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New Mexico State University
Graduate Catalog
2012-2013

ANTHROPOLOGY

Department website: http://www.nmsu.edu/~anthro/

(575) 646-2725

M. Chaiken, department head, Ph.D. (California - Santa Barbara) – Participatory development, resettlement, and rural health and nutrition, gender, applied anthropology, Africa and Southeast Asia; R. T. Alexander, Ph.D. (New Mexico) – Mesoamerican archaeology, historical archaeology of Yucatán, ethnohistory and colonialism, agrarian ecology, fauna analysis; F. Arakawa, Ph.D. (Washington State) – Southwest archaeology, ceramic analysis; B. R. Benefit, Ph.D. (NYU) – biological anthropology, African paleoanthropology, dental anthropology, paleoecology; W. Thomas Conelly, Ph.D (California - Santa Barbara) – Agricultural systems, ecological anthropology, applied/development anthropology, Southeast Asia, East Africa, rural communities in the US; C. E. Eber, Ph.D. (emeritus) (SUNY-Buffalo) – art, drugs, gender, religion, Mesoamerica, women's studies, and writing about culture; M. McCrossin, Ph.D. (California-Berkeley) – biological anthropology, human evolution, African paleoanthropology, primatology; B. O'Leary, Ph.D. (New Mexico) – Southwest archaeology, cultural resource management, arctic ethnography; D. Pepion, Ed.D. (Montana State) – Native American studies, ethnohistory, anthropology and education; S. Rushforth, Ph.D. (Arizona) – cultural anthropology, anthropological linguistics, Native American ethnology; M. A. T. Scott, Ph.D. (Kentucky) – medical anthropology, Latin America; L. Stanford, Ph.D. (Florida) – agriculture, organizations, food studies, globalization, sociocultural anthropology, Latin America; E. Staski, Ph.D. (Emeritus) (Arizona) – historical archaeology, urban anthropology, ethnic relations; W. Trevathan, Ph.D. (Regent's Professor Emerita) (Colorado-Boulder) – reproduction, evolutionary medicine, medical anthropology, nutritional anthropology; W. Walker, Ph.D. (Arizona) – Southwestern archaeology, theory and field method in archaeology, ritual prehistory

DEGREE: Master of Arts
MAJOR: Anthropology

MINOR: Anthropology
MINOR: Archaeology
MINOR: Forensic Anthropology
MINOR: Native American Studies

The M.A. program in anthropology is designed for students who are interested in the traditional subdisciplines of anthropology and in selected areas of applied anthropology. The program is directed both toward students who intend to take a terminal M.A. degree and students who intend to enter a Ph.D. program.

A bachelor's degree in anthropology is not required for entry into the program. Nevertheless, students who lack the equivalent of ANTH 301, 315, 320, and 355 will be required to take these courses or corresponding sections of ANTH 502.

Program Requirements

Students selecting the thesis option must complete 33 hours of basic course work, as described below, plus 6 hours of thesis credit. Students selecting the non-thesis option must complete 39 hours of course work including an internship or special research project for 6 credits. These 39 hours consist of 33 hours of basic course work, as described below, plus an additional 6 hours of electives selected in consultation with the anthropology graduate student advisor.

The 33 hours of basic course work for students selecting either the thesis or non-thesis options are distributed as follows:

ANTH 505, Issues in Anthropological Practice

  • Students will be required to take a core theory course in their respective subfield and one additional core theory course in another subdiscipline:
  • Students in the archaeology subfield must complete ANTH 585 (Method and Theory in Archaeology), earning a grade of B or better.
  • Students in the biological anthropology subfield must complete ANTH 513 (Biological Anthropology), earning a grade of B or better.
  • Students in the cultural anthropology and anthropological linguistics subfields must complete ANTH 500 (Seminar in Anthropological Theory), earning a grade of B or better.
  • Students will be required to take an additional topical/methodological/areal course in their respective subfield, earning a grade of B or better.

