Introductory Biological Anthropology

Catalog description

ANTH 21 (Introductory Biological Anthropology) is designed to introduce students to the fundamental principles and findings of human evolutionary biology. This course provides an overview of current data and theory related to biological variability among living and past human populations and among the extensive fossils that document human evolution. Through comparisons between humans and other mammals, particularly the living nonhuman primates, this course provides an essential comparative zoological perspective with which we can understand the origins, evolution, and diversity of our species. The course is structured around the theory of evolution, the unifying concept of biological anthropology. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to evolutionary theory as well as to the mechanisms of evolution and their relevance for understanding variation in past and present human populations. The course covers current research and topics in human evolutionary biology including evolutionary theory, natural selection, molecular and population genetics, human variation, human biology, primate diversity and behavior, and the paleontological record of human evolution. This course not only introduces students to the core concepts within the field of Biological Anthropology, but also provides a rich foundation for understanding the human condition from a biological and anthropological perspective. By the end of the course, students will be able to 1) explain the theory of evolution and the mechanisms underlying this process; 2) discuss human variation and human biology within the context of primate diversity and adaptations; 3) describe the major behavioral and morphological trends over the course of human evolutionary history and how they relate to modern human diversity. ANTH 21 is one of three core courses required of majors and minors in the Department of Anthropology and can also be used to fulfill three credits of General Education in the Natural Sciences. The course consists of two lectures and one lab section per week. Lab exercises and hands-on demonstrations help students understand the principles and findings of biological anthropology. Brief written lab exercises foster interactive learning.