St. Cloud State University
General Education Goal Area 5
History and the Social & Behavioral Sciences
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
1.
Prepared by: Robert Lavenda
Phone: 8-3034
Proposal Number:
Email: lavenda@stcloudstate.edu
2.
Requesting Unit: Sociology and Anthropology
3.
Department, Course Number, Title: ANTH 198, The Anthropology of the United States
4.
New Course
5.
Will this course be flagged as a diversity course?
Already Designated as Diversity
6.
Will this course also satisfy another General Education Goal Area?
If “Yes” specify which goal area.
Existing Course
No
Diversity Proposal Accompanying This Form
No
Yes
7.
Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
+ANTH 198. The Anthropology of the United States
Is there a distinctive culture in the United States? Popular culture, public spectacle, sport, work, and education in
the United States today. 3 Cr. S, ALT.
8.
Indicate the clientele for whom this course is designed. Is the course for general education only, or
does it fulfill general education and other program needs for this or another department? Obtain
signatures from any affected departments.
General education students
9.
Indicate any changes that must be made in offerings or resources in your department or other
departments by offering this course.
none
10.
For new courses or courses not yet approved for General Education, indicate any other SCSU departments
or units offering instruction that relates to the content of the proposed course.
n/a
11.
Courses designated as General Education are included in the assessment plan for the Goal Area(s)
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for which they are approved. Courses for which assessment is not included in the annual GE
assessment report for two years will be removed from the General Education Program.
The Requesting Unit understands and recognizes the above conditions.
12.
Provide a concise explanation of how the following goal is a “significant focus” of the proposed course.
Goal Area 5: History and the Social & Behavioral Sciences
Develop understanding of human societies and behaviors, and of the concepts, theories, and methods of
history and the social sciences.
By training the anthropological eye on the United States, students develop an understanding of
themselves as members of a society that has distinct cultural practices, as well as developing an understanding of
the methods of anthropology as something that can illuminate the near and not just the distant and "exotic."
13. In order for a course to be designated as fulfilling Goal Area 5, it must address at least 4 of the 5 student learning
outcomes (SLOs) below. Check the SLOs below that are focused on in the proposed general education course.
1. Describe or use the methods and data by which historians, social scientists, or behavioral scientists investigate
human conditions.
2. Analyze human behavior, cultures, and social institutions and processes from the perspectives of history or the
social and behavioral sciences.
3. Develop explanations for and explore solutions to historical or contemporary social problems.
4. Reflect upon themselves in relation to family, communities, society, culture, and/or their histories.
5. Apply and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories about human societies and behaviors.
14.
Discuss how each Student Learning Outcome checked above is achieved in this course. (Note: Although
descriptions of typical assignments or types of assignments may be part of this discussion, it is not
appropriate to submit copies of actual assignments.)
Students meet SLO 1 by describing the field based method of ethnography that characterizes the
discipline of anthropology. The use the method in small-scale ethnographic projects of their own.
Students meet SLO 2 by analyzing US cultural practices and social institutions and processes from the
theoretical and methodological approaches that characterize anthropology through lecture, essays, and field-based
projects.
Students meet SLO 3 by developing anthropological explanations for social inequality, environmental
issues, gender relations, social class, and "race."
Students meet SLO 4 by reflecting on themselves as culture-bearers and as members of communities and
a society through lectures, readings, exams, and essays.
Students meet SLO 5 by applying and critiquing a variety of different explanatory systems from
anthropology, including pre- and post-structuralist theories of culture, class analysis, and discourse analysis.
15.
List or attach the Course Outline (adequately described and including percentage of time to be allocated
to each topic). Curriculum Committees may request additional information. Topics larger than 20% need
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to be broken down further. Indicate in your course outline where the Student Learning Outcomes
checked above are being met.
Introduction to course. 3.57%
The concept of culture and how to study it. 10.71% SLO 1, 2, 3, 5
Some basic elements of USA culture. 7.14% SLO 2, 3, 4
USA myth and ritual: History, Religion, and Sport. 14.28%. SLO 1, 2, 4, 5
Economy, Society, Power: Consumption, Nature, Gender. 14.28% SLO 1-5
Class, Race, and Childhood. 14.28% SLO 1-5
Language and Thought. 14.28% SLO 2-5
Advertising and US culture. 10.71% SLO 1, 2, 4, 5
Identity, symbols, and performance. 10.71% SLO 1, 2, 4, 5
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St. Cloud State University
General Education Transmittal Form
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
Proposal Number
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Course or Course(s): ANTH 198
Robert H. Lavenda
Department or Unit Chair Signature
02/18/2010
Date
Department forward to Academic Affairs for publication and electronically to Chair of General Education Committee, Chair
of College Curriculum Committee, College Dean
Recommendation of General Education Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of University Curriculum Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of Faculty Association:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
FA Senate
Signature
Date
Action of Academic Vice President:
Approve
Disapprove
Signature
Entered in Curriculum Data File
12/11/2009
Remarks:
Date