Course Syllabus

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ANTH 045N: Cultural Anthropology

 

Course Overview

CATEGORY INFORMATION
Credits 3
Prerequisites None
Delivery Web (Canvas, https://psu.instructure.com)
Dates See the Calendar.
Instructor See the Orientation module under the Modules tab.

Description

The world we inhabit is becoming both "smaller" and more complex as new technologies bring people of vastly different cultural backgrounds into increasingly more intimate and novel contact with one another. Many times, these different cultural backgrounds may seem bizarre, frightening, and unsettling. Cultural anthropology offers unique perspectives for understanding and interacting with our increasingly multicultural world.

Anthropology 045 provides a basic Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, the comparative study of human behavior and social organization throughout the world. Cultures in both traditional and modernizing contexts are considered. Topics featured include language, economics, political order, religion, social organization, kinship, and cultural evolution, among others. This course employs a cross-cultural perspective, designed to provide a framework for considering your own culture. Ethnographic—or descriptive—accounts of societies, drawn from a wide variety of human cultural systems, are used in this course to illustrate the major concepts of the curriculum. Every effort is made to help you to discover the connections between the concepts of cultural anthropology.

This course focuses on cultural anthropology, the study of the non-biological adaptations, or cultures, of living populations. Anthropology also draws on and contributes to numerous other fields of study, such as history, biology, sociology, botany, ecology, and similar social and physical sciences. While this course will help you to differentiate between anthropology and these related disciplines, a holistic approach is emphasized.

This course will introduce you to the variety of ways that we, as a human species, have managed to adapt to our physical and social environments through the development of social, cultural, and political institutions and practices. While some of the forms that these cultural adaptations take may seem strange when compared to our own cultural backgrounds, they are most frequently understandable when viewed within the cultural contexts in which they arose. One of the goals of this course, and of anthropology as a discipline, is to understand the cultural diversity that we see in the world so that we may be better actors within this world. Regardless of whether you intend to pursue a career in anthropology or some other field, it is my hope that the knowledge you gain in this course will enable you to better navigate the increasingly interconnected world in which we all live.

Organization

This course is made up of 15 lessons.

For a typical lesson, you will complete the following activities and assignments:

  • Read the course material for each lesson.
  • Read the assigned textbook chapters.
  • Read any additional assigned materials.
  • Complete assignments by the due dates listed on the course calendar. Assignments include quizzes, discussions, and activities.

Online Learning and Attendance

This course has been developed to promote asynchronous learning. The instructor and students do NOT meet on a designated day and time each week. For each lesson, there is a timeframe to complete all activities and assignments, and you may work at your own pace within that timeframe. However, you must adhere to the due dates outlined on the Calendar. (Due dates can also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) You should log into the course daily to check for updates, review lessons, and participate in activities.

Materials

Texts

The following text is required:

  • Conrad Kottak. Cultural Anthropology: Appreciating Cultural Diversity. Mc-Graw Hill, 19th edition (fine to have older versions back to 16th edition)
    • This class is not specific to any one version of the text. The text is currently in its 19th edition. Slightly older versions are still acceptable if you can find them for sale, new or used. The following ISBNs are acceptable:
      • 19th edition: 978-1260711561
      • 18th edition: 978-1260051919
      • 17th edition: 978-1259818448
      • 16th edition: 978-0077861537
    • NOTE: The author has another similarly named textbook, so double-check that that you are buying the right one.

Library Services

Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide at http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/onlinestudentlibraryguide. This guide serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries can offer you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library! The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time from you searching for the information you need.

Course Reserves

There are electronic resources on reserve for this course that can be accessed through the Penn State Libraries. To access your Course Reserves, please use the Library Resources link in the course navigation menu.

For any questions you may have about searching, viewing, or printing your Course Reserves, refer to the Viewing/Printing Electronic Reserves page at https://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/reserves/usingreserves.html Links to an external site..

 

Grading

Final letter grades will be assigned based on the scale below.

Scale

LETTER
GRADE		 MINIMUM
PERCENT
A 93
A- 90
B+ 87
B 84
B- 80
C+ 77
C 70
D 60
F 0

Due Dates

All assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the date indicated on the Calendar. (Due dates can be also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) Please be aware that Canvas follows the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. Assignment due dates adhere to this time zone, and it is your responsibility to submit assignments accordingly. If you are outside of the ET time zone, you can set your Canvas account to sync to it. Refer to the Set a Time Zone article in the Canvas Guide Links to an external site. at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-2891.

As a general rule, you will NOT be able to go back and make up missed assignments. It is your responsibility to keep up with your assignments. Students with an excused absence (e.g., hospitalization, jury duty, family emergency, or military service) may be asked to produce proper documentation in order to make up graded work. All make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor.

Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.

Notes

  • To Do List: Some assignments may not appear in the To Do list under the Home tab. Use the Calendar or Syllabus to ensure that you are fully aware of assignment due dates.
  • Excused/Unexcused Absences: Excuses for absences from exams are limited to verifiable illness and emergencies. In particular, the instructor requires a university-approved excuse. An unexcused absence from any exam will result in a score of zero. No exceptions will be made. A business-related absence, travel arrangements, and/or job interviews (except as required by university-sponsored activities) do NOT qualify as an excused absence, but they may qualify for an early make-up with prior approval from the instructor.

 

Assignments

Basic information about each assignment group is provided below. For detailed directions about an individual assignment, see the assignment information under the Modules tab.

