ANTH 105 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts, terms and methodologies of cultural anthropology. Students will examine a variety of social and cultural beliefs and practices that exist in reflexive relationship with cultural identities. These will include art, oral traditions, social discourse and power, social structures, ritual and religion, economics and trade, food, built space, and globalization. A number of different case studies will provide a framework for this investigation. Students will also have an opportunity to conduct their own ethnographic research.

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, cultural values, and ethical responsibilities.
3. Evaluate cultural practices, customs, and ethical perspectives which are different from the one's own.
4. Engage in an exploration of worldviews as they apply to kinship including core beliefs on kinship relations and taboos.
5. Apply the anthropological method ethically and appropriately.
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 cultures of varying scales.
8. 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

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Quiz

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

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

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Final Exam--Connecting concepts with case studies

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Global Competency Rubric
   • Ethics Rubirc

   Global Competency

   • GC1
   • GC3
3. Evaluate cultural practices, customs, and ethical perspectives which are different from the one's own.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Quiz

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Ethics Rubric

   Ethics Goals

   • ET1
   • ET2
   • ET3
4. Engage in an exploration of worldviews as they apply to kinship including core beliefs on kinship relations and taboos.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Kinship Paper

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Global Competency Rubric
   • Paper Rubric

   Global Competency

   • GC2
5. Apply the anthropological method ethically and appropriately.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Methodology Paper (aka Research Proposal Paper)

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Paper Rubric
6. Communicate a sense of self through the greater understanding of others.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Kinship 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 cultures of varying scales.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Written Exams

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam Rubric
8. 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

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

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