Department of Anthropology

Minors

Choosing a minor in Anthropology

As the primary academic discipline for the study of human diversity, anthropology empowers students to pursue smart, creative, and empathetic solutions to complex human problems. The USC Dornsife Department of Anthropology offers a number of minor options designed to a complement a wide variety of other majors and career interests.

To discuss majoring or minoring in Anthropology, contact Undergraduate Advisor Kim Vinson, vinson@usc.edu.

Cultural Anthropology Minor

Cultural Anthropology is the comparative study of human culture and society, the study of how individuals and communities are shaped by their traditions, values, and institutions.

The Anthropology Minor provides students with training in the fundamentals in anthropology, the core academic discipline for the study of culture and social difference in global context. The cultural anthropology minor provides students with training in anthropological theory, as well as opportunities to study and apply anthropological insights in an interdisciplinary context.

Choose one, either:

ANTH 201 Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology, or

ANTH 263 Exploring Culture through Film
ANTH 440 History of Anthropological Theory
Anthropology minors must choose two anthropology electives, of which at least one should be upper division (300 or 400 level).

The following anthropology courses are recommended for this requirement:

ANTH 301g The Global Performance of Healing Units: 4

ANTH 305 Childhood, Birth and Reproduction Units: 4

ANTH 318 Ethics and Global Heritage Units: 4

ANTH 319 Political Anthropology of Europe Units: 4

ANTH 321 Space, Place, Perception and Power Units: 4

ANTH 324gw Contemporary China: Cultural Politics and Social Realities Units: 4

ANTH 332g Anthropology and Narrative Medicine Units: 4

ANTH 333gm Forms of Folklore Units: 4

ANTH 338g Food in Culture and Society Units: 4

ANTH 344g Social Memory Units: 4

ANTH 355 Urban Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 357g Cultures of Genocide, Cultures of Care Units: 4

ANTH 365 Life History in Anthropological Perspective Units: 4

ANTH 370 Sex, Love, and Marriage: An Introduction to Kinship Units: 4

ANTH 371gm Cross-Cultural Research on Urban Gangs Units: 4

ANTH 372 Interpretation of Myth and Narrative Units: 4

ANTH 373 Magic, Witchcraft and Healing Units: 4

ANTH 380 Sex and Gender in Anthropological Perspective Units: 4

ANTH 395m African American Humor and Culture Units: 4

ANTH 415 Global Issues Seminar Units: 4

ANTH 435 Ethnic Identity and Minority Politics in China Units: 4

ANTH 445 African American Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 449 Feminist Science and Technology Studies Units: 4

ANTH 470 Multimodal Methods in Visual Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 472 Visual Techniques in Anthropology: Stills Units: 4

ANTH 474 Posthuman Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 475 Anthropological Film Analysis Units: 4

ANTH 476 Ethnographic Film Theory from an Historical Perspective Units: 4

ANTH 478 Local Culture in A Globalizing World Units: 4

ANTH 480 Heritage and Power Units: 4

NOTE: Other courses may be substituted with Departmental approval.

Medical Anthropology Minor

The Medical Anthropology Minor provides students with the tools to analyze and understand health, wellness, and the body as understood in a cultural frame; and to gain a deeper understanding of medicine itself as a social and historical practice.

Two lower-division Anthropology courses, selected from the following:

ANTH 101g Body, Mind and Healing: Introduction to Medical Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 105g Culture, Medicine and Politics Units: 4

ANTH 125g Social Issues in Human Sexuality and Reproduction Units: 4

ANTH 201g Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology Units: 4

HBIO 200Lg The Human Animal Units: 4

ANTH 273g Shamans, Spirits and Ancestors Units: 4
16 units of upper-division Anthropology coursework, selected from the following:

ANTH 300 Evolution, Ecology, and Culture Units: 4

ANTH 301g The Global Performance of Healing Units: 4

ANTH 305 Childhood, Birth and Reproduction Units: 4

ANTH 308 Origins and Evolution of Human Behavior Units: 4

ANTH 325 Global Studies Research Methods Units: 4

or

ANTH 410 Ethnographic Research Methods Units: 4

ANTH 332g Anthropology and Narrative Medicine Units: 4

ANTH 338g Food in Culture and Society Units: 4

ANTH 357g Cultures of Genocide, Cultures of Care Units: 4

ANTH 360 Symbolic Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 370 Sex, Love, and Marriage: An Introduction to Kinship Units: 4

ANTH 373 Magic, Witchcraft and Healing Units: 4

ANTH 380 Sex and Gender in Anthropological Perspective Units: 4

ANTH 385m Men and Masculinity Units: 4

ANTH 393 Directed Internship Units: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

ANTH 405 Evolutionary Medicine Units: 4
ANTH 440 History of Anthropological Theory Units: 4

ANTH 445 African American Anthropology Units: 4

OT 375 The Narrative Structure of Social Action: Narrative, Healing and Occupation Units: 4

SWMS 336 Health, Gender and Ethnicity Units: 4

NOTE: Other courses may be substituted with Departmental approval.

