Program(s): Degree Breadth
Program Coordinator(s): Sean McNabney
Course Leader or Contact: Jaime Ginter
Version: 1.0
Status: Approved (APPR)

Section I Notes: Course code changed September 2012. This was previously SOCS14201GD.

Detailed Description
This course offers an introduction to one of the sub-disciplines of anthropology, physical anthropology (also known as biological anthropology). The study of physical anthropology deals with biological variation and evolution in human populations. The course will attempt to illustrate the interplay of biology and culture in relation to human adaptation and diversity through time. Through a variety of techniques including lecture, discussion, videos, and small group discussion, students will develop an understanding of a wide range of topics and issues such as the evolutionary process, how humans differ from their non-human primate ancestors, basic osteology of hominid traits, fossils, and the relationship between biology and social (cultural) processes in the evolution of humans. Students will also have the opportunity to develop such skills as written and oral communication, analysis, and critical thinking.

Program Context

 By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated the 
ability to describe the fundamental principles of, and the 
relationships between, micro and macro evolution as they relate to 
humans and their hominid ancestors.

To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated 
the ability to:

1.  Differentiate between accurate and inaccurate notions of human
    biological variation and change (evolution).

2.  Discuss the similarities and differences between humans and other
    species, including non-human primates such as monkeys,apes, 
    and gorillas.

3.  Discuss the similarities and differences between modern human 
    beings (homo sapiens) and various human ancestors.

4.  Discuss the roles of, and relationships between, biology and 
    culture in human evolution.

5.  Synthesize the relationship between evolution, natural selection 
    and heredity.

6.  Explain the inter-relationships between processes of 
    macro-evolution.   

   

Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

TESTS:  3 @ 20% = 60%
Eash test is weighted as 20% of your grade.  Tests are a combination
of multiple choice, short essay, and long essay questions.  There is 
a thorough review the week before each test.  See topical outline for 
a schedule of tests.

TAKE-HOME ASSIGNMENTS:  30%
There are two take-home assignments in this course.  The first is 
worth 10%, while the second is worth 20%.  Further information, 
including marking schemes, will be made available to students well 
before the due dates (see topical outline).

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:  10%
In-class assignments are based on summaries that students complete and
submit at the end of each class (excluding week 1 and test weeks).  
Sufficient time at the end of class is reserved for completion of 
summaries.  When completing the summaries, students should review and 
reflect on what they learned from the readings, lecture, discussion, 
and any other in-class activity, with particular attention paid to 
theories, concepts, and debates.  Students are also encouraged to 
pose questions on their summaries.  There are 10 summaries throughout 
the semester, each worth 1%, for a total of 10%.

SEE TEST AND ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL LISTED AT THE END OF THE TOPICAL 
OUTLINE.

Keenleyside, A. & Lazenby, R. 2011.  A Human Voyage:  Exploring 
Biological Anthropology
Nelson

Week 1:  Introduction to the course
- teacher and student introductions
- course learning outcomes
- brief introduction to course content
- Read Chapter 1 for next class

Week 2:  Introduction to Physical Anthropology
- an introduction to human variation and change (evolution)
- questioning old ideas about humans and their world
- early evolutionary ideas
- anthropological approaches to human biological variation (the
  illusion of "race" and biological determinism)
- In-Class Assignment
- Read Chapter 2 for next class

Week 3:  The Development of Evolutionary Theory
- the scientific revolution
- what is/is not evolution
- Charles Darwin's theory of evolution (natural selection)
- what is/is not natural selection
- evolution vs. creation:  the so-called debate
- Discuss 1st take-home assignment
- In-Class Assignment
- Read Chapters 3 and 4 for next class

Week 4:  The Biological Basis of Life and Principles of Heredity
- principles of genetics
- the work of Gregor Mendel (heredity/inheritance)
- Mendelian inheritance in humans
- current issues in genetics: stem cell research
- a synthesis of evolution, natural selection, and   
  heredity/inheritance
- In-Class Assignment
- Review for 1st Test

Week 5:  TEST #1 (CONTENT FROM WEEKS 1-4)
- read chapters 5, 6, and 7 for next class

Week 6:  Living Primates and Early Primate Evolution
- what is a primate?
- primate adaptations and evolution
- human and non-human primates
- why study non-human primates?
- taxonomy (the classification system of life)
- an introduction to macroevolution
- In-Class Assignment
- Read Chapter 8 for next class
- 1st TAKE-HOME ASSIGNMENT DUE NEXT CLASS

Week 7:  Hominid Origins and Evolution
- 1ST TAKE HOME ASSIGNMENT DUE
- what is a hominid?
- characteristics of hominids
- hominid adaptation and evolution
- hominid culture
- In-Class Assignment
- Read Chapter 9 for next class


Week 8:  Hominid Evolution cont'd
- Homo erectus and contemporaries
- video:  "Walking with Cavemen"
- discuss 2nd take-home assignment
- In-Class Assignment
- Read Chapter 10 for next class

Week 9:  Hominid Evolution cont'd
- Neanderthals and other "archaic" Homo sapiens
- video:  "Neadnerthal"
- In-Class Assignment
- Review for 2nd test

Week 10:  TEST #2 (Content from weeks 6-9)
- read Chapter 11 for next class

Week 11:  The Emergence of Homo Sapiens
- the origin and dispersal of Homo sapiens
- In-Class Assignment
- Read Chapter 12 for next week
- 2nd take-home assignment due next week

Week 12:  Human Variation and Change Re-visited
2nd TAKE-HOME ASSIGNMENT DUE
- historical views of human variation
- race and racism
- contemporary interpretations of human variation
- humnan bio-cultural evolution
- the adaptive significance of human variation
- In-Class Assignment
- Read Chapter 14 for next week

Week 13:  The Significance of Physical Anthropology for the Present,
          and the Future
- have humans progressed?
- could the human species become extinct?
- current and future issues in physical anthropology (overpopulation, 
  pollution) and possible solutions
- In-Class Assignment
- Review for 3rd Test

Week 14:  TEST #3 (cumulative)

TEST AND ASSIGNMENT PROTOCOL  
 
To encourage behaviours that will help students to be successful in 
the workplace and to ensure that students receive credit for their 
individual work, the following rules apply to every course offered 
within the School of Community and Liberal Studies.  
            
1. Students are responsible for staying abreast of test dates and 
   times, as well as due dates and any special instructions for 
   submitting assignments and projects as supplied to the class by 
   the professor.
2. Students must write all tests at the specified times. Missed 
   tests, in-class activities, assignments and presentations are
   awarded a mark of zero.  If an extension or make-up opportunity 
   is approved by the professor as outlined below, the mark of zero
   may be revised by subsequent performance.  The penalty for late
   submission of written assignments is a loss of 10% per day for up
   to five business days (excluding weekends and statutory holidays),
   after which, a grade of zero is assigned.  Business days include 
   any day that the college is open for business, whether the student
   has scheduled classes that day or not. 
3. Students, who miss a test or in-class activity or assignment or 
   fail to submit an assignment on time due to exceptional  
   circumstances, are required to notify their professor in advance 
   of the class whenever possible.  A make-up test may be supplied for
   students who provide an acceptable explanation of their absence   
   and/or acceptable documentation explaining their absence (e.g., a 
   medical certificate).  All make-up tests are to be written at a
   time and place specified by the professor upon the student's 
   return.  Alternately, students may be given an opportunity to earn 
   the associated marks by having a subsequent test count for the 
   additional marks.  Exceptional circumstances may result in a 
   modification of due dates for assignments.
4. Unless otherwise specified, assignments and projects must be 
   submitted at the beginning of class. 
5. Students must complete every assignment as an individual effort  
   unless, the professor specifies otherwise.
6. Since there may be instances of grade appeal or questions 
   regarding the timely completion of assignments and/or extent
   of individual effort, etc., students are strongly advised to 
   keep, and make available to their professor, if requested, a copy 
   of all assignments and working notes until the course grade has 
   been finalized.  
7. There will be no resubmission of work unless this has been 
   previously agreed to or suggested by the professor. 
8. Students must submit all assignments in courses with practical lab 
   and field components in order to pass the course.