fall 2019 as a graduate from the University of Oklahoma. Her research specializes in Native North Americans. Her dissertation focused on the Apsáalooke People (Crow Tribe).
If you are interested in studying Anthropology, please contact Dr. Molinari for more information.
MINOR AND COLLATERAL IN ANTHROPOLOGY
A minor in Anthropology requires 18 semester hours, including Anthropology 100.
A collateral in Anthropology requires 12 semester hours, including Anthropology 100.
Anthropology Course Offerings
100 Introduction to Anthropology (3) An introduction to the anthropological way of thinking about language, human and animal interactions, culture, prehistory, the rise of civilization, evolution, and fossil hominins, among other areas. This course will touch on the four sub-fields of anthropology: archaeology and biological, cultural, and linguistic anthropology.
205 Introduction to Biological Anthropology (3) An introduction to the subfield of biological anthropology. This course explores evolution, fossil hominins, primate behavior, and biocultural adaptations. Students will be provided the foundation on key concepts within the field, and introduced to current debates and topics within biological anthropology surrounding forensics, medical anthropology, genetics, and DNA.
210 Introduction to Archaeology (3) (ANTH 210 is the same as HIST 210) An introduction to theory and methods in archaeological research, data collection, and analysis. Students will learn the strategies employed in the investigation of archaeological remains as well as issues of explanation, interpretation, and public engagement. Students will also receive an introduction into historical archaeology. Credit cannot be received for both ANTH 210 and HIST 210.
215 Language and Culture (3) An introduction to linguistic anthropology with an emphasis on cultural aspects of language use, thought, and learning. This course examines similarities and differences within societies, cultures, and languages around the world. By exploring the structure of language, different accents, dialects, and forms of communication, students will get a glimpse into the linguistic diversity that takes place not only in the United States, but also in other countries.
220 Native Peoples of North America (3) An introduction to the history, culture, and contemporary lives of Native American and First Nations peoples in North America. This course explores decolonization through Indigenous film, music, art, and literature while studying contemporary issues facing Native American and First Nations peoples and their communities.
230 Cultural Anthropology (3) An introduction to the diversity of human behavior, organization, and worldviews, including religious practices, social organization, gender and kinship systems, art, and globalization. Students will learn and apply the theories and methods of anthropology to the identification of similarities and differences in humans across a variety of cultural groups. This course includes an ethnographic field research component.
300 Anthropological Focus (3) (Prerequisite: 100, any 200-level anthropology course, or permission of the department) This course serves as an in-depth study of one anthropological subject emphasizing the methodologies, interpretations, literature, and primary sources surrounding one of the four subfields. It may be taken twice for academic credit with departmental approval.
343 Archaeology of the Southeastern United States (ANTH 343 is the same as HIST 343) (Prerequisites: One 100-level history course or permission of department) This course focuses on the historical archaeology of the Southeastern United States, with an emphasis on South Carolina. From the Contact, Antebellum, and Postbellum periods this course centers on the role that material culture played in the past. Particular attention is placed on the importance of slavery and race as foundational institutions in the Southeast. Additionally, students will have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience learning how to process, analyze, and preserve artifacts from Friendfield village, a 19th-20th century African-American community in Hobcaw Barony, Georgetown, SC. One 100-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level. Credit cannot be received for both ANTH 343 and HIST 343.
