Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for ATH 103 archive revision 201702

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Effective Term:
Spring 2017

Course Number:
ATH 103
Course Title:
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Examines modern human cultures. Analyzes a variety of ethnographic examples from various world societies to understand the diverse aspects of language, technology, economy, social structure, governance, religion, world views and expressive aspects of life. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

This course will focus on making comparisons between at least two different cultures. Students are expected to read and write at the college level.

Intended Outcomes for the course

1.  Master basic concepts in cultural anthropology in order to prepare for more advanced course work.

2. Reflect on how personal and social values are shaped by culture.

3. Examine the role ethnocentrism plays in promoting cultural misunderstanding and intolerance at the local and global level.

Social Inquiry and Analysis

Students completing an associate degree at Portland Community College will be able to apply methods of inquiry and analysis to examine social contexts and the diversity of human thought and experience.

Course Activities and Design

This course is offered on campus and as a DL class. Course activities may include  any of the following:

  • lecture
  • class demonstrations
  • small group work
  • viewing films or videos
  • guest speakers
  •  

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Assessment strategies may include any of the following:

  •  exams
  • quizzes
  • student presentation
  • experiential exercises
  • term papers
  • short papers or reports

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes:

  • engage in cross cultural comparison
  • learn about fieldwork methods
  • compare different cultural ideologies (values, norms, world view, cosmology)
  • compare different cultural institutions (politics, marriage, kinship, gender roles)
  • compare different cultural economic and technological system
  • recognize ethnocentrism
  • examine the process of culture change
  • compare patterns of enculturation

Issues:

  • cultural relativism
  • ethnocentrism
  • globalization

Concepts:

  • cultural adaptation
  • cultural institutions
  • world view
  • kinship
  • marriage
  • politics
  • economics
  • technology

Skills:

  • read and write at the college level
  • research anthropological topics
  • identify the basic components of culture
  • understand the concept of culture
  • reflect on own cultural values and compare them to others