ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE
Social Sciences Division
ANT 101 – Cultural Anthropology
Course Outline
Course Number & Name: ANT 101 Cultural Anthropology
Credit Hours: 3.0
Contact Hours: 3.0
Lecture: 3.0
Lab: N/A
Other: N/A
Prerequisites: Grades of “C” or better in ENG 096 and RDG 096 or placement
Co-requisites: None
Concurrent Courses: None
Course Outline Revision Date: Fall 2010
Course Description: This course examines the behavior and customs of all human groups. It describes
human universals, as well as how and why human societies differ, drawing on fieldwork performed in a
wide variety of tribal, village, and urban societies. Topics covered include kinship and other social
systems; the supernatural and sacred; language and nonverbal communication; beliefs and behavior
regarding health and curing; myth, art, and music.
General Education Goals: ANT 101 is affirmed in the following General Education Foundation
Categories: Society and Human Behavior and Global and Cultural Awareness of Diversity. The
corresponding General Education Goals are respectively as follows: Students will use social science
theories and concepts to analyze human behavior and social and political institutions and to act as
responsible citizens; and Students will understand the importance of global perspective and culturally
diverse peoples.
Course Goals: Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following:
1. demonstrate knowledge of the different ways that human groups maintain systems of belief,
behavior, thought, custom, and material culture;
2. describe how anthropologists define and study human cultures;
3. discuss the artistic and musical systems of societies other than one’s own;
4. explain culture as a continually changing, comprehensive life style; and
5. implement an enhanced cultural competency and sensitivity in one’s workplace and other social
settings.
page 1
prepared by P Myers, Fall 2010
Measurable Course Performance Objectives (MPOs): Upon successful completion of this course,
students should specifically be able to do the following:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the different ways that human groups maintain systems of belief,
behavior, thought, custom, and material culture:
1.1 describe how cultures worldwide mark off important transitions with ritual and ceremony,
providing specific examples;
1.2 describe how cultures worldwide maintain systems of belief and behavior concerning the sacred,
supernatural and afterlife, providing specific examples;
1.3 describe how cultures worldwide maintain norms of appropriate behavior;
1.4 identify how cultures other than one’s own maintain systems of communication by language and
body language, providing specific examples; and
1.5 identify systems of tool use, design, and architecture in use in cultures other than one’s own,
providing specific examples
2. Describe how anthropologists define and study human cultures:
2.1 identify and describe the professional activities of anthropologists; and
2.2 observe and describe cultural behavior in a role-play situation
3. Discuss the artistic and musical systems of societies other than one’s own:
3.1 describe forms of art and design employed by cultures other than one’s own;
3.2 identify and discuss world musical styles
4. Explain culture as a continually changing, comprehensive life style:
4.1 discuss how culture changes continually so the “past is a foreign country;” and
4.2 discuss current cultural innovations in one’s own and other societies
5. Implement an enhanced cultural competency and sensitivity in one’s workplace and other social
settings:
5.1 identify newly discovered cultural practices of peers that were revealed in class exercises; and
5.2 discuss and implement methods of relating to persons of other cultures consuming one’s services
while working in a business, educational, health care, social service or other workplace setting
Methods of Instruction: Instruction will consist of, but not be limited to, a combination of lecture, class
discussion, demonstrations and exercises, field trips and audiovisual and Web media. Specific choice of
instructional technology is left to the discretion of the instructor.
Outcomes Assessment: Quiz and exam questions (if applicable) are blueprinted to meet course
objectives. Logs, reaction papers, and projects are evaluated according to checklist rubrics, which are
made available to students prior to their completion of the assignment. Data will be analyzed to give
direction for the improvement of instruction, viability of assignments, and relevancy of assigned
readings or media.
page 2
prepared by P Myers, Fall 2010
Course Requirements: All students are required to:
1. Maintain regular and prompt attendance and be active in class discussion.
2. Complete all scheduled assignments, exams, and quizzes on time or as scheduled.
3. Maintain a courteous and respectful tone and attitude in class discussion and refrain from
advocating the superiority of one’s own culture, lifestyle, or beliefs.
4. Keep in touch with the instructor to inform him/her of any emergency situation that is preventing
one from attending a particular class or fulfilling a particular obligation.
Methods of Evaluation: Final course grades will be computed as follows:
Grading Components

Attendance/Participation/Homework/Quizzes
% of
final course grade
10 – 20%
Students must follow the ECC policy pertaining to attendance.
Excessive absences can result in a lowered or failing grade.
Homework and quizzes will indicate the extent to which
students have achieved course objectives.

