Department of Anthropology
College of Social Sciences
Program Planning Committee Report to the Provost
April 3, 2013
The Department of Anthropology offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Anthropology, as well as
several interdisciplinary majors and minors. The undergraduate program is comprised of 42 units, and has
105 majors and 67 minors. Between 10-15 graduate students are admitted each year to the new MA in
Applied Anthropology program, added in 2007. A new interdisciplinary Organizational Studies major, to
be housed within Anthropology, has been proposed, and the department is developing a new minor and
certificate program called “Values, Technology and Society.” The department uses an organizing
framework for courses and faculty research they call the “umbrella” model, with three umbrellas: 1)
Human Adaptability and Material Culture, 2) the Anthropology of Wellness, and 3) Knowledge in
Action.
Currently, the Department of Anthropology offers the following programs:
 BA in Anthropology
 Interdisciplinary BA in Behavioral Sciences (with Economics, Psychology, and Sociology)
 Interdisciplinary minor in Native American Studies
 Masters in Applied Anthropology
Strengths of the program
As noted in the program plan, external review report, and the Dean’s letter, the Anthropology program is
a strong program with a productive and cohesive faculty, multiple interdisciplinary connections, and a
new graduate program. Below is a summary of strengths:
 Strong, highly valued leadership
 Cohesive, collaborative department faculty and staff
 Reflective, active assessment processes result in informed, responsive decisions and actions
 Strategic thinking has helped create a balanced portfolio of courses and a set of unifying themes
for coursework and research
 Many interdisciplinary connections with other departments within college and across university
 Cutting edge curriculum in the field
 Strong faculty with diverse and active research agendas, closely connected to and involved with
community
 Alumni and current students report valuing the coursework and employment connections
provided by the program
 Students involved in faculty research and applied projects
Challenges of the program
Leadership changes, new program development, and new hires have resulted in a number of challenges
for the program. These include:
 Recent loss of senior faculty
 Graduate program in applied anthropology lacks adequate faculty
 Limited resources hamper department’s wish to expand research portfolio to larger projects with
multiple faculty members
 Increased administrative and advising work with new programs not adequately resourced
 Inadequate lab space with addition of new archeology faculty members
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Assessment
A range of excellent assessment approaches and practices were described in the Program Review and
Program Plan reports submitted by the department that encompassed GE courses offered by the
department, as well as objectives and outcomes specific to the undergraduate and graduate programs
offered. Qualitative methods were utilized to assess outcomes within the affective domain of learning
using targeted essay questions and class learning projects that allowed students to demonstrate mastery
tied to specific program learning outcomes. Course instructors sampled and evaluated student work that
was discussed by faculty during ongoing discussions of curriculum strengths and refinement. Substantive
changes in outcomes, including the development of more measurable outcomes were made early in the
period of review. Perspective gained through the assessment process helped drive a realignment of the
program (including changes in the major, elimination of double majors, and development of a graduate
program) and reformulation of future assessment efforts.
A self-evaluation of each of the major and master’s programs was conducted using the WASC Program
Outcomes Rubric. Descriptions of this process included general determinations of PLOs associated with
each program. Self-ratings ranged from “Developed” to “Highly Developed. The efforts described are
impressive, particularly related to the use of qualitative and self-rating data to continuously improve
student learning and successful outcomes. Additionally, the external reviewer cited the emphases on
AAC&U high impact practices and assessment rubrics within the department.
Overall, the assessment practices and ongoing evaluation of teaching and learning integrated into the
department should be commended. It is recommended that future reports include the following for each
program:
 Program learning outcomes (PLOs)
 A matrix mapping courses to (PLOs)
 A matrix mapping PLOs to University Learning Goals (recently passed by the Academic Senate)
 Descriptions of qualitative and quantitative measures and procedures
 Tables of aggregated data and data analyses
 Interpretation and discussion of data (closing the loop, as provided in current report)
Next Steps
The final step in the program planning process is a meeting with Provost Junn (or her designee), AVP of
Undergraduate Studies Jaehne, AVP of Graduate Studies and Research Stacks, Dean Bienenfeld, and
Department Chair Darrah. The Chair may invite directors of programs within the department. The
department should contact staff in the Office of Undergraduate Studies to schedule the final meeting. The
following topics for discussion are summarized from the reports:
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Succession management planning
Plan for faculty hires to sustain programs and quality of programs
Plans for external and internal resource development
Requirements for administrative support and student advising
Follow-up on proposed Organizational Studies major, new minor and certificate program
Plan for improving lab and classroom space
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Recommendation
The Program Planning Committee recommends acceptance of the Program Plan. The Program Plan
provided a thorough examination of the issues and explanation of plans for subsequent reviewers. The
next Program Plan for all programs in the department will be due to the College Dean Bienenfeld in
Spring 2017.
