Overall the course was pretty easy. Lecture attendance isn't mandatory and there was no homework or in-class work, and the only grades were 2 short multiple choice exams for the midterm and final. This is not a challenging class by any means, and I can see how it would be a good introduction to some basic ideas of anthropology as it's a very approachable class.

Class lectures go over various topics relating to anthropology and archeology of death in different cultures. Most offer mainly surface-level introductions and explanations of concepts while mostly offering many examples of them. Earlier in the semester, the content was centered more on ancient cultures, and later on the content trends more towards the present/modern era. Some of the topics do get more grim/dark and emotionally heavier at times, but the professor is good about recognizing that and addressing it.

Prof Silverman is extremely knowledgeable about the material she presents in class, and she likes to fill in the details of the lectures with some personal photos and stories of her own experiences visiting sites and researching in the field.

If you are looking for a class that will challenge you to think about and critically engage with the material, look elsewhere. If you want a class that will get you a rather easy A (if you go to class most of the time, but the slides are all on canvas) then by all means this could be for you.