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School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Anthropology
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Mission |
Outcomes |
Assessment |
Faculty |
Student Work |
Departmental Learning Goals and Objectives
| Goal I:
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Students will gain a
basic understanding of the sub disciplines of cultural
anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology.
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| Objective 1: |
To demonstrate a knowledge
of cultural anthropology, students will be able to:
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a. |
Distinguish the basic
subsistence strategies.
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b. |
Recognize the prevalent
social structures (patterns of kinship/marriage and
political systems) associated with the differing
subsistence strategies.
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c. |
Identify the basic concepts
used to understand ideological and religious systems
(e.g., symbols, worldview, ethos, rites of passage).
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d. |
Identify the major
processes of cultural change.
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| Objective 2: |
To demonstrate
a basic understanding of the major components of
biological anthropology students will be able to:
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a. |
Understand the processes of
evolution, including natural selection.
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b. |
Be familiar with the major
outline and developmental sequence of human evolution.
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c. |
Understand the biological
and social construction of race.
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| Objective 3: |
To demonstrate
a understanding of archaeology, students will be able
to:
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a. |
Be familiar with the basic
methods and techniques of archaeological investigation
(e.g., strategies of excavation, data analysis, dating)
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b. |
Be familiar with the basic
outline of world prehistory. |
| Goal II:
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Students will have a knowledge and understanding of the basic
principles that underlie anthropology.
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| Objective 1: |
Students will demonstrate an
understanding of the concepts of culture, cultural
relativism, and ethnocentrism.
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| Objective 2: |
Students will demonstrate
an understanding of the holistic approach in
anthropology.
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| Objective 3: |
Students will demonstrate
an understanding of the critical importance of
cross-cultural comparisons to formulate generalizations
about culture.
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| Objective 4: |
Students will recognize the
moral principles through which anthropologists
acknowledge the dignity of all cultures and the desire
on the part of many people to maintain their distinctive
way of life. |
| Goal III:
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Students will gain an understanding of the research methods
employed in anthropology and the ability to apply critical
thinking skills to the analysis of anthropological data.
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| Objective 1: |
To understand basic
research methodology, students will:
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a. |
Understand basic concepts
including independent and dependent variables, sampling
techniques, validity and reliability, measurement.
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b. |
Understand the difference
between qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
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c. |
Be able to identify what
methodologies are most appropriate for a given research
question.
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d. |
Acquire an in-depth
knowledge of a specific research methodology.
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| Objective 2: |
To demonstrate
their ability to utilize critical thinking skills in the
analysis of anthropological data, students will:
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a. |
Formulate a research
design.
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b. |
Carry out an original
research project.
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| Objective 3: |
Students will
demonstrate basic competency in computer skills
necessary to carry out research.
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| Objective 4: |
Students will
be able to interpret a statistical analysis of
anthropological data.
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| Objective 5: |
Students will
demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues inherent
in carrying out anthropological research. |
| Goal IV:
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Students will have an understanding of, and the ability to
apply, the dominant theoretical orientations in anthropology.
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| Objective 1: |
To demonstrate a basic
understanding of the history and development of the
discipline, students will:
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a. |
Be familiar with the major
contributors to the field.
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b. |
Be able to read an article
and evaluate the theoretical approach being utilized.
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| Objective 2: |
To demonstrate
an understanding of the major contemporary theoretical
approaches, students will be able to contrast and
compare at least two theoretical approaches and be able
to apply them to a body of data. |
| Goal V:
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Students will gain knowledge of the cultures of one major
geographic area of the world. To demonstrate their knowledge of
this goal, students will be able to:
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| Objective 1: |
Describe the major features of the
physical environment of the geographic region.
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| Objective 2: |
Be familiar with the range
of cultural diversity present in the region.
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| Objective 3: |
Have a detailed knowledge
of at least one particular culture in the region.
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| Objective 4: |
Have an understanding of
the historical and contemporary issues affecting the
welfare of the indigenous peoples of the region. |
| Goal VI:
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Students will be able to communicate effectively in both
written and oral form. To demonstrate their knowledge of this
goal, students will be able to:
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| Objective 1: |
Create research papers and
reports that clearly communicate their ideas:
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a. |
Write papers and reports
that are well organized, free from major writing errors
and that use all elements of AAA style appropriate to
the form of writing, including reference citation within
the text and entries in the reference list.
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b. |
Respond to essay questions
with clear, well-organized arguments appropriate to the
topic.
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| Objective 2: |
Communicate
their ideas through an oral presentation in front of a
group.
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a. |
Facilitate a seminar
discussion on a particular topic.
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b. |
Design and deliver a
well-organized presentation. |
TOOLS FOR ASSESSMENT OF MAJORS
Assessment Tool 1 (Goal III, Objectives A and D): A
pre-test administered on the first day of class in Anthropology
300; post-test administered at the beginning of Anthropology
490. Instrument: Methods Assessment Questionnaire.
Assessment Tool 2 (Goal VI): Students will submit one
paper from their junior year and one paper from their senior
year of coursework and a reflective essay which discusses how
they judge their writing to have improved from the first to the
second paper. The essay and supporting papers will be submitted
in Anthropology 490.
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