Goals and Learning Objectives

1. Learning Goal: Learn the basic foundation of American four-field anthropology.
   
   Objectives:
   Students will:
   1. Take courses in cultural anthropology, biological anthropology and archaeology.
   2. Learn the broad scope of the history of Anthropology as a discipline.
   3. Demonstrate knowledge of the intellectual and cultural traditions of several non-Western societies through exposure to ethnographic analysis in coursework.
2. Learning Goal: Develop and apply critical thinking and analytic skills to representations of human culture within and outside the discipline of Anthropology.
   
   Objectives:
   Students will:
   1. Focus on critical reading of ethnographic texts and synthetic interpretation of ethnographic data.
   2. Evaluate starting premises, assumptions and viewpoints for ethnocentric bias or other forms of bias.
   3. Be exposed to a holistic perspective that bridges traditional disciplinary boundaries.
3. Learning Goal: Approach the study of human beings through a combination of skills, including the scientific method, qualitative social analysis and reflective criticism.
   
   Objectives:
   Students will:
   1. Learn the basic principles of the scientific method, especially as applied to human evolution.
   2. Examine the relative merits of qualitative and quantitative methods for analysis of anthropological issues.
   3. Engage the process of the ethnographic method as practiced and reflected upon within Anthropology.
4. Learning Goal: Apply the theory and methodologies developed within Anthropology and related disciplines to major social and cultural concerns in the multi-cultural global context.
   
   Objectives:
   Students will:
   1. Compare opposing viewpoints in order to contextualize differences in cultural values and practices.
   2. Learn the relevant cultural factors for analysis of race prejudice and gender roles in comparative perspective.
   3. Be exposed to cutting edge theory in the discipline and its intersection with cultural studies.
5. Learning Goal: Improve communication skills through structured essays and/or oral presentations.
   
   Objectives:
   Students will:
   1. Practice proper grammatical usage and be advised on ways to improve writing skills.
   2. Develop arguments that provide the basis through examples of course data for points made.
   3. Be guided in proper social-science citations of quoted material
   4. Demonstrate effective oral communication skills for informing, persuading or debating issues.
6. Learning Goal: Gain practical experience in research methods with opportunities for internships and field research.
   
   Objectives:
   Students will:
   1. Take a methods course, which provides practical research experience.
   2. Be provided with opportunities for internships in local museums or community service.
   3. Be encouraged to attend field schools in their particular field of interest.
7. Learning Goal: Guidance provided for new forms of information technology, especially computer-related skills and analysis of data in digital formats.
   
   Objectives:
   Students will:
   1. Critically engage relevant anthropological information in electronic formats
   2. Be provided with updated information on web-based resources in anthropology, including AnthroSource, the electronic resource of the American Anthropological Association.
   3. Learn appropriate quantitative programs for data collection and analysis.
8. Learning Goal: Develop awareness of career opportunities in Anthropology through advanced graduate training and in non-academic professional careers.
   
   Objectives:
   Students will:
   1. Be advised of graduate programs and career opportunities in the discipline through meetings with faculty
   2. Be provided with an opportunity to attend the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association or related professional organizations
   3. Be apprised of career opportunities outside academic Anthropology through interviews, seminars, literature and websites.