ANTH 120 Comparative World Cultures

This course provides an examination of various facets of social structure, social organization, and social practices in small-scale non-western societies, past and present. The Trobriand Islanders and Ju/'hoansi provide the primary case studies. Basic principles of anthropological examination and archaeological inference will be discussed and utilized in the examination of the customs, values, and beliefs of these communities. Students will have the opportunity to do individual inquiry-led research and thereby gain an understanding and appreciation of a major culture other than their own.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3

Course Objectives

1. Identify the basic concepts anthropologists use to describe a culture and apply them to a variety of global case studies.
2. Analyze the adaptive strategies of a variety of cultures and the effects of these strategies upon the environment, including the cultural values and ethical responsibilities placed on the environment.
3. Evaluate cultural practices and customs which are different from one’s own.
4. Engage in an exploration of anthropological concepts including core beliefs of kinship, social structure, subsistence, worldview, and globalization in a culture that is different from one’s own.
5. Evaluate one's own beliefs and alternative perspectives in relation to the ethical issues facing small scale societies in a globalized world.
6. Communicate a sense of self through the greater understanding of others.
7. Compare and evaluate variations in the social, economic, and political organization of small-scale societies.
8. Evaluate the culture and cultural values manifested within Spanish-speaking societies of Latin America.
9. Write clearly and effectively using appropriate, relevant, and properly attributed content that demonstrates the writer’s understanding of anthropology.

Course Objectives

1. Identify the basic concepts anthropologists use to describe a culture and apply them to a variety of global case studies.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Midterm Exam and Essay

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Paper Rubric
2. Analyze the adaptive strategies of a variety of cultures and the effects of these strategies upon the environment, including the cultural values and ethical responsibilities placed on the environment.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Final Exam and Ethics Paper

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Global Competency Rubric
   • Exam Rubric and Ethics Rubric w/ Global Rubric

   Global Competency

   • GC2
3. Evaluate cultural practices and customs which are different from one’s own.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Essay and Group Research Presentation

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Paper Rubric
4. Engage in an exploration of anthropological concepts including core beliefs of kinship, social structure, subsistence, worldview, and globalization in a culture that is different from one’s own.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Midterm Exam and Essay

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Paper Rubric
5. Evaluate one's own beliefs and alternative perspectives in relation to the ethical issues facing small scale societies in a globalized world.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Ethics Paper and Final Exam

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Ethics Rubric
   • Paper Rubric w/ Ethics Rubric and Exam Rubric

   Ethics Goals

   • ET1
   • ET2
   • ET3
6. Communicate a sense of self through the greater understanding of others.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Ethics paper

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Paper Rubric
7. Compare and evaluate variations in the social, economic, and political organization of small-scale societies.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Essay

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Global Competency Rubric
   • Paper Rubric w/ Global Rubric

   Global Competency

   • GC1
   • GC3
8. Evaluate the culture and cultural values manifested within Spanish-speaking societies of Latin America.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Group Research Presentation

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Presentation Rubric
9. Write clearly and effectively using appropriate, relevant, and properly attributed content that demonstrates the writer’s understanding of anthropology.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Essay

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Paper rubric