ANTHROPOLOGY 1030 – Introduction to Human Origins
Lectures: Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:05pm to 4:20pm
Centennial Hall Room 188
Instructor: Tara Cepon-Robins
Office: CENT 120
Office hours: Wednesdays, 10am to 11am (or by appointment)
Email: trobins3@uccs.edu
Phone: 719-255-3125
Course Description
This course explores the broad and integrative field of human evolution. The first portion of this
course will provide an overview of the historical, theoretical, and empirical background of
evolutionary biology. The second portion of this course will examine the basics of vertebrate,
mammalian, and primate biology, with emphasis on how humans differ from our closest living
relatives, the great apes. Next, the course will discuss geological time, understanding how
organisms become fossilized and how rocks and fossils provide important information
regarding the time frame of human evolution. With this background in place, the rest of the
course will be spent examining evidence for human evolution from genetics, biogeography,
comparative anatomy, archaeology, and especially paleontology.
Expectations
By the end of term, you are expected to be able to do the following:
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Differentiate the forces of evolution and their effects on populations.
Compare human biology to that of other primates, mammals and vertebrates.
Describe the different types of primates and their biology.
Place vertebrate, mammalian, primate and human evolution in geological time.
Explain what fossils are and how they form.
Identify the bones of the human skeleton and interpret them functionally.
Describe where, when, and possibly why humans evolved as we did.
Required Text
Our Origins: Discovering Physical Anthropology (Third Edition), by Clark Spencer Larsen.
Grade Breakdown
Assignments (10 total): 20%
Midterm I: 25%
Midterm II: 25%
Final Exam: 30%
The grading system used in this course is as follows:
A – Outstanding performance relative to that required to meet course requirements;
demonstrates a mastery of course content at the highest level.
B – Performance that is significantly above basic course requirements; demonstrates a
mastery of course content at a high level.
C – Performance that meets the course requirements in every respect; demonstrates an
adequate understanding of course content.
D – Performance that is at the minimal level necessary to pass the course, but does not fully
meet the course requirements; demonstrates a marginal understanding of course content.
F – Performance in the course, for whatever reason, is unacceptable and does not meet the
course requirements; demonstrates an inadequate understanding of the course content.
The midterm exam and assignments must be taken/turned in at the scheduled time – under no
circumstances will make-up exams or assignment extensions be given without a documented
excuse. If you will be missing a class for any reason, please make arrangements ahead of time.
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it
is your responsibility to register with the Disability Services Office and provide them with
documentation of your disability. They will work with you to determine what accommodations
are appropriate for your situation. To avoid any delay in the receipt of accommodations, you
should contact the Disability Services Office as soon as possible. Please note that
accommodations are not retroactive and disability accommodations cannot be provided until
an accommodation letter has been given to me. Please contact Disability Services for more
information at Main Hall room 105, 719-255-3354 or dservice@uccs.edu.
Military Students
If you are a military student with the potential of being called to military service and/or training
during the course of the semester, you are encouraged to contact your UCCS course instructor
no later than the first week of class to discuss the class attendance policy. Please see the
Military Students web site at http://www.uccs.edu/~military/ for more information.
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Date
8/24
8/26
8/31
9/2
9/7
9/9
9/14
9/16
9/21
9/23
9/28
9/30
10/5
10/7
10/12
10/14
10/19
10/21
10/26
10/28
11/2
11/4
11/9
11/11
11/16
11/18
11/23
11/25
11/30
12/2
12/7
12/9
12/16
Topics
Course Overview – What is Physical Anthropology
The Scientific Method and Misconceptions of Evolution
History of Evolutionary Theory
Inheritance, Cell Structure and Division
No Class – Labor Day
DNA and Protein Synthesis
Population Genetics
Forces of Evolution
Macroevolution and Classification
Anatomy and Osteology (Important Terms)
Primate Biology
Survey of Living Primates
Video: Life in the Trees
Primate Behavior
Fossils – Dating Techniques, eras and epochs
Primate Fossils
Course Schedule
Readings
Chapter 1
Assignment*
Reflections on Evolution Assignment (DUE IN CLASS)
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Mendelllian Genetics Assignment (DUE IN CLASS)
DNA and Protein Synthesis Assignment (DUE IN CLASS)
Population Genetics Assignment (DUE IN CLASS)
Midterm Exam 1 – In Class
Chapter 6
Human Osteology Assignment (DUE IN CLASS)
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Midterm Exam 2 – In Class
Chapter 10
Primate Classification Assignment (DUE IN CLASS)
Bipedalism and the Earliest Hominids
Video: Becoming Human, Part 1
Ardipithecus ramidus
Bipedalism Assignment (DUE IN CLASS)
Australopithecus and Paranthropus
Early Homo species – Homo habilis, Homo erectus
Chapter 11
Video: Becoming Human, Part 2
Plio-Pleistocene Hominids Assignment (DUE IN CLASS)
Origins, Evolution, and Dispersal of “modern” Homo species
Chapter 12
Video: Becoming Human, Part 3
Later Genus Homo Assignment (DUE IN CLASS)
Hunter-gatherer lifestyles, agriculture and modes of production Chapter 13
Modern Human Biological Variation
Chapter 5
Evolutionary Medicine and Health
No Class – Thanksgiving Weekend
The Future of Human Evolution
Chapter 14
Careers in Biological Anthropology, wrap up
Revisiting Reflections on Evolution Assignment (DUE IN CLASS)
FINAL EXAM (12:40 to 2:40pm)
*Assignments will be described in more detail as the course progresses.