Spring 2013 Program Planning Committee members:
Debra Caires (Chair)
Yasue Kodama Yanai
Amy D’Andrade
Anthony Raynsford
Alaka Rao
Sutee Sujitparapitaya
Dennis Jaehne
Julio Soto
Pam Stacks
Diana Wu
Linda Main
Mary Wilson
CC:
Michael Crump
Wenbin Wei
Jinny Rhee
Jeffrey Hummel
Lynda Heiden
Mary Calegari
Chuck Darrah, Chair, Department of Anthropology
Sheila Bienenfeld, Dean, College of Social Sciences
Jan English-Lueck, Associate Dean, College of Social Sciences
Shannon Bros-Seemann, Chair, Curriculum and Research
Dennis Jaehne, AVP Undergraduate Studies
Pam Stacks, AVP Graduate Studies and Research
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Appendix
Description of Department and Programs
The Department of Anthropology is based in the College of Social Sciences. It offers:
 BA in Anthropology
 Interdisciplinary BA, Behavioral Sciences (with Communication Studies, Economics,
Psychology, and Sociology)
 Interdisciplinary Minor, Native American Studies (with Communication Studies, Sociology,
Women’s Studies, Mexican American Studies, Art History)
 Interdisciplinary Minor, Values, Technology and Society
 M.A., Applied Anthropology
 Certificate program under development
At the time of the program plan submission in 2011, the Department listed 105 anthropology majors, 67
minors and 37 Applied Anthropology graduate students. The Department also provides administrative
support and all academic advising for the interdisciplinary Behavioral Science Program serving 315
majors. The RDE for Fall 2011 showed a headcount of 359 students; and SFR of 28.6. Most students are
drawn from the local area.
The department has continued in its strong tradition in cultural anthropology while expanding its focus on
archaeology, physical anthropology, and applied anthropology. In order to ensure collaboration,
interdisciplinary study and research, and integrative learning within all programs the Department has set
up three "umbrellas"
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Human Adaptability and Material Culture
The Anthropology of Wellness
Knowledge in Action
For each umbrella, the department has organized a set of research questions, identified existing supporting
courses (required and electives), proposed supporting courses to develop in the future, and created
meaningful and appropriate learning objectives which can be easily assessed. The umbrellas are applied
to each program.
For the BA degrees students take lower division classes in each of socio‐cultural anthropology, physical
anthropology, and archaeology, a theory course and a capstone course. The capstone course requires
students to synthesize their knowledge about the fields of anthropology while placing the discipline in a
wider social science context. The capstone course also serves as a professional development course with
career building exercises connecting the major to either graduate programs or another career. At the upper
division level, students are required to take a methods course (in any of the sub‐fields), two courses in
each of socio‐cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, and archaeology and two electives drawn
from statistics or geography.
Currently the MA focuses more on issues of cultural applied anthropology covering advanced theory,
research methodologies, and fields of application. Students take electives from outside the department
and work on external projects.
The Department follows the high impact educational practices from the Association of American
Colleges and Universities and places high importance on writing, collaborative assignments and projects;
service and community based learning.
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Faculty
Seven faculty active in the Department:
Darrah (applied cultural anthropologist), Dept. Chair and Professor
Gonzalez (socio cultural anthropologist), Professor
Meniketti (archaeologist), Associate Professor
Salazar (medical cultural anthropologist), Assistant Professor
Stein (archaeologist; not listed on the Department Web site), Assistant Professor
Sunseri (archaeologist), Assistant Professor
Weiss (physical anthropologist), Associate Professor
Dr. English-Lueck moved to the College of Social Science as Associate Dean
Dr. Reckmeyer has entered the FERP program.
Part-time Faculty/Lecturers
Eleven with five lecturers hired at .8
Scholarly, University, and Professional Activity
The faculty (including lecturers) maintain an active research and publication program in addition to their
teaching. There is a strong focus on the dissemination of empirical research.
The CVs attached to the program plan indicate an extensive record of conference presentations, journal
publications, books, leadership in professional organizations, and involvement with community projects.
Internal and External Funding
Some success in securing external funding based on individual projects. The department secured a gift of
$100,000 in Spring 2011.
Clerical Support
1.5
Use of Technology, Equipment and Facilities
 Faculty members are experimenting with hybrid courses in which instruction takes place in the
classroom, but a portion of the class is conducted virtually through course wikis, online posting of
class assignments, review guides, and other materials.
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Ethnographic laboratory with digital recording equipment is used in course assignments and
research projects
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No interest in moving program online when the program plan was written.
College Committee Summary
N/A
External Reviewer (Key Points) Recommendations: Visit 19th and 20th March 2012
New Faculty
Two new cultural applied faculty with fundable research and leadership qualities
 One physical anthropologist (who can work at both the undergraduate and graduate levels)
 One linguistic anthropologist (who may fill one of the recommended cultural/applied position
hires, or be in addition to those two hires)
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Improved Lab Space
Reconfigure Rooms 4, 2, and 2A into one large lab space with modular walls and furniture for
synergistic research space for the whole department. This will require clearing space in the Curation
room.
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Provide a classroom for the Anthropology department’s use to replace Room 4 as an
Anthropology classroom space.
Provide a budget to refurbish the new lab space, including the removal of walls, purchasing
modular furniture/walls, etc.
Provide 5 to 6 I‐Mac laptops for lab use
Provide software, e.g., Deduce site license, GIS software, other, as needed for faculty/student
research and class projects
Provide updated maps
Provide .20 for Elizabeth Weiss Fall to clean out the Curation space
Increased Staff
Change the ½ staff position to full‐time position for the full‐time staff member to take on the
following:
 To assist with administration of the multi‐disciplinary Organizational Studies BA
 To assist with administration of the Values, Technology, Society minor
 To assist with administration of new Values, Technology, Society certificate program to
serve the community, e.g., teachers, engineers, others already working in a given field
 To take on some of the burden of MA and BA routine advising
External Reviewer
Dr. Barbara LeMaster Anthropology Department Chair, CSU Long Beach
Dean’s Report dated 21st November 2012
 Strongly supportive stressing:
 High quality scholarship
 Pedagogically sound curriculum
 Continuously assessing curriculum
 Umbrella structure is a model for unbounded learning
 Teaching lab in Washington Square Hall is an example of 21st century learning spaces
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