Download Online Course Syllabus Template

ANTH 2351 90L Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Spring 2016
Syllabus
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor: Servando Z. Hinojosa
Office: SBS 351
Office Hours:
Tuesday:
9:00am - 10:30am, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Thursday:
9:00am - 10:30am, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
These are hours in which students can consult me in my office, not hours of live
consultation online. Please email instructor if other meeting times are needed.
Make sure to review this syllabus and the General Help discussion forum of the
course for useful information.
Office Telephone: 665-7002
E-mail: [email protected]
Generally I will respond to emails within one day of receiving them. If I plan to
be away from my computer for more than a couple of days, I will let you know in
advance.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course inquires into the nature of human culture. By focusing on select cases of
anthropological study, and by drawing from the corpus of anthropological theory, the
course intends to familiarize students with some of the many aspects of cultural
experience. More importantly, the course encourages an ongoing interest in the
systematic study of culture. This course has no prerequisites.
A definition of culture: "Culture is a set of rules or standards that, when acted upon by
the members of a society, produces behavior that falls within a range of variance the
members consider proper and acceptable."
TEXTBOOK & COURSE MATERIALS
Required Text:
Intersections: Readings in Sociology. “Dr. Servando Z. Hinojosa, Introduction to
Cultural Anthropology, ANTH 1323, UTPA, Readings in Cultural Anthropology.”
Pearson Custom Publishing, Boston, MA, 2008. ISBN-13: 9780536187178.
 A few copies are on Reserve at the 3rd Floor Media Desk in the UTRGV Library
 Copies can be purchased at the University Bookstore in the UTRGV Library
Assigned YouTube videos will be listed in their respective Content Areas
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University of Texas-Pan American
Course Name
Semester Syllabus
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Computer Hardware
To participate in this online course, you should have easy access to a computer fewer
than 5 years-old with high-speed internet connection via cable modem, LAN or DSL. To
ensure you are using a supported browser and have required plug-ins please refer to
Supported Browsers, Plugins & Operating Systems for Blackboard Learn from
Blackboard’s resource page.
Student Technical Skills
You are expected to be proficient with installing and using basic computer applications
and have the ability to send and receive email attachments.
Software

Microsoft Office’s Internet Explorer (latest version)

Mozilla’s Firefox (latest version; Macintosh or Windows)

Adobe’s Flash Player & Reader plug-in (latest version).

