Syllabus

Science Prerequisites for Health Professionals

ANTH 1011: Cultural Anthropology, Spring 2024

Credits - 3

Description

ANTH 1011: Cultural Anthropology introduces you to the study of human cultural patterns and learned behavior. You will explore the discipline through weekly topics that include linguistics and religion, social and political organization, race and ethnicity, culture and personality, culture change, and applied anthropology. The study of cultural anthropology helps to provide you with a more open and sensitive attitude toward persons of other cultures and ethnic backgrounds by exploring commonalities of belief and life intention and reflecting on the role of enculturation in shaping the lives of societies and individuals.

Materials

Textbooks

Balée, W. (2016). Inside cultures : A new introduction to cultural anthropology. Taylor & Francis Group. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uneedu/reader.action?docID=4693242&ppg=1

Kottak, C. (2019). Cultural anthropology: Appreciating cultural diversity. McGraw-Hill. ProQuest Ebook Central. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uneedu/detail.action?docID=5834111#

Resources

UNE-Compliant Webcam and Whiteboard – Portal for UNE Online Students – To be used during proctored exams

Lacy, Scott M. (2017). Anthropology and the Study of Humanity. [Kanopy video series]. The Great Courses. https://unelib.kanopy.com/video/religion-and-spirituality

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Program Outcomes

UNE Online’s science prerequisite courses provide students with a convenient and flexible approach to completing prerequisite requirements. Courses are specifically designed to meet prerequisite requirements for many graduate programs and other professional needs.

Course Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:

  1. Identify the fundamental concepts of cultural anthropology and explain their interconnectedness to the four-field discipline of anthropology
  2. Assess how anthropologists apply the concepts and methodologies of the field to real-world problems through the use of case studies from medical, agricultural, and other applied anthropological subfields
  3. Examine anthropological ideas regarding the origins, causes, and effects of colonialism and cultural imperialism in the development of globalization and our current world system
  4. Investigate the field of linguistics, including the subfields of historical linguistics, descriptive linguistics, and ethnosemantics
  5. Describe the association of anthropology with early constructions of racial theory, the rise of American eugenics, and current disciplinary understandings of ethnicity and race
  6. Apply ethnographic fieldwork and anthropological theory
  7. Generate a more open and sensitive attitude towards persons of other cultures and ethnic backgrounds by exploring commonalities of belief and life intention and reflecting on the role of enculturation in shaping the lives of societies and individuals

SELF PACED DESIGN

On the course start date, students will have access to orientation. This must be completed to be able to gain access to the first module in the course. Students must complete the first module to gain access to the next one. We recommend that students spend about 15 hours per week to complete a course in 16 weeks. When trying to complete the course in less than 16 weeks, we typically see students do this successfully within 12-14 weeks. Instructors will be timely in grading and feedback, but it will not be instant.

Assignments

Quizzes (2)
Quizzes consist of term matching, multiple choice, term definition and short essay questions. They are designed to test your comprehension of key terms and concepts from the required readings and videos. Your course allows for a possible second and/or third attempt with quizzes assignments. Please contact your course instructor if you wish to utilize another attempt.

Midterm (1)
Covering required material from the first eight weeks of the course, the midterm contains term matching, multiple choice and short essay questions. 

Final exam (1)
To assess student comprehension of the last eight weeks of the course, the final exam has an increased focus upon critical thinking and writing. It contains term matching, multiple choice, and a selection of essay questions.

Both the Midterm and Final Exam must be taken though ProctorU. See UNE’s ProctorU page for information about signing up and scheduling your exam. 

Discussion questions (8)
Discussions are designed to encourage critical thinking about the required readings and video viewings. Additionally, they aim to create a welcoming and stimulating intellectual space in which to interact with your peers and instructor.

Journal reflections (8)
Journal questions provide an opportunity to reflect and evaluate readings and videos based upon your understanding of the week’s content and themes. They are personal meditations seen only by your instructor.

Participant observation activity (1)
This activity aims to introduce learners to a core method in anthropological fieldwork where they will be relying solely upon their powers of perception to recall the social situation where the activity will take place. It is one of the principle methods found in the anthropological toolkit.

Article review activity (1)
Learners will assess the arguments presented in a classic anthropological linguistics article written by Benjamin Lee Whorf. The theory of linguistic determinism (Sapir/Whorf) continues to have a powerful influence in the social sciences and humanities today.

