SYLLABUS

Course Title: ANTH1102

Instructor: Dr. Ervan Garrison

Time: 10:30 - 12:45 PM, Daily

Location: Baldwin Hall, Room 264

Description: ANTH 1102 is an introductory-level survey course of the field of Anthropology - the "study of man" or the "study of humanity". The four sub-disciplines of modern anthropology - cultural, biological, archaeology, and cognitive/linguistics - comprise the subject matter. Two major integrative themes in ANTH 1102 are: (1) Culture and (2) Environment and how these two elements affect humans as individuals and as groups. Biological and cultural evolution are examined as historical and on-going processes which, together, have resulted in the variety of the world's peoples and cultures.

Course Format: Lecture & demonstration - These are the vehicles that work best for large section courses like ANTH 1102. As your instructor, I, as you do, would prefer a more "personal" level of class size & interaction. In this course I will teach my understanding of modern anthropology based on 25 years of "doing anthropology" - both teaching and research. We will view videos to help convey the subject matter and if we can have a guest lecturer or two we shall do this as well. The instruments I use to evaluate your grasp of the subject are exams. The exams will simply quantify your grasp of the lecture and reading material.

Grade Scale: A-F; 90 to 100=A; 80 to 90 =B; etc.

Grade Basis: Written examination (3) and attendance*

Examinations = 300 points;

Textbook: Introducing Anthropology, Michael Park

Schedule of Topics & Assignments:

1. Introduction - What is Anthropology? Chapter 1

2. Anthropology as science - the structure of inquiry. Chapter 2

3. Culture - Humanity's "thing". Chapter 7

4. Culture Change - discovery & invention. Chapter 15

5. Cultural behavior - materialism, ecology & behavior.

Chapter 13

EXAM 1 - regular class period

Schedule of Topics & Assignments cont. -

6. Evolution - ecology, evolutionary processes and genetics. Chapter 13

7. Human variation - race: biological and social. Chapter 14

8. Language - origins & importance to humans and culture. Chapter 11

9. Primates - non-human and human. Chapter 4

10. Early humanity - paleoanthropology. Chapter 5

11. Archaeology - study of our past. Chapter 10

EXAM 2, regular class period

12. Food - humanity's triumph: agriculture. Chapter 8

13. Sex and Gender - biology & cultural variation. Chapter 6

14. Kinship & Organization. Chapter 9

15. Levels of complexity - bands to states.

16. Religion. Chapter 12

EXAM 3 - Final Exam Period

Important Information:

Office Hours: By appointment only (Mon. or Wed. 9-10 AM)

Office(s): GG307; Baldwin 255

email: egarrison@uga.edu (anytime)

Phone: 542-1097; fax: 542-2425

____________________________________

*

Attendance Policy: Only 4 unexcused absences are allowed before your grade is automatically reduced by one letter grade, e.g. A to B; B to C; etc. 4 absences equal the equivalent of missing 3 weeks of class.

An excused absence is one based on illness or personal crisis (weddings, ball games, etc. are not excuses to miss class). 7 or more unexcused absences will result in automatic dismissal from the course with a grade of "WF". Illness must be confirmed by a health professional - university health center, etc. Personal crisis must be confirmed by the Office of Vice-President of Student Affairs.