Program Purpose and Description
Mission and Goals
Members of the Anthropology Department believe that an academic department is a scholarly community formed by faculty, staff and students that creates an environment of learning for all. Key elements to this environment are excellence in both teaching and research, each invigorating the other.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Anthropology
For our undergraduate majors the educational goals of the Anthropology Department are to (1) provide the highest quality undergraduate education possible in the subdisciplines of Anthropology (cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology), (2) instill an awareness in students that human existence is the result of a long and diverse history of interacting biology and behavior, and (3) provide students with an understanding of cultural diversity and the importance of cultural and linguistic relativism in achieving a fulfilled life within a diverse cultural society. These goals are achieved through required core courses, a variety of advanced electives, a senior level capstone course, project-based laboratory and field-trip experiences, workshops, in- and out-of-country field schools, career development through advising, internships, and team-building and leadership opportunities available by joining Anthropology Department student organizations.
Master of Arts in Anthropology
For all graduate majors the educational goals of the department are to (1) give students the highest quality graduate-level education possible, (2) provide students interested in continuing their graduate education in Anthropology at the Ph.D. level the appropriate basis to successfully compete for entrance into top-tier programs, (3) provide students interested in nonacademic careers that require, or are facilitated by, an advanced degree in Anthropology the education, tools and training necessary to secure employment, and (4) produce professional, ethical, and productive graduates. The graduate curriculum, fieldwork opportunities, laboratories, and research centers provide an excellent foundation for student research, grant writing experience, and numerous training and educational activities.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Undergraduate Anthropology Program Learning Outcomes
Outcome Number 1: Anthropology majors in selected sections of the required course “Cultural Anthropology” will be able to describe the four subfields of Anthropology and demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts and methods of cultural anthropology such as cultural relativism, ethnocentrism, and participant observation.
Outcome Number 2: Anthropology majors in selected sections of the required course “General Archaeology” will demonstrate an understanding of history, fundamental concepts, and theory in archaeology, and be able to apply the methods used in archaeology to classify ancient artifacts.
Outcome Number 3: Anthropology majors in selected sections of the required course “Biological Anthropology” will demonstrate an understanding of modern evolutionary theory, the forces of evolution, and evolutionary change in relation to human evolution.
Outcome Number 4: Anthropology majors will gain hands-on experience in either the application of anthropological methods in a techniques course or in the application of key anthropological concepts to a work setting through participation in the internship program.
Outcome Number 5: Anthropology majors will demonstrate their command of theories used in one of the four subfields of Anthropology (archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, or linguistic anthropology).
Graduate Anthropology Program Learning Outcomes
Outcome Number 1: Anthropology MA students must demonstrate advanced mastery of method and theory in the foundation courses of Cultural Anthropology, Archaeology, and Biological Anthropology.
Outcome Number 2: Anthropology MA students will be evaluated on their ability to identify and apply correct statistical tests needed for assigned datasets and on their ability to construct and determine null and alternate hypotheses in the class “Anthropological Statistics”.
Outcome Number 3: Anthropology MA students will demonstrate an understanding of relevant literature in their area of thesis specialization.
Outcome Number 4: Anthropology MA students will demonstrate their ability to design and implement their thesis topic.
Outcome Number 5: Anthropology MA students will demonstrate their ability to communicate their thesis research.
From: http://www.txstate.edu/anthropology/about/learning-outcomes