Apple’s QuickTime plug-in (latest version). A free download is available at

Virus protection

Microsoft Office
Technical Assistance
If you need technical assistance at any time during the course or to report a problem with
Blackboard you can:
 Visit the Blackboard Student Help Site
Submit a Blackboard Helpdesk Ticket: https://colttapps.utrgv.edu/helpme/
 COLTT Help Desk Contact Information (UTRGV’s Blackboard Support)
Location: Education Building Room 2.202
Phone: 956-665-5327
Monday – Thursday: 7:30AM – 7:00PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 6:00PM
Be aware that the instructor cannot offer technical support. Check with the above links.
COURSE ORGANIZATION & ONLINE TOOLS
Course Structure:
This course will be delivered entirely online through the course management system
Blackboard Learn. You will use your UTRGV account to login to the course from the My
UTRGV site: https://my.utrgv.edu/web/myutrgv/home and under applications click on
Blackboard Learn.
The course is organized into Content Areas. Each Content Area is listed by a number
and its main topic and contains required PowerPoint files, video link information, and
Discussion Forum assignments that you are to complete.
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Course Name
Semester Syllabus
Note: Most materials used in conjunction with the course are subject to copyright
protection.
Discussion Forums:
You will find the following Discussion Forums in the course Blackboard site:
 General Help: Post any questions or comments you may have about course
mechanics or technical issues to this forum.
 Forums related to collaborative and discussion assignments, as described in the
Learning Activities sections.
Forums versus Email
If you have a question about course content or mechanics, I encourage you to post it to
the General Help Discussion Forums. Doing so gives students in the course a chance to
help one another and allows everyone to benefit from answers to your questions. Of
course, don’t hesitate to email me directly if your concern is of a personal nature.
Be aware that the Discussion Forum for each Content Area will be available only during
a particular set of days. After that time no posting in that particular discussion area is
possible.
Each Discussion Forum will be graded on a 100 point scale.
My role in Discussion Forums is that of a facilitator. I will occasionally correct
misconceptions and/or redirect conversations that need redirecting. I may also post
comments following the completion of discussion indicating my general impressions of
the comments and conclusions.
General Statement on UTRGV Class Attendance.
Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and may be dropped from the course for
excessive absences. UTRGV’s attendance policy excuses students from attending class if they
are participating in officially sponsored university activities, such as athletics; for observance of
religious holy days; or for military service. Students should contact the instructor in advance of
the excused absence and arrange to make up missed work or examinations.
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Course Name
Semester Syllabus
CONTENT AREAS AND SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2016
Important: Information about readings, Discussion Forums and, when pertinent, exams will be
supplied within each Content Area of Blackboard.
Content Areas
1. Introduction to
Peoples and Culture
19 January 2016
Assignments
Assigned Readings:
 (PowerPoint) ANTH 2351 90L CA 1
Intro
Due
Discussion due
25 January
Discussion:
 In the Discussion Forum, briefly
introduce yourself, and explain what
your interest is in this course
Assignment:
 No assignment for this Content Area
2. The
Anthropological
Method and Sources
of Data
26 January 2016
Assigned Readings:
 ANTH 2351 90L CA 2 Anthro
Method and Data
