ANTHROPOLOGY 333
EXPERIENCING CULTURAL DIVERSITY

1. Catalog Entry

Anthropology 333. Experiencing Cultural Diversity
Three hours lecture (3).

Prerequisites: ANTH 121

This course will provide, through lecture, discussion, and experiential exercises, an understanding of diverse cultures in the United States. Emphasis will be on developing the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for full participation in a diverse workplace and a diverse society. (Duplicate credit will not be granted for SOCY 333.)

2. Detailed Description of Content of Course

Content

What is Anthropology’s role in understanding cultural diversity and interpersonal relations?

• concepts: culture, diversity, ethnocentrism, cultural relativism
• knowledge:
  • the effects of culture
• the effects of diversity
• the effects of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism
• method
  • ethnography to discover and analyze the emic (native) point of view and the etic (analytic) point of view
• perspective:
  • cross-cultural analysis
  • understanding “the other”
• Exercises: discovering culture and discerning diversity in the world around you

How do attitudes toward culture affect interpersonal relations?

• ethnocentrism, cultural relativism
• exercises: recognizing ethnocentrism

How do attitudes toward groups affect interpersonal relations?

• Stereotyping, prejudice, racism and discrimination
• Exercises: recognizing prejudice/prejudice reduction

How do types of interethnic relations affect interpersonal relations?

• Assimilation, amalgamation, cultural pluralism
• Exercises: scenarios: what would cultures built on assimilation, amalgamation, pluralism look like. Describe interpersonal relations in each type

What are variations in cultural patterns? What are ethnographic methods for discerning and analyzing them?

(Ethnographic examples drawn from Appalachian, African-American, Asian, European, Hispanic, Native American, and minority religious groups in the USA.

• Dimensions of contrast in cultural patterns:
  • Types of social characters/kinds of selves
  • Types of interpersonal relationships
  • Types of orientations toward time
  • Types of orientations toward space
  • Types of relationships with the environment
  • Child-rearing practices that support different social characters
  • Ways of seeing/ways of knowing: cross-cultural indigenous epistemologies
  • Exercises: ethnographic methods for discerning cultural patterns in yourself and others

What are sources of identity?

• Ethnicity
• Images of Self and Others
• Sense of Place
• Exercises: Understanding your own and others’ identities

What is anthropology’s role—reprise?

• Discovery, discernment, analysis in an “objective” mode
• Confronting cultural deprivation models and the antithetical tendency to minimize cultural differences
• “Engaged anthropology” committed to understanding multiculturalism; “committed to cultural pluralism and democratic participation”

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

This course will include a variety of instructional strategies:

• Lecture: course material will be presented in lecture-discussion format
• Guest lectures: guests will be invited to present information and answer
• Experiential exercises: significant emphasis will be on learning through participation in exercises in cultural awareness, prejudice awareness, prejudice reduction, and cross-cultural competence

4. Goals and Objectives of the Course

Having successfully completed this course, the student will:

• have an understanding of the theory, concepts and method of Anthropology in the analysis of cultural diversity
• have knowledge and experience in recognizing the role of cultural diversity in cross-cultural social settings
• understand how models of interethnic relations contribute to the issues surrounding cultural diversity
• be able to understand from an anthropological perspective how to take the role of engaging cultural diversity as a teaching and learning tool

5. Assessment Measures

Assessment measures are designed to evaluate student learning and progression toward the fulfillment of the General Education Program goals and the International and Intercultural Studies Area goals.

The level of student knowledge will be assessed by tests. Students will be required to keep a journal of analysis of course materials in which the level of comprehension and integration of reading material with interactive class activities will be measured. In addition, an integrative paper will be assigned after each interactive experience. Application assignments will assess students’ abilities to apply the material to their own lives and anticipated careers.

6. Other Course Information

None

7. Approval and Subsequent Reviews

DATE ACTION REVIEWED
September 2001 Reviewed Dr. Peggy Shifflett