CONTEMPORARY PRACTICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(ANTH 201)
Dr. Kenneth Brook
( brookk@mail.montclair.edu  )

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE

The course emphasizes the uses of anthropology by stressing the skills and knowledge needed for the development of practical solutions to current problems. Special attention is placed on: policy decision-making, community development, cultural resource management, advocacy and social impact assessment.

STATEMENT OF BASIC OBJECTIVES

The principal objectives of this course are:

A. To acquaint students with the applications of anthropology theory and insights in contemporary affairs, and to the variety of contexts within which practicing anthropologists function - e.g., community development programs, state and federal government agencies, helping professions, international assistance programs, business and industry, historical reconstruction, contract archaeology.

B. To provide an overview of the interplay between theory and application. What is there in the science of anthropology that is relevant to the resolution of contemporary human problems?

C. To familiarize the student with the kinds of applied anthropology (e.g., applied ethnography, action anthropology, community development, community advocacy, cultural brokerage) and their implications.

D. To introduce students to the qualitative and quantitative methodologies used by practicing anthropologists.

E. To educate students about career opportunities in applied anthropology.

COURSE OUTLINE

A. Nature of Practicing Anthropology

l. Anthropology and its applications
2. Styles of work in applied anthropology
3. Research and practice

B. Specialized Domains in Applied Anthropology

l. Community Development
2. The Helping Professions
3. Third World Development Programs
4. Government
5. International Business
6. Historical Reconstruction
7. Contract Archaeology

C. Applied Anthropology and Public Policy

l. Nature of policy decision-making
2. Stages of policy decision-making
3. Anthropology and American public policy

D. Types of Applied Research

l. Differences between academic and applied research
2. Varieties of applied social research

a. Social accounting (e.g., need assessment, resource management)
b. Evaluation
c. Social and cultural forecasting (e.g., social and cultural impact assessment)

3. Applied Ethnography

E. Being an Applied Anthropologist

l. Career opportunities in applied anthropology
2. Training for applied anthropology
3. Professional ethics

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION OF THE COURSE

Grades will be based upon two examinations to demonstrate comprehension of class lectures and assigned readings. In addition, students will write two evaluations of field reports written by applied anthropologists.

OFFICE HOURS

Please feel free to see me during my office hours which are Mondays 11-1150, Wednesdays 2-250, and Thursdays 3-350, or by appointment - Dickson Hall room 406.

REQUIRED READINGS

Podolesfsky, Aaron and Peter Brown, eds.
1991 Applying Cultural Anthropology. Mountain View, California: Mayfield Publishing Company.

Van Willigen, John, Barbara Rylko-Bauer and Ann McElroy, eds.
1989 Making Our Research Useful. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.

Wulff, Robert and Shirley Fiske, eds.
1987 Anthropological Praxis. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.

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