Exploration of the scientific principles governing natural systems and their contribution to understanding the emergence and biological evolution of humans, the role of environment in shaping human behavioral and cultural variation, and the consequences of human activity on local, regional, and…

Students are introduced to the most famous archaeological sites in the world, with themes centered around the following: evidence of early humans, first cities, death and burial, art and architecture, ritual and religion, warfare, sacrifice, conflict, and great inventions.

Biological anthropology is the study of human biological evolution and biocultural variation. In this course, students will learn about the interdependent relationships between the environment, human adaptation, health, and culture, including human-induced effects on the environment, as well as…

Exploration of the complete story of human evolution, from our origins in Africa, our affinities with all primates, and our modern biological and cultural adaptations.

Introduction to anthropological study of the biology and behavior of humans and the primates. Concepts of macro and microevolution, adaptation, cell and genetics, paleontology, human and primate origins, bioarchaeology and biomedical anthropology. Observational and hands-on activities are…

Course introduces cultural anthropology as a profoundly useful way of thinking about the contemporary world. Students will develop skills to study beliefs, institutions, and diversity revealing things taken for granted that matter a great deal. They will identify, interpret, and evaluate sources…

Provides the basic foundations for conducting ethnographic fieldwork. Students will explore the unique strengths and utility of an ethnographic approach; learn how to conduct ethnographic techniques through hands-on, experiential learning activities; and apply these skills to a research project…

This course is about past human-environmental relationships and what they may mean for the present day. Students learn how humans changed their natural environments in the past, how past peoples reacted to resulting social, cultural, and climatic changes, and how this may inform on current…

Introduces students to the field of archaeology. Students will gain a basic understanding of the history of archaeology as a discipline, the nature of archaeological data, the core concepts and various methodologies used by archaeologists, and how archaeologists use anthropological theories and…

Practical training in tree-ring research methods, including field collection, sample preparation, tree-ring measurement, dating, and analysis, using both modern forest and archaeological and heritage wood samples in the UGA Tree-Ring and Wood Analysis Lab collections. Includes potential field…

Introduction and training in dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) methods and overview of the tree-ring record's interdisciplinary applications in archaeology, art history, climate, and ecology. Includes lecture and hands-on activities using ancient to modern wood samples from UGA Tree-Ring and…

Students will learn about the social, cultural, economic, and political processes that have contributed to the evolution of cities in ancient and modern societies. Students will be able to identify and interpret similarities and differences in urbanization processes, urban features, and their…

Animal remains recovered from archaeological sites, studied in light of zoological and archaeological methods and theories and interpreted in terms of human and animal behavior. 

When this course is taught as a split level, additional requirements for graduate students: Graduate…

Agriculture and farmers in a cross-cultural, deep-time perspective, from the domestication of plants and animals 10,000 years ago, to how farmers throughout the world make ends meet while coping with risk and uncertainty, to the place of farming and farmers in the modern world system. 

Supervised work experience with a natural history collection. Students will learn techniques and other procedures for curating materials in a collection of their choice under the direction of collection personnel.

Students will maintain regular, weekly work schedules totaling 7 hours per…

A survey of archaeological evidence for the transition from foraging to farming and herding throughout the world, its causes, and its consequences. Emphasis is on evidence obtained from archaeological studies of human, plant, and non-human animal remains from archaeological sites in Africa, Asia…

Supervised experience with public agencies, private industry, or non-profit organizations working in anthropological related areas, such as internships in ethnographic investigation, environmental impact assessment, archaeological endeavors, museum collections, conservation, heritage programs,…

The role of disease in the human experience. Students will draw on information from medical anthropology, epidemiology, human adaptation, disease ecology, and evolutionary biology to examine how diseases have been shaped by human-environmental interactions, culture, individual behavior, and…

Through hands-on experience, students will be trained in different methods and techniques for conducting all phases of archaeological field and laboratory work, including surface survey, remote sensing, excavation, data and material recovery, recording, processing, and analysis. Students also…

This course integrates evolutionary theory, conservation science, and art. Students research scientific concepts and develop creative projects that translate them into accessible communication. Through active learning, guest lectures, and workshops, the class emphasizes creative problem-solving,…

Exploration of the institutional frameworks employed to govern human-environmental interactions. Conventional and critical perspectives on idealized institutional forms (e.g., state, market, community) and governance trends will be covered. Taught in seminar format designed to advance student…

This capstone course enables final-year Forensic Science minors to synthesize and apply interdisciplinary knowledge through seminars, professional development, and an independent thesis or project. Students explore scientific foundations, career and graduate pathways, and professional…