Fall 2019 - ARCH 131 D100

Human Origins (3)

Class Number: 7077

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2019: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 14, 2019
    Sat, 12:00–2:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Dec 14, 2019
    Sat, 12:00–2:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Dennis Sandgathe
    dms@sfu.ca
    778-782-4817
    Office: EDB 9611
    Office Hours: Mondays 1:30PM-2:20PM and Thursdays 12:30PM-1:30PM

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A non-technical survey of the primate background of humans, fossil primates, and fossil humans, and the associated evidence of cultural development. An introduction to physical anthropology. Breadth-Social Sci/Science.

COURSE DETAILS:

We modern humans are the only surviving species in a very old evolutionary tree: a tree we share with the living apes and monkeys, but also with many extinct species. We can trace our ancestry, and the things that make us humans unique, millions of years into the past. Over this long period we evolved from small, furry apes living in the forests of Africa to large, hairless, big-brained, socially-complex humans that spread across the whole globe. Human Origins is designed to be an introduction to this human story. It includes 6 major sections:

1) an introduction to the history of the science of human origins
2) a review of the fundamentals of natural selection and evolution;
3) an introduction to our primate cousins: their characteristics and adaptations;
4) an examination of the fossil record: from earliest primates to the emergence of modern-looking humans (along with a look at the earliest technologies);
5) a closer look at when, where, and how we fully modern humans appeared
6) and, a look at the variability among living humans and the concept of ‘race’

Grading

  • Midterm 45%
  • Final Exam 55%

NOTES:

Breadth: Social Sciences/Science

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Available in electronic form: Stanford, Allen and Anton. 2016. Exploring Biological Anthropology: Custom edition for SFU. Pearson
ISBN: 9781323632222

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Students with Disabilities (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

Deferred grades will be given only on the basis of authenticated medical disability.


Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS