California University of Pennsylvania
Guidelines for New Course Proposals
University Course Syllabus
Approved: 10/19/12
Department of Justice, Law & Society
A.

Protocol
Course Name: Senior Seminar in Anthropology
Course Number: ANT 499
Credits: 3 credits
Prerequisites: Senior standing and permission of the Instructor
Maximum Class Size: 30

B.

Objectives of the Course:
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Identify the discipline goals
2. Enumerate the strengths and weaknesses of Anthropology
3. Identify examples of interdisciplinary research in which Anthropology could make a
significant contribution
4. Make objective decisions regarding professional ethics in the practice of
Anthropology
5. Create a professional vitae for either employment or for graduate school
6. Create a portfolio which demonstrates mastery of the various competencies
enumerated in the program outcomes assessment learning objectives
7. Develop a list of job descriptions in the public and private sectors for which students
with Anthropology degrees could apply

C.

Catalog Description:
All seniors in Anthropology are required to take this course. The senior seminar is an in-depth
examination of issues relevant to the health, vitality, and the practice of Anthropology. Some of
the topics to be discussed include epistemology, paradigms, interdisciplinary research, discipline
goals, professional ethics, publication, and careers.

D.

Outline of the Course:
I. Introduction to the course
A. Goals of the course
II. What does it mean to be an Anthropologist?
A. Focus of research
B. Ethics
III. Goals of Anthropology
A. Diversity
B. Similarity
C. Explanation
IV. Strengths and Weaknesses of Anthropology
A. Holistic
B. Cross-cultural
C. Cultural model
D. Ethnography methods

E. Objectivity issue
V. Interdisciplinary research and Anthropology
A. Holistic approach
B. Multiple avenues for investigating human behavior
VI. Epistemology and paradigms
A. What is epistemology?
B. What is a paradigm?
C. Theory and explanation
D. A short history of theory in anthropology
VII. Professional ethics
A. What to record and why
B. Participant observation issue
C. Ethnocentrism v. relativism
VIII. Creation of a professional vitae
A. Structure of categories
B. Content
C. Issue of audience or target population
IX. Creation of a portfolio
A. What is a portfolio?
B. What to include to demonstrate meeting of program criteria
X. Career tracks
A. Museum
B. Agency
C. Private
D. Academic
E.

Teaching Methodology (face to face or classroom)
A variety of teaching methodologies may be used in teaching this course. They include, but are
not limited to: lectures, PowerPoint images, assigned readings, case studies, multi-media
presentations, group discussions, and guest speakers. Emphasis will be placed on engaging the
learner for involvement and active participation in the learning process.
 

F.

Text
There are no required texts for this course as this is a senior seminar. Reaching will be generated
and assigned on an ad hoc basis, including those listed as sources under the supporting materials.

G.

Assessment Activities (face to face or classroom). Individual instructors may customize
different activities.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

H.

Performance assessment tasks
 
Weekly assignments and reports
 
Exams and/or quizzes
 
Individual/Group projects
 
Case studies
 
Research Reports
 
Article/Book Critiques
 

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities:
• Reserve the right to decide when to self-identify and when to request accommodations.
• Will register with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) each semester to receive
accommodations.
• Might be required to communicate with faculty for accommodations which specifically involve the
faculty.
• Will present the OSD Accommodation Approval Notice to faculty when requesting
accommodations that involve the faculty.
Requests for approval for reasonable accommodations should be directed to the Office for Students with
Disabilities (OSD). Approved accommodations will be recorded on the OSD Accommodation Approval
notice and provided to the student. Students are expected to adhere to OSD procedures for self-identifying,
providing documentation and requesting accommodations in a timely manner.
Contact Information:
• Location:
• Phone:
• Fax:
• Email:
Web Site:
I.

