Anthropology Department

Intro to Physical Anth/Arch

ANTH
111
In-Person, Online-Scheduled Delivery
Archaeology provides a unique opportunity to examine the development of human society. With their long temporal depth, we can examine how humans, and their ancestors, evolved and populated the entire globe. The nature of modern archaeological research including topics of hominid evolution, origins of agriculture, rise of state-level societies and First Nations archaeology will be discussed. Students will have an opportunity to apply this knowledge using real archaeological data. Three credits. Offered every year.

Socio-Cultural Anthropology

ANTH
112
In-Person
Socio-cultural anthropology involves the comparative study of societies throughout the world. Students will learn how societies differ from each other, as well as observing similarities among them. The course surveys traditional ways of understanding cultures while incorporating current insights and research. Topics include diverse political, legal and economic systems, kinship patterns, religion, forms of ethnic and gender identity, health and medicine, development and migration. Department foci relating to Indigenous peoples, development and general anthropology are introduced. Three credits. Offered every year.

Anthro of Health & Illness

ANTH
218
In-Person
An examination of global health and illness from an anthropological perspective, this course applies key anthropological concepts to topics such as the meaning of health and illness cross-culturally, cultural construction of the body, medical pluralism, cross-cultural psychiatry, critical medical anthropology and the health of Indigenous peoples in Canada and other parts of the world. Cross-listed as HLTH 218. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112 or permission of the instructor. Three credits.

Intro Indigenous Anthropology

ANTH
234
In-Person
The complexities of contemporary cultural, political and legal Indigenous issues are explored using anthropological methods and theories. Beginning with the historical antecedents of colonial relations and leading to contemporary ethnography, this course assesses the impacts of state policies and legislation on Indigenous peoples today. Students explore the relationships between Indigenous peoples and settlers in areas of Indigenous rights, culture, law, governance, politics, environment, media, social development, gender, and health, and critically examine reconciliation strategies and pathways to self-determination. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112 or permission of the instructor. Three credits. Offered every year.

Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries

ANTH
235
In-Person
Did aliens help build the Pyramids, was Atlantis a real continent, and did a race of giants once roam eastern North America? From the “missing link” to alien landing strips, this course explores and exposes some of the biggest archaeological hoaxes in history. In the process, it will investigate the role pseudoscience plays in perpetuating such frauds and examine how archaeologists debunk hoaxes by establishing what we know about the past. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112 or second year standing with permission of instructor. Three credits.

Arch. & Prehistoric Societies

ANTH
243
Online-Scheduled Delivery
This course offers an examination of modern archaeological research including how archaeologists work in the field, their analytical techniques, and some of the principal methodological and theoretical issues facing the discipline. A wide variety of archaeological examples (from lavish Egyptian tombs to simple nomadic settlements) will be used to illustrate the main themes of the course. Students will participate in the process of archaeological research through a series of practical exercises and assignments. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112. Three credits.

ST: Territory & Identity

ANTH
298
In-Person
The topic for 2025-2026 is The Politics of Territory and Identity. The reproduction of identities is often shaped by contestation over territorial stretches. Powerful states and empires have historically dominated ethnic minorities, Indigenous, and colonized populations to purify ‘national’ territories. A form of structural violence is embedded in such national territory/identity-making projects that often result in conflicts and displacement. This course investigates the collective experiences of forced migration and displacement. It explores the structural processes that transform people from ‘humans’ to ‘refugee subjects.’ Three credits.

Anthropological Theory

ANTH
303
In-Person
This course will give students an understanding of past and present trends in anthropological theory. Students will learn about the purpose of theory and the main elements of major theoretical frameworks. There will be an emphasis on how to apply theory to anthropological material. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112 and at least 6 credits of ANTH at the 200 level. Three credits. Offered every year.

Principles & Meth of Fieldwork

ANTH
304
In-Person
This course introduces students to qualitative field methods used by anthropologists and social scientists. Through lectures, seminars and field assignments, students will participate in a variety of research techniques including digital data gathering, video ethnography, participant observation, archival searches, oral and life histories, interviewing, sampling, mapping and focus group strategies. In addition to practical application of these skills, students will learn about Indigenous research methods, and collaborative participatory action and ethical research design. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112 or permission of the instructor. Three credits. Offered every year.

Anthropological Data Analysis

ANTH
305
In-Person
This course introduces students to the basic principles of statistics and quantitative analysis of anthropological and archaeological data. Through lectures, seminars and lab assignments students will learn skills such as quantitative research design and methods, data analysis, and computer applications in anthropological and archaeological research. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112. Three credits. Offered every year. .

Anthropology of Tourism

ANTH
310
Online-Scheduled Delivery
Tourism is an important industry that provides employment, wealth, and identity for many people around the globe. Although relatively a recent sub-discipline, the anthropology of tourism is an effective approach to studying how this industry impacts those who participate in its complex socio-economic system including both hosts and guests. In this course, we will examine various forms of tourism (e.g., sex/romance tourism, heritage and archaeology of tourism, medical tourism, eco-tourism, and dark tourism) as well as themes of identity, inequality, colonialism and globalization. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112. Three credits. Offered every year.

