COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Prefix/Number: ANT 2000
Course Title: Introduction to Anthropology
Course Credit Hours: 3
Instructor Name and Contact Information: A. Joanne Curtin, jcurtin@uwf.edu.
Prerequisites or Co-Requisites: None
Course Description: Anthropology is the holistic study of human beings. This means that
anthropologists study all aspects of what it means to be human. In "Introduction to
Anthropology," students are introduced to the full variety of topics which engage
anthropologists, including human biology and biological evolution, the biology and social life of
out closest biological kin, the non-human primates, human language and its uses, and the
components of social and cultural organization. Further, students are introduced the different
ways in which anthropologists study humans, with biological or physical anthropology focusing
on human biology and evolution, as well as non-human primates, archaeology focusing on past
human societies and cultures, cultural anthropology on contemporary societies and cultures,
and linguistic anthropology on the human use of language in cultural context.
Goals: Upon completion of the course, students will be able to define “anthropology” and
identify its sub-disciplines. They will be able to be able to discuss the scope and orientation of
the discipline and its sub-disciplines. Students will also be able to discuss human and primate
evolution, basic forms of human cultural adaptation, the origins of civilization, the elements of
language and the human use of it, and other important factors of human cultural and social
organization.
About this Course: This course is delivered completely online. You must have consistent
access to the Internet.
Learning at a distance may be a very different environment for many of you. You will generally
set your own schedules, participate in class activities at your convenience, and work at your
own pace. You may spend some additional time online during the first few weeks while you
become acclimated to the online class format and you may feel overwhelmed. You should also
be prepared to spend approximately 7-10 hours per week online completing lessons, activities,
and participating in class discussions. Finally, you may want to incorporate these tips to help
you get started:
 Set yourself a schedule -- check the course web site early in the class week to see what
tasks you'll need to work on for the week.
 Become very familiar with the site and how to use it. It is a tool to help you learn!
 Team up with your classmates to discuss class assignments and questions you might
have. Check the “Classlist” link ? for biography info and email addresses.
 Ask questions when you need answers. If you have instructional problems, contact your
instructor. If you have technical problems, contact the UWF Helpdesk at: 850.474.2075
Topics and Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Anthropology and its Applications
o Define key terms, such as “anthropology,” “culture,” and “adaptation.”
o Identify and discuss the focus of the sub-disciplines of anthropology.
o Discuss the relationship between anthropology and other academic disciplines.
o Define and discuss key concepts, such as “science,” “theory,” and “hypothesis.”
o Define and discuss applied anthropology.
o Discuss the role of anthropology in addressing several contemporary social issues
and problems.
2. Research Methods, Evolution and Genetics
o Identify and discuss the main research methods of these sub-disciplines.
o Define and discuss important concerns for ethical research in the sub-disciplines of
physical anthropology and archaeology.
o Identify and discuss the key differences between Darwinian evolutionary theory and
creationism, as well as between Darwinian Theory and other, earlier important
theories of evolution, such as that of Lamarck.
o Define and discuss important concepts of Mendelian genetics and genetic evolution.
o Identify and discuss important examples of human biological adaptation.
3. Primates and their Evolution
o Define important common tendencies among mammals as a group, and among
primates as a group.
o Identify the major taxonomic groups of living primates, and to identify the important
characteristics of each.
o Discuss the relationship between humans and other primates, including what we
have in common with non-human primates, what makes us different, as well as the
ways in which contemporary human actions endanger many non-human primate
species.
o Define what fossils are and to discuss the nature of fossilization and the fossil record.
o Identify and discuss important methods used for dating the past.
o Identify important fossil primate species, discuss their defining characteristics, and
place them in chronological order on a timeline.
4. Early Hominids and Modern Humans
o Define and discuss the shared characteristics of hominids.
o Identify important early hominid species, discuss their defining characteristics, and
place them in chronological order on a timeline.
o Define the differences between the genus Homo and earlier hominids, including
especially the suite of traits of Homo erectus and later members of the genus which
enabled for the expansion of these hominids.
o Identify important members of the genus Homo, discuss their defining
characteristics, and place them in chronological order.
o Discuss the tool traditions of different members of the genus Homo, as well as the
early art of Homo sapiens.
5. Human Diversity and Domestication
o Discuss why race is a discredited concept with regard to human biology.
o Discuss how race does work as a social system of classification and perception –
and how it does so in different ways in different societies.
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Identify and discuss examples of human biological diversity.
Define and discuss domestication of plants and animals.
Discuss the process of domestication for different parts of the world, including
recognition of the different ways this happened.
Discuss the transformations brought about by a shift to a lifestyle based upon
domesticated plants and/or animals, including both costs and benefits.
