Faculty of Arts
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Anthropology (General)
Introduction to Anthropology (OpenStax)
Available through OpenStax, this peer-reviewed textbook introduces students to biological, cultural, and linguistic anthropology, and archaeology. As an OpenStax book it includes many instructor resources.
Includes: Learning outcomes, key terms, summaries, critical thinking questions, instructor’s manual, slides, test bank
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Biological Anthropology
Biological Anthropology (LibreTexts)
Available through LibreTexts, this resource covers introductory biological anthropology concepts, including evolution theory, non-human primates, and human evolution.
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology
A comprehensive, peer-reviewed open access textbook for biological anthropology courses.
Includes: Special topics, review questions, key terms
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
Social and Cultural Anthropology
The Art of Being Human: A Textbook for Cultural Anthropology
This Anthropology textbook has been positively reviewed. It covers introductory concepts in cultural anthropology.
Includes: Challenges
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Reviews: Available through the Open Textbook Library
Cultural Anthropology (LibreTexts)
Based on the Lumen Learning course of the same title, this LibreTexts resource offers an introduction to the study of human cultures, their beliefs, practices, values, ideas, technologies, economies and other domains of social and cognitive organization through first-hand experience or participant observation within living populations of humans.
Includes: Key terms and concepts
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
How Language Works (Gasser) (LibreTexts)
This LibreTexts resource looks at a range of introductory topics and themes related to linguistics, the science of language. It examines some of the biases we all have concerning language and uses this as a base for its exploration.
Includes: exercises, instructor and student resources.
Licence: GPL v3
Languages and Worldview
Asking and answering questions about what culture entails and examines the fundamental properties and intertwining nature of language and culture. This text explores linguistic relativity, lexical differences among languages and intercultural communication, including high and low contexts.
Includes: Videos, transcripts, and exercises
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Reviews: Available through the Open Textbook Library
Perspectives: An Open Invitation to Cultural Anthropology, 2nd Edition
This peer-reviewed textbook is a collection of chapters on the essential topics in cultural anthropology. Each author has written from their experiences working as an anthropologist and that personal touch makes for an accessible introduction to cultural anthropology.
Includes: Learning objectives, discussion questions, and glossary
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
Reviews: Available through the Open Textbook Library
Archaeology
Digging into Archaeology: A Brief OER Introduction to Archaeology with Activities
This book is intended for use in a variety of introductory archaeology settings, such as in lectures and lab courses. This text can complement an existing traditional text or completely replace a standard text. It can be used for its activities or as a study resource.
Includes: Activities, study questions
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
eHRAF Workbook: Introduction to Archaeology
Designed to complement any introductory textbook or anthropology curriculum, eHRAF Workbook activities are presented as PowerPoint slideshows that instructors can modify, share, and upload.
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Introduction to Archaeology: A Workbook
Introduction to Archaeology: A Workbook, is designed to assist students in a Intro to Archaeology course by giving them questions and assignments to reinforce what is learned in the classroom lectures.
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Introduction to Human Osteology
This text was designed for use in the human osteology laboratory classroom. Bones are described to aid in identification of skeletonized remains in either an archaeological or forensic anthropology setting. Basic techniques for siding, aging, sexing, and stature estimation are described. Both images of bone and drawings are included which may be used for study purposes outside of the classroom. The text represents work that has been developed over more than 30 years by its various authors and is meant to present students with the basic analytical tools for the study of human osteology (Description from resource).
Includes: Glossary
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
Reviews: Available through the Open Textbook Library
Development Studies
IDRC Books Collection
IDRC (International Development Research Centre) is committed to improving lives and livelihoods by supporting research that addresses critical international development issues. One of the important ways that IDRC and our grantees help to bring about positive change is through our book publishing program, where we share our research results and findings with other researchers, policymakers, and communities globally. Explore the book collection from the last 25 years below, all free for digital download. Hundreds more IDRC books, published from the 1970s to the 1990s, are available through the IDRC Digital Library.
Licence: CC BY
Immigrant and Refugee Families, 2nd Edition: Global Perspectives on Displacement and Resettlement Experiences
This book offers an interdisciplinary perspective on immigrant and refugee families’ challenges and resilience across multiple domains, including economic, political, health, and human rights. This new edition has been revised and updated from the original 2016 edition.
Licence: CC BY-NC
International Relations
As a ‘Day 0’ beginner’s guide, this textbook condenses the most important information into the smallest space and present concepts in an accessible way. The chapters build up the foundations for understanding how the world works and then explore the key global issues that concern the discipline – taking readers from no knowledge to competency.
Licence: CC BY
International Relations Theory
This book is designed as a foundational entry point to International Relations theory. Each chapter sets out the basics of a theory whilst also applying it to a real-world event or issue, creating a lively, readable and relevant guide that will help students to see not only what theories are – but why they matter.
Licence: CC BY
Language and Culture in Context: A Primer on Intercultural Communication
This text introduces some of the key concepts in intercultural communication as traditionally presented in (North American) courses and textbooks, namely the study of differences between cultures, as represented in the works and theories of Edward Hall and Geert Hofstede. Common to these approaches is the prominence of context, leading to a view of human interactions as dynamic and changeable, given the complexity of language and culture, as human agents interact with their environments.
Licence: CC BY-NC
Putting Knowledge to Work: Collaborating, Influencing and Learning for International Development
Dramatic changes in the ecosystem for international development are now pressing civil society organizations (CSOs) to invest more in knowledge to remain significant players. While the need for creative thinking and experimentation is greater than ever, there is still very little research published on challenges experienced and solutions found by CSOs as they adjust to the global changes underway. Funders and beneficiaries are pressing CSOs to be more professional and efficient, and more strategic and impactful, but the key role that knowledge plays in the efforts of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) remains often underrated, even by NGOs themselves. Putting Knowledge to Work explores how the brains of such organizations actually function to deliver outcomes and impacts. Upstream from end results themselves, the book examines how CSOs access, generate, apply, and grow their intelligence, knowledge, and know-how to protect children, improve public security, reduce ethnic discrimination, grow local value chains, expand water resources, and generally make our societies more inclusive and just. How do CSOs obtain the knowledge they need to accomplish these tasks? How do they cooperate with other organizations to produce workable knowledge? And how do they learn from practice to increase their impact? This book should be read by students and researchers in the field of international development, and those who work at CSOs, in government, and for philanthropic organizations.
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Rethinking Canadian Aid, Second Edition
This revised edition not only analyzes Canada’s past development assistance, it also highlights important new opportunities in the context of the recent change in government. Designed to reach a variety of audiences, contributions by twenty scholars and experts in the field offer an incisive examination of Canada’s record and initiatives in Canadian foreign aid, including its relatively recent emphasis on maternal and child health and on the extractive sector, as well as the longer-term engagement with state fragility. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Canada’s changing role in the world. (Description from UO Press)
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
SDG Toolkit for Canadian Colleges and Institute
This guide identifies emerging practices in post-secondary settings across Canada that integrate the SDGs explicitly and curates a selection of these into an Open Educational Resource (OER) toolkit and guide to the SDGs for Canadian colleges and institutes.
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA
No suggested OER currently available for the following subject: African Studies
Please refer to the Libraries and Cultural Resources (LCR) Staff Directory to connect with a librarian supporting this subject area.
Know of an open educational resource (OER) not listed?
Contact us at oer@ucalgary.ca.
Already using an OER? Have you adapted or created an OER?
Let us know by completing the OER Adoption and Creation Sharing Form