INTRO TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANT 160- Section: [Insert]
[Insert other course information (optional): blended, honors]
Credit Hours: 3.00
Lab Hours: 0.00
Lecture Hours:
3.00
IAI Core:
S1 902
IAI Majors:
Semester: [Insert]
Course Begins: [Insert]
Course Ends: [Insert]
Days: [Insert]
Times: [Insert]
Room: [Insert]
Instructor: [Insert]
E-mail: [Insert your @mchenry.edu e-mail address or LMS information]
Phone: [Insert]
Office Hours: [Insert]
Office Location: [Insert]
Other Contact Information: [Insert]
Website (optional): [Insert]
Required Course:
Textbook(s): [Insert]
Supplies (if desired): [Insert]
Course Description:
Introduction to Physical Anthropology exposes students to the field and covers such topics as basic
evolutionary theory, population genetics, primate behavior, the human fossil record, the concept of race,
biological differences in modern humans and humanity's place in nature. The course also covers forensic
anthropology.
Course Note: This course requires advanced reading, advanced writing and intermediate math.
Section Notes:
[Insert if applicable]
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Summarize the basic human evolutionary sequence based on information derived from the fossil
record and genetics.
2. Discuss how natural selection and culture have played a role in the selection and maintenance of
modern human physical traits and their variations.
3. Describe the major types of non-human primates and compare and contrast the physical and
behavioral attributes of these primates to humans.
4. Discuss how biomedical information can be applied to understanding health issues associated
with modern lifestyles.
5. Discuss the types of information that can be derived from human skeletal remains.
6. Critically evaluate physical anthropological information in the media.
7. Discuss how physical/biological anthropological information can be applied to their lives.
Course Outline:
I.
Introduction to Anthropology
A. What is anthropology?
B. The four subfields of anthropology
Page 1 of 5
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
Development of Evolutionary Theory
A. History of evolutionary thought
B. The theory of natural selection
C. Opposing viewpoints
Biological Basis of Life
A. The basic structure of cells, DNA, and chromosomes
B. The processes of meiosis and mitosis
C. The evolutionary significance of meiosis
Heredity and Evolution
A. Mendelian genetic principles and Mendelian inheritance
B. Non-Mendelian patterns of inheritance
C. Factors that produce and redistribute variation: mutation, gene flow, genetic drift,
recombination
D. Natural selection and variation
Processes of Macroevolution
A. What is speciation?
B. Processes of macroevolution
i. Adaptive radiation
ii. Geographic isolation and behavioral isolation
C. Rates of speciation
Primate Characteristics and Behavior
A. Physical and behavioral characteristics of primates
B. Using primates to understand human evolution and human behavior
Paleoanthropological Field Methods
A. Fieldwork techniques
B. Dating fossil sites
C. Fossil formation processes
Pre-primate and pre-human evolution
A. Basic features of pre-primate evolution from the origins of earth to the origins of
mammals
B. The first primates
i. Paleocene Epoch
ii. Eocene Epoch
iii. Oligocene Epoch
iv. Miocene Epoch
Early Hominin Fossils
A. Basic physical features
B. Eary hominin taxa
i. Ardipithecus sp.
ii. Australopithcus sp.
iii. Paranthropus sp.
iv. Kenyanthropus sp.
Early Homo and Homo erectus
A. Early Homo
i. Physical characteristics
ii. Cultural behaviors
B. Homo erectus and Contemporaries
i. Physical characteristics
Page 2 of 5
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
ii. Cultural behaviors
iii. Variations in physical characteristics and cultural behaviors in different regions
Pre-Modern (Archaic) Homo sapiens
A. Physical characteristics
B. Models on the evolution of pre-modern Homo sapiens from Homo erectus
C. Cultural behaviors
D. Variations in physical characteristics and cultural behaviors of early and later pre-modern
Homo sapiens
E. Variations in physical characteristics and cultural behaviors in different regions
Anatomically Modern Humans
A. Physical characteristics
B. Models on the evolution of anatomically modern humans from pre-modern Homo sapiens
C. Upper Paleolithic cultural behaviors
Modern Human Biology: Variation and Adaptation
A. Population genetics
B. Human polymorphisms
C. Adaptive significance of skin color
i. Concept of race
D. High altitude adaptations
E. Thermal environment
F. Infectious disease
Anthropological Perspective on the Human Life Course
A. Physical growth and development
B. Nutritional effects on growth and development
C. Other factors influencing growth and development
i. Genetics
ii. Hormones
iii. Environment
Applied Physical Anthropology
A. Forensic Anthropology
Assignments and Grading Criteria
[Insert. Must include the value of each project, skill, exam, etc. as it relates to the final grade.]
Policies: [Insert]
Attendance policy: [Insert]
Late work/make-up policy: [Insert]
Weekly Course Schedule
[Insert date of each class meeting, topics to be covered, assignment due dates, testing dates, final exam
date, etc. Table format below is optional.]
Page 3 of 5
Dates of
Class
Meetings
Course Schedule
Week #1
{Tentative Activity}
Week #2
{Tentative Activity}
Week #3
{Tentative Activity}
Week #4
{Tentative Activity}
Week #5
{Tentative Activity}
Week #6
{Tentative Activity}
Week #7
{Tentative Activity}
Week #8
{Tentative Activity}
Week #9
{Tentative Activity}
Week #10
{Tentative Activity}
Week #11
{Tentative Activity}
Week #12
{Tentative Activity}
Week #13
{Tentative Activity}
Week #14
{Tentative Activity}
Week #15
{Tentative Activity}
Week #16
{Tentative Activity}
Teaching Schedule
The scheduling of the activities and teaching strategies on this syllabus, but not the objectives or content,
may be altered at any time at the discretion of the instructor.
Withdrawals: The last day to drop this course is [Insert date according to Important Class Dates for term
https://catalog.mchenry.edu/syllabi/Pages/default.aspx]. Failure to attend class does not constitute official
withdrawal. If students are considering a withdrawal, they should consult directly with the instructor and an
academic advisor. Students may withdraw from a class through the Registration Office, either in person or by
fax: (815) 455-3766. In their request, students should include their name, student ID number, course prefix,
number and section, course title, instructor, reason for withdrawing, and their signature. Withdrawal from a
course will not be accepted over the telephone.
Academic Support for Special Populations Students
Page 4 of 5
Students with Disabilities:
It is the policy and practice of McHenry County College to create inclusive learning environments. If you
are a student with a disability that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act – Amended
(ADAA) and require accommodations, please contact the Access and Disability Services office for
information on appropriate policies and procedures for receiving accommodations and support.
Disabilities covered by ADAA may include learning, psychiatric, and physical disabilities, or chronic
health disorders. Students should contact the Access and Disability Services office if they are not certain
whether a medical condition/disability qualifies. To receive accommodations, students must make a
formal request and must supply documentation from a qualified professional to support that request.
However, you do not need to have your documentation in hand for our first meeting. Students who
believe they qualify must contact the Access and Disability Services office to begin the accommodation
process. All discussions remain confidential. The Access and Disability Services office is located in
Room A260 in A Building in the Atrium. To schedule an appointment to speak with the manager, please
call (815) 455-8766. Information about disabilities services at MCC can be found at:
www.mchenry.edu/access
Additional syllabus information and resources can be found at www.mchenry.edu/syllabusinfo.
STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING ALL SYLLABUS INFORMATION.
Page 5 of 5