LEARNING GOALS

Cultural anthropology is the “study of the full scope of human diversity and the application of that knowledge to help people of different backgrounds better understand one another.”^[1] This course covers a cross-section of some of the driving conversations in this diverse and dynamic field in order to provide an introductory survey of the discipline and demonstrate its utility as a powerful set of tools for understanding the world around you.

The goal of this course is not to memorize facts, but to develop and articulate a way of reading, writing, and thinking like an anthropologist. As such, we will be reading articles on a wide range of topics, practicing ethnographic writing, and reading ethnography. Each topical category has been designed in order to provoke discussion and challenge assumptions, and, as the saying goes, “make the familiar strange and the strange familiar.”  

By the end of this course, a successful student will have:

1. Developed an idea of the type of questions anthropologists ask, and the way that they go about researching and writing about those questions.
2. Developed new ways of looking critically at a range of issues, and an ability to use the analytical frameworks provided by anthropology to aid them in their daily/scholarly life.
3. More confidence in their ability to read deeply and critically, and a developing voice as a writer.
4. Gained an understanding of some important concepts and themes in anthropology, including culture, class, religion, race, gender, colonialism, and capitalism. 

READING MATERIALS

Readings: You are expected to complete all assigned readings. Textbook chapters provide detailed background information about the week’s topic—students are advised to read them in full. Any additional readings will be discussed in class. Students should read these texts carefully, marking passages of interest and taking notes of their reactions and questions. 

All course materials will be made available on Blackboard or through the Hunter College library, so you are not required to purchase textbooks for this class. That said, the textbook¹ that we will revisit throughout the semester is listed below and available online for free.

Blackboard: We will be using Blackboard to access readings and assignments. 

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1. Brown, Nina et al. Perspectives: An Open Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Can be accessed via this link: https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/perspectives-an-open-invitation-to-cultural-anthropology ↩︎

GRADING POLICY

You will be conducting a semester long research project, in groups of five. The assignment will accumulate throughout the semester, and you will receive feedback after completing each part.

Attendance (%10)

9.20.24  – Group formation (5%)

10.15.24 –  Research Questions 1st draft (%5)

11.1.24 –  Theme and data collection method (%10)

11.20.24 –  Research Proposal: (%20)

12.17.24 – Final Paper 5.18 (%50)

INC: The grade of INC is awarded only when the course requirement has not been completed for good and sufficient reasons and when there is a reasonable expectation that the student can successfully complete the requirements of the course. For an instructor to grant an INC, the student must have met the instructor’s attendance requirements in the course and have a passing semester average. The student must complete the missing work within the first ten weeks of the following semester. If the instructor is not available, the student must consult with the department chair. A grade replacing the INC may not be entered by the instructor or department chair later than the last day of classes of the following semester. INC grades not completed by the deadline will become Fs (FINs) (or the equivalent under Grading System I-R, NC).

Late Work: Assignments submitted late without a documented excuse will receive a deduction of one full letter-grade.

Academic Integrity: Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism,

cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official

documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is

committed to enforcing the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of

academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures.

Disability Statement: In compliance with the American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Hunter College is committed to ensuring educational parity and accommodations for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. It is recommended that all students with documented disabilities (Emotional, Medical, Physical, and/or Learning) consult the Office of AccessABILITY, located in Room E1214B, to secure necessary academic accommodations.