Heartland Community College
Social and Business Sciences
Course Syllabus for Students
Course Prefix and Number: ANTH 101-91 ONLINE SPRING 2013
Course Title: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Credit Hours: 3.0 hrs.
Days and Times the course meets: flexible
Location and Classroom: virtual world
Catalog Description
This course provides an introduction to human culture encompassing social organization,
technology, economics, the arts, religion, and language, as used by various peoples. Students will
be exposed to recent and contemporary cultures around the world through the lens of
anthropology.
As a course taught fully online, ANTH 101-91 contains the following online features: class
notes, power points, reading assignments, quizzes, discussion board, journal, streaming movie
clips, and videos.
Prerequisite(s)
None
Instructor Information
Instructor’s Name: Ari Ariyaratne, Ph. D.
Phone number to contact instructor: (309) 268-8595
Instructor’s e-mail address: Ari.Ariyaratne@heartland.edu
Instructor’s office hours: Thursday 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM or by appointment
Textbook Required
None
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer
ANTH 101 fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Social Sciences required for the A.A. or
A.S. degree. ANTH 101 should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum
described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities
participating in the IAI. However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer
information regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page at www.itransfer.org for
more information.
Beliefs
Academic Discipline: Anthropology is the study of human behavior in all its facets. It is
the only contemporary discipline that approaches human questions from historical, biological,
linguistic, and cultural perspectives. Each of these sub-disciplines imparts invaluable core
knowledge about human beings and their cultural and biological diversity.
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Cultural anthropology, by employing its analytical tools ethnology and ethnography,
explores a variety of human beliefs and behavior while making sense of the meanings that people
from different societies ascribe to their experience.
Student Learning: Students tend to learn best when presented with a variety of ways to
get to know the material. This online course is designed prioritizing student engagement in active
learning.
Instructor’s Role: The student-centered approach is central to my teaching philosophy.
This online course of cultural anthropology is designed with the intention of maximizing student
participation in active learning.
Moreover, moving beyond traditionally conceived categories of the subject, in this
introductory course, I will attempt to give a glimpse of the emerging theoretical and
methodological currents within the field of cultural anthropology.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (Learning Outcomes):
Outcomes
General
Range of Assessment Methods
Education
Outcomes
Reflect upon the formation
of their interests, talents,
and goals within their
human experiences in order
to choose appropriate
learning environments.
Observe cultural
interactions and conduct
ethnographic interviews in a
culturally sensitive and
technically sound way, and
summarize findings and
elicit conclusions clearly
and effectively in oral,
written, and/or visual forms.
Develop a broader
understanding of fellow
human beings and an
appreciation of human biocultural origin, evolution,
and cultural and social
diversity.
DI3
Writing Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, Projects, Presentations,
Discussions.
PS3
CO1
Writing Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, Projects, Presentations,
Discussions.
CO2
DI2
DI1
Writing Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, Projects, Presentations,
Discussions.
DI5
2
Define central concepts of
cultural anthropology and
apply them to everyday life
in the process of
understanding human
condition and addressing
human predicaments.
Identify, discuss, and
compare, using relevant
ethnographic examples,
cultural beliefs and behavior
related to all facets of
human life.
CT1
Writing Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, Projects, Presentations,
Discussions.
CT2
CT1
Writing Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, Projects, Presentations,
Discussions.
CT2
CO3
Describe and discuss the
process of enculturation and
identify the intermingling
roles of hereditary and
cultural influences on
human behavior.
CO1
Writing Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, Projects, Presentations,
Discussions.
CO3
CT1
PS2
In light of the insights
gained from the holistic and
comparative perspectives of
cultural anthropology, view
human questions in the
broadest possible context in
order to comprehend their
interconnections and
interdependence.
Reflect upon and reexamine the formation of
one’s own taken-for-granted
way of believing and
behaving in light of the
insights gained form the
study of other cultural
beliefs and practices.
DI4
Writing Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, Projects, Presentations,
Discussions
PS3
CT1
DI1
Writing Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, Projects, Presentations,
Discussions.
DI2
DI3
DI4
CT4
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE
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I. Cultural Anthropology: Introduction and Perspective
II. Ethnography and Fieldwork
III. Concept of Culture
IV. Theorizing Culture: Growth of Anthropological Theory
V. Culture and Communication
VI. Society and Identity: Kinship, Descent, and Marriage
VII. Adaptive Strategies: Material Processes and Their Social Relations
VIII. Culture and Religion
IX. Cultural Construction of Identity
X. Cultural Construction of Social Hierarchy
XI. Anthropology of Art
XII. Political Anthropology
XIII. World System: Viewing Social, Cultural, Political, and Economic Systems in Global
Context
XIV. Modernity, Postmodern Critique, and Globalization
Method of Instruction
ANTH 101-91 is designed by using the online software package in Blackboard 9.0. Let me
briefly explain some features of the course layout.
Once you are in this webpage, you’ll see the left column on your computer screen, the column
very important for navigating through the course. Notice that there are four blocks of links in the
left hand navigation column.
The first block has three links: “Announcements,” “Course Syllabus,” and “Course Calendar.”
The Announcements link will help you to find the instructor’s class-related announcements. The
Course Calendar link will help you to find the important dates and deadlines in relation to your
course activities. The Course Syllabus link will lead you to the syllabus, the document you are
reading right now. The syllabus will give you a fairly good idea on course requirements, course
work, method of course instructions and evaluation, and course expectations.
