ANTHROPOLOGY 101 (Section 1 and 2)

Introduction to Biological Anthropology

Summer 2005 (meets June 6 through July 6/7)

Description | Objectives | Required Textbook | GE | What to Expect | Grading | Class Policies | Schedule | Download Syllabus | Class  Materials

 

Instructor:  Dr. Barbra Erickson

Class Meetings:  (Section 1) M-T-W-R 10:30 am to 12:40 pm, McCarthy Hall 428

                               (Section 2)  M-T-W 6:00 pm to 8:50 pm, McCarthy Hall 428

Office:  MH 426-D    

Office Phone:  (714) 278-5697     

Office Hours:  M-W 1-2 pm, 5-6 pm and by appointment

Email: beerickson@fullerton.edu

 

Course Description:

This course introduces students to the field of biological anthropology, that branch of Anthropology which focuses on the evolutionary history of Homo sapiens, and the variation and diversity among modern humans.  Lab exercises will provide you with an opportunity to interact with fellow students, while giving you hands-on experience looking at fossil casts, using anthropometric tools, analyzing fingerprints, and calculating the genetic variability of your class based on a set of inherited traits.

Note:  You will need a calculator for some of the labs and homework which involve using basic mathematical formulas.

 

Course Objectives:

Students should acquire a basic understanding of the following major topical areas:

 

Required Textbook:

Biological Anthropology: a Synthetic Approach to Human Evolution (2nd edition), Boaz and Almquist, 2002.

 

General Education:

This course fulfills General Education category III.A.3 (Implications and Explorations in Mathematics and Natural Sciences).  It addresses the following general education goals of the University:

 

What to Expect:

This summer course is 5 weeks long.  There will be a test given on the Monday of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks, each covering only material from the previous week.  For example, Test #1, given on the Monday of Week 2, covers only the work from Week 1.  There will also be a final test given on the last day of class which will cover Weeks 4 and 5 and the human skeleton.  You will need a Scantron (882-E) for each exam.

 

There will be several in-class exercises for which you will work in pairs or groups for various activities. Two of these in-class exercises are Labs which require you to write up your findings (worksheets will be provided).  You will also have 3 sets of homework problems and/or terms to define. 

 

Grading:  Based on percentage of points earned.                                                                    

                                                                                   

Exams (3):                    150 points                   92 to 100 %  =  A        77 to 78% = C+

Final:                               75 points                   89 to  91%    =  A-      72 to 76% = C

Homework (3):    45 points                   87 to  88%    =  B+     69 to 71% = C-

Lab Write-ups (2):           50 points                   82 to  86%    =  B        60 to 68% = D

Total Possible:              320 points                    79 to  81%    =  B-       Below 60%  = F

 

 

Class Policies:

 

Attendance / Punctuality / Classroom courtesy

Your attendance is expected, and it is particularly important in a summer session where a great deal of material is covered quickly. Lectures and class discussions are designed to complement reading assignments; both are necessary for your success in this course.  Please make every effort to arrive on time, as late arrivals are disruptive. Please turn off your cell phones before coming to class.

 

Assignments / Extra credit

Assignments are due on the date specified in the syllabus, and will not be accepted late.  One extra credit assignment may be done for a maximum of 15 points (to be discussed in class).  Extra credit papers may be turned in at any time, but will not be accepted after the day of the final exam.

 

Make up Exams / Special needs

You must notify me prior to the exam if you are going to miss an exam.  A makeup exam is not automatically given; a makeup MAY be allowed for a valid reason.  If allowed, it must be taken no later than the Wednesday of that week. The final exam is required.  Please discuss with me any potential schedule conflicts that you are aware of, well in advance.  If you need special services or accommodations for test-taking, please notify me in advance so that arrangements may be made.

 

Handouts

Syllabus, directions for extra credit, lab write-up forms, and some supplementary materials will be available on the Anthropology Department Homepage at the website below.  Once there, simply select the course (Anthropology 101) and the instructor (Erickson).  This connects you to the syllabus; scroll to the end for the extra materials.  http://anthro.fullerton.edu/AnthroCourses.htm

 

Academic honesty

The academic integrity policies of the University will be strictly enforced.  Please consult the Student Handbook for details.  Cheating of any kind will result in an automatic F for that assignment, and may result in an F for the course.

 

Schedule     [Reminder: Day class meets MTWR, Night class meets MTW]

 

Week 1           Introduction to the course, paradigms and language of biological anthropology.

6/6 – 6/9          Natural selection, evolutionary theory, Mendelian inheritance, cells, DNA.

 

Homework #1: Genetics, cell, DNA, natural selection [DUE Monday 6/13]

 

§         Read:  Chapters 1, 2, 3

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Week 2           Monday 6/13: Test #1, beginning of class (Week 1 readings)

6/13 -6/16     Population genetics, vertebrate evolution, primate evolution.

 

                        Lab exercise #1: Population genetics [DUE Monday 6/20]

 

§         Read: Chapters 4, 5, 6

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Week 3           Monday 6/20: Test #2, beginning of class (Week 2 readings)

6/20 – 6/23    The Primate Order; primate social behavior.

                        Homework # 2: the living primates [DUE Monday 6/27]

 

§         Readings: Chapters 7, 8, 9 [pp. 225-228 only], 13 [pp. 348-362 only]

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Week 4           Monday 6/27: Test #3, beginning of class (Week 3 readings)

6/27 – 6/30    Hominids, australopithecines, genus Homo, tool & language development, Homo sapiens

 

                        Lab exercise #2: Human skeleton, fossil casts [DUE on day of Final]

                        Homework #3:  Human fossil record, human adaptability [DUE on day of Final]

 

§         Read: Chapters 10, 11, 12

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                        **Monday, July 4 = HOLIDAY**

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Week 5           Human biology & variation, growth & adaptability, evolutionary medicine, applied

7/4 – 7/7        biological anthropology

 

§         Readings:  Chapters 14, 15, 16

 

FINAL [Test #4]: Wednesday 7/6 [night class] or Thursday 7/7 [day class]

           

***Last chance to turn in extra credit assignment***

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Download syllabus Microsoft Word (.doc) file. If you do not have Word, please use the Word Viewer

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Link to the additional materials: