Classes overview
ANTH 4110/5110
Design Anthropology
Design anthropology is a significant field of employment for applied anthropologists. In this course, students learn the fundamentals of this field. By collaborating on an applied project, they gain practice in applied research methods and video ethnography. They learn to engage in collaborative analysis using qualitative software. And they work with designers and customers to translate their research into practical applications. Methodology and practice are situated in theoretical contexts through weekly discussions of readings.
A list of past class projects can be found here.
ANTH 5010
Anthropological Thought & Praxis I
(On-Campus)
This course is an overview of the intellectual history of social and cultural anthropology. As such, it is an account of different authors' ideas, with the emphasis placed on their major contributions to the development of anthropology. Special emphasis is given to the development of anthropological thought in the application of anthropological knowledge.
ANTH 5010
Anthropological Thought & Praxis I
(Online)
This course has the same content as ANTH 5010 On-Campus. It is taught through Canvas and a weekly one-hour Zoom.
ANTH 5050
Preparation for Practice and the Applied Thesis
Applied anthropologists work in many kinds of settings and take on a range of different roles. In this course, students will explore some of this diversity by interacting with guest speakers and reading case studies. In the process, they will identify an applied thesis project, if they have not already done so. Students will also receive training in the professional aspects of applied anthropology, such as client development and project design. They will learn how to market their skills and how to develop the entrepreneurial mindset that success in applied anthropology requires.
Course resources are provided here to make them accessible not only to class members, but also to other students, at UNT and elsewhere.
ANTH 4701
Anthropology of Virtual Communication
This is a class on the anthropology of virtual communication. “Virtual communication” refers to interactions that are mediated by applications such as Facebook or Skype, using devices such as mobile phones or laptops. The use of such applications and devices enables people to communicate across geographic distance. Since technology-mediated communication is becoming ever more common in today’s world, examining it can provide insight into many social and cultural processes.
The course starts by examining four key orientations that distinguish an anthropological approach to virtual communication. We then read ethnographic studies of virtual communication practices as they have emerged in various cultural contexts. Each student also conducts a semester-long research project on a group that regularly engages in virtual communication.
Further course materials can be found at http://anthofvirtualcommunication.wordpress.com/