Catalog Description

Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Introduction to the study of human culture. Examines continuity and diversity in lifeways, knowledge, perspectives, practices and social institutions. Examples drawn from many different cultures and addresses multiple aspects of people’s lives. Explores cultural change and intercultural interactions at local and global scales. Addresses the contemporary relevance of culture, cultural humility and cultural anthropology. (C-ID ANTH 120) (CSU, UC)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Compare and contrast cultural, archaeology, linguistic and biological anthropology.
  • CSLO #2: Explain culture, discuss its importance and apply cultural anthropological approaches to study our own as well as others’ lives with humility and relevance.
  • CSLO #3: Comparatively describe and analyze examples of how people in different places know, perceive, become, interact, organize and live in different ways.
  • CSLO #4: Use specific examples to explain and evaluate culture change as well as intercultural interactions at local and global scales.

Effective Term

Fall 2020

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

1. Define anthropology, explain its general principles, describe the approaches and methods of the four subfields, compare anthropology with other academic disciplines, and evaluate its contemporary relevance.
2. Define culture, explain its important elements and examine how it works; describe cultural analysis and use it to address cross-cultural beliefs and practices.
3. Explain ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, discuss their role in cross-cultural investigations and relations; examine and evaluate humanitarian approaches; use each to analyze and establish your view on important and relevant cross-cultural cases.
4. Explain ethnography and compare it with other methodologies; identify and examine specific ethnographic procedures and techniques; evaluate the ethics and usefulness of ethnography; apply aspects of the ethnographic method in a small-scale investigation.
5. Examine anthropological perspectives on the intersection of language, culture, cognition and reality and apply those perspectives to cross-cultural examples.
6. Explain the connections between culture and power; examine the role of culture in establishing and reproducing order, as well as promoting change, by analyzing cross-cultural examples.
7. Use anthropological approaches and concepts to analyze, compare and evaluate the ways different cultures adapt to, conceptualize, experience and impact their environments.
8. Apply anthropological approaches and concepts to explain the ways that cultures change, to examine cultural conflicts, and to analyze and assess the impacts of globalization.
9. Distinguish and describe the anthropological approach to studying the complex connections between psychological dynamics and cultural, social and economic systems; explain processes of identity and subjectivity and apply them to analyze cross-cultural examples.
10. Explain cultural anthropological approaches to studying kinship, family, marriage, sexuality and sex and use those approaches to analyze cross-cultural examples.
11. Identify and explain anthropological approaches and concepts for studying belief systems—supernatural, political and beyond; examine their role in ritual and the everyday; use them to analyze cross-cultural examples.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Behavioral Sciences
    • AA/AS - Multicultural Studies
    • AA/AS - Social Sciences
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - D1 Anthro/Archaeology
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
      • IGETC - 4A Anthro Archaeology

    Articulation Information

    • CSU Transferable
    • UC Transferable

    Methods of Evaluation

    • Classroom Discussions
      • Example: The instructor assigns an article or book chapter for student scholars to read in preparation for an in-class reading discussion about cross-cultural gender systems and identities (Course Objective #9). Student scholars bring typed and printed reading notes about the assigned material to class for use during the reading discussion. The instructor directs student scholars to form small groups and to use their notes to begin discussing the main ideas and important information about the reading. Student scholars are then directed to discuss how the assigned reading pertains to the current learning unit in the course. Groups then work collaboratively to complete a reading discussion activity organizer which will be submitted for credit, along with reading notes, at the end of the class session.
    • Essay Examinations
      • Example: Student scholars will develop understanding of the basic ideas, benefits and issues of ethnography (Course Objective #4) through assigned reading, lecture and other learning materials. Formative assessments will then be used to ensure comprehension. The professor then assigns several case studies of ethnographic approaches to studying cultural events. In the next class session the professor facilitates a discussion about the articles. Student scholars will then write essays which compare and evaluate each ethnographic article.
    • Objective Examinations
      • Example: Student scholars will take scripted answer exams (ex. LMS quizzes) to assess basic comprehension of cultural anthropological concepts, approaches and information about cross-cultural political systems (Course Objective #6). Evaluation will be assessed based upon accuracy of answers.
    • Projects
      • Example: Throughout the semester, student scholars will plan, conduct and present their own cultural anthropological capstone projects (which will thus connect with most of the course objectives, but in particular will draw upon Course Objectives #2, #3 and #4). Student scholars will demonstrate their ability to apply anthropological approaches, theories and methods within their own independent, yet instructor guided, investigations. Student scholars are encouraged to examine topics which will advance their personal, academic and/or professional interests.

