Department of Anthropology


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S/ANTH 105: Introduction to Physical Anthropology
Fall Semester 2004

Instructor: Barbara Welker Office: Fraser 118
Telephone: 245-5204 email: welker@geneseo.edu Office hours: Tues. & Thur. 5-6:30

Course description:
This course follows a lecture format and will serve you as an introduction to physical anthropology, i.e. the study of humans as biological organisms. We will explore relevant theories and methodologies utilized in this field. Topics to be covered are human genetics, evolution, variation, and growth and development, as well as primate evolution and behavior.
Intended learning outcomes:
Note: This course fulfills one course in the social science general education requirements. The guidelines for social science core courses stress the development of the following characteristics of a responsible member of society:
1. an acquaintance with major empirical, analytical, or theoretical approaches to human behavior, institutions, or culture;
2. an acquaintance with social, economic, political, or moral alternatives;
3. an acquaintance with major problems, issues, institutions, practices, or trends in the social world;
4. a capacity to express ideas clearly, coherently, and grammatically in written form as one component of the evaluation process. This written work must total at least 1500 words, at least half of which must be prepared outside of class.

Course objectives:
1. Students will gain an understanding of humans as biological organisms. They will demonstrate their knowledge of human genetics, evolution, variation, and growth and development, as well as primate evolution and behavior by successfully completing three in-class exams.
2. Students will learn about environmental influences on human growth and development via readings and participation/presentation in a workshop on children's physical and mental health and development in three Third World settings.
3. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of human evolution to their classmates via their participation in the assigned study group and discussion.
4. Students will demonstrate critical thinking and the ability to express themselves correctly and coherently by the completion of assigned essay sets and several short essay questions on the three exams.
5. Students will gain experience in research design and analysis via group projects that examine some aspect of human variation. They will present their results to the class thereby improving their oral presentation skills and contributing to the group’s appreciation of variation within their own population.
Textbook (Available at Bookstore):
Jurmain RH et al. 2003. Introduction to Physical Anthropology, 9th ed. Wadsworth Publishing Co.
Peregrine PN et al. 2002. Physical anthropology: Original readings in method and practice. NJ: Pearson
Education, Inc.
Course requirements: 3 exams @ 30% each
5 essay sets @ 5% total
Workshop/project participation @ 5% total
Exams consist of multiple choice and short answer/essay questions and are non-cumulative.
Essay Questions will draw on material from lectures and readings. They will be posted to my “INBOX” and can be accessed using the directions below. They must be typed and double-spaced using 12 font size. They will be graded primarily on content with some consideration of grammar. Therefore, you should be sure to read them over carefully and make corrections prior to submission.
http://boxes.geneseo.edu
1. click on Anthropology then click on Welker
2. find appropriate file that corresponds to dates they are due…see below
Eres password: anthropology
Please note: SUNY Geneseo will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented physical, emotional or learning disabilities. Students should consult with the Director in the Office of Disability Services (Tabitha Buggie-Hunt, 105D Erwin, tbuggieh@geneseo.edu) and their individual faculty regarding any needed
accommodations as early as possible in the semester.
Reading assignment number’s refer to text chapters / Roman numerals are from Peregrine
Week Date Lecture Topic Reading Assignments
1 8/30 Introduction 1
9/1 Human skeleton XVI
9/3 No Class
2 9/6 Hurray, it’s Labor Day
9/8 History of the theory of evolution 2,III
9/10 Mendelian inheritance and FILM: "DNA: Blueprint of Life" 3,4,I
3 9/13* Mechanisms of evolution / Assignment 1 (file: 9/13) II
9/15 Human microevolution 14
9/17 Human variation and environmental adaptation 15
4 9/20* Human variation project / Assignment 2 (file: 9/20) XIII,XIV,XV
9/22 Data collection
9/24 Presentation of results
5 9/27* Human growth and development workshop / Assignment 16
Assignment 3 (file: 9/27)
9/29 Workshop results presentations
10/1 EXAM I
6 10/4 Phylogeny of the order Primates 8
10/6 Primate evolution IV,VI
10/8 Primate film 5
7 10/11 FALL BREAK!
10/13 Primate ecology and social organization 6
10/15 Extant primates
8 10/18 Extant primates
10/20* FILM: "Life in the Trees" / Assignment 4 (file: 10/20) 6
10/22 Primate models for understanding human behavior 7
9 10/25-27 FILM: “People of the Forest”
10/29 Discussion of film
10 11/1* Discussion of assigned readings / Assignment 5 (file: 11/1) V,VII
11/3 EXAM II
11/5 FILM: "The story of Lucy” 9
11 11/8 Australopithecines 10,VIII
11/10 Australopithecines and early Homo IX
11/12 LAB
12 11/15 Homo erectus 11,X
11/17 Archaic Homo sapiens 12
11/19 LAB
13 11/22 Neandertals XI
11/24-26 THANKSGIVING BREAK
14 11/29 Theories pertaining to origin of modern humans XII
12/1 Homo sapiens sapiens 13
12/3 LAB
15 12/6 FILM: “Wanted Butch and Sundance” eres: “No bone unturned” and “The
12/8 Film cont’d and forensic anthropology Oklahoma City child disappearances”
12/10* Hominid study groups / Assignment 6 (file: 12/10)
16 12/13* Discussion of theories pertaining to origin of modern humans / Assignment 7 (file: 12/8)
17 12/21 EXAM III 3:30 – 6:30