Minor in Folklore & Popular Culture

Folklore is an integral part of being human. The discipline of folklore studies the unofficial, the spoken, and the traditional forms of expressed culture, such as legends (including urban ones), myths, folk music, jokes, festivals, and more. It is often contrasted with the printed word, yet the recent growth of the internet and digital communications has brought the realms of popular culture increasingly closer to folklore as well. Thus the field of folklore and popular culture encompasses more than two hundred different genres such as folktales, myths, legends, proverbs, jokes, games, folk medicine, and ethnomusicology. The interpretation of these materials draws on theories in various fields such as Anthropology, Communications, English, Cultural Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Religion.

The Minor in Folklore and Popular Culture aims to lay the basis for students’ understandings of the theories and techniques of understanding folklore and popular culture and to offer students the opportunity to conduct their own original research on folklore and popular culture.

For more information about the field of folklore see the American Folklore Society.

For more information about the Minor in Folklore and Popular Culture, contact Prof. Tok Thompson tokthomp@usc.edu.

ANTH 333gm Forms of Folklore Units: 4
Choose one:

AMST 285gm African American Popular Culture Units: 4

ANTH 101g Body, Mind and Healing: Introduction to Medical Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 140g Mesoamerican Cosmovision and Culture Units: 4

ANTH 240gm Representing 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina Units: 4

ANTH 263g Exploring Culture through Film Units: 4

ANTH 273g Shamans, Spirits and Ancestors: Non-Western Religious Traditions Units: 4

CLAS 280gp Classical Mythology in Art and Literature Units: 4

COMM 206 Communication and Culture Units: 4

HIST 271g Telling Native American Stories Units: 4

MUSC 102gw World Music Units: 4
Choose three:

AMST 330m Black Music and the Political Imagination Units: 4

AMST 395m African American Humor and Culture Units: 4

ANTH 301g The Global Performance of Healing Units: 4

ANTH 332g Anthropology and Narrative Medicine Units: 4

ANTH 360 Symbolic Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 370 Sex, Love, and Marriage: An Introduction to Kinship Units: 4

ANTH 372 Interpretation of Myth and Narrative Units: 4

ANTH 373 Magic, Witchcraft and Healing Units: 4

ANTH 409 Indigenous Languages in the Contemporary World Units: 4

ANTH 445 African American Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 490x Directed Research Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

CLAS 325 Ancient Epic Units: 4

CLAS 380 Approaches to Myth Units: 4

COLT 311 Epic Units: 4

COLT 312 Heroes, Myths and Legends in Literature and the Arts Units: 4

COLT 365 Literature and Popular Culture Units: 4

COMM 384 Interpreting Popular Culture Units: 4

COMM 440 Music as Communication Units: 4

DANC 302g Hip Hop Don’t Stop: Black Social Dance Culture and Media Units: 4

GERM 346 German Folklore and Popular Culture Units: 4

JS 378 Jewish Magic in the Ancient World Units: 4

MDA 330 The Armenian Heritage: History, Arts, and Culture Units: 4

MUSC 444 American Roots Music: History and Culture Units: 4

POSC 441m Cultural Diversity and the Law Units: 4

SPAN 385 The Culture of Food in Hispanic Los Angeles Units: 4

Food and Society Minor

The interdisciplinary minor in Food and Society at USC explores food as a complex social phenomenon, shaped by human knowledges, practices, and ecologies. Grounded in Anthropology, the minor in Food and Society examines the diversity that characterizes human relationships to food, and uses the tools of social analysis to gain critical insight into the complex social forces that shape food systems.

ANTH 338g Food in Culture and Society Units: 4
One elective from the following list of lower-division courses:

ANTH 101g Body, Mind and Healing: Introduction to Medical Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 201g Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 205g Introduction to Global Studies and Cross-cultural Research Units: 4

ANTH 263g Exploring Culture through Film Units: 4

BISC 102Lgx Humans and Their Environment Units: 4

BISC 115Lxg The Biology of Food Units: 4

HP 230 Nutrition and Health Units: 4

JS 258gp Food, Faith and Conflict Units: 4

REL 136g Sense and Sensuality in Indian Religions and Culture Units: 4
Three electives from the following list of upper-division courses:

AMST 343 Food, Health and Culture in Los Angeles Units: 4

ANTH 301g The Global Performance of Healing Units: 4

ANTH 302 Humans and Ancient Environments Units: 4
ANTH 333gm Forms of Folklore Units: 4
ANTH 338g Food in Culture and Society Units: 4

ANTH 360 Symbolic Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 393 Directed Internship Units: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

ANTH 460 Economic Anthropology Units: 4

HBIO 300 Evolution, Ecology, and Culture Units: 4

JOUR 458 Media, Food and Culture Units: 4

PPD 416 Food Policy and Planning Units: 2

REL 303g Exploring Ancient Ways of Living: Experimental Archaeology Units: 4

REL 475 Religion, Material Culture and the Senses Units: 4

SPAN 316x Spanish for the Professions Units: 4

SPAN 385 The Culture of Food in Hispanic Los Angeles Units: 4

SWMS 389 Gender, Sexuality and Food Cultures in the U.S. Units: 4

NOTE: Students may also identify elective courses that align with key categories and petition for their approval toward the minor. Contact your academic or program adviser for information.

