Anthropology 378 provides a comprehensive introduction to various topics relating to the study of human sexualities from an anthropological disciplinary perspective. Sexuality is one of the most complex dimensions of the human behavioural and cultural mosaic, and its diversity of expression raises many questions about our biology and culture, and how these domains might intersect. This eight-part course addresses a number of these questions using approaches from within the two main sub-disciplines of anthropology; biological and cultural. Throughout the course, you will also engage with materials that analyze and critique the very endeavour to try to “explain” human sexuality, and how various forms of cultural “privilege” can bias our interpretations and acceptance of sexuality in all of its forms. The primary goal of the course is to have you acquire a broad range of knowledge and awareness about human sexuality, how it is studied and critiqued, its diversity across cultures and societies, and also about some of the underlying similarities across all cultures that might say something about our “sexual nature.”
Outline
Unit 1: Perspectives on Sexuality
Unit 2: The Natural History of Gender and Reproduction
Unit 3: Sexualities in Other Cultures
Unit 4: Same-sex Sexualities
Unit 5: Beyond the Binary: Multiple Genders, Intersexed Individuals, and Transsexuals
Unit 6: A Forgotten Plague? HIV and AIDS in Other Cultures
Unit 7: My Body, My Temple: Body Modification and Genital Cutting
Unit 8: What’s Love Got to Do with It? Notions of “Love” and Desire in a Cultural Context
Evaluation
Your final grade in this course will be based on the marks you achieve on three telephone quizzes, two essay assignments, and a final exam.
To receive credit for ANTH 378, you must achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on the final examination, and a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Telephone Quiz 1
5%
Essay Assignment 1
25%
Telephone Quiz 2
5%
Essay Assignment 2
30%
Telephone Quiz 3
5%
Final Exam
30%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Ferber, Abby, Kimberly Holcomb, and Tre Wentling. 2017. Sex, Gender, and Sexuality: The New Basics. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press (Print)
Lancaster, Roger N. 2003. The Trouble with Nature: Sex in Science and Popular Culture. Berkeley: University of California Press. (Print)
Fausto-Sterling, Ann. 2012. Sex/Gender: Biology in a Social World New York/London: Routledge. (Print)
Other materials
The course materials also include a study guide, course information, and reading and video files.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the ANTH 378 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.