Course Description

This module is a general introduction to the discipline of anthropology, the study of man, especially as it relates to living human populations, wherever they are found.  The course will look at both human universals and cultural diversity as they affect all aspects of social life in any context, but especially as they make an impact on language development.  Students will also learn some basic techniques for researching other cultures and applying the concepts they are learning to unfamiliar cultural settings.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Explain how the discipline of anthropology contributes to a better understanding of and a better communication with other cultures whether around the world or right next door.
• Discuss the concept of culture and use its various components to analyze and appreciate cultural scenes outside their own experience. 
• Examine how different cultural populations define and order their values based on how they observe, experience and understand both the physical and social worlds around them.
• Examine how the individual sees himself apart from his culture, as part of his culture and how he relates to the world outside his culture. 
• Use some basic anthropological field methods to start observing and writing about new cultural situations.
• Examine the social system of a given community to better understand how people adapt themselves through family structure, marriage alliances and political organization to meet the requirements of everyday life. 
• Discover the basic assumptions people make to explain how their world came into being and how they should relate to it through ritual, magic and religion.
• Describe something of the dynamics of culture change and how this has been an ongoing force in all cultures throughout time.

Course Topics or Themes

Why anthropology?

Culture and values

The self, individual choice, cultural and ethnic identity

Overview of field methods

Learning to observe

Keeping a cultural journal

Social structure: Kinship, marriage and family, leadership

Worldview, magic, religion and ritual

Culture change