6. Sociopolitical Development and Cultural Anthropology
o Define the key characteristics of states in general.
o Compare and contrast states with other forms of sociopolitical development,
including chiefdoms and egalitarian societies.
o Compare and contrast the characteristics of formative states in different world areas.
o Discuss the different theories of the origins of states.
o Discuss the main research methods of the sub-discipline of cultural anthropology.
o Define and discuss important concerns for ethical research in the sub-discipline of
cultural anthropology.
7. Culture and Ethnicity
o Define “culture” and discuss its importance both for human society and as a concept
of the discipline of anthropology.
o Discuss examples and mechanisms of culture change.
o Define and discuss the concept of “ethnicity,” and its relationship to other terms, such
as “race,” “culture,” and “nation.”
o Discuss examples of ethnic interaction, both as peaceful coexistence and as ethnic
conflict.
8. Language, Communication and Vocation
o Define language and discuss its relationship with other forms of vocal
communication, such as primate call systems.
o Identify and discuss important structural features of language.
o Discuss different theoretical perspectives on the relationship between language,
thought, culture and behavior.
o Define and discuss the different basic human adaptive strategies: foraging,
horticulture, agriculture, pastoralism, and industrialism.
o Identify and discuss the main forms of economic exchange found cross-culturally:
reciprocity, redistribution, and market exchange.
9. Family Organization and Political Systems
o Identify the important forms of sociopolitical organization: bands, tribes, chiefdoms,
and states.
o Compare and contrast the important features of the main forms of sociopolitical
organization.
o Name and define the different principles of descent found in human kinship.
o Identify, discuss, and differentiate between different family types, especially nuclear
families and the different sorts of descent groups.
o Identify different basic patterns of kinship terminology.
o Discuss relationships between descent, family type, kin terminology, and different
types of societies.
10. Gender and Marriage
o Discuss the different characteristics of marriage cross-culturally.
o Define important terms, such as “incest taboo,” “exogamy,” and “endogamy,” and
discuss their relationship to marriage.
o Discuss the social role of marriage.
o Define the key terms, “gender,” “sex,” “sexuality,” “gender stratification,” “patriarchy.”
o Discuss the relationship between gender and other aspects of culture and social
organization.
11. Religion and The Arts
o Discuss different forms of religion found cross-culturally, such as animism, totemism,
or various forms of institutionalized religion.
o Discuss the relationship between religion, ritual, and magical practice crossculturally.
o Discuss the relationship between religion and other aspects of social organization.
o Discuss different characteristics of the arts cross-culturally.
o Discuss relationships between art and society.
12. Colonialism, Modern World and Cultural Exchange
o Discuss the emergence of the modern world system.
o Define and discuss industrialism and industrial stratification, and to discuss the role
of industrialism in the world system.
o Define and discuss important characteristics of the world system today.
o Define and discuss colonialism, including especially the transforming role it played
for many societies around the world.
o Discuss the relationship between colonialism, the development of the world system,
and economic development.
o Discuss relationships between the modern world system and culture change around
the world, including both homogenizing effects and local cultural resistance to
cultural imperialism.
Texts:
Required texts: Anthropology, The Exploration of Human Diversity. 12th Edition.
Kottak, 2008. McGraw-Hill. Available from UWF Bookstore, or Amazon.com
Recommended texts: None
Required Materials:
Internet Access to eLearning and publisher’s web site
E-mail Account
Grading / Evaluation: Three exams, a written component and ongoing participation activities
demonstrate student proficiency and expertise in the topics listed above. Students will complete
activities related to the student learning outcomes.
The course grade will be determined as follows:
Three Examinations (20% each)
60%
Exam information comes from textbook readings, critical thinking
questions and key terms identified in the text.
Research Paper
Four to six page paper on approved topic. Paper requirements
described in “Research Paper Assignment” file located under
Important Course Information.
20%
Ongoing Participation Activities
Complete on time, Internet exercises, weekly quizzes and
assigned discussions.
20%
References/Bibliography:
Special Technology Utilized by Students: This course is totally online. All instructional
content and interaction takes place over the WWW. See About the Course, Topics, and Student
Learning Outcomes for additional requirements.
Expectations for Academic Conduct/Plagiarism Policy:
Academic Conduct Policy: (Web Format) | (PDF Format) | (RTF Format)
Plagiarism Policy: (Word Format) | (PDF Format) | (RTF Format)
Student Handbook: (PDF Format)
ASSISTANCE:
Students with special needs who require specific examination-related or other course-related
accommodations should contact Barbara Fitzpatrick, Director of Disabled Student Services
(DSS), dss@uwf.edu, (850) 474-2387. DSS will provide the student with a letter for the
instructor that will specify any recommended accommodations.