Azorsky Hall – Room 105
(724) 938-5781
(724) 938-4599
osdmail@calu.edu
http://sai.calu.edu/osd

Supportive Instructional Materials, e.g. library materials, web sites, etc.
Cal U Library Subject Page for Anthropology: http://library.calu.edu/anthropology
Includes links for Anthropology-related article index search tools, such as AnthroSource,
SocINDEX, and OneSearch, as well as links to specific (and general) Anthropology
journals.
Cal U Library Subject Page for Forensic Sciences:
http://library.calu.edu/content.php?pid=403748&sid=3305356
Includes links for forensic-science related article index search tools, and links to full-text
electronic journals, such as the Journal of Forensic Sciences, and links to index searches
for the American Journal of Physical Anthropology. It also has easy access to ebooks
owned by the university related to forensic anthropology and related osteological texts.
American Antiquity Journal
American Journal of Archaeology
Current Anthropology Journal
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
There is also a wide assortment of anthropology-related texts available as hard copies and
ebooks.

Additional Information for Course Proposals
J.

Proposed Instructors:
Faculty members in the Department of Justice, Law & Society with the appropriate
background in Anthropology are qualified to teach this course.

K.

Rationale for the Course:
A senior year experience has not been a requirement of graduating students. The purpose
of the course is to provide a forum for self examination and critical discourse which will
position the students for pursuing a career in either the public or private sectors, or for
graduate school.

L.

Specialized Equipment or Supplies Needed:
No specialized equipment or supplies are needed.

M.

Answer the following questions using complete sentences:

N.

1.

Does the course require additional human resources?
This course does not require additional human resources. Qualified faculty within the
Anthropology program will teach this course.

2.

Does the course require additional physical resources?
This course does not require additional physical resources.

3.

Does the course change the requirements in any particular major?
Yes, the course will be a requirement in a revised undergraduate Anthropology
curriculum.

4.

Is the course replace an existing course?
The course does not replace an existing course within the Anthropology curriculum.

5.

How often will the course be taught?
The course will be taught not less than every third semester.

6.

Does the course duplicate an existing course in another Department or College?
No, this course does not duplicate any existing course at California University.

7.

What is the recommended maximum class size for this course?
It is recommended that no more than 25 students may enroll in this class.

If the proposed course includes substantial material that is traditionally taught in another
discipline, you must request a statement of support from the department chair that houses that
discipline.
Anthropology is traditionally taught within the anthropology discipline.

O.

Please identify if you are proposing to have this course considered as a menu course for
General Education. If yes, justify and demonstrate the reasons based on the categories for
General Education. The General Education Committee must consider and approve the course
proposal before consideration by the UCC.

This course has been approved by the General Education Committee as a Special Experience
Course under the revised General Education System (effective Fall 2013). ANT 499 is not a
general education course under the previous system.
P.

Provide Approval Form (electronically).

Additional Guidelines
The following are additional guidelines that you must follow which will expedite your course
proposal. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the return of the proposal to the department.
1.

Be sure that your proposal is in the correct format (Guidelines for New Course Proposals)
and that all questions have been completely answered.

2.

Be sure that you have completed and attached the Application to Establish a New Course
form and/or the Advisement Sheet Revision form and that the appropriate signatures
have been affixed. Please send through the process electronically (the preferred method)
or by paper. No items will be placed on the agenda until the Chair of the UCC is in
possession of these forms.

3.

Be sure that you include an updated advisement sheet for any course that is being
required by the department or is classified as a restricted elective. In addition, you must
include an electronic copy (MS Word or PDF) of the current advisement sheet(s) with
your proposal. Be certain that all advisement sheets affected by the proposed course
change be included with your proposal.

4.

When submitting materials for consideration by the Curriculum Committee, you must
provide an electronic copy of each item to be reviewed to the Chairperson.

5.

All completed items must be in the hands of the Chairperson of the Curriculum
Committee a minimum of one week prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

6.

Any department requesting a course name change, number change, prefix changes, credit
changes, etc. must submit this request on the Application to Establish a New Course
Form and submit electronically.

7.

New advisement sheets, major proposals, minors, or changes to advisement sheets will
become effective the fall semester following committee approval. The advisement
sheets must also include the committee approval date and the effective date on the
advisement page. Submit this request on the Advisement and /or Program Changes
form.

8.

New courses will become effective the semester following committee approval.

9.

Any references listed must be in the appropriate bibliographic format for the discipline.

10.

Online courses must follow the Quality Matters™ rubric and is posted on the UCC
website. Be sure that you include the online teaching methodology statement (refer E.2
above) that refers to the Quality Matters™ rubric.

11.

All course objectives must follow Bloom’s Taxonomy learning domains located on the
UCC website.