ANT 140 - Cultural Anthropology

3 Credit Hours

This introductory course familiarizes students with the concepts, methods, and findings of Cultural and Linguistic Anthropology. Cross-cultural study of adaptations to the environment, social institutions, and cultural practices is combined with a holistic examination of particular societies around the world.

Prerequisite(s): COM 050 or COM 051 or ESL 050 and COM 061 or ESL 060

Semesters Offered: All

RATIONALE OF COURSE

This course is designed to foster knowledge, skills and attitudes which will assist students to successfully interact with individuals and groups from diverse cultural backgrounds and to apply these understandings in both personal and professional life.

COURSE COMPETENCIES

Identify the subject phenomena of cultural and linguistic anthropology.
Utilize concepts basic to cultural anthropology and linguistics.
Describe the various methods of collecting anthropological data.
Correctly use the logic of cause and effect relationships in attempting to analyze social behavior
Describe the cultural adaptations of humans to their physical and social environments.
Identify ethnocentric attitudes and behavior and be able to discuss cultural universals.
Discuss the facts and fallacies associated with the terms “race,” “ethnic group,” and “minority group.”
Discuss the origin and history of race and ethnic conflicts in our and other societies.
Discuss how and why people become prejudiced against people who are different from them.
Explain the determinants of cross-cultural variations in expected (ideal) and observed (real)behavior.
Discuss the various formal and informal methods of social control that exist in other societies.
Compare and contrast the various theories that have been proposed to explain deviance in societies.
Identify and explain how inequalities in wealth, status, and power are maintained in human societies.
Describe the social consequences of the division of labor in pre-industrial, industrial, and postindustrial societies.
Discuss cross-cultural universals and differences in sexual and marriage practices and ideas about beauty.
Identify and discuss the major agents of socialization operating on individuals in other societies.
Explain the importance of both verbal and nonverbal communication in human societies.
Discuss the various theories that have been proposed to explain the wide range of variation that exists in human languages.
Identify the sources of social and cultural change in human societies.
Discuss the problems faced by native peoples as they attempt to cope with various aspects of the impact of modem western culture upon their traditional societies.
Make predictions about the future of humankind based upon what is now occurring in the world.