ANTH 309WIC - Health and Disease in the Past

Unit(s): 4

This course focuses on human health and disease in the past, from hominin ancestors to the mid-20th century. The primary lens for this inquiry is bioarchaeology, the study of human remains from archaeological and historical settings. Evidence for health and disease processes in the past can be derived from human remains, material culture, ethnography, epidemiology, written texts, and iconography. As such, this course integrates bioarchaeological approaches with those from medical anthropology, public health, and history. It also emphasizes themes of structural violence, social justice, and modern relevance, especially with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to understand how human health and disease are shaped by intertwined cultural traditions, social organization, and biological traits, both in the past and the present. This course will fulfill the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) for any student that completes the course with a C- or better.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of GE Area B2 and upper division standing, or consent of instructor
Typically Offered Variable Intermittently
May Be Repeated No
Teaching Mode: Face-to-Face Grading: Student Option