This course introduces students to anthropology and its four subdisciplines (archaeological, biological, cultural, and linguistic anthropology), providing a glimpse of the field's history, present status, and importance. It teaches students various ways of learning and thinking about the world's many designs for living in time and space. It prepares them to integrate and interpret information, to evaluate conflicting claims about human nature and diversity, and to think critically. We'll look at the unifying concepts and methods that typify the discipline and frame anthropology's comprehensive, holistic worldview.

Topics covered include:

• the nature of culture;
• human genetics, evolution and the fossil record;
• the concept of "race";
• primate (monkey and ape) behavior;
• language and culture;
• systems of marriage, kinship and family organization;
• sex and gender roles;
• economics, politics, and religion in global perspective;
• the arts; and
• medicine.

Required readings come from one introductory text, a case studies book and one ethnography.

Course Requirements:

This course will use Canvas for all asynchronous online components. Discussion sections and optional synchronous meetings with the instructor and GSIs (e.g. one-on-one office hours) will be held on Zoom. Students should have access to a camera and microphone. There will be no synchronous timed testing. Throughout the semester there will be section board posts and writing assignments that will be submitted via Canvas during a designated time frame. Completing them will require doing the reading, watching the films, and listening to the recorded lectures. There will be no exams.

Class Format:

The lectures for this course will be recorded and posted on Canvas. All films will have Canvas links for streamed viewing. Weekly discussion sections will meet on Zoom at their scheduled time, with required online attendance and participation.