Cultural Anthropology - SOC 211 at Northern Virginia Community College
https://courses.vccs.edu/colleges/nova/courses/SOC211-CulturalAnthropology
Effective: 2022-03-31
Course Description
Examines the origins, development, research, diversification and evolution of human cultures. Includes exposure to the variability of both Western and Non-Western aspects of culture. Provides an introduction to the nature of culture and its relationship to various social institutions and societies. This is a Passport and UCGS transfer course.
Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits
The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.
General Course Purpose
Cultural Anthropology is intended to introduce students to the complex culturally diverse world around them. It provides students with exposure to the investigation, interpretation and comparison of culture. Students define culture and how various cultural systems operate and are interconnected and interdependent both locally and globally. Students will systematically explore numerous cultural aspects of family structures, politics, religion, health, sexuality, language, technology, communication and social change. Faculty will encourage students to appreciate cultural diversity and cross-cultural engagements.
Course Objectives
- Critical Thinking
- Describe the connection between culture, society, and individuals.
- Communication
- Demonstrate the ability to develop, convey, and exchange ideas in writing to a given anthropological concept.
- Cultural and Social Understanding
- Define and critique ethnocentrism.
- Identify cross-cultural differences in various means of communication.
- Summarize the impact of global markets on local communities.
- Information Literacy
- Analyze why globalization disrupts and reorganizes cultures all across the globe, with both positive and negative consequences.
- Explain quantitative and qualitative methods in the analysis of anthropological research.
- Theory and Application
- Identify principles, practices and ethics of anthropological research and methodology.
- Characteristics of Culture
- Identify characteristics common to all cultures.
- Explain how cultures are learned and transmitted.
- Identify material and non-material culture.
- Describe relationships between the physical environment and aspects of culture.
- Language and Communication
- Explain the emergence of language, speech, and writing.
- Social Institutions
- Contrast family and household forms across cultures.
- Articulate how religion is related to other parts of a cultural system.
- Compare political and economic systems.
- Social Change
- Identify the key mechanisms of cultural change.
Major Topics to be Included
- Theory and Application
- Characteristics of Culture
- Language and Communication
- Social Institutions
- Social Change