MCCCD Program Description

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Course: ASB102

First Term: 2024 Fall

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S - Standard Load

Description: Introduces concepts and methods of cultural anthropology, with illustrative materials from a variety of communities in a globalizing world. Explores the concept of culture and examines a variety of cultural and social practices such as subsistence, economics, politics, marriage, kinship, gender and religion.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Define anthropology as a discipline. (I) 2. Define culture. (II) 3. Define and contrast ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. (II) 4. Explain the relationship between environment, subsistence, and lifeways. (III) 5. Describe key modes of production and exchange found cross-culturally. (IV) 6. Describe mechanisms of social and political organization. (V) 7. Assess the relationships of factors such as race, class, gender, and age with social stratification across cultures.(VI) 8. Explain the relationship of kinship, marriage, and family. (VII) 9. Describe sex and gender and how these categories differ across cultures. (VIII) 10. Describe the relationship between language, culture, and cognition. (IX) 11. Explain the functions of religion in culture. (X) 12. Explain how narratives about and responses to illness vary cross-culturally. (XI) 13. Explain how and why cultures change in response to factors like globalization. (XII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Definition of Anthropology A. Four subfields of anthropology 1. Cultural a. Applied b. Medical anthropology 2. Linguistic 3. Biological 4. Archaeology B. Research methods in cultural anthropology 1. Ethics 2. Reflexivity 3. Ethnography C. History and development of cultural anthropology II. Culture A. Definitions of culture B. Ethnocentrism vs. cultural relativism C. Emic and etic perspectives D. Mechanisms of culture change III. Environment, Adaptation, and Subsistence A. Environment diversity B. Biological and cultural adaptation C. Subsistence adaptations and the environment 1. Foraging 2. Pastoralism 3. Horticulture 4. Agriculture a. Subsistence b. Intensive c. Industrialized D. Contemporary foragers, horticulturists, and pastoralists 1. Political pressures 2. Adaptations, innovations, and agency IV. Economics A. Principles of economic anthropology B. Modes of production 1. Domestic 2. Tributary 3. Capitalist C. Modes of exchange 1. Reciprocity a. Generalized b. Balanced c. Negative 2. Redistribution 3. Market Exchange D. Consumption E. Globalization and economic inequality V. Social Organization A. Social organization B. Distribution of power 1. Egalitarian societies 2. Ranked societies 3. Stratified societies C. Regulation of social behavior VI. Social Stratification A. Race B. Class C. Caste D. Age E. Gender VII. Kinship, Marriage, and Family A. Kinship B. Descent rules 1. Patrilineal 2. Matrilineal 3. Bilateral C. Descent groups 1. Moiety 2. Clans D. Marriage 1. Monogamy 2. Polygyny 3. Polyandry E. Marriage rules 1. Endogamy 2. Exogamy F. Marital Exchange 1. Bridewealth 2. Bride service 3. Dowry G. Post marital residence 1. Matrilocal 2. Patrilocal 3. Neolocal H. Family VIII. Sex, Gender, and Sexuality A. Sex and gender B. Gender diversity IX. Language and Culture A. Language and language varieties B. Nonverbal communication C. Linguistic relativity D. Language politics 1. Endangered languages and revitalization 2. Language ideology X. Religion A. Definitions and theories of religion B. Cosmology C. Mythology in religion D. Ritual in religion E. Religious communities XI. Health, Illness, and Healing A. Uses of medical anthropology B. Ethnomedicines C. Local illness narratives D. Culture-bound syndromes XII. Globalization and Culture Change A. Forces influencing culture change 1. Globalization 2. Colonialism and neocolonialism 3. Neoliberalism B. Mechanisms of culture change 1. Diffusion 2. Independent invention 3. Acculturation 4. Revolution C. Agency in response to globalization

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: November 28, 2023

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.