Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	09/15/2020
Top Code	220200 - Anthropology
Units	3 Total Units
Hours	54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours	0
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S),  Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)	GWC Soc, Pol, Econ (GD)
Diversity Requirement (GCD)	Yes
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)	Cal-GETC 4 Social & Behavioral Sciences (4) Cal-GETC 4A Anthropology (4A)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)	IGETC 4 Social&Behavioral Sci (4) IGETC 4A Anthropology (4A)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)	CSU D1 Anthropology (D1)

Course Description

This course is a cross-cultural, holistic overview of magic, witchcraft and religion from past and present societies around the world. Students will identify and compare a variety of supernatural beliefs and practices within the context of theoretical perspectives in anthropology. Practical influences on social and political systems, as well as biological and psychological impacts, will be explored. Special topics include mythology, symbolism, rituals, shamanism, magic, witchcraft, gods, spirits, the afterlife, cults, world religions, and contemporary religious movements. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Course Outcomes
2. Differentiate between shamans, priests, healers, diviners, and other religious specialists.
3. Describe the various concepts of witchcraft in small-scale and Euro-American societies in both historic and modern contexts.
4. Explain the anthropological perspective and theoretical approaches towards the analysis of supernatural beliefs and practices.
5. Identify common themes in myths and religious symbolism.

Course Objectives

• 1. Differentiate between magic, witchcraft, and religion.
• 2. Identify the roles and functions of religious practitioners.
• 3. Describe the functions of ritualism and symbolism.
• 4. Describe the cross-cultural connections between sociopolitical organization and supernatural beliefs and practices.
• 5. Recognize, analyze, and evaluate religious change.

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Lecture Content

Anthropological study of religion   Anthropological perspective Holistic approach Cultural relativism Concept of culture Study of religion Various definitions of religion Theoretical approaches to the study of religion Biological basis of religious behavior Mythology Nature of myths Worldviews, supernatural stories, and oral texts Understanding myths Approaches to the analysis of myths Common themes in myths Religious symbols Defining symbols Sacred art, time, and space Symbolism of music and dance Ritual Basics of ritual performance Survey of rituals Technological rituals Social rites of intensification Therapy rituals and healing Rites of passage Alterations of the human body Pilgrimages Religious obligations Altered states of consciousness Nature of altered states of consciousness Entering an altered state Biological basis of altered states of consciousness Ethnographic examples of altered states of consciousness Drug-induced altered states of consciousness Religious specialists Shamans Priests Other specialists Healers Diviners Prophets Magic and divination Nature and rules of magic Magic in society Ethnographic examples Divination Forms and examples of divination Astrology Oracles Magic behavior and the human mind Magical thinki ng Efficacy of magic Souls, ghosts, and death Variation in the concept of souls, ancestors, and the afterlife Bodies and souls Variation in the concept of ghosts and the living dead Death rituals Funeral rituals Disposal of the body Gods and spirits Variation in the concept of spirits Gods Types of gods Gods and society Monotheism Witchcraft Witchcraft in small-scale societies Ethnographic examples Euro-American witchcraft beliefs Pagan religions Historical Modern Adaptation and change Revitalization movements Neo-Paganism High demand religions Cults Religion, conflict, and peace Role of religion in conflict Fundamentalism Case studies of religion and conflict Religion, conflict, and terrorism Religion and peace

Method(s) of Instruction

• Lecture (02)
• DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
• DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

Lecture, seminar, and/or guest speakers. Assigned readings, select videos, classroom discussions, group activities, individual projects, and/or critical thinking written assignments.

Reading Assignments

Course textbooks, assigned journal articles, and/or relevant news articles.

Writing Assignments

Critical thinking short answer essay questions, research papers, and/or write-ups of interviews/assigned activities.

Out-of-class Assignments

Assigned readings, research paper/projects, quizzes/exams, discussion forums, interviews/activities, and/or critical thinking writing assignments.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Students will be required to contextualize information from the course into complex social and cultural dynamics, analyze key concepts, compare and contrast theorotical viewpoints, and write critical thinking assignments.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will compete critical thinking written assignments and/or other methods of assessment on topics related to the course.

Eligible Disciplines

Anthropology: Masters degree in anthropology or archaeology OR bachelors degree in either of the above AND masters degree in sociology, biological sciences, forensic sciences, genetics or paleontology OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Stein, R., Stein, P. Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft, 4th ed. New York: Routledge, 2017 Rationale: x