Governors State University
College of Arts and Sciences
Division of Science

Index Number:	Biol 308 SA - SB
Course Title:	Human Evolution
Professor:	Dr. Peter Gunther
	(708) 534-4537
	humanev@govst.edu
Credit hours:	3.0
Trimester Offerings:	Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer

CATALOG DESCRIPTION
This course covers the principles of evolution and a brief history evolutionary thought. Consideration is given to the development of biological anthropology and the human fossil record. An account of human evolution is presented on an interpretation of the fossil record.

PREREQUISITES:
None

EXPECTED STUDENT OUTCOMES:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of evolution, animal classification, and basic aspects of primate behavior.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of paleontology and geological time, evolution of primates, and the fossil genus Australopithecus.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the early and current members of the genus Homo and specific aspects of human adaptation and demography.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

R. Jurmain, L. Kilgore, and W. Trevathan. Introduction to Physical Anthropology (10th ed.) Wadsworth/Thompson Learning, Belmont. 2005

To order the above text, Introduction to Physical Anthropology, contact Follett"s GSU Bookstore by phone at (708) 534-4558 or by FAX at (708) 534-8048.

World atlas. Any good but handy-to-use world atlas is one of the required materials for this course. A paperback edition would be most useful, and you can purchase one at any bookstore near you.

TOPICAL OUTLINE
The course is organized into 12 assignments which cover the following topics respectively:

1. Anthropology and Evolution Theory
2. Genetics and Human Variation
3. Vertebrate (Animals with backbones) Evolutionary History
4. Overview of the Primates
5. Basic Primate Behavior
6. Primate Evolution
7. Paleoanthropology
8. Plio-Pleistocene Hominids
9. Hominids and Homo erectus
10. Neandertals and Archaic Homo sapiens
11. Modern Humans
12. Variation and Human Adaptation

EVALUATION
Grades will be based on the evaluation of three examinations and successful completion of the twelve assignments listed above. The three exams will constitute 76% of the final grade, and the assignments will make up the remaining 24 %. The following scale will be used to determine letter grades:

• A = 90% - 100%
• B = 80% - 89%
• C = 70% - 79%
• D = 60% - 69%
• F = 59% or less

Click here for more about each aspect of the course operations.