Anthropology

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• define the scope of anthropology and discuss the role of biological anthropology within the discipline.
• examine the basic concepts of evolution.
• identify the main contributors to the development of evolutionary theory.
• summarize methods used in interpreting the fossil record, including dating techniques.
• describe the classification, morphology, and behavior of living primates.
• recognize the major groups of hominin fossils and describe alternate phylogenies for human evolution.
• explain the current hypotheses relevant to an understanding of human evolution.
• identify the biological and cultural factors responsible for human variation.
• describe the scientific process as a methodology for understanding the natural world.
• analyze the evidence to support evolution.
• explain the basic principles of Mendelian, molecular, and population genetics.
• evaluate how the forces of evolution produce genetic and phenotypic change over time.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify bones and features of the human skeleton and apply that knowledge to distinguish position, articulation, and side of the body for specific bones.
• recognize sex-related and age-related variation present in human populations, the methods used to describe and measure this variation, and the application of such knowledge to forensic anthropology.
• explain the basic principles of molecular and Mendelian genetics; identify sources of biological variation and the inheritance of that variation; apply that knowledge to solve genetics problems; and identify the outcomes of evolutionary processes.
• describe the of principles of biological classification and taxonomy, and apply those principles to classification of the Order Primates.
• compare and contrast skeletons of strepsirhines, monkeys, apes, and humans, looking especially at locomotor and dietary adaptations; recognize characteristics of living primates that are useful for identification and interpretation of primate fossils.
• identify and date significant fossils of human ancestors; use specific characteristics to differentiate between fossil species.
• identify skeletal features associated with bipedalism.
• discuss biological and behavioral adaptations of the genus Homo and how they contributed to our species.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe the methods and approaches of a forensic anthropologist.
• apply the techniques for determining sex, age, and ethnicity from human skeletal remains.
• examine a human skeleton and infer possible trauma and pathology.
• discuss the legal and ethical issues of working with human remains.
• apply the processes for establishing positive identification using human remains.
• explain the role of the forensic anthropologist in a criminal investigation.
• describe the dynamics of dental anthropology in positive identification.
• evaluate the significance of human skeletal remains to overall crime scene investigation.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• analyze the complexity of other societies and assess the relevance of cultural diversity in the U.S.
• deconstruct ethnocentric behaviors.
• analyze cultural similarities and differences through anthropological theories.
• describe the methods used in ethnographic fieldwork.
• assess the role of language in learning, enculturation, and cross-cultural communication.
• evaluate the relevance of kinship and domestic groups, subsistence techniques, social stratification, economics, political organization, the arts, religion, approaches to illness and healing, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and globalization and culture change in the lives of individuals and the functioning of societies.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• discuss archaeological theories and methods used to investigate archaeological sites.
• identify the appropriate dating technique to use on different archaeological materials.
• critique the different theoretical approaches in archaeological investigations.
• identify the mapping, excavation, and artifact collection techniques used by archaeologists in the field.
• discuss the ethical dilemmas that archaeologists face and understand the archaeological code of ethical conduct.
• interpret archaeological data to form conclusions about the past.
• apply appropriate inquiry methods to reconstruct past landscapes and social systems.
• evaluate the effectiveness of different theoretical approaches at evaluating archaeological data.
• analyze and describe how archaeological knowledge can be applied to the study of modern humans and our societies.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify and analyze major cultural events in human history, including dispersal to Australia and the Americas, domestication of plants and animals, rise of social inequality, development of political institutions, and technological advances.
• identify the variation of human material culture around the world and understand how the archaeological record is reflective of past human beliefs and practices.
• identify significant prehistoric cultures around the world and how they illuminate our understanding of human variation and patterns of cultural development.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• distinguish the geographic, cultural, and political boundaries of Mesoamerica.
• investigate the pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica from an anthropological perspective.
• incorporate an in-depth understanding of the archaeology of Ancient Maya civilization, which will include current knowledge of Maya hieroglyphic writing, Mayan languages, and social organization.
• analyze the development of agriculture, social stratification, and political economy in Mesoamerica.
• explain the shared mythological and religious traditions in Mesoamerica.
• compare the value and limitations of archaeology, epigraphy, art history, ethnohistory, and cultural anthropology in providing knowledge about ancient Mesoamerica and how Mesoamerican peoples and cultures are represented.
• assess the ethnographic record and attempt to understand emic perspectives and the multiple ways in which Mesoamerican peoples have perceived the world around them.
