Anthropological Inquiries

Catalog description

Human Migrations. How has migration shaped human history? This class introduces students to the four subfields of anthropology (linguistic anthropology, cultural anthropology, archaeology, and biological anthropology) by exploring human mobility from our origins as humans to the present-day. We will look at evidence of movement and gene flow in early modern humans, investigate the benefits of nomadic hunting and gathering over agriculture and sedentism, explore how language and material culture can help us trace ancient migrations, and examine the contemporary lives of transnational migrants who move between their homeland and another country. The class format will include lectures, discussion, and in-class labs. Prerequisite: None.