ANTH1091: Human Evolution and Diversity

• None.

• None.

• None.

• To introduce students to the biological basis of human diversity.
• To introduce students to key areas of study and key methodologies used within biological anthropology.
• To provide students with basic vocabulary, concepts and theories which will prepare them for further study of biological anthropology.

• Evolutionary Theory and basic principles of inheritance (Mendelian inheritance, DNA, population genetics)
• Human variation and adaptation (genetic, anatomical, physiological, behavioural and cultural) to diverse environments.
• Human origins, including primate and hominin evolution and dispersal
• Modern primate diversity, behaviour and ecology
• Evolutionary approaches to understanding contemporary human behaviour and culture

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• the basic principles and mechanisms of evolution and genetics
• the different ways in which humans adapt to their environments and the interplay between physiological, developmental, genetic, behavioural and cultural adaptations.
• how humans evolved and their place within primate and hominin phylogenies
• diversity in modern non-human primates
• how evolutionary principles can be used to understand contemporary human behaviour and culture

Subject-specific Skills:

• locate relevant material, both electronic and other, which will further understanding of key concepts in biological anthropology
• read texts with a basic understanding of the purposes of biological anthropological research
• employ basic techniques used in the study of primate, hominin and human skeletal material
• identify non-human primate species
• be able to identify the main bones in the human and non-human primate skeleton
• employ basic experimental methods in the evolutionary study of human behaviour and culture

Key Skills:

• Competence in lab work
• Working in small groups
• Critical analysis of arguments
• Presenting quantitative biological/behavioural data in written form
• Time management

• Lectures will provide students with the factual knowledge they require to understand key Biological Anthropological issues at an introductory level.
• Online study activities will support live lectures and frame readings via pre-recorded lecture segments, videos and/or asynchronous study tasks
• Practicals will provide 'hands on' experience of methods and concepts used in biological anthropology relating to the subject-specific skills.
• A practicals portfolio will allow students to record quantitative biological data and interpret that data in the context of theory in biological anthropology.
• The exam will test understanding of key theories, concepts and methods, and critical writing skills.

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our FAQ webpages, Help page or our glossary of terms. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the FAQ, or a query about the on-line Undergraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.