Eugenics activity (1)
Students will investigate a concealed chapter in American history, American eugenics, by viewing a video, reading an article, and visiting two websites in order to write a short paper on this topic.

Video review activity (1)
An award-garnering video introduces learners to the American Indian struggle over sacred lands, one ongoing since the creation of reservations. Students will grapple with legal and ethical dilemmas presented by three case histories.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assignment CategoryGrade
Discussion questions18%
Journal Reflections18%
Quizzes16%
Article Review Activity8%
Video Review Activity8%
Participant Observation Activity8%
Eugenics Activity8%
Midterm Exam8%
Final Exam8%
Total 100%

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Week

Topic

Readings/Resources

Assignment Type

1

What is Anthropology?

  • Balée (2016). The Study of Us
  • Read Balée, Chapter 1
  • Week 1 and 2 Study Guide
  • Welcome Video

Journal Reflection

Interdisciplinary Method

 
   

2

Anthropology and the Four Fields

  • Why Anthropology Matters, Episode 1 [Video]

Discussion Question

Academic | Applied

 
   
   

3

Applying Anthropology

  • Balée (2016). Applications of Cultural Anthropology
  • Miner (1956). Body Ritual Among the Nacirema
  • Mattingly (2006). Pocahontas goes to the clinic.
  • Week 3 and 4 Study Guide

Journal Reflection

   
   

4

Medical Anthropology

  • Medical Anthropology, Episode 21 [Video]
  • Watch Video

Discussion Question

 

Quiz

   
   

5

Theory and Method

    • Balée (2016). Contemporary Theory and Method
    • Kottak (2019). The Scientific Method
    • International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences
    • American Anthropological Association (2005). Code of Ethics
  • Week 5 and 6 Study Guide

Journal Reflection

 

Participant Observation Activity Introduction

   

6

Culture

  • Forensics and Legal Anthropology, Episode 20 [Video]

Discussion Question

 

Submit Participant Observation Activity

   
   

7

Language

    • Kottak (2019). Language and Communication
    • Whorf (2012). An American Indian Model of the Universe.
  • Week 7 and 8 Study Guide

Journal Reflection

 

Article Review Assignment Introduction

 

Midterm Review 

   
   

8

Language – Uniquely Human

  • Project Nim [Video]

Discussion Question

 

Submit Article Review

 

Midterm Exam

   

9

Ethnicity and Race

    • Balée (2016). Cultural Variation
    • Kottak (2019). Ethnicity and Race
    • The RACE Project [AAA Website]
  • Anthropology and the Question of Race, Episode 6 [Video]
  • The Lynchburg Story: Eugenic Sterilization in America [Video]
  • Week 9 and 10 Study Guide

Journal Reflection

 

Eugenics Activity Assignment Introduction

   
 

10

American Indian Boarding Schools

    • Black (2003). The Horrifying American Roots of Nazi Eugenics
    • Guardian Staff and Agencies (2021). U.S. to investigate ‘unspoken traumas’ of Native American boarding schools.
    • Haaland (2021). Opinion: Deb Haaland – My grandparents were stolen from their families as children
  • Native Silence [Video]
  • Native American Boarding Schools [Video]
  • After Silence [Video]

Discussion Question

 

Submit Eugenics Activity

   
 

11

Modes of Production

    • Balée (2016). Ecology, Landscape, and Culture
    • Kottak (2019). Making a Living
    • Lappe, F. M., Collins, J., Rosset, P. (1998). The myth – scarcity; The reality – there is enough food.
  • Agricultural Roots of Civilization, Episode 8
  • Week 11 and 12 Study Guide

Journal Reflection

   
 

12

Indigenous and Capitalist

  • Vandana Shiva on the Problem with Genetically-Modified Seeds [Video
  • Vandana Shiva on the Real Cause of Food Hunger [Video]
  • ‘Bill Gates is continuing the work of Monsanto’ Vandana Shiva tells FRANCE 24 [Video]
    • Shiva (2014). Defending farmers seed freedom
    • Shiva (2014). Introduction and Chapter 1
    • The Chipko Movement [Website]
    • Navdanya: “Nine Seeds” [Website]
  • Base and superstructure [Video]

Discussion Question

 

Quiz

   

13

Religion – Struggle for a Definition

  • Kottak (2019). Religion
  • In the Light of Reverence [Video]
  • Week 13 and 14 Study Guide

Journal Reflection

 

Video Review Activity Introduction

14

American Indians – Religion?

