ANTH 110 - Bones, Apes, and Genes: Exploring Biological Anthropology

Description:
Exploration of the field of biological anthropology, including humankind’s evolutionary relationships to other primate forms, the human fossil record, and on-going evolutionary processes impacting on the human species. NS-Patterns and Connections Natural World. Course will be offered every year (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer).

Credits: (5)

Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Consider and discuss how discoveries in and research on human evolution contribute to our lives and our roles as citizens.
Generate and test hypotheses regarding the evolutionary relationships among various fossil hominins (humans), using fossil ages, geographic and ecological locations, and anatomy.
Compare various primate species to explore what is unique to humans and what humans share with other primate species and mammals more broadly.
Describe and analyze the diverse body of evidence that contributes to and informs modern evolutionary theory (e.g., the systems of genetics, behavior, paleoanthropology).
Apply quantitative information to critique evolutionary explanations for characteristics of past and modern hominin (human) populations (e.g., maintenance of balanced hemoglobin polymorphisms in malarial regions-aspects of ecology select for evolution of specific characteristics, evolution of bipedalism).
Discuss human evolution now, considering where our species came from, our species’ features, how we populated earth, and our recent evolutionary challenges.

Learner Outcomes Approval Date:
10/19/17