Human Origins (213-0-1)
Instructors
Erin Beth Waxenbaum Dennison
847/491-4818
1810 Hinman Ave., Room #A54A, EV Campus
Waxenbaum is a physical anthropologist and skeletal biologist specializing in human evolutionary biology, variation as well as human growth and development. She is also trained as a forensic anthropologist and currently serves as the Forensic Anthropologist for Cook, DuPage, McHenry and Champaign Counties.
Meeting Info
Harris Hall 107: Mon, Wed, Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM
Overview of class
Anthropology is a holistic analysis of the human condition. The study of human origins, or paleoanthropology, is a subfield of physical anthropology that focuses on the biological history of the human species including their evolution, emergence, and radiation. We will explore the scientific method and how theories like evolution have come about and expanded over time. We will learn about our closest living relatives - primates - and how an appreciation of their life history and behavior reflects the modern human condition. Many of the principles and concepts that comprise our understanding of how humans have evolved and adapted over time involve an appreciation of ecology, genetics, physiology, adaptation, and cultural development that will also be explored. Lastly, we will look at modern human diversity and discuss how we are continuing to evolve today.
Learning Objectives
After successful completion of this course, students should be able to: • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding the process of natural selection and how it relates to changes to and the development of the natural world, including the evolution of the human species, evolutionary theory, and research approaches relevant to biological anthropology • Discuss and address hypotheses related to human evolution and natural selection and test the skills necessary to acquire, analyze, and interpret scientific data to test and revise hypotheses • Appreciate the implications, utility, and limitations of scientific inquiry, both within the context of biological anthropology, evolution, and genetics and more broadly for other areas of scientific inquiry • Articulate the scientific process and the significance of scientific advances in biological anthropology, in written and/or oral form
Class Materials (Required)
Introduction to Physical Anthropology by Jurmain, Kilgore, Trevathan & Ciochon (15th/2018 Edition). Earlier editions have very different organization, missing content and are not recommended. ISBN: 978-1337099820
Class Attributes
Natural Sciences Foundational Discipline
Natural Sciences Distro Area
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Pre-Registration -- Reserved for Anthropology majors and minors until the end of preregistration, after which time enrollment will be open to everyone.