ANTH 1130 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology
3 Credits
Introduces the biological anthropology field, one of the four sub-fields within anthropology. Sometimes called physical anthropology, biological anthropology is the study of our collective human origins. Students will accomplish this through three main areas: study of biological evolution, including the forces of evolution and cellular biology; comparing primate and human physical and behavioral practices; and by examining hominid evolution from groups beginning four to five million years ago though today as they are shaped by environmental and cultural stimuli. Study will be done through a variety of in class discussions and lectures as well as simulated or dry lab activities. Additionally, students will learn how modern cultural implications impact our evolution and environment today.May be paired with ANTH 1131 to fulfill a lab science requirement.
Major Content Areas
Cellular Biology and Darwinian Evolution.
Primate Comparative Physiology and Behavior.
Hominid Ancestry and Biocultural Issues.
Human Brain and biocultural evolution.
Learning Outcomes
Identify and describe basic cellular biology via cell anatomy, DNA, and protein synthesis.
Define and use key terms and theories associated with current biological anthropological inquiry.
Summarize and explain the essential characteristics and changes that have taken place in hominin evolution, in relation to both environmental and cultural stimuli, over the last four million years.
Critique theories of environmental and cultural impacts on modern human biological evolution.
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC) Goals
10 - People/Environment
03 - Natural Science
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