Anthropologists study what it is to be human. For instance, what can the study of human evolution tell us about our species today? How does understanding the collapse of Viking Greenland or ancient Mesopotamian states help us to understand the consequences of human actions today? If we understand how non-binary gender identities are constructed in places like Samoa and Albania, will it provide insight into gender politics in Canada?

This course gives students a taste of the four-fields of Anthropology: cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and archaeology. We discuss the relevance of anthropological work in today’s world, looking at themes like sustainability, disaster, community and family, and more. Studying anthropology helps students to develop cultural adeptness, critical thinking, and strong communication skills. Additionally, within this course, students will become familiar with much of the technology used at UVic, including CourseSpaces, Summon, i>clickers, and more.