ANTH& 106 - American Mosaic: Cultures of the United States

Credits: 5
The study of cultures of historically marginalized groups of the United States from the perspectives of ethnicity, race, gender and class. Special emphasis on anthropological methods and approaches to enhance understanding of contemporary socio-cultural lifeways.

Prerequisite: Eligible for ENGL 099 or instructor’s permission.

Satisfies Requirement: Social Science and Diversity

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Articulate the anthropological concept of culture;
Identify, analyze and articulate the construction of individual identity, personal perspective and personal biases;
Identify, analyze and discuss the dynamics of institutional and attitudinal discrimination in the US;
Identify, define and discuss ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, and extreme relativism;
Analyze and discuss the multicultural context of the US and its rapidly changing demographic profile;
Distinguish between racial classification and the anthropological approach to human variation;
Identify and analyze the complexities of socioeconomic class in the US;
Identify the diversity of family and household forms in the US;
Explore anthropological approaches to understanding diversity;
Work in groups to collaborate, interact and communicate effectively while discussing matters of social inequality.

Program Outcomes

Define the anthropological concept of cultural relativism.
Identify the holistic perspective.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.