Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
ANTHD001L
Course Title (CB02)
Physical Anthropology Laboratory
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Course Description
This course is a laboratory course in which the students apply and practice the scientific methods, techniques, and procedures used by physical anthropologists to understand human evolution, non-human primates, and human variation. Students gain practical experience and a deeper understanding by participating in lab exercises, activities, and experiments that explore human evolution, osteology, forensics, genetics, modern human variation, primate anatomy, and behavior.
Faculty Requirements
Discipline 1
[Anthropology]
FSA
[FHDA FSA - ANTHROPOLOGY]
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course fulfills the laboratory class requirement for non-science majors and the biological laboratory requirement for anthropology majors. The course is UC and CSU transferable and is °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE, CSU GE, and IGETC. The course belongs on the Liberal Arts A.A. degree.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GBX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area B - Natural SciencesApprovedThis is a stand-alone lab course that must be completed with or after the corresponding lecture course for GE credit.
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGB3CSU GE Area B3 - Science Laboratory ActivityApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG5CIGETC Area 5C - Science LaboratoryApproved
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
ANTHAnthropologyApprovedC-ID ANTH 115 L

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
1.0
Maximum Credit Units
1.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours0.00.0
Laboratory Hours3.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
0.0
Laboratory
36.0
Total
36.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
0.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
0.0

Prerequisite(s)

ANTH D001. or ANTH D001H (either course may be taken concurrently)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Laboratory experiments, exercises, and activities

Simulation Kits, Fossil casts, puzzles, films

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Collaborative projects

Fieldwork and field trips (zoo, museum)

Exploration of relevant bio-anthropology websites

Guest speakers

Discussion of assigned reading

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Assignments

  1. Written: Students will complete weekly written lab assignments which will require them to use logic, critical thinking, problem solving skills and collaborative learning.
  2. Students will evaluate the materials, analyze data, synthesize information, formulate conclusions and enter in their lab book/journal.
  3. Readings: Students will carry out daily reading assignments from the lab manual/text
  4. Verbal: Students will participate in class discussions and in small problem solving groups. The class may involve small oral presentation, individually or in groups.
  5. Fieldwork: Students will engage in fieldwork and go on field trips to acquire various anthropological data and skills.
  6. Preparation of exhibit material: Students will develop an educational exhibit to teach fellow students about aspects of biological anthropology
  7. Participation: Students will participate in anthropology related presentations either on or off campus at nearby universities or public events

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Weekly participation in and successful completion of lab assignments. Laboratory worksheets/assignments showing measurements, calculations, and documenting observations
  2. Writing assignments involving summary, synthesis, and critical analysis of data.
  3. Midterm and Final examination composed of laboratory activities, objective and/or essay questions that will require students to demonstrate the ability to describe, critically analyze information and make appropriate interpretations.
  4. Students will be evaluated on the effectiveness of the educational exhibits developed

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None
Essential College Facilities:
  • Physical Anthropology Laboratory

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Walker-Pacheco, Suzanne E.Exploring Physical Anthropology: A Lab Manual and Workbook.Morton Publishing Company2017978-1-61731-403-2
Soluri, K. Elizabeth and Sabrina C. Agarwal.Laboratory Manual and Workbook for Biological Anthropology: Engaging with Human EvolutionWW Norton2016978-0-393-68068-3
France, Diane L.Lab Manual and Workbook for Physical AnthropologyCengage2020 / 8th ed.978-1-305-25904-1
Hens, Samantha M. Samantha M. Hens California State University-SacramentoMethod and Practice in Biological Anthropology: A Workbook and Laboratory Manual for Introductory Courses,Pearson2021 / 2nd edition9780137551040
OER Resources and The curated collection of OER provided below was developed by the ASCCC OERI Anthropology Discipline Lead.Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology – Lab Manual (American Anthropological Association, 2021) (CC BY-NC 4.0)OER ASCCC https://asccc-oeri.org/open-educational-resources-and-anthropology/2021https://explorations.americananthro.org/index.php/lab-and-activities-manual/

