Program Learning Goals

Undergraduate Learning Goals and Outcomes

Goal 1: Creative and Critical Reasoning

• Demonstrate an understanding of the broad field of anthropology and the types of questions and data used in pursuit of the goals of anthropology.
• Formulate a reasonable question for their own
• Select data and analytical techniques appropriate to the question being
• Demonstrate an understanding of both subjective and objective components for different types of anthropological data, data collection, and data analysis.
• Formulate a reasonable interpretation based on the data and analytical techniques they used.
• Effectively consider how subjective and objective aspects of data identification, collection, and analysis may have shaped their interpretations.

Goal 2: Information and Data Gathering

• Understand the strengths and weaknesses of on-line data and its use.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the different types of traditionally published data and the strengths and weaknesses of such data.
• Adequately cite information and ideas gathered for their research.

Goal 3: Communication Skills

• Write a clear and concise thesis statement defining their research topic.
• Write an adequate contextual statement for their research topic.
• Present a clear statement of their research methods.
• Write a well-reasoned interpretation of their analysis.
• Write a unifying conclusion statement.

Goal 4: Intercultural Perspectives

• Demonstrate an understanding of the character and universality of ethnocentrism.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the strengths and limitations of the concept of cultural
• Demonstrate an understanding of the character and differences between the cultural constructs of race, gender, and ethnicity.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the time frame relevant to the development human biological and cultural diversity.

Goal 5: Knowledge of the Four Fields of Anthropology

• Demonstrate a holistic understanding of the subfields of archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics.
• Demonstrate a broad understanding of human biological, cultural, and linguistic diversity though time and space.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the history of anthropology, theoretical approaches, and current issues across the four subdisciplines of anthropology.
• Demonstrate a familiarity with anthropological literature, datasets, and methodology in at least one subdiscipline.

Undergraduate Resources

Anthropology Club

The WSU Anthropology Club offers students a series of activities designed to bring faculty and students together in informal gatherings that facilitate and expand hands-on learning opportunities and foster greater Anthropological understanding.