The second block has four links: “Course Content,” “Assessments,” “Discussion Board,” and
“Journal.” When you click on the Course Content link, it will lead you to the content modules of
the course and they correspond to the Course Outline given above. There are fifteen (15) content
modules. Each module has all reading materials, video highlights, and PowerPoint presentations
assigned for the week, and links to the week’s online quiz, discussion assignment, and journal.
Each week, the relevant content module will be made available for the students by Monday at
8:00 AM. You are required to visit the webpage regularly throughout the semester to
browse the relevant module(s), do the required readings, watch the given visual highlights,
complete discussion board and journal, and take quizzes.
The fifteenth content module has only one item. It is the question for FINAL REFLEXIVE
ESSAY which has to be completed and posted on JOURNAL 15 during 8:00am, April 29 –
11:00pm, May 10.
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“Assessments” link will direct you to the weekly online quizzes. They are designed for one
attempt only. Each week, the relevant online quiz will open by Monday at 8:00 a.m. and will
remain open until 11:00 pm, Sunday.
“Discussion Board” and “Journal” links will take you to the relevant venues every week. They
have to be completed no later than Sunday at 11:00 pm, every week.
The third block has the links for “Messages,” “Technical Support,” and “My Grades.”
The fourth block contains the link for “Professor’s Profile.” You will find your instructor’s biodata and contact information by following this link.
Now click on “Course Content” in the left hand navigation column, and then click on Module
One. You will find the materials you have to study for Module One as the first item. These
materials are class notes, power points, online readings, and streaming videos. Each of them is
hyperlinked, and by clicking on each heading, you can reach the material.
The second item in Module one is “Weekly Thinking Assignments.” Under this item, you will
find information on Quiz 1, Discussion Board 1, and Journal 1, the assignments you have to
complete within the first week. In order to take the quiz, click on “assessments” in the left hand
navigation column. Similarly, to complete Discussion Board, click on “Discussion Board,” and
to complete Journal, click on “Journal.”
The third item in the Module is titled as “Learn More.” Under this item, you will find links with
which you can learn more about the topic(s)/theme(s) discussed in the module.
You will find this same pattern in all content modules.
In order to get the best results from this online course, it is prudent to follow the instructions
given in the relevant content modules in their chronological order.
There is no mid-term or final examination for this course.
Method of Evaluation (Grading System)
You will be evaluated using the following method:
Quizzes or Multiple-choice Questions: 2.50 points x 14 modules = 35.00
Discussion Board: 2.00 point x 14 modules = 28.00
Journal: 2.00 points x 14 modules = 28.00
Journal for Final Reflexive Essay = 9.00
For discussion board, points are given according to laid out expectations:
2.50 = High level of critical thinking and high proficiency in writing
2.25 = High level of critical thinking and moderate proficiency in writing
2.00 = Moderate level of critical thinking and moderate proficiency in writing
1.50 = Low level of critical thinking and low proficiency in writing
0.00 = Student did not attempt the assignment
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For journal, points are given according to laid out expectations:
2.00 = High level of critical thinking and high proficiency in writing
1.75 = High level of critical thinking and moderate proficiency in writing
1.50 = Moderate level of critical thinking and moderate proficiency in writing
1.00 = Low level of critical thinking and low proficiency in writing
0.00 = Student did not attempt the assignment
When referring to letter grades, definitions, and grade point equivalent, this course follows the
guidelines of HCC official grading system given under the HCC Academic Policies of the 2012
HCC Catalog.
Incompletes
Incompletes are allowed only under the most extreme situations. Students wishing to earn an
incomplete grade should see the instructor.
Extra Credit
None.
Student Evaluations
In the last 2-3 weeks of class, all students are expected to complete a course evaluation form
online, at www.studentevals.com/heartland.
Syllabi disclaimer
The instructor reserves the right to make alterations to this syllabus as necessary.
Course Calendar
Week 1 (January 14)
Module 1: Cultural Anthropology: Introduction and Perspective
Week 2 (January 21)
Module 2: Ethnography and Fieldwork
Week 3 (January 28)
Module 3: Concept of Culture
Week 4 (February 4)
Module 4: Theorizing Culture: Growth of Anthropological Theory
Week 5 (February 11)
Module 5: Culture and Communication
Week 6 (February 18)
Module 6: Society and Identity: Kinship, Descent, and Marriage
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Week 7 (February 25)
Module 7: Adaptive Strategies: Material Processes and Their Social Relations
Week 8 (March 4)
Module 8: Anthropology of Religion
MIDTERM EVALUATIONS
March 11-15 – SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES
Week 9 (March 18)
Module 9: Cultural Construction of Identity
Week 10 - (March 25)
Module 10: Cultural Construction of Social Hierarchy
Week 11 (April 1)
Module 11: Anthropology of Art
Week 12 (April 8)
Module12: Political Anthropology
Week 13 (April 15)
Module 13: World System: Viewing Social, Cultural, Political, and Economic Systems in
Global Context
Week 14 and 15 (April 22 and 29)
Module 14: Modernity, Postmodern Critique, and Globalization
FINAL REFLEXIVE ESSAY (April 29 - May 10)
Module 15: (Contains the question for JOURNAL 15 only)
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