Anthropology Associate in Arts

Anthropology is a diverse discipline that investigates the biological and cultural life of human beings in all times and in all places. An anthropology degree provides students with an appreciation of other
ways of life and different systems of belief, and perhaps most importantly, a better understanding of the world in which they live. The curriculum in the Anthropology program is designed to provide the transfer
student the opportunity to achieve an Associate in Arts in Anthropology degree by providing the necessary breadth in the field and an introduction to the methods used. While an associate degree may support
attempts to gain entry-level employment or promotion, a baccalaureate or higher degree in anthropology, which can be achieved through transfer, is recommended for those considering professional careers.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this program will be able to:

Describe the breadth of anthropology and be able to characterize anthropology’s distinctive theoretical and methodological approaches with respect to other disciplines.
Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of the discipline and the centrality of the four-field approach in American anthropology.
Explain the basic processes of human biological evolution.
Describe modern human biological diversity and articulate an informed position on the question of race.
Define and critically analyze the concepts of culture and cultural relativism.
Demonstrate the ability to think holistically and comparatively in describing human cultural diversity.
Demonstrate an understanding of the processes of social and cultural change through time.
Discuss the politics of inclusion and exclusion both locally and globally.
Articulate an anthropological perspective in relation to contemporary issues and concerns.
Discuss the importance of the scientific method in anthropological research.
Identify the correct methods for the undertaking of biological, ethnographic, linguistic, and/or archaeological research.
Identify the ethical responsibilities and concerns in the conducting of anthropological research.
Write concisely and logically, incorporating relevant data and knowledge.
Critically evaluate information sources about different peoples and cultures.

Required Courses:

ANTH 1 BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 3 Units
ANTH 2 CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 3 Units
ANTH 3 CULTURE AND LANGUAGE 3 Units *
ANTH 9 INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY 3 Units
Select from Restricted Electives 6 Units

Total Units for the Major: 18

Restricted Electives:

ANTH 4 - NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURES 3 Units
ANTH 5 ANTHROPOLOGY OF LATIN AMERICA-CULTURE, IDENTITY, AND POWER 3 Units
ANTH 6 GLOBAL ISSUES IN ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE 3 Units *
ANTH 7 - PERSPECTIVE INDIANS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 3 Units
ANTH 8 WORLD PREHISTORY 3 Units
ANTH 10 CELTIC CULTURES 3 Units
ANTH 13 MAGIC, WITCHCRAFT, AND RELIGION 3 Units
ANTH 14 INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL CULTURE 3 Units
ANTH 15 THE WORLD OF PRIMATES 3 Units
ANTH 17 THE BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION OF HUMAN NATURE 3 Units
ANTH 21 WOMEN, GENDER, AND CULTURE - CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES 3 Units
ANTH 100 - FORESNSIC ANTHROPOLOGY 3 Units
ES 1 MULTICULTURAL EXPERIENCES IN THE UNITED STATES 3 Units
ES 3 INTRODUCTION TO CHICANA(O)AND LATINA(O) CULTURES 3 Units
*Course has a prerequisite, corequisite, limitation, or recommended preparation; see course description.

Associate in Arts Degree

Complete a minimum of 60 units including the total number of units described above and the General Education requirements with an overall GPA of 2.0 to qualify for the Associate in Arts degree. A minimum of 12 units must be completed at Saddleback College.

General Education Requirements for Associate Degrees

Refer to the Graduation Requirements or to the CSU-GE and IGETC patterns in this catalog for specific courses which meet general education requirements. Refer to ASSIST.org and to the transfer institution’s catalog for transfer requirements.

Suggested coursework not required for the major: BIO 11 *, BIO 22 *, BIO 40 ; GEOG 2 ; ES 1 , 2 ; HIST 20 /SOC 20 ; MATH 10 *; PSYC 16 *; SOC 1 .