Anthropology Program

ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

Link to SLO MATRIX

 

Degree Designation: BA

 

A. Program Mission Statement

It is the mission of this program to educate students in the field of Anthropology which is the global, comparative study of human biological variation and cultural systems over all periods, from the prehistoric to the present.  Our undergraduate program is designed to give students a sound intellectual grounding in the discipline’s four main areas of research: Biological Anthropology; Archaeology; Cultural Anthropology; and Linguistics. Our perspectives are worldwide, but we also study nearby communities in trying to understand patters of human physical differences, language, religion, marriage customs, conflict resolution or the evolution of societies themselves. Students completing the undergraduate degree are prepared to enter graduate programs in Anthropology but also find employment in a wide variety of settings including archaeological contract companies; conducting research on urban community development; studying immigrant populations and how best to serve the health, social, and educational needs of our increasingly diverse society.

 

 

B. The Anthropology Program Supports the College of Arts and Science Mission in the following ways:

 

X        leads students and community to understand the social and physical environment of the past, the present and the future

X        teaches people to think critically by analyzing and synthesizing ideas and information

X        leads to understanding and establishment of connections among diverse disciplines, cultures, and peoples

X        nurtures learning within and beyond the classroom in time  and space

X        acquires and extends knowledge by honing skills that will serve them and society throughout their lives

X        fosters ability to research

X        facilitates ability to reason

X        promotes ability to read

X        nurtures ability to write

 

 

C. Anthropology Program Student Learning Outcomes

 

Graduates of the USFSP anthropology program should be able to:

 

A.   Content/ Discipline Knowledge and Skills

1.    Master concepts central to the anthropological perspective

i.e. culture; human evolution, diversity of culture, physical type, language, gender/sex, cultural relativism, holism, historical and cross-cultural comparisons, kinship, and globalism.

 

2.    identify major figures in the history of anthropology, the major schools/orientation of anthropological theory, and important trends in contemporary anthropological theory and methods

 

B.   Communication Skills

1.    Create and deliver effective oral presentations

2.    Develop effective written presentations

3.    Contribute effectively to group discussion

 

 

C.   Critical Thinking Skills

 

1.    Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical abilities, and construct sound arguments regarding global human diversity, as well as commonality

2.    Demonstrate familiarity with the standards of professional ethics espoused by the disciple of anthropology

 

D.   Civic Engagement Skills

1.    approach the solution of human problems through anthropological methods

2.    show ability to conduct basic anthropological research,  under the supervision of faculty, involving  research in the local community and/or analysis of existing scholarly resources

 

D. Student Requirements

Students are required to take a minimum of 36 credit hours. The students are required to take 18 credit hours of Required Core Courses that are listed below. 

We have created a matrix in an attached excel file that outlines which SLO are fulfilled in each course.

Required Core Courses (18 cr. hrs.)

Lower level required courses

ANT 2410 Cultural Anthropology (3)
ANT 2511 Biological Anthropology (3)
ANT 3101 Archaeology (3)
ANT 3610 Anthropological Linguistics (3)
ANT 4034 Theories of Culture (3)
ANT 4935 Rethinking Anthropology (3)

Upper Level Electives: Majors are required to complete a minimum of 15 hours of 4000-level elective coursework, including courses from at least three of the four subfields shown below. NOTE: students beginning the major from Fall 2006 on, must take a minimum of three (3) of these 15 credits selected from a list of designated methods courses.

 

ANT 4495 Methods in Cultural Research (3) 

ANT 4930 Archaeological Method and Theory (3)

 

Availability of Required Course at USFSP Anthropology Major

          The anthropology courses at USFSP are taught by three full time faculty, 1 faculty member split with ISS, and at least one adjunct.   We offer every required course at least once every two academic years, but most required courses are offered at least once in an academic year. 

Every Semester:  ANT 2000 Introduction to Anthropology and ANT 2410 Cultural Anthropology is taught every spring and fall semester and occasionally during the summer. 

Once a Year: ANT 2511 (Biological Anthropology), ANT 3101 (Archaeology), and ANT 3610 (Anthropological Linguistics) are taught once every academic year.  Ant 3101 (archaeology) also is taught occasionally during the summer. 

Once Every Two Years: ANT 4034 (Theories of Culture) and ANT 4935 (Rethinking Anthropology), ANT 4495 (Methods in Cultural Research), and ANT 4930 (Archaeological Method and Theory).

 

E. Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

To assess our Student Learning Outcomes we conduct an analysis every two years of SLO in three of our upper division required courses to assess how our majors perform in our program.  We selected these courses for our assessment because all student majors must take these courses to receive a degree at USFSP anthropology and because they are upper division courses we feel more confident that students registered in these courses have decided to and will graduate with a major in anthropology.  Many of our lower division courses are also open to non-majors.  These courses are:

ANT 4034 Theories of Culture (3)
ANT 4935 Rethinking Anthropology (3)

ANT 4495 Methods in Cultural Research (3)