A. Students in the archaeology subfield will choose from the following options:

ANTH 507, Advanced Studies in Archaeology
ANTH 510, Southwestern Anthropology
ANTH 511, Mesoamerican Anthropology
ANTH 514, Advanced Issues in the Archaeology of Religion
ANTH 516, Advanced Archaeology of the American Southwest
ANTH 517, Advanced Topics in Mesoamerican Archaeology
ANTH 518, Advanced Historical Archaeology
ANTH 519, Advanced Topics in Prehistoric Archaeology
ANTH 526, Conquest of the New World
ANTH 540, Cultural Resource Management
ANTH 577, Faunal Analysis
ANTH 578, Advanced Lab Methods in Archaeology

B. Students in the biological anthropology subfield will choose from the following options:

ANTH 506, Advanced Studies in Physical Anthropology
ANTH 530, Forensic Anthropology and Human Osteology
ANTH 531, Issues in Nutritional Anthropology
ANTH 534, Advanced Human Evolution
ANTH 537, Applied Medical Anthropology
ANTH 572, Advanced Primate Behavior and Ecology
ANTH 573, Advanced Primate Adaptation and Evolution
ANTH 574, Advanced Human Osteology

C. Students in the cultural anthropology and anthropological linguistics subfields will choose from the following options:

ANTH 455, Federal Indian Policy
ANTH 5054, Cultures of Africa
ANTH 508, Advanced Studies in Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 509, Advanced Studies in Anthropological Linguistics
ANTH 510, Southwestern Anthropology
ANTH 511, Mesoamerican Anthropology
ANTH 515, Applied Anthropology
ANTH 520, Ethnographic Field Methods
ANTH 525, Issues in Language and Culture
ANTH 526, Conquest of the New World
ANTH 532, Advanced Issues in the Anthropology of Religion
ANTH 533, Advanced Issues in Women, Gender, and Culture
ANTH 535, Economic Anthropology
ANTH 536, Anthropology of Development
ANTH 538, Plants, Culture, and Sustainable Development
ANTH 539, Culture and Foodways

Students will earn an additional 21 credits, at least 15 of which must be in anthropology. Finally, students will earn 6 credits of thesis (ANTH 599), internship (ANTH 597), special research problems (ANTH 598), or additional courses.

Admission Requirements

To apply for admission to the M.A. program in anthropology, submit the following:

  • Application form and fees (send to the Graduate School)
  • Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (send to the Graduate School)
  • A letter from the candidate addressing his or her interests and graduate school objectives (send to the department)
  • Letters of recommendation from three persons familiar with the candidate's academic record (send to the department)
  • An undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 or higher

Application materials are available on the Anthropology website http://www.nmsu.edu/~anthro/

Please email gradadv@nmsu.edu for further information.

GRADUATE MINOR IN NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES – PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The purpose of the Native American Studies Graduate Minor are to:

  • Provide an opportunity for all students to learn about Native American cultures and societies.
  • Facilitate research and other creative activities that concern Native American peoples and that have potential benefit for them,
  • Serve the University and State of New Mexico in ways that support and illuminate the rich heritage of Native American peoples.

NAS focuses on Native American cultures and societies, deals with contemporary and historical experiences of American Indians, and examines the contributions of Indigenous peoples to life in the United States and other American nations. This specialization field has developed in reaction to Western academic views of Native Americans and to the frequently restrictive, assimilationist approach within universities to issues concerning Native peoples. NAS contributes to a new understanding of Native American cultures and societies from contemporary and historical perspectives.

To qualify for a graduate minor in Native American Studies- Anthropology, students are required to complete 9 credit hours (3 classes) of graduate level courses. To record a minor on a student's transcript, the minor must be listed on the "Application for Admission to Candidacy," and the Native American Studies advisor in the Department of Anthropology must sign this form. Graduate students majoring in Anthropology may not also earn a minor in the same field. Core courses for the minor are as follows:

  • ANTH 541, Issues in Native American Studies
  • ANTH 543, Indigenous Ways of Knowing
  • ANTH 455, Federal Indian Policy

Alternative and support classes are identified below in the list of cognate classes, and one class or alternative classes may be substituted with the approval of the student's M.A. chair and the Coordinator for the Graduate Minor in Native American Studies.