People and Development

ANTH
320
In-Person
This course examines the people engaged in development policy and practice, from target populations, to NGO workers, international organizations, business and governments. Students will consider the impacts of strategies such as those promoting popular participation, gender equality, small-scale business, local knowledge and democratic reform, as well as of different forms of development institutions. The course uses case studies based on long-term, first-hand participant observation that place development processes in larger historical, political and economic contexts. Cross-listed as DEVS 321. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112 or DEVS 201, 202. Three credits. Offered every year.

Celtic Art

ANTH
321
In-Person
Weave your way through Celtic knots and “horror vacui” “fear of empty space,” and discover the art of the Celts. From the Battersea Shield to the Book of Kells, we will trace our way through the extraordinary legacy of weaponry, jeweller, illuminated manuscripts, Celtic crosses, and Sheela-na-Gigs to arrive at a deeper understanding of the people who made them. Acceptable as a course in history. Cross-listed as ART 321 and CELT 321. Three credits. Offered 2025-2026.

Feminist Anthropology

ANTH
323
In-Person
This course examines how past and present feminist anthropologists have used and problematized categories of difference and identity, such as, gender, class, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability, religion and nationality as they pursue anthropological research. The course explores themes of contemporary importance through socio-cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology and/or biological anthropology. Topics might focus on: Indigenous gender roles; cross-cultural sexualities; masculinity and pre-historic gendered hierarchies; etc. Credit will be granted for only one of ANTH 323 or ANTH 324 and WMGS 324. Cross-listed as WMGS 327. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112 or WMGS 100 or WMGS 200 or permission of the instructor. Three credits.

Anthropology of Kinship

ANTH
326
In-Person
This course explores current themes and debates about the constitution of families cross culturally. It will examine topics such as: cultural understandings of kinship; historical transformations of kinship systems; current reconfigurations of marriage; partnering strategies; new reproductive technologies; transnational adoption; intra-familial conflict; the role of kinship for individuals and in societies; and the influence of the state on kin patterns. Course material will include ethnographic examples from around the world. Cross-listed as WMGS 326. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112, or WMGS 100 or 200 or permission of the instructor. Three credits.

Mi'kmaq Studies

ANTH
332
In-Person
Using theories and methods relevant to research respecting Indigenous knowledge, self-determination, strategies of resistance and cultural sustainability of the L’nu (Mi’kmaq) Nation of Atlantic Canada, we first explore L’nu (Mi’kmaq) oral histories, cosmology and sociocultural organization. We then analyze the impacts of colonization on L’nu (Mi’kmaq) cultural practices and governance. In the third section we focus on contemporary treaty implementation, revitalization of Indigenous laws, economic development and livelihoods, governance, and the mobilization of reconciliation through the TRC Calls to Action, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls to Justice and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112, 234 or permission of instructor. Three credits.

North American Archaeology

ANTH
341
In-Person
This course explores past and present Indigenous societies from North America, and we examine how these societies emerged, developed and were radically transformed by European colonization. Students will discover that even though great spans of time separate modern and ancient Indigenous cultures, cultural continuity exists. Prerequisite: ANTH 243 or 253. Three credits.

Honours Sem & Thesis Research

ANTH
400
In-Person
A required course for all senior honours students. This course includes a senior seminar scheduled to meet the students’ pace to help guide students through the steps to complete honours research: research design, proposal writing, field-based research, data collection and analysis, knowledge mobilization, and dissemination. We also assist students with applications to graduate programs and funding. Students are expected to present their findings at StFX Student Research Day and in a public presentation of their work. Six credits. Offered every year.

Anthropology of HIV/AIDS

ANTH
415
In-Person
This course examines global infectious diseases from an anthropological perspective. Using a holistic and cross-cultural approach, students will think about how kinship systems, gender, class, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnicity and global economic and political structures affect how individuals in different populations learn about and give meaning to HIV and infectious disease, the risks they face, and the degree to which they can protect themselves and receive treatment if infected. Prerequisite: ANTH 211 or 218 or DEVS 201/202 or permission of the instructor. Three credits.

Adv Archaeological Seminar

ANTH
445
Online-Scheduled Delivery
This seminar develops on the foundation of archaeological method and theory introduced in previous courses. Through an examination of various topics, students will engage in an in-depth analysis of key concepts and ideas. Past topics have included: Archaeology of Death and Dying; Ancient Colonization and Acculturation in the Mediterranean; Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, Decolonizing Archaeology. Prerequisite: ANTH 341 or 342 or permission of the instructor. Three credits. Offered 2025-2026 and in alternate years.

ANTH Theory in Action

ANTH
455
In-Person
This course will be of interest to students who wish to use anthropological training in their future careers. Students will investigate selected social justice issues and apply anthropological practice to particular contexts. There are three principal objectives: to use anthropological ideas to analyze current events and representations of current events; to learn how anthropological practice can be used to analyze information derived from anthropological and archaeological research; and to investigate how anthropological practice can be applied to assist marginalized communities in achieving their goals. Prerequisites: ANTH 303 and 12 additional credits ANTH or permission of the instructor. Three credits. Offered 2025-2026 and in alternate years.