Anthropology
College of Liberal & Creative Arts
Dean: Dr. Ifeoma Kiddoe Nwankwo
Department of Anthropology
Fine Arts Building, Room 525
Phone: (415) 338-2046
Website: anthropology.sfsu.edu
Chair: Dr. Mark Griffin
Program Scope
Anthropology at San Francisco State focuses on the study of humanity from archaeological, biological, cultural, and visual perspectives. Students are introduced to human populations past and present and explore how our field can advance efforts in social justice. Anthropologists document, investigate and seek to understand cultures of other times and places, and they also play important roles in social and political debate and advocacy.
Undergraduate majors explore the theoretical foundations, topical foci, and ethical questions of the discipline, gain an appreciation for diversity in lifeways, and acquire an understanding of how anthropology can benefit communities and lead to social change. Our department creates opportunities for students to practice experiential learning and carry out hands-on field and laboratory research.
The Minor in Anthropology complements a broad range of majors in the life sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. You can complete the minor with courses in lower-division B2, C2, and D1 and upper-division physical/life science (B); humanities (C); arts (C) or social sciences (D).
Graduate Studies
Eligible undergraduate students can apply to our SF State Scholars Program. Students begin their Master of Arts training by taking graduate-level course work while completing the final year of their baccalaureate. This accelerated pathway reduces the costs of the graduate degree and gives students a competitive advantage when applying for jobs or Ph.D. programs.
The Master of Arts in Anthropology is offered for those who plan to use their master’s training to seek employment, obtain a teaching credential or apply to a doctoral program. Students benefit from intensive seminars and close supervisor-student interaction in their thesis research, project and lab work, and ethnographic filmmaking, and other creative works.
Career Outlook
Training in anthropology prepares students for a wide range of careers. Anthropology majors can gain an extremely wide range of skills – from osteological analysis to ethnographic research. Our graduates have gotten jobs in fields that include health and medical services, community organizing and advocacy, cultural resource management, museum research and education, urban planning, international economic development, environmental assessment, media, user experience (UX) research, market research, education, social work, investigative journalism, public policy, social services, early childhood education, and filmmaking.
If you’re wondering whether you can major in Anthropology and still pursue a career in law, medicine, research, teaching, or museum work – among many other possible fields – the answer is probably yes. For more insight into how Anthropology can prepare you for the careers that you find interesting, consult with faculty advisors.
Professor
Douglass Bailey (2008), Professor in Anthropology. Ph.D. Cambridge University.
Peter Biella (1999), Professor in Anthropology. Ph.D. Temple University.
Cynthia Wilczak (2007), Professor in Anthropology. Ph.D. Cornell University.
Associate Professor
Dawn-Elissa Fischer (2007), Associate Professor in Anthropology. Ph.D. University of Florida.
Mark C. Griffin (1998), Associate Professor in Anthropology. Ph.D. Purdue University.
Assistant Professor
Martha Lincoln (2016), Assistant Professor in Anthropology. Ph.D. Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
Meredith Reifschneider (2017), Assistant Professor in Anthropology. Ph.D. Stanford University.
Adjunct Faculty
Caldararo, Tully, Schonberg
ANTH 100 Introduction to Biological Anthropology (Units: 3)
Overview of the scientific evidence for the origin and evolution of the human species. Examine the biological and behavioral diversity of living and past human populations and the closest mammalian relatives - the non-human primates. Introduction to topics that include natural selection and the mechanisms of evolution; molecular and population genetics; primate diversity and behavior; the fossil record of human evolution, behavior, and ecology; and human biocultural adaptation.
Course Attributes:
- B2: Life Science
ANTH 110 Introduction to Archaeology (Units: 3)
Overview of the methods and practices of archaeology, including how archaeologists study the material remains of past human life and culture. Topics include identification and excavation of sites, artifact analysis, plant, animal, and human relationships in the past, museum practice, and the politics of archaeology in the present.
Course Attributes:
- C2: Humanities
- Global Perspectives
ANTH 120 Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology (Units: 3)
Principles and concepts of sociocultural anthropology. People and environment. Social relations: kinship, religion, social control, and racism. Social change and applied anthropology.
Course Attributes:
- D1: Social Sciences
ANTH 130 Introduction to Visual Anthropology (Units: 3)
The role of film, photography, digital, and multimedia in the examination of human diversity. The study of visual aspects of human behavior and the use of visual media in research and visual anthropology. (Plus-minus letter grade only)
Course Attributes:
- D1: Social Sciences
ANTH 300 Foundations of Anthropology: History (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ANTH 120.
ANTH 301 Foundations of Archaeology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; ANTH 110; or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 302 Foundations of Human Variation (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; ANTH 100* or a college biology course*; or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-B: Physical Life Science
ANTH 303 Foundations of Visual Anthropology (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; ANTH 130; or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 305GW Writing Anthropology - GWAR (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Area A2*; ANTH 120.
Course Attributes:
- Graduation Writing Assessment
ANTH 315 Regional Ethnography (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topics:
- Peoples and Cultures of Central America
- Peoples and Cultures of Eastern Asia
- Peoples and Cultures of the San Francisco Bay Area
ANTH 320 Racism: Cross-Cultural Analysis (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ANTH 320 and CST 320. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 321 Endangered Cultures (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 325 Work, Money, and Power (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 326 Origins of Art and Visual Representation (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 327 Anthropology and Film (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ANTH 327 and CINE 327. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Global Perspectives
ANTH 328 Anthropology and Photography (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ANTH 328 and JOUR 328. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 333 Primate Behavior (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 343 Women and Work (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as LABR 343 and ANTH 343. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 356 Archaeology of California (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 420 Media and Dissent (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; GE Areas A1, A2, A3, and B4.
