SHS Core - Understanding Culture, Society and Politics CG
SHS Core - Understanding Culture, Society and Politics CG
SHS Core - Understanding Culture, Society and Politics CG
Subject Title: Understanding Culture, Society and Politics No. of hours/semester: 80 hours
Course Description:
This course uses insights from Anthropology, Political Science, and Sociology to develop students awareness of cultural, social and political dynamics, and
sensitivity to cultural diversity; provide them with an understanding of how culture, human agency, society and politics work; and engage them in the
examination of the
countrys current human development goals. At the end of the course, students should acquire ideas about human cultures, human agency, society and politics;
recognize cultural relativism and social inclusiveness to overcome prejudices; and develop social and cultural competence to guide their interactions with groups,
communities, networks, and institutions.
A. Starting points for the understanding of The learners demonstrate an The learners: The learners:
culture, society, and politics understanding of:
C. Looking back at Human Biocultural and Social 1. the human origins and the Analyze key features of 1. trace the biological and
Evolution capacity for culture interrelationships of biological, cultural cultural evolution of early to
2. the role of culture in and sociopolitical processes in human modern humans
1. Biological and cultural evolution: from Homo human adaptation evolution that can still be used and
habilis (or earlier) to Homo sapiens in the 3. processes of cultural and developed 2. explore the significance of
fossil record sociopolitical human material remains and
evolution artefactual evidence in
2. Cultural and sociopolitical evolution: from interpreting cultural and social,
hunting and gathering to the agricultural, including political and
industrial , and post-industrial revolutions economic, processes
a. The Neolithic Revolution
3. recognize national, local, and
b. Early civilization and the rise of
specialized museums, and
the state
archaeological and historical
c. Democratization
sites as venues to appreciate
and reflect on the complexities
of biocultural and social
evolution as part
of being and becoming
human
D. Becoming a member of society 1. how individuals learn culture 1. identify norms and values to be
1. Enculturation/Socialization and become competent observed in interacting 1. explain the development of
a. Identity formation (identities, members of society with others in society, and the ones self and others as a
disciplines, and aspirations) consequences of ignoring these product of socialization and
b. Norms and values rules enculturation
c. Statuses and roles (e.g. age, gender)
2. Conformity and deviance
2. assess the rules of social
a. Social control (gossip, social
interaction to maintain stability of 2. identify the context, content,
ostracism, laws and punishments)
everyday life and the role of processes, and
b. Forms of deviance (ritualism,
innovation in response to consequences of
retreatism, rebellion, and innovation)
problems and challenges enculturation and
3. Human dignity, rights, and the common
socialization
good
2. how individuals should 3. recognize the value of human 3. Identifies the social goals
behave as part of a political rights and promote the common and the socially acceptable
community good means of achieving these
goals
5. promote protection of
human dignity, rights, and
the common good
E. How society is organized 1. cultural, social, and political 1. analyze aspects of social
1. Groups within society: Primary and institutions as sets of norms organization
Secondary and patterns of behavior that
2. In-groups and out-groups relate to major social 2. identify ones role in social 1. traces kinship ties and social
3. Reference groups interests groups and institutions networks
4. Networks
2. social stratification as the 3. recognize other forms of economic
F. Cultural, social and political institutions ranking of individuals transaction such as sharing, gift
1. Kinship, marriage, and the household according to wealth, power, exchange, and redistribution in
a. Kinship by blood and prestige his/her own society
Descent and marriage
(unilineal, matrilineal, patrilineal, bilateral) 2. describe the organized
b. Kinship by marriage nature of social life and rules
Marriage rules cross-culturally governing behavior
(monogamy vs. polygamy, post-marital
residency rules, referred marriage
partners)
c. Kinship by ritual (Compadrazgo) 3. social and political inequalities
d. Family and the household as features of societies and 3. compare different social
Nuclear, extended, and reconstituted the global forms of social organization
families (separated, transnational) community according to their manifest
e. Politics of kinship (political dynasty, and latent functions
alliances)
i. Productive citizenry
ii. Self-actualization 8. promote primary education
iii. Primary education as a human as a human right
right
6. Religion and belief systems 9. conduct participant
a. Animism observation (e.g., attend,
b. Polytheism describe, and reflect on a
c. Monotheism religious ritual of a different
d. Institutionalized religions group; observe elections
e. Separation of church and state practices)
7. Health
a. Culture-specific syndromes and
illnesses (e.g., bughat, 10. recognize the practice of
usog/buyag) medical pluralism in light of
b. Systems of diagnosis, prevention and cultural diversity and
healing (e.g., traditional, western, relativism
alternative healing systems)
c. Health as a human right
G. Social and political stratification
a. Social desirables (wealth, power, 11. examine stratification from
prestige) the functionalist and conflict
b. Social mobility system perspectives
i. Open (Class)
ii. Closed (Caste)
c. Social inequality 12. identify characteristics of the
i. Access to social, political, and systems of stratification
symbolic capital
ii. Gender inequality
iii. Ethnic minorities
iv. Other minorities (e.g., persons
with disabilities) 13. suggest ways to address
v. Global Inequality (relationships global inequalities
between states and nonstate
actors in the global community)