Anthropological Sciences 101

ANSC 101
Anthropology of the Human Past

1. Catalog Entry

ANSC 101
Anthropology of the Human Past

Credit hours (3)
    
This course serves as the introduction to the Anthropological Sciences and thus to the biocultural origin and evolution of the human species and human societies worldwide. It includes a survey of human and nonhuman primate evolution and prehistory (including the methods and theories used by anthropologists to illuminate these subjects) and the emergence of fully modern humans in terms of their behavior and culture. The more recent evolution of societies as diverse as small-scale hunter-gatherers to more complex civilizations is also considered in the context of the biocultural factors that have shaped their development. Finally, students will be introduced to the range of modern applications in anthropological sciences, ranging from cultural resource management to forensic investigation. 

Note(s): This course has been approved for credit in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Area of the Core Curriculum. General Education and Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning designated course.

2. Detailed Description of Course

This course will cover such topics as the biological evolution of humans and our nonhuman primate relatives, the cultural evolution of humans since our origin until the development of complex civilizations, the origin and distribution of cultural and biological variation found in human populations throughout time and across geographic space, and the interaction between the biological forces of evolution (genetics, environment, ecology) and the cultural adaptations of human populations.  More specifically this course will cover:
    1) An introduction to the Anthropological Sciences
    2) An introduction to biological evolution and heredity
    3) The interaction of biology and culture in understanding humans past and present
    4) Non-human Primates:
    5) Taxonomy
    6) Behavior
    7) Hominid evolution:
    8) Early hominids
    9) Genus Homo
    10)Modern human origins-
    11)Neandertals, Anatomically Modern Homo sapiens
    12)Upper Paleolithic
    13)The Neolithic: origins of agriculture
    14)Early complex societies:
    15)Old World
    16)New World    
    17)Human variation and adaptation

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

As this will be a 100-level introductory course available to students from many majors and levels (including incoming freshmen), course content will be presented mainly through classroom lectures, readings, discussions, short writing assignments, and audio-visual materials. Whenever possible, current anthropological studies (both popular and professional) will be highlighted to introduce students to the Anthropological Sciences.  Students will be encouraged to apply the discipline to understanding their past as well as solving current and future world problems.
 
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course

This course is designated as R (Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning) Area for the REAL Curriculum and fulfills the learning goal: To apply scientific and quantitative reasoning to questions about the natural world, mathematics, or related areas. Students will fulfill the learning outcomes in this area: apply scientific and quantitative information to test problems and draw conclusions and evaluate the quality of data, methods, or inferences used to generate scientific and quantitative knowledge.

This course may be applied to the REAL Studies Minor in Scientific/Quantitative Reasoning.

Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to:
    1) Explain the origin and development of human biological and cultural variation
    2) Describe and explain the modern distribution of human biological and cultural diversity
    3) Discuss and evaluate competing theories for the long term trends in human biocultural evolution
    4) Discuss the interaction between human populations and the natural world throughout time and space, including
        human adaptation and environmental impacts
    5) Recognize and describe major behavioral science concepts like the culture concept and the impact of our biology
        and culture on the individual and the larger population
    6) Use anthropological methods and theory to explain the origins and development of human social, economic and
        political inequality

5. Assessment Measures

Three assessment measures will be used in this class including exams, quizzes, and short writing assignments.
    1) Quizzes may be used as both a self-assessment measures for the students as well as a way for the instructor to
        gauge student understanding of class materials.  The quizzes will be short and given on a weekly basis.
    2) There will be four exams given during the course of the semester. These exams will be part multiple-choice and part
        written exercises.
    3) Several short writing assignments may be given throughout the semester and will allow students to demonstrate
        mastery of key course concepts.

6. Other Course Information

None.

Review and Approval

June 20, 2015

March 01, 2021