In addition to the listed assignments, you are also expected to read the online course content for each lesson. These notes are designed to introduce you to each lesson and provide extra information about the material in each chapter. Please note that the online course content supplements the material in the textbook; it is not designed to substitute for reading the textbook. Specific details for each assignment can be found in the course lesson.

The final course grade will be determined as follows:

ASSIGNMENT
GROUP		 PERCENT
Quizzes 25
Discussions 25
Activities 20
Midterm Exam 15
Final Exam 15
Total 100

You can expect meaningful feedback on all written assignments within FIVE days of their due date.

Quizzes

For some of the lessons, you will complete a quiz based on the lesson readings for that week. Each quiz includes several types of questions: multiple choice, true-and-false, fill-in-the-blank, and essay. Any exceptions to these deadlines can be found on the course calendar.

You may use your notes, lessons, and any other course materials to take the quiz. You are only permitted access to the quiz once, so you cannot log off and then return to finish the questions later.  You will see the detailed directions for each quiz before beginning them.

Discussions

Online discussions are excellent opportunities to interact with your instructor and classmates, asking questions and exploring ideas. But the value of the discussions can only be as great as your contribution and regular participation.

Participation is assessed through both the quality and quantity of your submissions to discussion boards. Students who participate early and often, interacting with the instructor and classmates, and contribute to a vigorous, informative academic discussion will earn full credit. Students who do well on discussion boards almost invariably do very well in the course.

Activities

A few lessons ask you to complete an activity that is not a quiz or discussion, but rather a unique approach to thinking about the lesson materials. Each activity is different from the others: one asks you to diagram your immediate family, showing each member and how they relate to each other; the other helps you analyze where some of the possessions in your closet were made, to learn about the global economy.

Midterm Exam

There is one exam halfway through this course, made up of multiple choice and true-and-false questions. The exam follows a closed-notes and closed-book format. You are not permitted to use any outside sources.

Final Exam

There is another online exam at the end of this course, made up of multiple choice and true-and-false questions. The exam follows a closed-notes and closed-book format. You are not permitted to use any outside sources.

Notes on Quizzes and Exams

  • Students may NOT work together on exams or quizzes. Students caught violating this rule will receive academic sanctions and will be reported to the University Judicial Affairs office for possible further disciplinary sanction.
  • Students may NOT use their notes or any other materials to take the final exam. For this reason, the exam is rigidly timed.
  • Students may use their course notes and book, as well as other appropriate sources to take their quizzes. However, see the note in your syllabus concerning plagiarism (particularly as it concerns answers to essay questions).
  • Quiz and exam schedules will not be altered to accommodate travel schedules.
  • Students are strongly advised to access exams and quizzes from a secure, high-speed connection (such as in the on-campus computer labs, at a local library, or a DSL/Cable Modem connection) rather than a dial-up modem. The exam is timed and should you lose your connection or be kicked out of Canvas, it could be detrimental to your grade. Again, this is unlikely to happen in one of the on-campus computer labs.
  • Students will not be able to access quizzes and exams once the deadlines have passed.

 

University Policies

Academic Integrity

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity Links to an external site., an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity Links to an external site.). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic sanctions, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes (see G-9: Academic Integrity Links to an external site.).

Disability Access

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for every Penn State campus at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/campus-offices. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources website at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources.

In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation described at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/applying-for-services. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

Counseling and Psychological Services

Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office offers residential and distance-based Penn State students non-emergency mental health services in the form of case management, community resource referrals, supportive listening, care giver support, and much more.

Students may request assistance from CAPS regarding a variety of common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress. CAPS services are designed to enhance students' ability to fully benefit from the University environment and academic experience. Call CAPS at 814-863-0395 (8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday EST) or submit an inquiry online Links to an external site. at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/form/caps-contact-form to schedule an appointment with a mental health advocate, who can help you address mental health concerns that may interfere with your academic progress or social development. This appointment will include a one-on-one session that can be conducted via telephone, teleconference (Skype, FaceTime, etc.), or locally at Penn State University Park. For more information on services provided through CAPS, please visit the Penn State CAPS website Links to an external site. at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/. Students enrolled at the World Campus are also encouraged to visit its Mental Health Services page at http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/student-services/mental-health-services.

Reminder: These services are for non-emergencies only. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call your local crisis center or 911.

Reporting a Bias Incident

Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage at http://equity.psu.edu/reportbias/.

 

Nondiscrimination

Penn State is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University's educational mission, and will not be tolerated. For further information, please visit the Affirmative Action Office Website Links to an external site..

TEACH Act

The materials on the course website are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.

University Emergency Procedure

In the event of a University-wide emergency, the course may be subject to changes. Exigent circumstances may require alternative delivery methods, class materials, and interactions with the instructor and/or classmates. In addition, there may be revisions to grading policies and the Calendar, including assignments and their due dates.

In the event of a University-wide emergency, please refer to the Canvas website at https://psu.instructure.com for specific information related to the course. For more general information about the emergency situation, please refer to the Penn State website at http://www.psu.edu Links to an external site. or Penn State News at http://news.psu.edu Links to an external site..

To register with PSUAlert, a service designed to alert the Penn State community when situations arise that affect the ability of a campus to function normally, please go to https://psualert.psu.edu/ Links to an external site.. Subscribers can receive alerts by text message to cell phones, and also can elect to have alerts sent to an email address.

Syllabus Subject to Change

The class will likely adhere to the information outlined in this Syllabus and the Calendar, but adjustments may be made based on what actually transpires during the semester. Remaining in the course after reading this Syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due