    Repeatable

    No

    Methods of Instruction

    • Lecture/Discussion
    • Distance Learning

    Lecture:

    1. Professor lectures in order to define, explain and offer examples of ethnocentrism, cultural relativism and applied/ humanitarian anthropology (Course Objective #3). The professor then directs student scholars to discuss in small groups the key points of assigned readings which highlight the problems with ethnocentrism as well as the complex tensions between cultural relativism and humanitarian anthropology. Student scholars brainstorm questions which are addressed by the professor. Instructor then shows brief videos which reveal provocative examples of cross-cultural practices. Student scholars are then directed to form new small groups and develop their own thoughts about the examples by applying the key concepts of ethnocentrism, relativism and applied/humanitarian anthropology.
    2. Instructor assigns reading about the relationships between language, culture and thought (Course Objective #5). During the class session, the instructor directs students to form small groups to discuss the article or book chapter. Towards the end of the discussion, the instructor will hand out an in-class activity or exercise which requires student scholars to apply the ideas and information in the reading to a particular example which may involve screening a brief video. Students engage in the activity/exercise and work collaboratively to fill out the information and respond to critical thinking prompts. At the appropriate time, the instructor calls the groups together to share their findings and reflections on the assignment in a general class discussion.

    Distance Learning

    1. During a week when an introduction to the concept of culture is the focus, several learning avenues are provided. (1) Textbook pages and two contemporary articles will be assigned to read (2a) A written lecture provided and/or (2b) A full video lecture with the instructor presenting the material (3) A voicethread where students have the ability to respond to images and to one another's comments (4) a set of focused but exciting discussion topics. After reading and choosing their mode of instruction the students will engage in the conversation aspect with fellow students and the instructor. For example a discussion topic asking them to draw on information from both the article and their own experiences/knowledge base makes the topic more relevant.

    Typical Out of Class Assignments

    Reading Assignments

    1. Student scholars read the assigned pages from the textbook or lecture notes on the current topic, pre-assess their knowledge (ex. LMS quiz) and come to the next class session prepared to ask questions and discuss the material. 2. Student scholars read an ethnographic article or book chapter, take notes and answer a reflection question for credit as well as in preparation for an in-class discussion activity.

    Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

    1. After participating in an in-class discussion about the article facilitated by the professor, student scholars will write down their thoughts into a short essay or short answers wherein they discuss how the article relates to the key cultural anthropological topics and concepts they are currently studying. 2. After studying a specific theory, approach or concept, student scholars complete short essay assignments in which they apply what they’ve learned to a specific example from a list of choices including brief videos, current events or something from their own background or experiences.

    Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

    Course Capstone Project—Throughout the semester, student scholars work on their own cultural anthropology informed investigation into a cultural topic, issue or event of their own choosing. Student scholars collaborate with the professor and peers to develop relevant ideas and feasible methods. Student scholars then conduct library and/or first-hand data gathering and use approaches and concepts from the course to develop their own anthropological commentary. Final reports are shared with the professor and informally with peers in a variety of possible formats such as research papers, ethnographic videos, websites, original art projects, cultural skill demonstrations, etc.

    Required Materials

    • Cultural Anthropology: A Toolkit for a Global Age
      • Author: Guest, Kenneth
      • Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
      • Publication Date: 2016
      • Text Edition: 2nd
      • Classic Textbook?: No
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Conformity and Conflict: Readings in Cultural Anthropology
      • Author: Spradley, McCurdy and Shandy
      • Publisher: Pearson; Prentice Hall
      • Publication Date: 2017
      • Text Edition: 15th
      • Classic Textbook?: No
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Cultural Anthropology: An Applied Perspective
      • Author: Ferraro and Andreatta
      • Publisher: Wadsworth
      • Publication Date: 2017
      • Text Edition: 11th
      • Classic Textbook?: No
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Cultural Anthropology in a Globalizing World
      • Author: Miller, Barbara
      • Publisher: Pearson
      • Publication Date: 2016
      • Text Edition: 4th
      • Classic Textbook?: No
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Mirror for Humanity: A Concise Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
      • Author: Kottak, Conrad
      • Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
      • Publication Date: 2017
      • Text Edition: 11th
      • Classic Textbook?: No
      • OER Link:
      • OER:

    Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.