Course Description

ANTH 2346 General Anthropology - Social Science Core & Cross Cultural Core

ANTH 2346 General Anthropology is an introductory survey of anthropology and its  four major subfields, biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistics and cultural anthropology.  The course focuses on the cultural and biological diversity of humans including hominid prehistory, the emergence of Paleolithic cultures, and the agricultural and urban revolutions from an anthropological perspective.  Past and present human adaptations and culture are surveyed and analyzed using the comparative and holistic approach  characteristic of anthropology  and its integrative and multidimensioned perspective on human culture and behavior. This course transfers as 3 hours of credit to most other colleges and universities. It is in the Social Science Core & Cross Cultural Core Curriculum.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites.

Course Goals (includes competencies, incorporation of SCANS, etc.)

Anthropology as a discipline provides a five-field approach to humans and their culture: biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, cultural anthropology and applied anthropology This course seeks to introduce each of these subfields methods and conclusions in the pursuit of understanding the broad questions, "who and what are humans?".  The effort will be to enhance the students particular knowledge of the place of humans in nature, the biological and cultural diversity evident in the contemporary world, key characteristics of human language, and how know ledge of human culture, the theory and methods used to study "ourselves" is used in solving human problems.  The convergence of perspectives on humans and their adaptations presented in anthropology , provides students with  intellectual and analytical sophistication  in problem solving and the development of critical thinking. 

At the conclusion of this survey of anthropology: 

• You will have basic skills and knowledge of the discipline of anthropology and its holistic, comparative and scientific approach to human culture. 
• You will be able to describe the difference between anthropology and other ways of studying the human condition. 
• You will be able to compare and contrast the focus and methods of study of culture in the four sub-fields of anthropology.
• You will be able to identify and describe major trends and discontinuities in hominid evolution and human cultural development. 
• You will be able to describe the relationship of theory and observation in science and the production of knowledge in this human endeavor.
• You will have acquired "hands-on" experience and skills in Internet and library research as well as "real life" observation and/or interviewing for field exercises.
• You will develop critical thinking skills in identifying the cultural component in human behavior and its analysis.
• You will be able to identify ethnocentrism in interpersonal and group interactions and consider how to counteract its limitations. 

CORE COMPETENCIES
Reading -- Text, Supplemental Reading
Writing -- Written Exercises & Project
Listening - Interviews and  observation exercises, Lectures in and out of class viewing of videos, Class Exercises and Discussions
Critical Thinking -- Written project, class participation exercises, presentations, exams
Computer Literacy -- Internet Assignment
Speaking -- Interviews and observation exercise, class participation, presentations

Instructor Information

This course will be taught by a qualified anthropology instructor.   Please read the specific course syllabus for the instructor information.

Textbook Information

The REQUIRED TEXT for this course is:
Kottak//Anthropology: The Exploration of Human Diversity// McGraw-Hill 13th Edition/2009.

Supplementary articles and reading specified by the instructor.

Lab Requirements (if any)

No lab requirements

Students with Disabilities

Students who are in need of special accommodations related to a condition or disability should contact ADA Counselor at each college to obtain the proper documentation. Special accommodations will be provided to those students who show proper documentation.

Academic Honesty

Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited by the HCCS policy and the rules of this class. A student found guilty of the first offense will receive a grade of "F" for that particular assignment. For the second offense, the student will receive a grade of "F" for the course.

Attendance and Withdrawal Policies

Class attendance is required for the successful completion of the course. Following HCCS policy, a student with unexplained absences in excess of 6 class hours may be dropped from a class.

If you wish to withdraw, it is recommended that you submit the withdrawal form in the registration office,. If you have ceased attending classes, some instructors may drop you from the class roll at the end of the semester, and you will receive a grade of W, even if you have not filed the official withdrawal form. However, other instructors may give a grade of F instead. Please read the syllabus for your class carefully about the attendance and withdrawal policies.

If you are on the installment plan, please remember to make payments according to schedule. Otherwise, you will be dropped from the class roll.

Course Requirements and Grading Policy

Different instructors may use different projects, assignments, and activities in their classes. Instructors are encouraged to use a variety of methods to assess students' learning.   There may be objective tests and other course assignments.  The course assignments may include reading assignments, writing assignments, and various activities (attending guest lectures, internet assignments, class presentation, group projects, etc.) that are designed to develop students' critical thinking and problem solving skills.  Please consult your instructor's course syllabus.

Instructors may use a variety of assessment methods in grading, including tests with objective (multiple-choice, true-false, filling-in-blanks, etc.) and written questions, projects, and group discussion of assigned articles, etc. A writing assignment is required in each anthropology class. The final exam is comprehensive..

The final course grade will be calculated according to the following formula %age weight given to regular tests, the final exam, lab assignments, and any other component of the program indicated by the individual instructor.

The final score resulting from the sum of the above components will be converted into letter grades according to the following scale.

A = 90 and up B = 80 - 89 C = 70 -79 D = 60 -69 F = 59 and below

Make-up policy

Different instructors may have different make-up policies.

Some instructors may allow make-up exams. Other instructors may not allow make-up tests, but give students the option to drop one test grade.

Course Content

A general introduction to the discipline, its particular methods, theories, concepts, and terms will be presented in this course.  Topics  include approaches to the study of past and present cultures, with emphasis on the biocultural model that distinguishes anthropology as a social science. Important contributors to the field, topics including humans place in nature, language, archaeology of the human past, human biological and cultural diversity will be part of the course content. 

Course Calendar with Due Dates for Assignments and Testing

Please consult with your instructor's course syllabus concerning course calendar.

Other Student Information

Anthropology Clubs and Activities are sponsored at some of the individual colleges. Check with your instructor for regular updates.

Useful Internet Links:

American Anthropology Association - "What is Anthropology?"
http://www.aaanet.org/anthbroc.htm

Palomar University Anthropology Program - "What is Anthropology?" (explore tutorials at this site.)
http://www.palomar.edu/anthropology/#What%20is%20Anthropology

Anthropology in the News - Texas A & M University
http://anthropology.tamu.edu/news.htm

AAA Code of Ethics
http://www.aaanet.org/committees/ethics/ethcode.htm

Native American Links
http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/