3 or more Exams
40 – 50%
Exams will demonstrate the extent to which students have
mastered course material and met course objectives.

Written Assignments
20 – 40%
All written assignments are designed to provide an opportunity
to comment in detail on course concepts, which support course
objectives, and as an exercise in effectively communicating
these concepts.
NOTE: The instructor will provide specific weights, which lie in the above-given ranges, for each of the
grading components at the beginning of the semester.
Academic Integrity: Dishonesty disrupts the search for truth that is inherent in the learning process and
so devalues the purpose and the mission of the College. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not
limited to, the following:

plagiarism – the failure to acknowledge another writer’s words or ideas or to give proper credit
to sources of information;

cheating – knowingly obtaining or giving unauthorized information on any test/exam or any
other academic assignment;

interference – any interruption of the academic process that prevents others from the proper
engagement in learning or teaching; and

fraud – any act or instance of willful deceit or trickery.
Violations of academic integrity will be dealt with by imposing appropriate sanctions. Sanctions for acts
of academic dishonesty could include the resubmission of an assignment, failure of the test/exam,
failure in the course, probation, suspension from the College, and even expulsion from the College.
page 3
prepared by P Myers, Fall 2010
Student Code of Conduct: All students are expected to conduct themselves as responsible and
considerate adults who respect the rights of others. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. All
students are also expected to attend and be on time all class meetings. No cell phones or similar
electronic devices are permitted in class. Please refer to the Essex County College student handbook,
Lifeline, for more specific information about the College’s Code of Conduct and attendance
requirements.
page 4
prepared by P Myers, Fall 2010
Course Content Outline: The numeration of these units may vary according to the current text and
edition adopted. At present the textbook used in this course is Core Concepts in Cultural Anthropology,
by Schultz, Lavenda; published by McGraw Hill Higher Ed; ISBN #0-07-305045-8.
Unit
Topics/Content
1
The concept of culture: culture as a learned, shared, changing system of
customs, beliefs, behaviors, symbols (including language, art, ritual and
ceremony); cultural change in individual cultures and cultural assimilation of
minorities
2
Cultural groups: The culture of individual societies, regional culture areas,
subcultures within society, the culture of small groups and organizations
3
Social organization: Forms of social organization hunting and gathering groups,
agricultural civilizations, urban society; evolution of social organization; kinship
in society: types of kin groups in traditional and modern society: lineague, clan,
nuclear and extended family; how descent is reckoned: matrilineal, patrilineal,
and other forms of descent; social stratification in ancient and modern societies
4
Systems of communication: Language: language families, languages, and
dialects; elements of language: phonemes, morphemes, words, grammar; body
language and use of space
5
Systems of creativity: Art in tribal and modern societies; world music styles;
design and architecture
6
Systems of belief: Religion, the sacred and the supernatural; afterlife; the
cosmos; cultural beliefs and behavior regarding illness and healing: the shaman
– medical anthropology
7
The Individual in culture: Enculturation/socialization; norms and deviant
behavior in world cultures; the development of personality via child-rearing
methods; psychological problems in cross-cultural perspective
NOTE: In ANT 101, the instructor must cover the 7 units listed above minimally in any reasonable order
throughout the duration of the semester/term. Also, the instructor may include additional areas based
on his/her expertise and/or interest. Lastly, quizzes and exams will be equally distributed throughout
the semester at the instructor’s discretion.
page 5
prepared by P Myers, Fall 2010