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This course focuses on concepts of culture and cultural relativism in the study of past and present human behavior.  Students gain exposure to the tools of participant-observation and ethnography.  Students examine how cultural ideas and practices shape perceptions of ourselves and others with whom we share a common world. (Learning Goals:G;Distribution Reqs:Social Sciences)

Students will be able to (1) define “culture”; (2) recognize and detect the presence of culture in everyday discourse; and (3) integrate the concept of culture in observations and interpretations about behaviors and practices from around the world. Through course work, in-class group activities and debates, a short fieldwork project, and a final examination, students will have a variety of learning situations in which to demonstrate their comprehension and engagement with anthropological ways of analyzing human behavior.

*The learning goals displayed here are those for one section of this course as offered in a recent semester, and are provided for the purpose of information only. The exact learning goals for each course section in a specific semester will be stated on the syllabus distributed at the start of the semester, and may differ in wording and emphasis from those shown here.