ASTR 108 - Astronomy of Indigenous Cultures

Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-B1; Diversity
Exploration of indigenous cultures’ astronomical measurements and theories with emphasis on Native American astronomy. Impacts of racism, sexism, and colonialism on diversity of the U.S. science community are analyzed. Modern astrophysics is compared to pre-telescope indigenous astronomy and cosmology.

Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely On-ground, or Entirely Online.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Breadth Area(s) Satisfied: GE-B1 - Lower Division Physical Science, Overlay - Diversity
Course Typically Offered: Spring Only

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Appreciate of the sophisticated and complex astronomical measurements carried out by diverse indigenous cultures and how these relate to modern scientific methods;
Demonstrate an understanding of modern astronomy and cosmology and compare and contrast modern views with ideas of indigenous cultures developed before the invention of the telescope;
Apply mathematical techniques such as order-of-magnitude estimation and data analysis methods to make astronomical predictions and calculations;
Understand how racism, sexism, and colonialism have adversely impacted the diversity of the U.S. science community and the progress of astronomy.

B1. Physical Science Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate knowledge of scientific theories, concepts, and data about the physical sciences;
demonstrate an understanding of scientific practices, including the scientific method; and
describe the potential limits of scientific endeavors, including the accepted standards and ethics associated with scientific inquiry.

Diversity Overlay Learning Outcomes

describe the histories and/or experiences of one or more U. S. cultural groups and the resilience and agency of group members;
identify structures of oppression and the diverse efforts and strategies used by groups to combat the effects of oppressive structures;
analyze the intersection of the categories of race and gender as they affect cultural group members’ lived realities and/or as they are embodied in personal and collective identities;
recognize the way that multiple differences (including, for example, gender, class, sexuality, religion, disability, immigration status, gender expression, color/phenotype, racial mixture, linguistic expression, and/or age) within cultural groups complicate individual and group identities.