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Syllabus
Biology, Culture & Evolution
ANT 575 Section 001
Fall 2014, Lecture
Dr. Christopher Lynn
Mon 2 - 4:30 PM
Rowand-Johnson 37d
Prerequisites
Course Description
This course provides a detailed introduction to the study of how humans bioculturally adapt to their physical, biological, and social environment, from the perspective of human evolutionary biology.
Writing assignments require carefully edited prose and will be graded for intellectual content, originality, comprehension of reading material, coherence, logic, organization, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and prose style. Writing proficiency is an absolute requirement for passing this course. Students with writing difficulties will be encouraged to take advantage of the services of the Writing Center. (While the “W” designation does not apply to the graduate level course, the same expectation for writing proficiency applies.)
Student Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students should be able to:
- Review, evaluate, and critique biocultural models of human health derived from human evolutionary biology, including those rooted in the study of ecology, demography, genetics/epigenetics, physiology, nutrition/energetics, and epidemiology.
- Outline theoretical and methodological issues in the anthropological study of human adaptation through case studies in various populations.
- Present and critique peer-reviewed primary source material related to human evolutionary biology in clear terminology for peers and an educated lay public via verbal discussions and online blogging.
- Proficiently write a scientific research paper by searching for a topic, finding and critically reviewing source material, outlining the paper, and then writing and revising the manuscript.
Required Texts
Stinson, Bogin, & O'Rourke (2012) Human Biology: An Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspective, 2nd Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
Do not buy the first edition unless you also have access to the 2nd, as the readings have changed.
Other Course Materials
Social Media
"Like" the UA Department of Anthropology (www.facebook.com/UAAnthroDept) and the ALLELE series (www.facebook.com/ALLELEseries) on Facebook so that we can keep in touch with you and you can stay informed about our events and activities.
I also use Twitter as a way to share information during and between classes. We use hashtag #ant475. You can follow me @Chris_Ly and the department @BamaAnthro.
HOWEVER, it is extremely rude to be constantly texting or using your smartphone if you are not doing it for class. Therefore, if I see you on your device during class, I will be looking for course-relevant tweets. If you need to use your devices for anything but course work, take it into the hallway or I will ask you to do so.
Extra Credit
You can receive extra credit by attending ALLELE events. I will award 2 points per event. Stay tuned for dates and instructions for receiving this credit.
Other opportunities may be announced
Anthropology Major and Evolutionary Studies
This course fulfills an elective requirement in both the Anthropology major and Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) minor (http://www.as.ua.edu/evolutionarystudies/). If you are not an Anthropology major or minor and have not already decided to declare as such, we hope this course leads you to consider doing so. EvoS is an interdisciplinary minor, housed in the Department of Anthropology and is designed to introduce students to the fundamental importance of evolutionary theory as an explanatory model for life and behavior. This course fulfills an elective requirement in the EvoS minor. Other requirements of the minor include two capstone courses (including ANT 150 and ANT 450, offered every Spring), a 200-level course in the biological principles of evolution, and a foundational course in one of three disciplines. Minors are required to complete six elective hours in two separate disciplines.
This program is integrated with UA's Evolution Working Group (EVOWOG) and its Alabama Lectures on Life's Evolution (ALLELE) speaker series ("Like" us on Facebook [www.facebook.com/ALLELEseries] to stay informed!). You are strongly encouraged to attend the ALLELE lectures presented this semester. This minor is part of a larger EvoS Consortium, which includes approximately 42 other institutions worldwide, though we are only one of four full-fledged minors. We take pride in this fact, given that Alabama recently scored at the very bottom of the 50 states in teaching evolution at the k-12 levels (even worse than Mississippi!).
As part of the EvoS program, the students have started an EvoS club that hosts an annual Darwin Day Colloquium. You are welcome to become part of this club whether you declare yourself an EvoS minor or simply maintain an abiding interest in evolutionary theory and its myriad applications and implications.
If you are interested in the EvoS minor (either to declare or for more information), contact either Dr. Lynn (cdlynn@ua.edu) or Dr. Rissler (rissler@as.ua.edu), who are co-directors of the program.
Severe Weather Guidelines
The guiding principle at The University of Alabama is to promote the personal safety of our students, faculty and staff during severe weather events. It is impossible to develop policies which anticipate every weather-related emergency. These guidelines are intended to provide additional assistance for responding to severe weather on campus.
UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.
When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take.
The Office of University Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:
- Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
- Weather advisory sent out through UA Alerts to faculty, staff and students
- Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
- Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
- Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA-TV/WUOA-TV, and on the website at http://wvuatv.com/content/weather. WVUA-TV Home Team Weather provides a free service you can subscribe to which allows you to receive weather warnings for Tuscaloosa via e-mail or cell phone. Check http://wvuatv.com/content/free-email-weather-alerts for more details and to sign up for weather alerts.
In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar; sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.
Disability Statement
If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary.
If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call (205) 348-4285 (Voice) or (205) 348-3081 (TTY) or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.
Policy on Academic Misconduct
All students in attendance at The University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University of Alabama expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. At the beginning of each semester and on examinations and projects, the professor, department, or division may require that each student sign the following Academic Honor Pledge: “I promise or affirm that I will not at any time be involved with cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or misrepresentation while enrolled as a student at The University of Alabama. I have read the Academic Honor Code, which explains disciplinary procedure resulting from the aforementioned. I understand that violation of this code will result in penalties as severe as indefinite suspension from the University.”
See the Code of Student Conduct for more information.
Emergency Contact Information
UA's primary communication tool for sending out information is through its web site at www.ua.edu. In the event of an emergency, students should consult this site for further directions. Additional course information will be posted using Blackboard Learn.
UAct: Ethical Community Statement
The University of Alabama is committed to an ethical, inclusive community defined by respect and civility. The UAct website (http://www.ua.edu/uact) provides extensive information on how to report or obtain assistance with a variety of issues, including issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sexual violence or other Title IX violations, illegal discrimination, harassment, child abuse or neglect, hazing, threat assessment, retaliation, and ethical violations or fraud.