Cognate Area Courses

  • ENGL 557, American Indian Literatures
  • GOVT 524, American Indian Politics
  • HIST 509, Native American History
  • MSW 564, Social Work with Native American Populations

ANTHROPOLOGY

ANTH 451. Practical Forensic Anthropology 1 cr. (3P)
Advanced laboratory exercises in identification of human skeletal remains. May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credits. Prerequisite: ANTH 430 or ANTH 530.
ANTH 452. Practical Fauna Analysis 1 cr.
Advanced laboratory exercises in the identification of animal bone recovered from paleontological and archaeological contexts. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credits.
ANTH 455. Federal Indian Policy 3 cr.
Federal Indian policy and its impact on Native Americans. This course will provide basic understanding of how federal Indian policy impacts almost all activities and situations with Native Americans. Course will also look at issues such as sovereignty and how it impacts most interactions with tribal groups.
ANTH 458. Anthropology of Reproduction 3 cr.
Human life cycle is studied from biological, evolutionary, cross-species, and cross-cultural perspectives. Coverage of pregnancy, birth, infancy, childhood, puberty, adulthood, menopause, aging, senescence, and death. Prerequisite: ANTH 201G or consent of instructor.
ANTH 459. Peru: From Incas to Inca Kola 3 cr.
Explores issues of cultural and national identity in Peru from the Incas to the present, focusing on the modern period. Themes include indigenous resistance and adaptation to colonial rule, nationalism, militarism, terrorism, globalization, and the drug trade. Crosslisted with: HIST 459
ANTH 467. Archaeology of the American Southwest 3 cr.
Description and analysis of prehistoric archaeology of the American Southwest including paleo-environmental reconstruction, culture change, and relations with contemporary cultures. Prerequisite: ANTH 315.
ANTH 472. Primate Behavior and Ecology 3 cr.
Survey of the social behavior and ecology of nonhuman primates.
ANTH 473. Primate Adaptation and Evolution 3 cr.
Survey of the adaptations and evolutionary history of nonhuman primates. Prerequisite: ANTH 355 or consent of instructor.
ANTH 473 L. Primate Evolution Laboratory 1 cr. (1P)
Laboratory with exercises on non-human primate adaptation and evolution. Consent of instructor required. Prerequisite(s): Anth 355 or consent of instructor.
ANTH 474. Human Osteology 3 cr.
A survey of the functional, developmental, and evolutionary biology of the human skeleton. Identifying bones and teeth from hands-on experience with skeletal and dental material. Provides a foundation for human evolutionary studies, bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Prerequisite: ANTH 355, 370 or equivalent.
ANTH 474 L. Human Osteology Lab 1 cr. (1P)
Laboratory for ANTH 474. Experiences and activities related to identifying teeth and bones of the human skeleton. Prerequisites: ANTH 355, 370 or equivalent.
ANTH 475. Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology 3 cr.
An examination of human skeletal remains at the level of the population (bioarchaeology) and the individual (forensic anthropology). Introduction to methods used for determination of age, sex, and biological affinity and identification of pathological conditions. Principles of analysis in prehistoric demography and epidemiology will be discussed. Prerequisite: ANTH 474 or consent of instructor.
ANTH 477. Faunal Analysis 3 cr.
Detailed study and analysis of taphonomic processes affecting animal bone recovered from archaeological and paleontological contexts. Prerequisite: either ANTH 315, ANTH 355, or BIOL 330.
ANTH 485. Field Experience 1-3 cr.
Anthropological or archaeological field work experience in private, state and federal agencies. Must spend 30 hours in a field setting per credit hour earned. Prerequisite: complete 12 ANTH credits and consent of instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.
ANTH 488. Advanced Field Session 1-6 cr.
Archaeological field methods, including excavations of prehistoric sites, record keeping, mapping, and analysis of data. Prerequisites: previous field experience and consent of instructor.
ANTH 497. Special Topics 1-6 cr.
Specific subjects to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits. Prerequisite(s): Junior or above standing.
ANTH 500. Seminar in Anthropological Theory 3 cr.
