Cultural Anthropology
SYLLABUS
Dr. Karen E. Bell
ANTH 2351
MW 10:35 am – 11:50 am
43729 Lec 009
CYP5 2227
Office Hours: 12:00 pm to 12:30 am MW, 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm TTh
Office location: Adjunct office across from elevators, this building, this floor
Phone numbers and e-mail address: Home 873-9445, cell 507-3229, kbell@austincc.edu (please include your phone number in your e-mail).
Conference information: Please let me know if you need to meet with me outside of office hours. I’m sure we can arrange a time convenient for both of us.
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY introduces the student to a holistic study of culture. The major elements of human social behavior, material culture, and cultural diversity are studied as adaptations to social and environmental change--past and present.
This course will be a lecture/discussion class. Your input will be encouraged and appreciated, as each of you brings unique experiences to this class.
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology is designed to provide students with an understanding of the interaction of culture and biology as it bears on the evolution of human biological and cultural diversity. This course will allow students to apply general anthropological knowledge and skills to everyday life and their chosen careers, to apply the course towards an associate degree at Austin Community College, and to prepare them for success in upper division courses in Anthropology at other institutions.
8. Course Objectives/Outcomes–
Students who complete this course will:
- Will be able to describe what anthropology and cultural anthropology are
- Have gained a broad cross-cultural background against which to view our culture as well as contemporary social problems
- Be able to recognize similarities and differences in human cultures
- Be aware that there are various valid cultural solutions to the problems of life
- Be able to understand the factors involved in culture change
- Be able to understand some of the methods, theories, and procedures anthropologists use in studying cultures
9.Course Evaluation and Grading System
There will be three equally weighted exams and a short paper. We will discuss these in more detail in class.
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
0-59 F
Course Policies –
Attendance – You must attend class. Please let me know if you will not be there on any particular day.
Withdrawals – I will not withdraw you. You must do so yourself.
Incompletes – I do not give them.
Scholastic Dishonesty – See below.
Student Discipline – You disrupt, you go. In this case, I rescind my policy on withdrawals.
“Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework.”
In other words, you get no credit for work not your own.
“Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.”
“Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions. In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. Students may not only disagree with each other at times, but the students and instructor may also find that they have disparate views on sensitive and volatile topics. It is my hope that these differences will enhance class discussion and create an atmosphere where students and instructor alike will be encouraged to think and learn. Therefore, be assured that your grades will not be adversely affected by any beliefs or ideas expressed in class or in assignments. Rather, we will all respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.”
11. Course Outline/Calendar (schedule subject to change) –
Aug. 24 – Sept. 21
Chapters 1-6; review for Test 1 on Sept. 16; Test 1 on Sept. 1
Sept. 23 – Oct. 26
Chapters 7-11; review for Test 2 on Oct. 21; Test 2 on Oct. 26
Oct. 28 – Dec. 7
Chapters 12-16; review for Test 3 on Dec. 2 (paper due); Test 3 on Dec. 7; last day of class, Dec. 9
Whew! I know we will have a wonderful semester!