Anthropology - ANTH 201

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the anthropological concepts, theories and methods used in the study of sociocultural systems throughout the world. Topics such as linguistics, subsistence, economics, family and marriage, kinship, religion and politics are examined to reveal both commonalities and diversity among cultures. The course focuses on the role of anthropology in understanding modern problems such as inequality, globalization, the environment, human health and illness.

Prerequisites

(A requirement that must be completed before taking this course.)

Course Competencies

Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Identify the key concepts, theories and perspectives of cultural anthropology.
• Identify methods and ethics of anthropological fieldwork.
• Describe the characteristics of culture.
• Apply the concepts of holism, ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.
• Identify how anthropological linguistics is used in the study of diverse cultures.
• Compare basic sociocultural institutions such as kinship, economics, religion and politics from societies throughout the world.
• Identify the interaction between culture and the environment.
• Illustrate examples of globalization and cultural change.
• Analyze modern problems from an anthropological perspective.

Course Schedule