Detailed focus on specific areas of anthropological theory. Course subtitled in the Schedule of Classes. Course may be repeated. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in Anthropology or consent of instructor.
ANTH 501. Concepts in Anthropology 3 cr.
Survey of concepts and theories central to the subdisciplines of anthropology.
ANTH 502. Fundamentals of Anthropology 1-4 cr.
Review of fundamental knowledge and theories in biological, cultural, or linguistic anthropology or archaeology. Graded S/U.
ANTH 504. Cultures of Africa 3 cr.
Explores the rich history and cultural diversity of the continent of Africa. The course first examines the historical processes that shaped modern Africa, including the evolution of modern humans in Africa, the origins of agriculture and pastoralism, the formation of indigenous African states, the slave trade, and European colonialism. The course also looks at contemporary African societies, including hunter-gatherer, pastoral, and farming/fishing peoples. In addition, contemporary issues facing modern Africa such as famine and agricultural policy, the status of women, and environmental challenges such as deforestation are discussed. Taught with ANTH 404. Crosslisted with: HIST 504
ANTH 505. Issues in Anthropological Practice 3 cr.
Anthropological approaches to research design, implementation, and dissemination. Restricted to: Main campus only.
ANTH 506. Advanced Studies in Physical Anthropology 1-3 cr.
Lectures, seminars, or laboratory research in selected topics. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in Anthropology or consent of instructor.
ANTH 507. Advanced Studies in Archaeology 1-3 cr.
Lectures, seminars, field or laboratory research in selected topics. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in Anthropology or consent of instructor.
ANTH 508. Advanced Studies in Cultural Anthropology 1-3 cr.
Lectures, seminars, or field research in selected topics. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in Anthropology or consent of instructor.
ANTH 509. Advanced Studies in Anthropological Linguistics 1-3 cr.
Lectures, seminars, or field research in selected topics. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits.
ANTH 510. Southwestern Anthropology 3 cr.
Examination of major theoretical and applied issues in southwestern anthropology.
ANTH 511. Mesoamerican Anthropology 3 cr.
Examination of major theoretical, historical, and applied issues in Mesoamerican anthropology.
ANTH 512. Analytical Methods in Anthropology 3 cr.
Quantitative analytical methods of anthropology examined in detail. Applied problem sets include physical and cultural anthropology, linguistics, and archaeology. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor.
ANTH 513. Biological Anthropology 3 cr.
Examination of major theoretical and methodological issues in biological anthropology.
ANTH 514. Advanced Issues in the Archaeology of Religion 3 cr.
Explores the methods and theories used to study prehistoric religion.
ANTH 515. Applied Anthropology 3 cr.
Examines the intellectual roots of applied anthropology and early case studies of anthropologists working as administrators. Examines the ethical and methodological approaches that applied anthropologists employ. Examination of case studies that show the role of applied anthropologists in improving human service delivery, cultural preservation, planning and implementing programs of participatory change, advocacy, and economic development. Taught with ANTH 415.
ANTH 516. Advanced Archaeology of the American Southwest 3 cr.
Advanced topics in Southwestern archaeology including ritual architecture, environmental reconstruction, violence, site formation processes, and experiment and research.
ANTH 517. Advanced Topics in Mesoamerican Archaeology 3 cr.
Specific subjects in Mesoamerican archaeology to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. Prerequisite: graduate standing. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.
ANTH 518. Advanced Historical Archaeology 3 cr.
Advanced methods and theoretical concepts regarding the archaeology of historical periods.
ANTH 519. Advanced Topics in Prehistoric Archaeology 3 cr.
Seminar on specialized research archaeology. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
ANTH 520. Ethnographic Field Methods 3 cr.
