20809283Cultural Anthropology and Human Diversity
Course Information
Description
This course focuses on exploring the range of modern human cultural diversity across the world. The class will examine the cultural practices and historical ties that constitute commonalities across cultures. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural complexity of modern urbanized societies such as that of the United States.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Apply the anthropological perspective to various situations.
    Assessment Strategies
    regularly administered essay examinations
    classroom discussions
    research paper
    Criteria
    learner passes all aforesaid assignments
    learner explains how cultural anthropology differentiates itself from the other social sciences by basing itself on the notion of holism
    learner explains the meaning of the term holism
    learner explains how the concepts of reflexivity and dialectical relations emerge from a holistic focus
    learner explains how holism, reflexivity and dialectical relations form the anthropological perspective
    learner engages with the previously mentioned concepts in their understanding of cultural forms and social structures
    learner produces thoughtful, thorough and clearly written essays that express their well-formed thoughts on and command of knowledge of their material covered in the lectures, assigned readings and video viewings

  2. Examine anthropological views on language as a cultural system.
    Assessment Strategies
    regularly administered essay examinations
    classroom discussions
    research paper
    Criteria
    learner passes all aforesaid assignments
    learner discusses how language (as a human communication system) is different from other animal communication systems
    learner explains how language as a system of communication based on the manipulation of symbols is itself part of a group s cultural inheritance
    learner explains how language usage both affects and is affected by the cultural and social systems that it is itself a part
    learner produces thoughtful, thorough and clearly written essays that express their well-formed thoughts on and command of knowledge of their material covered in the lectures, assigned readings and video viewings

  3. Discuss the ways in which human beings are simultaneously social, cultural and biological creatures.
    Assessment Strategies
    regularly administered essay examinations
    classroom discussions
    research paper
    Criteria
    learner passes all aforesaid assignments
    learner discusses materials that have been critically explored in various segments of the course (e.g., in discussions of gender, kinship, etc ) that have to do with the relationship between innate (i.e., biological or genetic) characteristics of human beings and those traits and behavioral tendencies that are the results of the ways that different groups socialize and enculturate their members.
    learner produces thoughtful, thorough and clearly written essays that express their well-formed thoughts on and command of knowledge of their material covered in the lectures, assigned readings and video viewings

  4. Discuss various anthropological theories and views on such topics as ritual, religion, myth, symbols, cultural constructedness, personhood, gender, and kinship.
    Assessment Strategies
    regularly administered essay examinations
    classroom discussions
    research paper
    Criteria
    learner passes all aforesaid assignments
    learner defines the concept of cultural construction
    learner discusses the concept of cultural construction
    learner applies the notion of cultural construction to a range of cultural forms and social activities (such as gender, kinship, religion, economics, politics, etc ) as seen in the various human groups explored throughout the semester
    learner produces thoughtful, thorough and clearly written essays that express their well-formed thoughts on and command of knowledge of their material covered in the lectures, assigned readings and video viewings

  5. Discuss anthropological theories and views on economic and political activities as practices in various societies including their own.
    Assessment Strategies
    regularly administered essay examinations
    classroom discussions
    research paper
    Criteria
    learner passes all aforesaid assignments
    learner distinguishes between economic systems based on market exchange and reciprocal exchange
    learner discusses the differences between economic systems based on market exchange and reciprocal exchange
    learner discusses how systems of meaning are linked to activities in economic production and consumption
    learner discusses various forms of social power and how those forms are linked to different social structures, epistemologies and economic systems
    learner produces thoughtful, thorough and clearly written essays that express their well-formed thoughts on and command of knowledge of their material covered in the lectures, assigned readings and video viewings

  6. Conduct an examination of another culture while applying the principles of holism and cultural relativism.
    Assessment Strategies
    regularly administered essay examinations
    classroom discussions
    research paper
    Criteria
    learner passes all aforesaid assignments
    learner demonstrates, through discussion, an understanding of the anthropological concept of cultural relativism and how that term (as a heuristic device) is different from terms as values pluralism or moral relativism in political science or how that term is employed by ethicists
    learner clearly discusses the ethical responsibilities of anthropologists conducting field research
    learner produces thoughtful, thorough and clearly written essays that express their well-formed thoughts on and command of knowledge of their material covered in the lectures, assigned readings and video viewings

  7. Examine the major developments in anthropological theory.
    Assessment Strategies
    regularly administered essay examinations
    classroom discussions
    research paper
    Criteria
    learner discusses the consequences of how the anthropology that emerged in the 20th century is in many ways a reaction against that which was called anthropology in the 19th century
    learner shows the consequences of how the anthropology that emerged in the 20th century is in many ways a reaction against that which was called anthropology in the 19th century
    learner outlines the major changes in anthropological theory in the 20th century
    learner briefly discusses the major changes in anthropological theory in the 20th century
    learner produces thoughtful, thorough and clearly written essays that express their well-formed thoughts on and command of knowledge of their material covered in the lectures, assigned readings and video viewings

  8. Examine various anthropological views regarding the impact of Western colonialism on the non-Western world.
    Assessment Strategies
    regularly administered essay examinations
    classroom discussions
    research paper
    Criteria
    learner passes all aforesaid assignments
    learner defines the meanings of the terms colonialism and imperialism
    learner discusses the meanings of the terms colonialism and imperialism
    learner explains how those terms apply to the history of the relationship of Europe and United States to the rest of the world over the last 500 years
    learner discusses how cultures and societies around the world have been shaped and structured by their history
    learner discusses how cultures and societies around the world continue to be affected by the economic and political presence of the West
    learner produces thoughtful, thorough and clearly written essays that express their well-formed thoughts on and command of knowledge of their material covered in the lectures, assigned readings and video viewings

  9. Discuss the various social and cultural factors that affect the process by which refugee and immigrant groups accommodate to life in the United States (and be able to apply that knowledge to other similar situations elsewhere).
    Assessment Strategies
    regularly administered essay examinations
    classroom discussions
    research paper
    Criteria
    learner passes all aforesaid assignments
    learner discusses how the demographics of immigration have changed over the course of the 20th century
    learner discusses how the demographics of immigration continues to be shaped by the economic and political developments of the 21st century
    learner discusses the processes by which immigrants and refugees make accommodations to and assimilate into U.S. culture and society
    learner discusses how cultural notions of race and ethnicity are affected by and themselves affect the immigrant's assimilation process
    learner produces thoughtful, thorough and clearly written essays that express their well-formed thoughts on and command of knowledge of their material covered in the lectures, assigned readings and video viewings