ANTH 1500 - Introduction to Anthropology
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 03, CRN 41087,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Matt O'Mansky
Email: meomansky@ysu.edu
Course Description
1500. Introduction to Anthropology. An exploration of what it means to be human from a biological and cultural perspective using archaeology, bioanthropology, and ethnography to trace over four million years of human development. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Anthropology: Appreciating Human Diversity, 19th edition | Conrad Phillip Kottak | 9781266603914 |
Additional Course Materials
At times throughout the semester readings from other sources may be assigned. These readings will be made available on Blackboard and are listed below in the course schedule.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Miner, Horace Mitchell (1956) "Body Ritual among the Nacirema" (on Blackboard); try to read by class on Thur, 8/27 Kottak ch. 1 (pp. 1-17), ch. 2 (pp. 18-23), ch. 3 (pp. 37-41); SKIM pp. 41-55 |
Introduction to the professor and the course Getting your hands dirty: The college experience and opportunities Introduction to the course and the curious case of the Nacirema What is Anthropology? – The four fields Anthropology as a science The Role of Anthropology |
None |
| 8/31 | Kottak ch. 5 (pp. 74-93) | Part I: Biological Anthropology Evolution and Genetics (simplified!) Mechanisms of Evolution |
Discussion post 1 (“Introduce Yourself”) due Sunday, 9/6, 11:59 PM Quiz 1 due Sunday 9/6, 11:59 PM Quiz 2 due Sunday 9/6, 11:59 PM |
| 9/7 | Kottak ch. 7 (pp. 111-131) | A Brief Introduction to the Primates and the First Hominins On the Road to Becoming Us |
Discussion Post 2 (“Anthropology and You”) due Sunday, 9/13, 11:59 PM Quiz 3 due Sunday 9/13, 11:59 PM |
| 9/14 | Kottak ch. 8 (pp. 132-150) | The Australopithecines | Quiz 4 due Sunday 9/20, 11:59 PM |
| 9/21 | Kottak ch. 9 (pp. 151-161) | The Appearance and Early History of Genus Homo | Quiz 5 due Sunday 9/27, 11:59 PM |
| 9/28 | Kottak ch. 9 (pp. 162-173), ch. 10 (pp. 174-179) | Archaic Homo sapiens, The Neandertals, and Anatomically Modern Humans | Exam 1 Thursday 10/1 (in class) Quiz 6 due Sunday 10/4, 11:59 PM |
| 10/5 | Kottak ch. 10 (pp. 179-194) | Part II: Archaeology The Roots of Human Culture: Upper Paleolithic Cave Paintings and Culture |
Quiz 7 due Sunday 10/11, 11:59 PM |
| 10/12 | Kottak ch. 4 (pp. 56-73) | The Nature of Archaeological Inquiry: How do we know the past? | Quiz 8 due Sunday 10/18, 11:59 PM |
| 10/19 | Kottak ch. 17 (pp. 333-354), ch. 11 (pp. 195-215) | Political Organization: From Bands to States The Neolithic Revolution |
Quiz 9 due Sunday 10/25, 11:59 PM NOTE: Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” – Sunday, 10/25 |
| 10/26 | Kottak ch. 12 (pp. 216-240) | The Neolithic Revolution (continued) The Development of Cities and Civilization: How Do States Develop? |
Quiz 10 due Sunday 11/1, 11:59 PM |
| 11/2 | None | Case Study: Tikal Comparing Hunter-Gatherers and Civilization: Advantages and Problems |
Exam 2 Thursday 11/5 [in class] No quiz this week! |
| 11/9 | Kottak ch. 2 (pp. 20-22 [review]), ch. 13 (pp. 241-265) | Part III: Cultural Anthropology Doing Ethnographic Fieldwork Ethics and Ethnographic Research |
Quiz 11 due Sunday 11/15, 11:59 PM |
| 11/16 | Kottak ch. 16 (pp. 310-332) | Making a Living – Adaptive Strategies | Quiz 12 due Sunday 11/22, 11:59 PM |
| 11/23 | Kottak ch. 19 (pp. 377-395); Kottak ch. 20 (pp. 396-414) | Families, Kinship, and Marriage (No classes Thurs. 11/26 Thanksgiving!) |
Quiz 13 due Sunday 11/29, 11:59 PM |
| 11/30 | Kottak ch. 3 (pp. 50 [“Anthropology and Business”] -55), ch. 24 (pp. 481-500) | Us and “The Other” Wrap up and conclusions: What can you do with anthropology, anyway? |
Quiz 14 due Sunday 12/6, 11:59 PM |
| 12/7 | Exam 3 (Date, time, and location of exam to be determined later in consultation with the class due to conflict of scheduled time with Central America faculty-led study abroad trip) |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.