Basic methodologies used in conducting qualitative ethnographic research. Projects in participant observation, ethnographic interviews, life history interviews, folk taxonomy construction, and coding of field notes.
ANTH 522. Graduate Field Session 2-6 cr.
Techniques of archaeological data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Emphasis on archaeological field work in the Southwest.
ANTH 523. Archaeological Mapping 3-6 cr.
Techniques for mapping archaeological sites and recording spatial distributions of archaeological data using a variety of surveying equipment and computer mapping software.
ANTH 525. Issues in Language and Culture 3 cr.
Anthropological perspective on the communication process.
ANTH 526. Historical Archaeology in Latin America 3 cr.
Examination of major theoretical and methodological issues in historical archaeology in Latin America, including conquest, colonialism, capitalism, and modernity as anthropological processes. The contributions and limitations of historical, ethnohistorical, and archaeological evidence are emphasized. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in Anthropology or History or consent of instructor.
ANTH 530. Forensic Anthropology and Human Osteology 3 cr.
Detailed study of the human skeleton with attention to health and demographic structure of prehistoric populations. Forensic applications are also considered.
ANTH 531. Issues in Nutritional Anthropology 3 cr.
Evolutionary and cross-cultural perspective on human nutrition.
ANTH 532. Advanced Issues in the Anthropology of Religion 3 cr.
Cross-cultural overview of spiritual beliefs and religious change. Topics include Shamanism, ethnomedicine, revitalization movements, and women s roles in spiritual life. Additional work required for graduate credit.
ANTH 533. Advanced Issues in Women, Gender, and Culture 3 cr.
Survey of the history of anthropological ideas about gender and women, and a comparison of gender roles, relations, and ideologies across a range of cultures. Same as W S 533.
ANTH 534. Advanced Human Evolution 3 cr.
Advanced overview of human biological evolution from the emergence of Miocene apes to the modern human diaspora. Prerequisite: ANTH 355 or consent of instructor.
ANTH 534 L. Advanced Human Evolution Lab 1 cr. (1P)
Advanced laboratory in human evolution, includes exercises and activities to learn the human fossil record.
ANTH 535. Economic Anthropology 3 cr.
Study of the theoretical development, major topics, and current theoretical concerns in economic anthropology. Anthropological analysis of economic systems, from subsistence economies to the impact of international market systems.
ANTH 536. Anthropology of Development 3 cr.
The study of global processes of social and economic change, and their impact on non-Western societies.
ANTH 537. Applied Medical Anthropology 3 cr.
Covers the anthropologists roles in medical research and health care delivery systems.
ANTH 538. Plants, Culture, and Sustainable Development 3 cr.
Study of role of indigenous cultures and indigenous knowledge systems in plant domestication, ethnoecology, and preservation of traditional crop diversity. Examination of issues related to conserving cultural diversity, food systems, food security and biodiversity.
ANTH 539. Culture and Foodways 3 cr.
Study of interaction between food and culture from anthropological perspective. Study of role of food in cultural history, social relations, ritual, and identity. Examination of impact of globalization of food systems on traditional cultures, local food systems, and food security.
ANTH 540. Cultural Resource Management 3 cr.
Study of federal and state of New Mexico historic preservation laws and regulations and their application in current Cultural Resource Management and a review of relevant case studies.
ANTH 541. Issues in Native American Studies 3 cr.
This course analyzes subjects of general concern such as the development and relationship of ethnology with past and present indigenous groups in North America. Issues such as NAGPRA, protection of human subjects, cultural conflicts, emic versus etic research and study, effects of hegemony and colonization including current qualitative research practices as balanced approaches to investigation and scholarly advancement.
ANTH 542. Cultural Resource Management II 3 cr.
