Cultures of Knowledge Orgns

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This course introduces students to the theory of culture established by thought leaders such as Hofstadter, Schein, Dennison and Lewis. Students learn and apply the five layers of culture - assumptions, beliefs, values, behaviors and artifacts – to real world cultures, including the cultures of music, film, science, military, sports, politics, health, diplomacy, and fashion. The course bridges existing gaps between cultural theory and everyday cultural competence and intelligence. Students also explore the effects that non-human agents (e.g. artificial intelligence and other digital media) have on human cultures? How might ‘value- and ethically incompetent’ actors affect our ability to frame and make decisions? How might intelligent non-human actors affect our ability to judge right from wrong? How might intelligent non-human actors integrate into different human cultures? Students explore cultural intelligence and competence using two methodologies: (1) examination of individual and collective cultures using established assessment instruments (e.g. CultureActive, Culture Values Profile, KLC Profile); and (2) after action reviews of intercultural experiences based on emerging qualitative research. The course translates theory from anthropology, archeology, sociology and knowledge sciences for practical application in knowledge societies and economies.