Academic Catalogs

ANTH A185H: Introduction to Biological Anthropology Honors

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Eff Term Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 11/12/2025
Top Code 220200 - Anthropology
Units 3 Total Units (Lecture Units 3)
Hours 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 108
Total Student Learning Hours 162
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Open Entry/Open Exit No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S)
Associate Arts Local General Education (GE)
  • Area 5 Physical and Biological Sciences, Scientific Inquiry, Life Science (OB)
Associate Science Local General Education (GE)
  • Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences (OSD)
  • Area 5 Physical and Biological Sciences, Scientific Inquiry, Life (OSB)
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
  • Cal-GETC 5B Biological Sciences (5B)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • IGETC 5B Biological Sciences (5B)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)
  • CSU B2 Life Science (B2)

Course Description

Formerly: ANTH A185H. Part 1: In this course, students examine human origins, evolution, and variation with a focus on the adaptations of humans and other primates. Biological evolution and scientific methods are foundations for the course. This is an honors course. Part 2: This course introduces the concepts, methods of inquiry, and scientific explanations for biological evolution and their application to the human species. Issues and topics will include, but are not limited to, genetics, evolutionary theory, human variation and biocultural adaptations, comparative primate anatomy and behavior, and the fossil evidence for human evolution. The scientific method serves as foundation of the course. Enrollment Limitation: ANTH C1001; students who complete ANTH C1001H may not enroll in or receive credit for ANTH C1001. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: ANTH 110.C-ID: ANTH 110.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Utilize evolutionary theory and scientific evidence to explain human biological variation and adaptations.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the morphological and behavioral trends that occurred during human evolution.
  3. Explain the role of Biological Anthropology within the discipline of Anthropology, and how the knowledge gained from research in Biological Anthropology contributes to a better understanding of the human species.

Course Objectives

  • 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method and an ability to interpret data to arrive at reasoned conclusions.
  • 2. Identify the principles of human inheritance, molecular biology, genetics, and evolutionary processes from the perspective of biological anthropology.
  • 3. Identify the biological and cultural factors responsible for human variation.
  • 4. Identify and compare primate and hominin species in terms of their osteological, morphological, and/or behavioral adaptations.
  • Part 2: Local Objectives
  • 1. Explain the discipline of Anthropology and introduce the subdiscipline of Biological Anthropology.
  • 2. Explain the nature of scientific inquiry and the process used to explore natural phenomenon, specifically as it applies to anthropological research.
  • 3. Identify the major contributors to the development of evolutionary theory and explain their contributions.
  • 4. Understand basic molecular and population genetics as well as principles of Mendelian inheritance.
  • 5. Explain the forces of evolution and their effects on gene frequencies and phenotypic variations.
  • 6. Demonstrate an understanding of classifications and morphology for living primates.
  • 7. Explain social behaviors observed in living primates.
  • 8. Explain techniques and challenges associated with dating, interpreting, and analyzing fossils.
  • 9. Identify key traits associated with the various hominin species and the possible relationship between each species.
  • 10. Explain how modern human variation evolved due to biological and cultural interactions.

Lecture Content

Part 1

  1. The nature of scientific inquiry and the scientific method
  2. The anthropological perspective
  3. Development of biological evolutionary thought
  4. Molecular, Mendelian, and population genetics
  5. Mechanisms/forces of evolution
  6. Comparative primate taxonomy, anatomy, and behavioral ecology
  7. The fossil record, geologic time, and dating methods
  8. The fossil, archaeological, and genetic evidence of human evolution
  9. Biocultural adaptations and modern human variation
  10. Understanding ancestry, racism, and the invalidity of biological race in humans

Part 2

  1. An overview of Anthropology
    1. Subdisciplines of Anthropology
    2. Subfields of Biological Anthropology
    3. Scientific method and a scientific approach to Anthropological research
  2. Development of Evolutionary Theory
    1. Pre-Darwinian contributors (Linnaeus, Lamarck, Cuvier, etc )
    2. Charles Darwin and the process of Natural Selection
  3. Genetics and Heredity
    1. DNA Structure, Replication, and Protein Synthesis
    2. Cell Division
    3. Principles of Mendelian inheritance
  4. Mechanisms of Evolution
    1. Mutations
    2. Gene flow
    3. Genetic Drift
    4. Natural selection
  5. Population Genetics
  6. Primate taxonomy
    1. General primate traits
    2. Key traits for major primate groups
    3. Dentition
    4. Limb proportions
  7. Primate Behavior
    1. Locomotion
    2. Social groups
    3. Reproductive Strategies
    4. Diet and Foraging Behavior
    5. Communication
  8. Study of Fossils
    1. Dating methods
    2. Types of fossils
    3. Taphonomy
    4. Fossilization
    5. Environmental reconstruction
  9. Early Primate Evolution
    1. Key discoveries from the Paleocene to the Miocene
  10. Hominin Fossils
    1. Key morphological traits for various hominin species from the following: pre-australopithecines, australopithecines, paranthropines, and the genus Homo.
    2. Evidence for behaviors (e.g., tool technology) associated with hominins
    3. Genetic evidence of human evolution
  11. Human variation and biocultural adaptations
    1. Topics include but are not limited to body shape and size variation, skin pigmentation, lactase persistence, and adaptations to infectious disease

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
  • DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

Audio and/or Visual Presentations (Power points, videos, animations, 3D images, etc...) used during lecture and/or uploaded to the course management system Collaborative Group Work Skill-building Exercises Small group or directed class discussions. Student-instructor conferences (face-to-face, online via chat, video conferencing, and/or email) so that the instructor may aid or feedback on assignments and exams. Feedback may be provided on assignments as appropriate (e.g., instructor-led discussions, written on printed copy of assignment, narratives in the course management system for electronic submissions)

Reading Assignments

Students may spend 2 hours per week reading assigned chapters from the textbook, additional course handouts, and/or websites which emphasize key concepts (i.e., protein synthesis, hominin diets, foraging by nonhuman primates, etc...) to facilitate participation in class discussions and comprehension of the material.

Writing Assignments

Students may spend two hours per week writing a comparison and contrast on behavioral or morphological traits of early hominins, humans, or nonhuman primates.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students may spend two hours conducting literature searches of the library database and writing article summaries on topics covered in the course.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

108

Methods of Student Evaluation

  • Midterm Exam
  • Final Exam
  • Short Quizzes
  • Written Assignments
  • Essay Examinations
  • Objective Examinations
  • Report
  • Projects (Individual/Group)
  • Problem Solving Exercises
  • Oral Presentations

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Students may communicate in writing their own perspective or positions and support their positions with relevant scientific evidence. During small group activities, students may discuss various topics (i.e., evolution of bipedalism) and analyze the scientific evidence.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students may work in small groups to discuss competing hypotheses. Students may compare and contrast skeletons to determine nonhuman primate or hominin classifications.

Resources Subscreen

  • Textbook: Shook, B., Braff, L., Nelson, K., & Aguilera, K. (Eds.). Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology. LibreText/American Anthropology Association/ (2023).
  • Textbook: Boyd, R., & Silk, J.. How Humans Evolved. 10th ed. Norton (2023).
  • Textbook: Fuentes, A. . Biological Anthropology: Concepts and Connections, 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill (2019).
  • Textbook: Larsen, C.S.. Essentials of Biological Anthropology, 6th edition. Norton (2025).

Eligible Discipline(s)

  • Anthropology: Master’s degree in anthropology or archaeology OR bachelor’s degree in either of the above AND master’s degree in sociology, biological sciences, forensic sciences, genetics or paleontology OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.