Anthropology - Elementary

Department of Anthropology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

The Anthropology Department offers a combined major in accordance with the Woodring College of Education requirements. Anthropology is particularly valuable for teachers, because it provides a broad understanding of human behavior. Teachers often work with students of various cultural backgrounds and an awareness of specific cultural learning influences, attitudes, motivations, and patterns of interaction is an integral part of working effectively and respectfully in diverse communities. This is the basis of the core subjects in cultural anthropology.

This major satisfies the academic major requirement for teacher certification with an endorsement in elementary education and must be accompanied by the professional preparation program in Elementary Education offered through Woodring College of Education.

Through the required basic courses in Anthropology, education majors will acquire an understanding of the nature of human beings, the evolution of the human species and the tremendous variation of cultural traits that are both our heritage and potential. Through faculty advisement, prospective students will be informed of advanced coursework that are beneficial combinations to complete individual academic goals. One possible emphasis is the culture of the Native American Indians–a subject that most elementary teacher cover at some point in their curriculum. Another emphasis may be cultural minority groups in the Pacific Northwest. The relationship of cultural learning to personality development and the relationship of cultural expectations to the learning process itself are other important areas covered by courses which may be taken as part of the Anthropology Education Major.