This course examines the situations, problems, and continually developing strategies of indigenous peoples living in various countries and regions scattered throughout the world. While the central concern of this investigation focuses on so-called "tribal" peoples and their increasingly threatened, yet still instructive lifeways, the course also deliberately considers selected points of contrast and comparison involving "modern" societies as well.

This program allows students to rigorously analyze and understand our modern, complex society, including courses on education, health care, media, inequality, family, deviance, and urban phenomena.