Human Evolution: Introduction to Biological Anthropology

Catalog description

This course introduces the concepts, methods of inquiry, and scientific explanations for biological evolution and their application to the human species. It examines the origins of humans and their place in nature. Topics presented include: basic biological and genetic background for understanding human evolution; evolutionary theory; human variation and biocultural adaptations; modes of evolutionary change and how these evolutionary mechanisms operate on contemporary human populations; an understanding of geological history; principles of classification; physical form and behavior of non-human primates; and the archaeological evidence for hominine development and worldwide diffusion.