Course Syllabus
Course: ANTH 1000
Division: Social and Behavioral Science
Department: Social Science
Title: Introduction to Anthropology
Semester Approved: Spring 2023
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2027
End Semester: Fall 2028
Catalog Description: This course introduces students to the four basic fields of Anthropology consisting of Physical Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Archaeology, and Linguistic Anthropology. Anthropologists seek to understand what it means to be human by examining the physical and cultural factors that have influenced the origin, development, and behavior of humankind. Both general education credit and variable credit may be earned. To fulfill Social Science general education requirements, the class must be taken for 3 credits; however, 1-2 variable elective credits are offered for exigent circumstances.
General Education Requirements: Social and Behavioral Science (SS)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1-3; Lecture: 1-3; Lab: 0
Prerequisites: N/A
Corequisites: N/A
Justification: This course is designed to introduce students to physical, archaeological, linguistic, and cultural anthropological topics that will engage students and increase their awareness of the diverse nature of humanity. ANTH 1000 satisfies the Social Science (SS) requirement for General Education at Snow College and will transfer as general education or elective credit. Similar courses are offered at other USHE institutions. In ANTH 1000, students will develop understanding of the past, present, and future factors and issues related to humanity and the social world around them.
General Education Outcomes:
1: A student who completes the GE curriculum has a fundamental knowledge of human cultures and the natural world. The threads unifying Anthropology are its focus on understanding human behavior, groups and cultures, as well as humanity's place in the natural world. Attention will be given to prehistoric, primitive, and modern human experiences as well as current ideas and research about human culture, origins and behavior. Students can expect to read class material and discuss these concepts, applying cultural knowledge and awareness to anthropological subjects and linking them to personal life experiences. Expression of this understanding and knowledge will be asked of students in essay projects, quizzes, and/or exams.
2: A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. Class topics and subjects will be based on textbook readings and other source materials that are assigned to prompt critical thinking and student discussion. Student evaluation and interpretation of this content will be established in class discussion, quizzes and exams. Additionally, essay work will provide students the chance to research anthropological sources and demonstrate their ability to connect this research to their own personal lives.
3: A student who completes the GE curriculum can draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems. Anthropology, with its emphasis on holistic human interconnectedness allows students to use multiple disciplines to analyze and address complex cultural human issues and problems. Drawing from biology, political science, economics, history, psychology, human development, etc., students in this course will address relevant anthropological issues in quizzes, exams, and written work.
4: A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason analytically, critically, and creatively. Anthropology asks students to think critically about their sense of global citizenship and seek to understand the basic cultural unity and interconnectedness of humanity in its past, present, and future form. Class discussion and relevant readings will provide the basis for exercises in anthropological analysis and will be evaluated in class discussion, essay projects, quizzes and/or exams.
General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes:
1: Anthropological readings and class discussion will expose students to the long history and scope of human societal institutions and patterns that have created the cultural structure we see in today's world. Through class engagement, essay projects, quizzes and/or exams, students will be able to examine and demonstrate the contributions of human behavior and societies. Anthropological readings and class discussion will expose students to the long history and scope of human societal institutions and patterns that have created the cultural structure we see in today's world. Through class engagement, essay projects, quizzes and/or exams, students will be able to examine and demonstrate the contributions of human behavior and societies.
2: Develop and communicate hypothetical explanations for individual human behavior within the large-scale historical or social context. Students will explore the global causes and consequences of past and present human actions through discussion and examination of case studies in each of the four basic fields of anthropology. Essay projects, quizzes, and/or exams will provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge and provide explanations for the complexity and patterns of human behavior.
3: Draw on the social and behavioral sciences to evaluate contemporary problems using social science research methodology. By examining the diversity, history, and contemporary issues of global cultures, this course will allow students to identify and evaluate past, current, and practical uses of anthropological methods and perspectives in approaching real-world problems and solutions. Through class discussion, quizzes and/or exams, students will demonstrate their ability to think critically about local and global human challenges.
4: Describe and analytically compare social, political, economic, cultural, geographical, and historical settings and processes other than one’s own. With anthropology's holistic focus, students will be exposed in readings and class discussion to a variety of current and historical global human settings and human processes that will challenge their assumptions and experiences. Careful analysis of the diversity of human conditions will be displayed in student essay projects, quizzes and/or exams.
5: Explain and use the social-scientific method to test research questions and draw conclusions. Students will explore anthropological theories and methodologies across sub-disciplines comparing human behavior cross culturally. Textbook study and additional readings will allow an examination of ethnographic data, case studies, and controversies in the field. Class discussion, quizzes and/or exams will provide students an opportunity to display their ability to synthesize anthropological findings into clear and well-reasoned arguments and conclusions.
6: Write effectively within the social science discipline, using correct disciplinary guidelines, to analyze, interpret, and communicate about social science phenomena. Students will be able to understand anthropological perspectives and communicate their opinions, analysis, and research on these topics. Essay projects and written work assessed on quizzes and/or exams will demonstrate this competency.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will have a solid understanding and knowledge of the 4 basic fields of study in Anthropology (physical/biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology & linguistic anthropology. Understanding and knowledge of the 4 major basic fields of Anthropology will be assessed through class discussions, quizzes, exams, and project/essay work.
Students will gain an understanding and knowledge of the research methods used by anthropologists and other social and behavioral scientists to discover, describe, explain and predict human behavior and group structure. Understanding and knowledge of anthropological and social science research methods will be assessed through class quizzes, exams, and project/essay work.
Students will be able to apply cultural knowledge and an increased global awareness to anthropological subjects and personal life topics. Cultural knowledge and global awareness related to anthropological subjects and personal life experiences will be assessed through class discussions, quizzes, exam, and project/essay work.
Content:
ANTH 1000 is an introductory anthropology course that focuses on the four basic fields of Physical Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Archaeology, and Linguistic Anthropology. Through lecture, class discussion, writing assignments, quizzes and exams, these four fields and their sub-fields will address diverse biological, social and cultural human issues. Topics will include evolutionary principles, human evolution, primatology, historical developments in human civilization, human diversity, characteristics of culture, communication and linguistics, identity, subsistence and exchange, family and kinship, politics and power, spirituality and religion, and global change.
Key Performance Indicators:
Students will be evaluated on outcomes using the following:
Exams 35 to 50%
Quizzes 15 to 25%
Essays/Projects 20 to 30%
Participation/Attendance 10 to 15%
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Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Texts will vary depending on instructor preference.
A textbook example would be Essence of Anthropology by Haviland, Prins, Walrath, & McBride (current edition).
Additional readings will vary on instructor preference. An example would be "Body Ritual of the Nacirema" by Horace Mitchell Miner
Pedagogy Statement:
ANTH 1000 will be taught using discussion-based lectures with a focus on helping students understand and apply the 4 basic fields of Anthropology. Course assignments will help students think critically using a social scientist's perspective and methodologies, and allow them to effectively analyze and examine global cultures, the diverse nature of humanity, and the social structures around them. Different backgrounds and perspectives of students will be welcomed and an inclusive environment for all students will be encouraged and embraced.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Maximum Class Size: 50
Optimum Class Size: 35
