ANT 101 Humankind Emerging

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This course examines the evolution of humans over six million years and focuses on three major questions:

  • What is evolution, how does it occur, and is it over?
  • How, in what ways, and to what degree do humans differ from other primates?
  • When, where, and why did these differences appear?
  • What, if anything, makes modern humans unique?

The first part of the course examines basic principles of evolution and the debate between Intelligent Design and evolution. The second part of the course examines primates in general, and the relationship between chimps, bonobos, gorilla, and humans. The third focuses specifically on the appearance of humans and their spread into all continents of the world. The fourth part considers to what extent modern humans are unique. Throughout the course, you'll learn how researchers "do" science, how theoretical frameworks shape their research, and the techniques and methods researchers use.

Books:

Clark S. Larsen's 4th edition of Essentials of Biological Anthropology with InQuizitive is required for this course. This textbook comes in several formats: an ebook, a combination of a loose leaf book and the ebook, and a traditional paperback textbook. New copies of all three versions come with InQuizitive. The ebook is well-designed and easy-to-use. Most students will find the ebook suits their needs. If you want a hard copy to read at the lowest possible cost, you could buy the combination of the Ebook and the loose leaf copy. If you prefer a traditional paperback textbook, you should buy the traditional textbook. The traditional textbook includes acess to the ebook and registraiton for Inquizitive.

You can purchase a copy of the (1) ebook, or (2) the ebook + loose leaf copy, or (3) the traditional textbook directly from the publisher at a significant savings. Each format comes with Inquizitive. Options (1) and (2) give you access to the ebook and Inquizitive for 360 days. Option (3) is a physical copy of the book plus 360 days access to the ebook and Inquizitive. Students who select option (1) will see a link in the ebook that lets the student purchase the loose leaf version for an additional $15 (shipping costs may apply). This offer is only for the ebook purchased directly from the publisher. If you buy from the publisher, you can buy the ebook before the first day of class. A link to the publisher's web site will be posted in the course.

One final thing. The publisher gives students the opportunity to have a 21-day trial access to the ebook. A trial access gives you a chance to try out the ebook. A trial access is also ideal for students who are not sure they will stay in the course.

You can buy the ebook, the ebook + loose leaf copy, or the traditional textbook from the NAU bookstore. You might wonder why anyone would use the bookstore when buying directly from the publisher is significantly cheaper. There are several advantages to using the NAU bookstore. First, it is on campus. Second, students on scholarships are often required to purchase all of their books at the NAU bookstore. Third, the bookstore has real humans you can call and speak with if you have questions or concerns.

Used copies of the textbook do not include Inquizitive. You will have to purchase access to InQuizitive separately. About 40% of the course grade will be based on exercises / quizzes in InQuizitive, so you must have access to InQuizitive. You can expect that access to InQuizitive will cost a minimum of $20. Be sure to calculate the cost of buying access to InQuizitive if you find a used copy of Larsen's 4th edition,

Anticipated workload:

This term the course will be taught over seven weeks. The Arizona Board of Regents stipulates that a 3-credit course should be approximately 135 hours of work. Divided into 7 weeks, this is approximately 19 hours a week. There are twelve units, and each unit represents slightly more than one week of in-class lectures. Quizzes and interactive exercises help you master the information presented in the course. Grading will be based on InQuizitive exercises, interactive labs, discussions, and written assignments..

You can expect to:

  • spend two or three hours per unit on the Internet (or working though a printer-friendly PDF of the class unit).
  • have a reading assignment for every unit
  • watch several full-length streamed videos, particularly in the chimp and bonobo section of the course
  • complete 12 quizzes   
  • complete all of the required InQuizitive exercises
  • complete eight on-line interactive labs

Do you have questions about taking this as a web course?

Check this link to see software NAU students can get for free or reduced prices.