Cultural Anthropology

Catalog description

Cultural anthropology examines both the diversity of human societies and cultures as well as what human cultures have in common. In this class, students learn to understand, appreciate, and respect cultural difference and diversity while also questioning our own "common-sense" understandings about our own culture and the world around us. This course provides an overview of the history, methods, areas of study, and major figures of the discipline. Through a focus on power and cultural change, course materials illustrate the diverse geographic areas and subject matters that engage contemporary anthropologists. The goal is to encourage each student to see anthropology not simply as a scholarly discipline, but as a way of thinking about and acting in the world.