 “At Home in the Field” by Altorki
This and all other readings are
found in your assigned text.
Discussion due
31 January
Discussion:
 Based on what you've read in Altorki,
discuss whether a person can more
effectively do fieldwork among
people of his/her own culture or
among people of a different culture.
You must explain your position.
3. Language and
Communication
Assignment:
 No assignment for this Content Area
Assigned Readings:
 ANTH 2351 90L CA 3 Language and
Communication
1 February 2016
Discussion:
 How are different dialects of English
valued (that is, respected or not
respected) in the US? Why do you
think this is? (Dialects of English
include ones like East Texas,
California, Borderland, African
American, and others.)
Assignment:
 No assignment for this Content Area
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Discussion due
4 February
Course Name
Content Areas
4. Food
Procurement,
Domestication, and
Exchange
5 February 2016
Semester Syllabus
Assignments
Assigned Readings:
 ANTH 2351 90L CA 4 Food
Domestication Exchange
 “The Amish” by Hostetler
 View the video, “Amish: A Secret
Life” on YouTube
Due
Discussion due
11 February
Exam I may be
taken either on
10 February or
11 February
Discussion:
 Discuss some of the strengths of
Amish culture, as well as some of
their vulnerabilities in the modern
period. Discuss, do not list.
Assignment:
 Take ANTH 2351 90L Exam I
5. Gender and
Sexuality
12 February 2016
Assigned Readings:
 ANTH 2351 90L CA 5 Gender
Sexuality
 “The Gender Blur” by Blum
Discussion due
19 February
Discussion:
 Discuss what Blum says concerning
when maleness/femaleness can be
first detected, how it shows, and what
role society plays in producing
maleness/femaleness.
Assignment:
 No assignment for this Content Area
6. Kinship,
Marriage, and
Descent
20 February 2016
Assigned Readings:
 ANTH 2351 90L CA 6 Kinship
Marriage Descent
 “Family Planning, Amazon Style” by
Hern
 View the videos, “Multiple
Husbands” and “Brothers Share one
Wife – Fraternal Polyandry” on
YouTube
Discussion:
 How has the combined effect of
forced monogamy and the migration
of settlers onto Shipibo lands made
life more difficult for the Shipibo?
Assignment:
 No assignment for this Content Area
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Discussion due
26 February
Course Name
Content Areas
7. Associations,
Interest Groups,
and Political Life
27 February 2016
Semester Syllabus
Assignments
Assigned Readings:
 ANTH 2351 90L CA 7 Associations
Interest Groups, Political Life
 View “The Heart Broken in Half” on
YouTube
 View “Initiation with Ants” and
“Apache Girl Initiation” on YouTube
Due
Discussion due
3 March
Exam II may be
taken either on
2 March or
3 March
Discussion:
 What purposes do initiatory activities
serve in peoples’ lives? Why are
these activities important?
Assignment:
 Take ANTH 2351 90L Exam II
8. Psychology and
Culture
4 March 2016
Assigned Readings:
 ANTH 2351 90L CA 8 Psychology
Culture
 View “You’re Not Crazy and You’re
Not Alone” on YouTube
 View “Multiple Personalities – CBS
News” on YouTube
Discussion due
12 March
Discussion:
 Discuss whether or not the “Self” is
something single or multiple, and
whether it is stable or unstable. Make
your case using examples from class
and videos.
9. The Arts
20 March 2016
Assignment:
 No assignment for this Content Area
Assigned Readings:
 ANTH 2351 90L CA 9 The Arts
 “Not Just for Bikers Anymore” by
DeMello
 View “Tattoo from National
Geographic's Taboo Part 1” on
YouTube (view the 4 parts)
Discussion due
29 March
Discussion:
 Why have people found it important
to mark their bodies using different
methods? Why is this relevant today?
10. Religion and
Assignment:
 No assignment for this Content Area
Assigned Readings:
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Discussion due
Course Name
Semester Syllabus
Content Areas
Magic

