Anthropology 1 

Course Information (Face to Face Class, CRN 70086) 

Course Description: This course is an introduction to biological anthropology, the subfield of anthropology concerned with how the human species has evolved over time as well as how human populations today are adapted physically and culturally to different environments. In the first part of this course we will cover the theory of evolution and the basics of human genetics. In the second part of the course we will discuss what we can learn from monkeys and apes, our primate relatives. In the third part of the course we will cover fossils and other evidence for human evolution. Finally, in the last part of the course we will discuss how modern humans adapt to various circumstances such as high altitude and extreme cold; in this final part of the course we will also cover the concept of "race" and forensic anthropology.  

Student Learning Outcomes: After you have finished this course you will be able to: (1) define the scope, focus, and subdisciplines of biological anthropology, (2) analyze simple problems in human genetics, (3) identify the biological and environmental factors responsible for modern human variation, (4) compare the morphology, evolution, classification, and behavior of non-human primates, and (5) evaluate the fossil evidence for hominin evolution using the methods and theories of archaeology and paleoanthropology. 

If you want to register for this class please do so in the CCSF online registration system. If the class is full please go onto the wait list. If you want to add after the class has started please use the online registration system on the first day of class to submit a "Class Add Request". I try to allow as many students as possible into the class, but  if you are on the wait list or if you submit an add request there is no guarantee you will be able to take the class. 

Important Dates and Information about Course Requirements

Anthropology 1 starts on August 21 and ends on December 18. There are two midterm exams, and a final exam scheduled for December 18  from 2-4 PM. Course requirements also include 5 exercises or assignments; one of these is done outside of class, but the others are all in-class exercises. The lowest assignment score is automatically dropped from the final grade. 

Syllabus

Schedule of Topics

Week 1: Course introduction + Introduction to anthropology and biological anthropology

Week 2: Theory of evolution + Principles of heredity

Week 3:  LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

Week 4: Heredity and genetics continued + Population genetics

Week 5: Population genetics continued + Processes of evolution

Week 6: Introduction to primates

Week 7: Physical characteristics of primates

Week 8: NO CLASS

Week 9: Primate behavior

Week 10: Introduction to human evolution

Week 11: Fossils, dating, and geological time + Early primate fossils

Week 12: Earliest human ancestors + Early genus Homo

Week 13: Genus Homo continued

Week 14: Neanderthals and Homo sapiens

Week 15: Homo sapiens and Upper Paleolithic culture + Population of Australia and the Americas

Week 16: Human adaptation + Human "races"

Week 17: Forensic anthropology

Week 18: Final exam

Reading

Biological Anthropology: The Natural History of Humankind, 4th edition, by Craig Stanford, John S. Allen and Susan C. Anton, Pearson Publishers, 2017, ISBN 10: 0-13-400569-4 or 13:978-0-13-499569-0. 

Grading: Your final grade is based on your total number of points at the end of the course. Each assignment is worth 20 points, each quiz is worth 25 points, and each forum is worth 15 points. If you have earned 90% or more of the total points you will earn an A, if you have earned 80-89% of the points you will earn a B, 70-79% C, 60-69 % D, and less than 60% F. 

Attendance: If you do not attend class for two weeks you can be dropped from the class. If you are having problems keeping up with the class it's important that you contact me right away.

If you stop attending after the drop deadline I can no longer drop you. Your grade will be "FW" which indicates that you failed the course because you stopped attending. 

A grade of incomplete (I) will be given only if you have missed a specific piece of work after the drop deadline (such as the last assignment). You will need to make up the missing work during the next semester. 

Late Work: If you cannot finish your work on time for some reason please contact me before the deadline or due date so that we can discuss the circumstances and try to make arrangements for you to finish the work. If I don't hear from you before the work is due it is not possible to make up late work. 

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