Continuation of ANTH 540 to include the study of cultural resource management practices, research design, and completion of proposals in response to requests. Overview of management practices and budgeting of projects and specialized studies (geophysical investigations, National Register nominations).
ANTH 543. Indigenous Ways of Knowing 3 cr.
This course examines Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing as a means to gain an appreciation of an epistemology and ontology that may be outside the boundaries of Eurocentric theory, concepts, and principles. Knowledge development through mythology and story telling is viewed from the nature of difference rather then comparative analysis.
ANTH 545. Advanced Museology I 3 cr.
Museum philosophy, history, administration, and collection management. Emphasis on collecting, cataloging, care, and exhibition, as well as ethics, public responsibility, and grantsmanship.
ANTH 547. Museum Field Methods 3 cr.
Basic methodologies used in conducting museum research away from the museum, including collections evaluation, collections acquisition, donor interviews, educational outreach, and development.
ANTH 559. Peru: From Incas to Inca Kola 3 cr.
Explores issues of cultural and national identity in Peru from the Incas to the present, focusing on the modern period. Themes include indigenous resistance and adaptation to colonial rule, nationalism, militarism, terrorism, globalization, and the drug trade. Same as GOVT 565 and HIST 559.
ANTH 572. Advanced Primate Behavior and Ecology 3 cr.
Advanced review of non-human primate social behavior and ecology.
ANTH 573. Advanced Primate Adaptation and Evolution 3 cr.
Advanced review of non-human primate adaption and evolution.
ANTH 573 L. Advanced Primate Adaptation and Evolution Laboratory 1 cr. (1P)
Laboratory with exercises on non-human primate adaptation and evolution.
ANTH 574. Advanced Human Osteology 3 cr.
Advanced Human Osteology surveying the functional, developmental and evolutionary biology of the human skeleton. Identifying bones and teeth from hands-on experience with skeletal and dental material. Provides a foundation for human evolutionary studies, bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology.
ANTH 574 L. Advanced Osteology Laboratory 1 cr. (2P)
Laboratory for ANTH 574. Experiences and activities related to identifying teeth and bones of the human skeleton.
ANTH 577. Faunal Analysis 3 cr.
Detailed study and analysis of taphonomic processes affecting animal bone recovered from archaeological and paleontological contexts.
ANTH 578. Advanced Lab Methods in Archaeology 3 cr.
Examination of advanced laboratory techniques used in the analysis of archaeological materials.
ANTH 579. Anthropological Research Design 3 cr.
Implementing research projects in anthropology, including the writing of grant proposals and research papers.
ANTH 581. Graduate Study in Cultural Conservation 4 cr. (3+2P)
Same as ENGL 581, HIST 581.
ANTH 585. Method and Theory in Archaeology 3 cr.
Focus on major methodological and theoretical aspects of contemporary archeology.
ANTH 587. Field Work in Latin America 3-12 cr.
Covers anthropological field methods in Latin America that also incorporate in-field lab analysis. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. No S/U grading.
ANTH 595. Practicum in Anthropology 1-6 cr.
Internship in local, state, national, and international settings, applying anthropological concepts and theories in real-world situations. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits toward a degree. Consent of instructor required. Graded: S/U. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Restricted to ANTH majors.
ANTH 596. Readings 1-6 cr.
Individual study of selected readings and topics. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. Consent of instructor required.
ANTH 597. Internship 1-9 cr.
Anthropological or archaeological internship in private, state, or federal agency. May be repeated for a maximum of 18 credits. Consent of instructor required. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Restricted to ANTH majors.
ANTH 598. Special Research Problems 1-6 cr.
Individual analytic or experimental investigations. May be repeated under different subtitles for a maximum of 6 credits. Consent of instructor required. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Restricted to ANTH majors.
ANTH 599. Master's Thesis 0-88 cr.
Thesis. Consent of instructor required. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Restricted to ANTH majors..