Applied Anthropology

Course Structure

1. Introduction to Applied Anthropology (2 units) \x96 Summer InstituteIntroduction to anthropological perspectives, methods, theories, and practices applied to human and environmental problems in academic, professional and global contexts; evaluation and debate of current issues; development of research interests.
2. Methods in Applied Anthropology (3 units) \x96 Summer InstituteIntensive overview of methods and materials used within applied archaeological, biological, and cultural anthropology. Topics include enthnographic data collection, structured observation, interviewing, excavation, lab techniques, materials / artifact / skeletal analysis, and data management. Most top\xadics will be cov\xadered as a group to pro\xadvide a broad skill-base in the discipline. Some requirements will be specific to field of interest.
3. Theory in Applied Anthropology (3 units) \x96 Fall onlineConnects anthropological theory and practice to address human problems in concrete settings. Develop critical evaluation of and effectively communicate about problems and interactions between humans and their environments.
4. Anthropology Careers & Management Strategy(3 units) \x96 Fall onlineIn-depth survey of domains in which anthropological principles, theories, and methods are applied; intensive development of professional-level skills, written communication, and portfolios; strategic management of applied projects and their outcomes.
5. ResearchProject Design (3 units) \x96 Spring onlineGuided preparation of research proposals and/or grant applications, with a focus on student initiative and responsibility. Theoretical and methodological topics include defining questions, designing fieldwork, proposal evaluation criteria, and peer-review. At the end of the course, students will present their completed project proposal to the course instructor(s) and their thesis committee for approval.
6. Applied Anthropology Pro Seminar (1 unit, taken three times)Ongoing seminar/colloquium for the MA cohort. Focuses on research in progress, developing arguments and written and oral presentations within a structured and supervised format. Students present and discuss their ongoing research and writing and engage in peer review. Faculty also intermittently schedule readings and discussions based on relevant topics.
7. Anthropology Internship / Field Placement (3 units) \x96 Spring online Students enroll in this course while completing an internship in applied anthropology that they arranged during the previous semester. Engages students with the work of research libraries, museums, community organizations, governmental agencies, and other institutions to enhance students\x92 knowledge of sources, research methodologies, institutional cultures, and work environments. During the internship, students will learn and critically evaluate not only aspects of the position and particular organization, but also their roles and responsibilities as anthropologists.
8. Thesis (6 units)Students are guided through the process of thesis development and writing throughout the MA program. Students must enroll in 6 units of Anth 690 before receiving the MA degree. Students first enroll in Anth 690 during their final semester in the program (fulltime semester 3, part-time semester 6). During that semester, students are expected to present thesis sections for committee evaluation. Students will generally have already begun/completed their thesis research by this time. Students who have not completed their thesis research when first enrolled in Anth 690 will be expected to make committee-approved progress toward that end and submit initial chapters (i.e. introduction, background, methods) during the semester. Students who do not expect to complete their thesis during the final program semester should sign up for fewer than 6 units of Anth 690 so that they can enroll in thesis units during following semesters (to maintain university continuous enrollment requirements); in general, no more than two additional semesters will be allowed for thesis completion. An in-person/Skype oral defense of the thesis is required before final written thesis submission to HSU.
9. Qualitative Methods & Analysis
10. Applied Anthropology Region \x96 Rotating Region and Sub-Discipline Focus
11. Graduate Seminar \x96 Rotating Topics, e.g., Applied Archaeology & Bioarchaeology