• evaluate the significant cultural and historical processes from the Colonial period through the Modern era and the continuities of Mesoamerican cultures through time.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• compare a large range of religious, ritual, and magical beliefs throughout the world and over time.
• analyze the sociocultural contexts of religious and magical beliefs.
• differentiate between the basic anthropological approaches to the study of ritual, magic, and religion, and examine the differences between magical thinking and the scientific method.
• describe anthropological approaches to data gathering and the analysis of ceremonial, magical, and supernatural practices and beliefs.
• evaluate the roles of magic, ritual, and belief systems in past and present societies, with comparative emphasis on the students' own cultures.
• examine examples of new religious movements, their origins, their most important features, and their sociocultural significance.
• compare supernatural beliefs and practices regarding illness and healing.
• demonstrate the connections between economics, social organization, and supernatural belief systems cross-culturally.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe the unique, major culture areas of Native California, the environment of each, the ecological adaptations, and the major cultural features that distinguish those areas.
• compare and contrast Native California social and cultural systems with at least one other major Native North American cultural area.
• describe the linguistic diversity and complexity of Native California.
• demonstrate an understanding of the archaeological record of Native Peoples of California.
• compare and contrast Native Californian and Western European systems of categorization.
• describe the history and methods of anthropological study of California Native Peoples.
• hypothesize on the positive and negative values, such as ethnocentrism and cultural integrity, of the relationship of Native Californians to Spanish, Mexican, and American immigrants based on archaeological, folkloric (first person accounts from the original culture), and historical evidence.
• analyze and speculate from an anthropological perspective on the continuities and current issues among Native Californians within and across tribal groups.
• apply anthropological techniques to examine and analyze a source of present day culture conflicts between native peoples and the dominant Euro-American culture and recommend alternative solutions.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify the unique, major culture areas of North America, the environments of each, native ecological adaptations, and major cultural features that distinguish those areas.
• contrast social or cultural systems within Native North America and between Native American and the Euro-American system.
• describe the linguistic diversity and complexity of Native North America.
• analyze the archaeological record of Native Peoples of North America.
• compare and contrast Native and Western systems of categorization.
• analyze the history and methods of anthropological study of North American Native Peoples.
• describe the continuities and current issues among Native Peoples of North America.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain the biological basis of language, including genetic, physiological, and neurological aspects of language, and the biocultural origins of language.
• apply linguistic theory and methods to a social interpretation of languages and their relation to culture.
• interpret and describe language using structural linguistic techniques.
• describe and demonstrate how paralanguage alters and enhances social communication in humans and non-human primates.
• describe the role of language as a reflection of culture and ways in which language influences thought.
• examine minority languages and dialects, bilingualism, literacy, the social motivation of language change, and the impact of language loss.
• recognize the interrelated acquisition of language and culture.
• examine cross-cultural non-verbal communication.
• apply the methodologies of historical linguistics and language comparisons, describing the process of linguistic divergence and the creation of new languages or dialects.
• demonstrate an awareness of how race, class, gender, ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation intersect with language use.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• evaluate the nature and origins of the science of biological anthropology.
• describe the scientific method and discuss how it serves as a methodology for understanding the natural world.
• discuss the evidence that supports the theory of evolution and evaluate how the forces of evolution produce genetic and phenotypic change over time.
• explain the basic principles of Mendelian, molecular and population genetics, and how they affect biological change.
• describe the classification, morphology, and behavior of living primates, and the nature of our relationship to non-human primates.
• recognize the major groups of hominin fossils and identify the biological and cultural adaptations of human ancestors.
• summarize methods used in interpreting the fossil record, including dating techniques.
• identify the biological and cultural factors responsible for human variation.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• analyze cultural similarities and differences through anthropological theories.
• assess the relevance of cultural diversity in the U.S.
• identify ethnocentrism and understand the shortcomings of this viewpoint.
• explore cultural beliefs/behaviors through both emic and etic perspectives.
• describe the methods used in ethnographic fieldwork; analyze and evaluate the ethical issues anthropologists encounter.
• discuss the role of language in shaping worldview, learning, enculturation, and cross-cultural communication.
• evaluate the relevance of kinship and marriage patterns, subsistence techniques, social stratification, domestic groups, political organization, the arts, religion, and culture change in the lives of individuals and the functioning of societies.
• explain the interconnectedness of the economic, political, and sociocultural forces of globalization amongst diverse cultural groups.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the anthropological concepts studied in this course.
• demonstrate competence in the anthropological skills studied in this course.