International Health, Development, and Social Justice Interdisciplinary Minor

This minor is intended for students who wish to understand the challenges associated with health care as an ethical issue in the international context. In doing so, it focuses on the convergence of three large fields of inquiry, raising questions about their intersection. Social justice is concerned with equity, with questions of fairness as they inform (or should inform) access to resources necessary for the survival and well-being of people around the globe.

This minor is intended to prepare students for careers and leadership roles in the arenas of international health, medical ethics, overpopulation, economic development, human welfare and principles of social justice.

Students should have some experience with engaging ethical questions or considering the context in which these issues arise, which can be accomplished by completing one of the following:

ANTH 101g Body, Mind and Healing: Introduction to Medical Anthropology Units: 4

ANTH 105g Culture, Medicine and Politics Units: 4

ANTH 125g Social Issues in Human Sexuality and Reproduction Units: 4

ANTH 205g Introduction to Global Studies and Cross-cultural Research Units: 4

BISC 102Lgx Humans and Their Environment Units: 4

BISC 103Lgx General Biology for the Environment and Life Units: 4

BISC 150Lgx The Nature of Human Health and Disease Units: 4

ECON 205g Principles of Macroeconomics Units: 4

GEOL 108Lg Crises of a Planet Units: 4

IR 101gxw International Relations Units: 4

IR 213 The Global Economy Units: 4 *

PHIL 166gw Current Moral and Social Issues Units: 4

PHIL 172gmw Social Ethics for Earthlings and Others Units: 4

SOCI 225gw Sociology of Health and the Body Units: 4

SOCI 242g Sociology, Demography and Health Units: 4 **

*Prerequisite: IR 210
**Prerequisite: BISC 120 or BISC 220
Choose One Course (4 Units)
The courses in this and the following categories provide an understanding of the forces that shape global development.

ECON 238xg Political Economy and Social Issues Units: 4

ECON 340 Economics of Less Developed Countries Units: 4 *

ECON 350 The World Economy Units: 4 *

POSC 435 Politics and the Economy Units: 4

Note:
*Prerequisite: ECON 203 or ECON 205
Choose One Course (4 Units)

IR 325 North-South Relations in the Global Economy Units: 4

IR 344 The Global South in World Politics Units: 4

IR 454 The International Political Economy of Development Units: 4

POSC 255g Cultures, Civilizations and Ethnicities in World Politics Units: 4

POSC 450 Political Development Units: 4

POSC 456 Women in International Development Units: 4

SOCI 314Lg Analyzing Social Statistics Units: 4

SOCI 362 Global and Transnational Sociology Units: 4

SOCI 470 Social Change in Low-Income Countries Units: 4
These courses explore cultural attitudes and differences about health and wellness that affect decisions about health care.

Choose One Course (4 Units):

ANTH 301g The Global Performance of Healing Units: 4

ANTH 305 Childhood, Birth and Reproduction Units: 4

ANTH 405 Evolutionary Medicine Units: 4

IR 339 Public Health and International Relations Units: 4

PSYC 367g Stress, Health, and the Mind-Body Connection Units: 4 *

PSYC 462m Culture and Mental Health Units: 4 **

REL 460 Senior Seminar: Medical Ethics Units: 4

SOCI 475 Medical Sociology Units: 4

SWMS 336 Health, Gender and Ethnicity Units: 4

Note:
*Prerequisite: PSYC 100
**Recommended preparation: PSYC 100
These courses familiarize students with the application of legal and ethical questions to social phenomena and the allocation of resources.

Choose One Course (4 Units):

ANTH 300 Evolution, Ecology, and Culture Units: 4

IR 316 Gender and Global Issues Units: 4

IR 401 The United Nations and World Order Units: 4

PHIL 431 Law, Society, and Politics Units: 4

PHIL 437 Social and Political Philosophy Units: 4

REL 366 Religion and Social Change Units: 4

SOCI 360m Social Inequality: Class, Status and Power Units: 4
These capstone courses examine efforts to introduce issues of social justice to the distribution of health care and other resources essential for human survival and well-being.

Choose One Course (4 Units):

MDA 320 Global Ethics: Poverty, Health and the Human Condition Units: 4

SOCI 408 Volunteers, Non-Governmental Organizations, and Everyday Politics Units: 4

SOCI 450 Non-Governmental Organizations/Non-profits Field Practicum Units: 4

NOTE: Other courses may be substituted with Departmental approval.

How do I declare an Anthropology major or minor?

To declare an Anthropology major or minor, make an appointment to meet with the Anthropology Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Kim Vinson vinson@usc.edu.