Carroll Community College

ANTH-201, Anthropology of American Culture

Credits: 3

General Education Course

Course Description

Anthropology of American Culture is the study of American culture and its social institutions utilizing an anthropological perspective and methodology. Topics include an examination of the patterns of American culture as an integrated, functional and holistic explanation of culture traits including language, the arts, religion, human ecology, global connections and influence, political structure, economic patterns, technology and culture change. Particular emphasis will be given to the problems of multiculturalism and diversity within the U.S. population. Content is based on topics recommended by the National Council for Accreditation of Colleges of Teacher Education. Prerequisite: exemption/completion of ENGL-101. Three hours lecture each week. Three credits. Three billable hours.   GENERAL EDUCATION

Course Objectives and Grading Information

Anthropology of American Culture

Course Objectives: Carroll Community College attempts, wherever possible, to incorporate the major General Education Core Competencies requirements of the college into its courses. Students should anticipate class activities which also reflect the Core Competencies, i.e, Technological Applications, Information Literacy, Oral Communications, Written Communications, Mathematics, Reading, Metacognition, Reasoning and Problem Solving, and Social and Cultural Awareness.

1. Compare and analyze different cultural groups within and between different societies to explain the ways groups, societies and, thus, cultures address human needs and concerns.

2. Analyze and explain the ways family, religion, gender, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status and other group and cultural influences contribute to the development of a sense of identity.

3. Examine and explain how the physical landscape can influence cultural patterns by comparing and analyzing the regional cultural differences within the United States including concepts of time and space.

4. Analyze the problems of multiculturalism and diversity within the United States by demonstrating the values of cultural diversity, as well as cohesion, with and across groups and by interpreting patterns of behavior reflecting values and attitudes that contribute or pose obstacles to cross-cultural understanding.

5. Examine and evaluate how and why social institutions form, what controls and influences them and how they influence culture, groups and individual people within the United States and how institutions of other cultures effect institutions within the United States.

6. Analyze and explain ideas and mechanisms to meet the needs and wants of citizens, regulate territory, manage conflict, establish order and security, and balance competing concepts of a just society.

7. Analyze how science and technology influence core values, beliefs and attitudes of United States society and how these core values, beliefs and attitudes of United States society shape scientific and technological change.

8. Explain and apply ideas and modes of inquiry drawn from behavioral science and social theory in the examination of persistent issues and social problems including violence and homelessness.

9. Explain how and why cultures are never static, but always changing.