Mar 29, 2024  
2021 - 2022 Cowley College Academic Catalog 
    
2021 - 2022 Cowley College Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

ANT6914 SPECIAL TOPICS IN ANTHROPOLOGY COURSE PROCEDURE


ANT6914 SPECIAL TOPICS IN ANTHROPOLOGY

3 Credit Hours

Student Level:

This course is open to students at the freshman or sophomore anthropology majors.

Catalog Description:

ANT6914 - Special Topics in Anthropology (3 hrs.)

Students will assist in the day-to-day operations of the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum, or other local or regional museums under the guidance of the museum director. 

Course Classification:

Lecture

Prerequisites:

For anthropology majors who have completed at least two of the following:

ANT6911 Cultural Anthropology

ANT6920 Introduction to Archaeology

ANT6930 Introduction to Bio-Physical Anthropology

ANT6912 Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology

Controlling Purpose:

This course is designed to help the student develop the many skills comprising anthropological research design and implementation, and to broaden the student’s understanding of and experience in the 4 fields of anthropology: cultural anthropology, archaeology, bio-physical anthropology and linguistics.

Learner Outcomes:

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to identify major ethnographic domains and other areas of 4-field anthropological research; design a research project in a selected topic; implement that project in the field; analyze the findings and results of the research, and present the results in a public venue.

Unit Outcomes for Criterion Based Evaluation:

The following defines the minimum core content not including the final examination period. Instructors may add other content as time allows.

UNIT 1:  Topics in Anthropology

Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • Identify and describe the major ethnographic domains, such as (but not limited to) ethnomusicology, ethnohistory, ethnobotany, et.al
  • Identify and describe other specialized fields of anthropological research, such as (but not limited to) primatology, visual anthropology, cultural ecology, anthropology or religion, mythology, linguistics, various archeological specialties, et.al
  • Relate the core concepts and methodology of general anthropology to any given area(s) of specialized anthropological research
  • Identify the major current issues and trends in the various specialized areas of anthropological research
  • Select a specific topic from a particular area of anthropological research, to pursue as a semester-long research project

UNIT 2:  Methodology

Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • Define & use basic quantitative anthropological research methods
  • Define & use basic qualitative anthropological research methods
  • Understand the use of subject observation and participant observation methods in anthropological research
  • Identify and understand the use of other methods of data collection in anthropological field work, including by not limited to archaeological survey & excavation, textual study, echogram’s, surveys, photography, videography, audio recording, or laboratory techniques

UNIT 3:  Research Design

Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • Formulate a research question or hypothesis, and identify the research domain and/or population for the selected project
  • Conduct a literature review of existing, up-to-date research in the project topic
  • Select appropriate methods and modalities of information collection and documentation for the selected project
  • Create a research plan and schedule for the selected project, and write a formal research proposal

UNIT 4:   Fieldwork

Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • Making initial personal or professional contacts as needed to carry out the research project
  • Identifying and contacting ethnographic informants, or identifying the archaeological site through survey, or identifying the research sample materials or population, as appropriate to the selected project topic
  • Conducting interviews, subject and/or participant observation, surveys, excavations, lab work, and other data gathering activities as appropriate to the selected research topic
  • Organizing cataloging and archiving  the data collected in the field, in the form of field notes and journals, laboratory notes and journals, physical specimens, artifacts, photographs, audio-visual recordings and other modes as appropriate to the selected research topic

UNIT 5:  Analysis & Publication

Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • Conduct quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of data gathered in field work
  • Formulate conclusions that address the initial hypothesis or question, in keeping with anthropological paradigms
  • Produce a paper, documentary, exhibit or other work
  • Present and publish the final work in appropriate venues, including but not limited to student seminars, student and professional conferences, web sites, peer-reviewed journals, museum exhibition, community group meetings, and the program’s own outlets.

Projects Required:

As a class or as independent study, depending on enrollment, students will choose an anthropological specialty or focus, choose a topic in that area, design and carry out a research project in that topic, and present their data and analysis in a professional format.  This project must be of such scope to comprise a full semester’s course work.

Textbook:

Contact Bookstore for current textbook.

Materials/Equipment Required:

As appropriate to the selected research topic

Attendance Policy:

Students should adhere to the attendance policy outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.

Grading Policy:

The grading policy will be outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.

Maximum class size:

Based on classroom occupancy

Course Timeframe:

The U.S. Department of Education, Higher Learning Commission and the Kansas Board of Regents define credit hour and have specific regulations that the college must follow when developing, teaching and assessing the educational aspects of the college. A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit or an equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. The number of semester hours of credit allowed for each distance education or blended hybrid courses shall be assigned by the college based on the amount of time needed to achieve the same course outcomes in a purely face-to-face format.

Refer to the following policies:

402.00 Academic Code of Conduct

263.00 Student Appeal of Course Grades

403.00 Student Code of Conduct

Disability Services Program: 

Cowley College, in recognition of state and federal laws, will accommodate a student with a documented disability.  If a student has a disability, which may impact work in this class which requires accommodations, contact the Disability Services Coordinator. 

Disclaimer: This Information is Subject to Change. For the Official Course Procedure Contact Academic Affairs.