30 March 2016

Assignments
ANTH 2351 90L CA 10 Myth
Religion and Magic
“In Search of the Sacred” by
Kantrowitz
Due
10 April
Discussion:
 To what extent are magical principles
and practices still important in the
West (like the U.S.)? Discuss why
this is, without referring to
“superstition.”
11. Plant Use,
Health, and Religion
Assignment:
 No assignment for this Content Area
Assigned Readings:
 ANTH 2351 90L CA 11 Plant Use
Health Religion
Discussion due
25 April
11 April 2016
Discussion:
 How does learning about plants help
shape our understanding of what it
means to be human? You can argue
this in different ways, including in
terms of plant chemistry, being part of
the natural world, spirituality, etc.
12. Culture Change
and Social Problems
26 April 2016
Assignment:
 No assignment for this Content Area
Assigned Readings:
 ANTH 2351 90L CA 12 Culture
Change
 “Prevalence of Female Circumcision”
by Ebomoyi
Discussion:
 According to Ebomoyi, what are the
main reasons most people in her
sample support female circumcision?
Please keep the focus on Ebomoyi's
research, not on your personal views.
Then, using your own
anthropologically-informed views,
discuss whether the western world is
in a position to tell other peoples how
to live.
Assignment:
 Take ANTH 2351 90L Exam III
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Discussion due
3 May
Exam III may
be taken either
on 3 May or
4 May
Course Name
Semester Syllabus
UTRGV Calendar of Activities
The UTRGV academic calendar can be found at http://my.utrgv.edu at the bottom of the
screen, prior to login.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1) Content Area 1 Objectives:
-Students will be able to identify the four major subfields of Anthropology
-Students will be able to articulate what is meant by “culture” and its aspects
-Students will recognize key milestones in human agency
-Students will be able to express the importance of holism and cultural relativism in
Anthropology
2) Content Area 2 Objectives:
-Students will recognize the importance of data collection and ethnographic fieldwork
-Students will be able to identify the contributions of key anthropologists
-Students will recognize the centrality of values in human cultures
-Students will explain the difference between oral sources of data and documentary
sources of data
3) Content Area 3 Objectives:
-Students will recognize the unique aspects of human language
-Students will be able to articulate key aspects of multilingualism and code-switching
-Students will be able to explain language competence
-Students will be able to identify different ways humans communicate besides language
4) Content Area 4 Objectives:
-Students will be able to explain animal and plant domestication
-Students will be able to articulate the connection between changing forms of food
production and disease incidence
-Students will be able to recognize principles of exchange and value
-Students will identify the different forms of the marriage contract
5) Content Area 5 Objectives:
-Students will articulate the difference between sex and gender
-Students will articulate how different human institutions affect gender experiences
-Students will recognize how human cognition undergirds ideas of sexuality and gender
-Students will articulate how women’s status has changed since humans moved into more
settled ways of life
6) Content Area 6 Objectives:
-Students will be able to articulate the importance of kinship in human cultures
-Students will articulate the differences between various kinship and descent systems
-Students will articulate the characteristics of different types of marriage
-Students will be able to explain how different types of marriage affect fertility
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Semester Syllabus
7) Content Area 7 Objectives:
-Students will identify the principles behind rites of passage and rites of intensification
-Students will explain the major workings of youth gangs
-Students will be able to recognize the workings of mutual aid societies
-Students will be able to analyze different dimensions of the capital punishment issue
8) Content Area 8 Objectives:
-Students will identify how anthropologists have studied cognition and personality
-Students will explain what is meant by sociocultural system maintenance
-Students will identify the workings of symbols and binary oppositions in cognition
-Students will articulate different issues surrounding the notion of self
9) Content Area 9 Objectives:
-Students will articulate the connections between art and religion
-Students will explain the distinction between western and non-western forms of music
-Students will identify the relationship between dance and mythology
-Students will explain the traits of different kinds of body art and modification
10) Content Area 10 Objectives:
-Students will explain mythology in terms of being a social charter
-Students will identify the different kinds of magic, sainthood, and cults
-Students will articulate the differences between a priest and a shaman
-Students will recognize the difference between animism and animatism
-Students will articulate the centrality of concepts of soul and self in human culture
11) Content Area 11 Objectives:
-Students will explain the functioning of the doctrine of signatures in healing
-Students will explain the role played by psychotropic plants in human culture
-Students will articulate different applications of ethnobotany
-Students will articulate the place of plants and animals in drug discovery
12) Content Area 12 Objectives:
-Students will explain how non-westerners are increasingly guiding the direction of
anthropology
-Students will explain why cities are an important arena of anthropological research
-Students will identify key reasons for researching the cultures of US minority groups
-Students will articulate the applications of anthropology in a changing world
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Semester Syllabus
GRADING POLICY
Graded Course Activities
Final grades assigned for this course will be based on the percentage of total points earned and
are assigned as follows:
Component
Weight
Exam I
20%
Exam II
30%
Exam III
35%
Discussion Forum
15%
100%
Total
A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = Below 60%
Late Work Policy
Be sure to pay close attention to deadlines—there will be no make-up assignments or exams, or
late work accepted unless there is a documented family or medical emergency and instructor
approval on the day of the exam or before.
Viewing Grades in Blackboard
Grades you receive for graded activities will be posted to the Blackboard Grade Book. Click on
the My Grades link on the left navigation panel to view your grades.
Your instructor will update the online grades each time a grading session has been completed—
typically two days following the completion of an activity. You will see a visual indication of new
grades posted on your Blackboard home page under the link to this course.
Course Policies
Participation
Online courses require your active participation. Here are some tips for success:

