ANTH-BS - Anthropology

SLO 1: Archaeology - (1) Students will demonstrate mastery of key topics in anthropological archaeology, specifically archaeological field and lab methods, different types of artifact analyses (i.e., ceramic, lithic, faunal, botanical, spatial, and chronometric), approaches to interpretation of archaeological data to understand cultural and historical contexts, as well as core theoretical paradigms in the discipline from the last century. (2) Student's knowledge will be assessed through an exam with a series of multiple-choice questions drawn from core archaeological courses will be used to assess levels of proficiency. (3) The questions will be administered in the student's final semester to understand how well they have retained knowledge about key topics in anthropological anthropology. The target is for 50% of students to achieve a 4 ("Accomplished," 80%) or better on the objective questions.

SLO 2: Biological Anthropology - (1) Students will demonstrate mastery of key topics in biological anthropology related to understandings of geographic and temporal diversity in humans, our ancestors (i.e., hominins), and closest living relates (e.g., hominids and other members of the order primates). Students will demonstrate knowledge of key fossil specimens, the timing and location of specific evolutionary processes, as well as modern and historic genetics, and contemporary human biological variation. (2) Student's knowledge will be assessed through an exam with a series of multiple-choice questions drawn from core biological anthropology courses will be used to assess levels of proficiency. (3) The questions will be administered in the student's final semester to understand how well they have retained knowledge about key topics in biological anthropology. The target is for 50% of students to achieve a 4 ("Accomplished," 80%) or better on the objective questions.

SLO 3: Cultural Anthropology - (1) Students will demonstrate mastery of key concepts, methods, and topics in cultural anthropology, specifically the ethnographic method, cultural relativism, ethnocentrism, the culture concept itself, anthropological approaches to the environment, politics, religion, globalization, and social organization, as well as how the field is different from others that study humans and core theoretical paradigms in the discipline from the last century. (2) Student's knowledge will be assessed through an essay prompt drawn from the core cultural anthropology course. A rubric with indicators that assess levels of proficiency, such as accuracy in describing anthropological concepts and methods, (3) The essay prompt will be administered in the student's final semester to understand how well they have retained knowledge about key topics in anthropological anthropology. The target is for 50% of students to achieve a 4 ("Accomplished," 80%) or better on the essay.

Students will produce writing that is confident and aware of its audience. At all three levels (sentence, paragraph/section, and whole), its organization is logical, rhetorically adept, and where appropriate, thesis-driven. Grammar, syntax, punctuation, and spelling demonstrate a high degree of correctness.

By the end of the program, students will be able to design and implement effective data collection strategies and apply appropriate data analysis techniques to address anthropological research questions. This includes: Data Collection: Demonstrating proficiency in designing research instruments (e.g., surveys, interviews, observational protocols) and collecting reliable and valid qualitative or quantitative data in anthropology. Data Analysis: Applying relevant data analysis techniques, such as statistical methods, thematic analysis, or mixed-methods approaches, to interpret findings and draw meaningful conclusions that inform anthropological research questions.