ANT 220
Cultural Anthropology
Credit Hours: 3 Contact Hours: 3
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces the nature of human culture. Emphasis is placed on cultural theory, methods of fieldwork, and cross-cultural comparisons in the areas of ethnology, language, and the cultural past. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of basic cultural processes and how cultural data are collected and analyzed. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in social/behavioral sciences.
FACULTY INFORMATION
Dr. Cynthia Reeves
Office Location: N/A
Office Hours: by appointment
Telephone: (910) 528-6137
Email: reevesc@sandhills.edu
MAJOR COURSE GOALS
At the successful completion of this course, the student will have done the following:
- Developed an understanding of patterns of diversity and similarity in human cultures
- Developed an understanding of the role of culture in shaping the lives of societies and individuals
- Developed an understanding of the conditions under which cultural understandings gain force, persist, and spread
- Used anthropological concepts and examples to reframe contemporary social issues
- Developed an ability to access various forms of anthropological data and literature awareness of the interrelatedness of economic, sociopolitical, communication, and religious systems
- Developed an awareness of political and ethical implications of social research
GENERAL EDUCATION
Students who are successful will improve in the following general education areas: Reading, writing, oral communication, mathematical skills, basic use of computers, problem solving, critical thinking, and cooperating with others.
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
Textbook
Nanda, Serena and Warms, Richard L. Cultural Anthropology. Eighth edition. Thomson Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
Required Software
To access your online course you will need access to the Internet. For best results, use the current version of your preferred browser. Internet Explorer is compatible with Blackboard, but some browsers may not be. Although there are no absolute requirements, computers with faster Internet connections, faster processors, and more memory will get better results. Keep in mind that if you have difficulties connecting to the class or a slow connection, the problem could be occurring at many levels. For help with technical problems, click the "Help" icon at the top of the screen for links to help pages and a toll-free technical support number. Right click the icon to open it in a new window.
GRADING POLICIES
Grading Scale
A total of 1000 points are available in this course. Scores will be posted in the "My Grades" link located in the "Course Tools" section in as timely a manner as possible.
A 93-100
B 85-92
C 77-84
D 70-76
F Below 70
Areas of Evaluation
Points for this course will come from the following areas:
Discussion Assignments 400
Quizzes 400
Paper 200
Total 1000 points
Academic Integrity
In addition to good academic performance, students should exhibit honesty and integrity. If there is any question that academic honesty and integrity are not honored, students may be required to redo assignments in the presence of an instructor-selected monitor. Proof of dishonesty, including plagiarism, will make students subject to disciplinary action. Please consult your college catalog and the SCC Policy Statements below for more information.
Access/Disability Policy
Please consult the SCC Policy Statements below for more information.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
The state auditor requires that the instructor be able to demonstrate that students are participating in the course on a regular basis. All assignments should be completed by the assigned due dates, including reading assignments, discussion forum assignments, writing assignments, quizzes, and exams. Although you are not required to login to the course at a specific hour and time, you must be active in the course site on a weekly basis. You should not wait until the last day an assignment is due to login to the course that week. Discussion forum assignments may require participation 2-3 times during a week. Furthermore, announcements will be posted on the home page of the course on a weekly basis with advice about completing assignments or on assessment of your work. Late work may not be accepted or may result in a grade penalty.
Adding and Dropping Courses: A student may add a course with permission of the advisor through the second day of the semester. After that point, permission of the advisor and the instructor is needed in order to add a course. A student may drop a course at any time during the first eight weeks (or halfway through a summer session) of the semester by completing an official drop form, obtaining the signatures of the advisor and the instructor, and filing the form with the registrar. Students who stop attending class without officially dropping the course may receive a failing grade in the course.
Withdrawal from a Course, Program, or the College: Emergency situations may arise after the no-penalty drop period whereby students must leave involuntarily. In this case, the student may withdraw from the course by completing a withdrawal form. The student must secure the instructor's signature on the withdrawal form. This form must be completed and filed with the registrar. Students who are passing at the time of withdrawal may receive a grade of WP. Students who are failing at the time of withdrawal may receive a grade of FW. Students who stop attending class without officially withdrawing from the course may receive a failing grade in the course.
Instructor-Initiated Drop or Withdrawal: An instructor may drop or withdraw a student from a course if the student stops attending class or fails to complete two consecutive assignments or the preliminary research paper assignments.
COURSE SCHEDULE
The Modules area of the course contains a detailed schedule of dates for the completion of the assignments in each module of study.
Week 1: An introduction to cultural anthropology
Week 2: The Culture Concept
Week 3: Doing Cultural Anthropology
Week 4: Language and Communication
Weeks 5: Making a living
Week 6: Economics
Week 7: Marriage and Family
Week 8: Kinship
Weeks 9: Sex and Gender
Week 10: Political organization
Week 11: Class and Caste
Week 12: Race and Ethnicity
Week 13: Religion
Week 14: Power, Conquest and a World System
Weeks 15: Paper due and Thanksgiving Break
Week 16: Globalization and Change