In discussion forums, you learn from one another by posing questions, justifying your
comments, and providing multiple perspectives. When you prepare for discussions
through thoughtful reflection, you contribute to your own successful learning experience
as well as to the experience of your peers.

Log in to the course frequently (at least several times per week for long semesters and
daily for summer sessions) and check the announcements. This will keep you apprised of
any course updates, progress in discussions, assignment information, and messages
requiring immediate attention.

Be aware of and keep up with the Course Schedule in the Syllabus.
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Build Rapport
If you find that you have any trouble keeping up with assignments or other aspects of the course,
make sure you let your instructor know as early as possible. As you will find, building rapport
and effective relationships are key to becoming an effective professional. Make sure that you are
proactive in informing your instructor when difficulties arise during the semester so that we can
help you find a solution.
Complete Assignments
All assignments (exams) for this course will be completed electronically through Blackboard
Learn. Assignments and discussions must be completed and submitted by the given deadline or
special permission must be requested from instructor before the due date. Extensions will not be
given beyond the next assignment except under extreme circumstances.
No extra-credit or incompletes will be available in this course.
Communication Skills
All students must have adequate writing skills to communicate content in a professional and
concise manner. Students must be writing-proficient in their Discussion Forum postings, using
good, unabbreviated writing style, wording, phrasing, and language conventions. Students must
use non-racist and non-sexist language, and back up what they say in their Discussion Forum
contributions.
Time Commitment
Online courses are typically just as time intensive, and may be more rigorous than traditional
courses. Many students claim that online courses require more time and commitment. As you
begin this course, you would be wise to schedule 10 or more hours per week for studying
materials and completing assignments.
Falling behind in this course is particularly problematic because the concepts we cover are
cumulative. This means that not becoming proficient with information and objectives presented
and assessed in a particular week can lead to falling behind in that week as well as in later weeks.
Understand When You May Drop This Course
According to UTRGV policy, students may drop any class without penalty earning a grade of DR
until the official drop date. Following that date, students must be assigned a letter grade and can
no longer drop the class. Students considering dropping the class should be aware of the “3-peat
rule” and the “6-drop” rule so they can recognize how dropped classes may affect their academic
success. The 6-drop rule refers to Texas law that dictates that undergraduate students may not
drop more than six courses during their undergraduate career. Courses dropped at other Texas
public higher education institutions will count toward the six-course drop limit. The 3-peat rule
refers to additional fees charged to students who take the same class for the third time.
Incompletes will not be available in this course
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Inform Your Instructor of Any Accommodations Needed
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
If you have a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which
affects your academic performance) and would like to receive academic accommodations, please
inform your instructor and contact Student Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment to
initiate services. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with Student Accessibility
Services before classes start. However, accommodations can be provided at any time.
Brownsville Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in Cortez Hall Room 129 and
can be contacted by phone at (956) 882-7374 (Voice) or via email at [email protected].
Edinburg Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in 108 University Center and can
be contacted by phone at (956) 665-7005 (Voice), (956) 665-3840 (Fax), or via email at
[email protected].
Course Evaluations
Students are required to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed through your
UTRGV account (http://my.utrgv.edu); you will be contacted through email with further
instructions. Online evaluations will be available April 13 – May 14, 2016. Students who
complete their evaluations will have priority access to their grades.
Anthropology Program Learning Objectives
This course also meets Anthropology Program goals as it teaches you to use the tools of
anthropology to think and write critically about topics dealing with humankind, enables you to
develop a solid base of anthropological knowledge in the area of cultural anthropology, gives you
a holistic understanding of individuals and cultures that reflects the multidimensionality of human
experience, shows you how to apply appropriate research methodologies to understand cultural
phenomena, and demonstrates how to apply anthropological concepts and knowledge.
THECB Core Student Learning Objectives
ANTH 2351 also meets standards of The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for core
courses within the Social and Behavioral Sciences Foundational Component Area by addressing
four key core objectives concerned with (1) Critical Thinking Skills, (2) Communication Skills,
(3) Empirical and Quantitative Skills, and (4) Social Responsibility. Students explore central
themes of cultural anthropology such as economics, art, marriage, political organization, religion,
and ethnicity; and they are exposed to diverse cultural practices within societies worldwide.
Students develop critical thinking skills as they are encouraged to compare and contrast these new
data, all the while incorporating what they know about their own culture; and they do this by
using appropriate methodological and theoretical analyses they have learned. Students develop
verbal communication skills as they articulate their ideas as part of directed in-class discussions
of “hot” topics such as “race/ethnicity” or “What makes an ideal marriage partner?” Students
also learn to express their ideas clearly through written work, both written assignments and shortessay examination questions that require them to synthesize diverse forms of information.
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Students also learn how to properly cite their sources using the citation guidelines of the
American Anthropological Association. Major cultural patterns described by anthropologists are
derived from empirical studies that yielded statistically significant results. In accord with this,
students are expected to master the basic empirical and quantitative skills necessary to assess and
present data in varied formats. Students are also taught the basic standards of participantobservation field work. Finally, a major theme in cultural anthropology concerns how to function
as a citizen of a multicultural world. Students are exposed to cultures both like and unlike their
own and they are constantly comparing and contrasting ideas, behaviors, and belief systems. As a
result, they develop social responsibility and come to better understand themselves, their own
culture, and the place of both within our interconnected world. They also learn to identify and
describe contemporary standards of human subjects research and informed consent.
Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Violence
In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a “responsible employee” for
reporting purposes under Title IX regulations and so must report any instance, occurring during a
student’s time in college, of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, or sexual
harassment about which she/he becomes aware during this course through writing, discussion, or
personal disclosure. More information can be found at www.utrgv.edu/equity, including
confidential resources available on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to
provide a learning, working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and
mutual respect in an environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination.
Commit to Integrity - UTRGV Academic Honesty Policy & Procedures
Scholastic Integrity:
As members of a community dedicated to Honesty, Integrity and Respect, students are reminded
that those who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the
possibility of failure in the course and expulsion from the University. Scholastic dishonesty
includes but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, and collusion; submission for credit of any
work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person; taking an
examination for another person; any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student; or the
attempt to commit such acts. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all students and
the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced (Board
of Regents Rules and Regulations and UTRGV Academic Integrity Guidelines). All scholastic
dishonesty incidents will be reported to the Dean of Students.
Definitions
At UTRGV, Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion,
the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to
another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair
advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.
“Plagiarism is a form of cheating. At UTRGV, “plagiarism is the appropriation, buying,
receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the unacknowledged
submission or incorporation of it in one's own academic work offered for credit..”
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Source: UTPA Handbook of Operating Procedures
Important Note: Any form of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, may be
reported to the Dean of Students.
Course policies are subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to check Blackboard for
corrections or updates to the syllabus. Any changes will be posted in Blackboard.
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