(This course is offered as SOC 420 and ANTH 420. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 460 Historical Archaeology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ANTH 110 or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 470 Archaeology of Mexico and Central America (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 480 Special Topics in Anthropology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing.
Topics:
- Archaeology & Bioarchaeology: Education & Outreach
ANTH 500 Language and Cultural Systems of North American Indians (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: AIS 100 or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as AIS 500 and ANTH 500. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 501 Latin America: The National Period (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; GE Area E; or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as HIST 358 [Formerly HIST 501], ANTH 501, and LTNS 501. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 525 Diversity in the Workplace (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
(This course is offered as LABR 525 and ANTH 525. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 530 Human Osteology Practicum (Units: 4)
Prerequisite for ANTH 730: Graduate standing.
Prerequisites for ANTH 530: Upper-division standing; ANTH 100; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ANTH 730/ANTH 530 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ANTH 531 Fossil Humans Practicum (Units: 4)
Prerequisite for ANTH 731: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ANTH 531: Upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ANTH 731/ANTH 531 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ANTH 535 Paleopathology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ANTH 735: Graduate standing.
Prerequisites for ANTH 535: Upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ANTH 735/ANTH 535 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ANTH 545 Bioarchaeology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 551 Anthropology of the Body (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
ANTH 555 Urban Anthropology (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; USP 400 or one course in cultural anthropology.
(This course is offered as ANTH 555 and USP 555. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 557 Ethnography of Urban Inequality (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
(This course is offered as ANTH 557 and USP 557. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 569 Cross-Cultural Aspects of Sex and Gender (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ANTH 569 and SXS 567. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
ANTH 581 Anthropology and Folklore (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 585 Globalization and World Cultures (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ANTH 585 and CST 585. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 590 Feminist Anthropology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: GE Area A2.
(This course is offered as ANTH 590, CST 590, and WGS 595. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 592 Archaeological Methods (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: ANTH 110.
ANTH 594 Zooarchaeology (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; ANTH 110; or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 595 Anthropological Filmmaking I (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Anthropology and Cinema majors, minors or ethnography certificate students; ANTH 120 and ANTH 300; or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ANTH 595 and CINE 635 [formerly CINE 595]. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 596 Anthropological Filmmaking II (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Anthropology and Cinema majors, minors, and ethnography certificate Students; ANTH 595* or CINE 635*; or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ANTH 596 and CINE 636 [formerly CINE 596]. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 609 Approaches to the African Past (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as HIST 366 [Formerly HIST 609] and ANTH 609. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Global Perspectives
ANTH 630 Medical Anthropology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 631 STEM and Social Justice (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Social Justice
ANTH 651 Ethnographic Field Methods (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 652 Anthropological Statistics (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 655 History of Anthropological Film (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ANTH 755: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ANTH 655: Upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ANTH 755/ANTH 655 [Formerly ANTH 620] is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ANTH 657 Ethnography of Dance (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as DANC 657 and ANTH 657. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Global Perspectives
ANTH 690 Senior Thesis (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: ANTH 100, ANTH 110, ANTH 120, and ANTH 300 with grades of B or better; major GPA of 3.25 or better.
ANTH 695 Anthropology Internship (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: ANTH 300 or ANTH 301 or ANTH 302; and permission of the academic supervisor.
ANTH 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; permission of major adviser, department chair, and instructor.
ANTH 701 Sexual Cultures, Sexual Identities (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ANTH 701: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite for SXS 701: Restricted to graduate students in Human Sexuality Studies or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as SXS 701 and ANTH 701. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
ANTH 710 Proseminar in Anthropological Theory and Method (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Anthropology or permission of the instructor. Must be taken before or concurrently with other graduate seminars.
ANTH 714 Anthropological Ethics (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 715 Research Skills: The Craft of Anthropological Writing (Unit: 1)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing; concurrent enrollment in ANTH 710; or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 716 Research Skills: The Literature Review (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 717 Research Skills: The Research Proposal (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 719 Research Skills: The Research Presentation (Unit: 1)
Prerequisite: Graduate Anthropology students or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 720 Foundations in Visual Anthropology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Anthropology or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 721 Seminar in Archaeological Problems (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Anthropology or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 722 Seminar in Biological Anthropology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Anthropology or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 723 Seminar in Problems in Cultural Anthropology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Anthropology or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 730 Human Osteology Practicum (Units: 4)
Prerequisite for ANTH 730: Graduate standing.
Prerequisites for ANTH 530: Upper-division standing; ANTH 100; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ANTH 730/ANTH 530 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ANTH 731 Fossil Humans Practicum (Units: 4)
Prerequisite for ANTH 731: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ANTH 531: Upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ANTH 731/ANTH 531 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ANTH 735 Paleopathology (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ANTH 735: Graduate standing.
Prerequisites for ANTH 535: Upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ANTH 735/ANTH 535 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ANTH 755 History of Anthropological Film (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ANTH 755: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ANTH 655: Upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.
(ANTH 755/ANTH 655 [Formerly ANTH 620] is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
ANTH 894 Creative Work Project (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor; approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) for the Master of Arts and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.
ANTH 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and chair of the thesis committee; approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.
ANTH 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisites: ANTH 710; permission of the student's graduate major adviser, department chair, and supervising faculty member.