  • Sacred Places and Moral Responsibility 
  • Religion and Spirituality, Episode 17 [Video]

Discussion Question

 

Submit Video Review Activity

   

15

The World System and Colonialism

  • Balée (2016). Colonialism and the World System
  • Kottak (2019).  The World System, Colonialism, and Inequality
  • Ishi: The Last Yahi [Video]
  • Week 15 and 16 Study Guide
  • Women in the Global Factory
  • “The Doctrine of Discovery, 1493”

Journal Reflection

16

Global Issues Today

    • Kottak (2019). Anthropology’s Role in a Globalizing World
  • Matamoros: The Human Face of Globalization [Video]
  • “The Exit Zero Project (Website and Film Trailer)” [Video]

Discussion Question

 

Final Exam 

Extra Credit Reflection

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you - they will monitor course progression and provide assistance or guidance when needed. Please don’t hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, course materials, billing, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Science Prerequisites page

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Instructor and Support Contact Information

Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

Student Lounge

The Student Lounge Discussion Forum is a designated support forum in which students may engage with each other and grapple with course content. Feel free to post questions, seek clarification, and support each other, but be mindful of UNE's Academic Integrity Policy.

Your instructor will monitor this forum. However, if you are seeking specific and timely answers to questions about course content or your personal grades, please contact your instructor via course messages. For questions about course materials, program policy, and how to navigate and proceed through the course, please contact your Student Service Advisor through the Student Portal.

Policies

Proctored Examinations

Your course may have proctored exams. The University of New England has contracted with ProctorU to provide students with the most convenient online exam proctoring system. This system provides a simple, no cost to the student, secure, online proctor for exams and allows the student to take all the exams at home and on their own schedule.

Upon enrollment into the course, each student will register with ProctorU and establish a login name and password. This will give the student access to all of ProctorU's services. When ready, students will schedule each of their proctored exams with ProctorU. Exams must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance to avoid fees. Prior to taking their exams, students must be sure that they have downloaded any required additional software. They must also be sure their testing site's connection meets the minimum requirements by using ProctorU's "Test It Out" utility.

Upon the exam day and hour, students will log in to ProctorU and click on "exams". After following the procedures outlined at ProctorU's website, the student will log in to Brightspace and locate their correct exam. The proctor will then allow student access to that exam.

Students must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.

Exam Attempts Policy

Students will receive two attempts at all proctored examinations. The higher score of the two attempts will be calculated into the final grade. Students can schedule their second attempt by following the same ProctorU instructions as with the original exam.

All students are encouraged to utilize a second attempt on their exams in order to improve their overall performance in the course.

Course Discussions

Discussion topics cover events or materials related to this course that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. Each discussion topic may require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials, visit a specific webpage, AND/OR view a short video before writing a response following the specific guidelines in the discussion topic prompt.

To earn full credit you will need to post a response to the discussion topic, respond to the original posts of other students, and then contribute meaningfully to an ongoing discussion. You may need to post your initial response before you will see any posts from your classmates. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.

Please see Brightspace for a full description, along with specific guidelines, for each discussion topic. Discussion board assignments should be completed, along with all other assignments in the course, in the order that they appear. Due to the course design, you may be unable to take a proctored exam if you do not complete all assignments that appear prior to that exam.

Please also refer to the Grading Policy/Grade Breakdown section of the syllabus to learn the percentage of your grade that each discussion is worth.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Length

A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus. This is, however a self-paced course and you can complete the course in less time.

  1. Courses in the SPHP program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 16 weeks
  2. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
  3. Course start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please visit the enrollment page to review the withdrawal and refund policies.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. View the incomplete grade policy..

Transcripts

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.

Using Generative AI When Completing Coursework

Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support learning, not replace it. Learning to use AI responsibly and ethically is an important skill in today’s society.

In their courses, students are not allowed to use advanced automated tools, such as generative AI tools, on assignments unless explicitly directed to do so. Each student is expected to complete each assignment, including labs and quizzes as applicable, without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools.

Using AI-content generators to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity. By submitting assignments in UNE courses, you pledge to affirm that they are your own work and you attribute use of any and all tools and sources.

Unauthorized Use

Unauthorized use of AI is treated as a violation of academic integrity.

Citing AI Use

If permitted, students should indicate and cite any use of AI tools. 

Instructor responsibility

Instructors should clearly reiterate, using UNE Online’s Policy, how students can use AI tools in their courses, and communicate this policy to students at the beginning of the semester. 

Student responsibility

Students must follow the academic integrity policy of the University of New England.