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Explain the scope and subfields of anthropology
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Define anthropology and its four-field approach (biological, cultural, linguistic, and archaeology)
Explain methods anthropologists use study human diversity across time and space
Illustrate the interaction of the four subfields of anthropology in building holistic perspectives of human societies
Identify career fields in which anthropological perspectives are useful
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Apply evolutionary theory to human origins
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Explain the principles of modern evolutionary theory and their application to human evolution
Describe the mechanisms of evolution and their contribution to genetic variation and environmental adaptation
Differentiate between scientific explanations and pseudo-science in evolutionary studies
Assess how fossil and genetic evidence supports evolutionary models
Analyze how natural selection and other evolutionary mechanisms shape hominin evolution and modern human biological variation
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Analyze the biological and cultural aspects of human evolution
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Criteria
Identify major fossil hominins and their significance in human evolutionary history
Evaluate how environmental and cultural adaptations shaped human evolution
Distinguish between anatomical traits across major hominin species
Discuss how tool use, fire, and social structures contributed to human survival and development
Describe the development of tools from the Stone Age through the development of agriculture and the Industrial Revolution
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Examine the development and variation of human cultures
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Define culture and cultural relativism and their importance in anthropology
Analyze how cultures develop, change, and interact with the environment
Recognize ethnocentrism and explain the importance of cultural relativism in cross-cultural understanding
Compare cultural adaptations to different environmental and historical challenges
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Investigate the role of archaeology in reconstructing the human past
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Essay, Exam, and/or Written Product
Criteria
Explain archaeological methods and their contributions to reconstructing past human societies
Evaluate ethical considerations in archaeology, including issues of heritage and repatriation
Describe how archaeological contexts influence interpretation of material evidence
Distinguish between relative and absolute dating techniques and their applications
Identify how archaeology helps us understand the past, explain the present, and provides insights into the future
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Interpret the rise of domestication and its societal impact
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Discuss the biological basis of human variation and its misinterpretation in racial classification
Explore race as a social construct with real-world consequences
Identify historical and contemporary consequences of racial ideologies
Analyze anthropological critiques of biological determinism
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Evaluate the concepts of race, ethnicity, and human variation
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Explore the origins of human language and its role in shaping human societies
Compare linguistic structures and cultural communication systems
Recognize key theories about the origins of human language
Analyze how language encodes cultural norms, values, and worldviews
Investigate the methods used by sociolinguists and historical linguists to learn about past languages, as well as the distribution and evolution of modern languages
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Examine the evolution of language and communication
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Compare different forms of economic exchange and political organization across cultures through human history
Identify material and spatial indicators of centralized power in early civilizations
Compare tribute, redistribution, and market-based economies in archaeological contexts
Analyze how urbanization and complex societies developed across the world
Discuss how globalization influences economic and political structures
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Analyze how the development of political and economic systems contributed to complex civilizations from an archaeological perspective
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Essay, Exam, and/or Written Product
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Define kinship and marriage systems and compare cross-cultural variations
Explore gender as a cultural construct and its role in different societies
Identify how kinship systems influence inheritance, residence, and group identity
Evaluate how gender roles vary across cultural and historical contexts
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Investigate kinship, marriage, and gender across cultures
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Use anthropological theories to evaluate modern societal challenges such as climate change, migration, and inequality
Assess how anthropology contributes to solving real-world problems
Examine how anthropologists engage in applied work in areas like health, development, or migration
Use anthropological examples to critique simplistic narratives in media or public policy
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Apply anthropological perspectives to contemporary issues
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Essay, Exam, and/or Written Product
Criteria
Use anthropological theories to evaluate modern societal challenges such as climate change, migration, and inequality
Assess how anthropology contributes to solving real-world problems
Examine how anthropologists engage in applied work in areas like health, development, or migration
Use anthropological examples to critique simplistic narratives in media or public policy
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Develop critical thinking and scientific literacy skills
Assessment Strategies
Written Products
Criteria
Distinguish between evidence-based research and misinformation
Apply anthropological methods to evaluate sources and construct well-reasoned arguments
Evaluate the credibility of anthropological claims based on evidence and source reliability
Apply anthropological reasoning to synthesize information across subfields
Writing is organized, clear, and includes sources as specified by the instructor