Introduction to Physical Anthropology 
Brooklyn College ANTH 1002 & 2200

students study skeletons of various primates in a lab session

Course Description and Learning Objectives: ANTH 1002 is a two part course, half of which has an archaeology focus. The half that I teach is similar to the more unified, advanced course ANTH 2200.  ANTH 1002 has no lab component, while ANTH 2200 has a weekly lab.  Both courses are required for biological anthropology majors. ANTH 2200 is a survey of topics in physical anthropology. It focuses on the evolutionary history of human beings and our closest relatives, the non-human primates.  The class material is presented in a combination of lectures, readings, and films. Over the course of the semester students will:
  1. Learn how scientific research is conducted and learn to interpret scientific data.
  2. Gain a mastery of the history of scientific research within physical anthropology.
  3. Understand the evolutionary relationships between the living primates, fossil 
      primates, and hominins.
  4. Learn how genetic and morphological data can be used to reconstruct 
      evolutionary relationships.
  5. Understand the behavior, and ecology of the living non-human primates.
  6. Understand the origins of modern human culture, language and behavior.