ANTH 001 - Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology

Lower Division

What is culture and how important is it in explaining the marvelous variations we see in human behavior around the world? In this course, we will examine the ways in which people around the world make sense of the world and their own lives. The course seeks to illuminate other possibilities beyond the ones we are familiar with that exist for solving problems and for achieving meaningful lives. The course will introduce students to several primary domains of cultural anthropology, including the concepts of culture and fieldwork; medical anthropology, kinship and social organization; colonialism, power and domination; economic systems; gender and sexuality; race and class; symbols and language; religion and ritual; and social structure and agency. Together we will practice new ways of looking at the world, new ways of observing our social lives, and new ways to talk about the social world.

Core Curriculum Designation(s)
SHCU - Social, Historical and Cultural Understanding; GP - Global Perspectives; TCG - The Common Good

Course credits: 1