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

None.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Apply scientific methodology to explore, the major topics in Physical Anthropology, genetics, primatology, paleoanthropology, and human biology
  • Examine cell structure, genetics, and explores the major forces that bring about evolutionary change: natural selection, mutations, genetic drift, migration, and genetic recombination
  • Examine and analyze the principles of inheritance and population genetics as they relate to human evolution
  • Identify, critically examine and analyze the bones and features of the human skeleton
  • Examine and compare the biology and behavior of non human primates with humans
  • Evaluate the course of human evolution by examining and interpreting hominin fossil remains
  • Examine the degree of biological variation in modern humans

CSLOs

  • Analyze human biological diversity as a response to physical, biotic, socio-cultural and biological factors.

  • Evaluate human biology and culture as a response to 7 million years of evolutionary process.

  • Evaluate biological and behavioral similarities and differences between humans and non human primates.

  • Apply scientific, evolutionary, holistic and a multidisciplinary approach to understand human biology and behavior.

Outline

  1. Apply scientific methodology to explore, the major topics in Physical Anthropology, genetics, primatology, paleoanthropology, and human biology
    1. Apply the scientific method by gathering data to test hypothesis
    2. Differentiate between inductive and deductive reasoning to make conclusions
    3. Learn to handle materials and laboratory safety procedures
  2. Examine cell structure, genetics, and explores the major forces that bring about evolutionary change: natural selection, mutations, genetic drift, migration, and genetic recombination
    1. Review cell structure and biology, DNA structure, and DNA replication
    2. Examine the Karyotype of the human genome
    3. Investigate the process of protein synthesis: how genes are expressed
    4. Observe the processes of cell division, mitosis and meiosis
    5. Examine chromosomal and point mutations
    6. Examine mechanisms/forces of evolution: mutation, gene flow, genetic drift and natural selection
  3. Examine and analyze the principles of inheritance and population genetics as they relate to human evolution
    1. Explore Mendelian inheritance
    2. Learn ABO, MN, Rh genetics and blood typing
    3. Learn to perform pedigree analysis
    4. Calculate Allele frequencies and application of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
    5. Take and classify basic dermatoglyphic patterns
  4. Identify, critically examine and analyze the bones and features of the human skeleton
    1. Identify major bones (cranial and post cranial) and features of the human skeleton
    2. Examine the development and anatomy of bone
    3. Perform basic anthropometric, osteometric, and craniometric measurements
    4. Determine the age, sex, ancestry, stature, and disease from bones (forensic anthropology)
    5. Comprehend rules governing study of human remains in archaeological discoveries (NAGPRA)
  5. Examine and compare the biology and behavior of non human primates with humans
    1. Examine the principles of biological classification
    2. Study the taxonomy of living primates
    3. Contrast and compare the anatomy of non human primates and their patterns of locomotion
    4. Study the form-function relationships of specific dental complexes and locomotor complexes
    5. Observe and analyze basic primate behavior patterns and social organizations
  6. Evaluate the course of human evolution by examining and interpreting hominin fossil remains
    1. Examine the mechanics of human bipedalism
    2. Observe skeletal differences between humans and apes, and their use in interpreting hominin fossils
    3. Study the application of the various geological dating techniques in calibrating human evolution
    4. Describe, identify and analyze fossil casts and tools
    5. Interpret behavior from artifactual material
  7. Examine the degree of biological variation in modern humans
    1. Learn techniques and procedures for measuring human biological variation using anthropometric traits, non metric traits, and dermatoglyphics.
    2. Evaluate race concepts and racial classification
    3. Examine biocultural adaptation and acclimatization
    4. Study the impact of diet, disease and technology on health and bone
    5. Discuss ethical and social issues related to variation
Back to Top