The second year offers students the opportunity to specialise further in the biological and evolutionary aspects of anthropology. The coursework involves all aspects of human biological development as well as the methodologies used to examine and characterize the changes observed.
The year consists of core modules, that are required, and optional modules, a choice of which is taken in each of years two and three. Most optional modules are available in either year, although some are only offered in alternate years. Specific modules are described below.
Module Outlines
= Required
= Optional
SE581: Biological Anthropology: The Human Animal
A broad survey of the human fossil record, and modern human variation, all within the framework of the interaction of humans within their environment. This module explores what it means to be human from a biological, evolutionary, perspective. Laboratory practical exercises and tutorial topics will facilitate the discussion of many biological issues within a cultural context. [More Information]
SE582: Biological Anthropology: Comparative Perspectives
Covering such topics as genetics, evolutionary mechanisms, adaptation, and primate studies, this module provides the framework - the comparative perspective - for the other biological anthropology modules. The course is divided into two sections: Evolution and Comparative Primatology. Lectures will be supplements with laboratory practical exercises and assigned readings. [More Information]
SE565: Sex, Evolution and Human Nature
The goal of this course is to discover and understand the principles of evolutionary psychology and other complementary paradigms. The module explores human behaviour (primarily human sexual behaviours) from an evolutionary perspective. Topics covered are reproductive and mating strategies, parenting behaviour, kinship, cooperation, survival, status striving, jealously, and aggression. The course will provide an excellent understanding of the deeply biological nature of human behaviour, and develop skills in critical thinking. Students will be encouraged to bring relevant questions and observations to seminars and time will be allocated to deal with them. [More Information]
Lecture and seminar topics will include:
Why does sex exist, what does it mean to be a particular sex.
Why don’t men breast-feed?
Adultery. What’s love got to do with it?
Why is there a menopause?
SE566: Human Osteology
The study of the human skeletal system is basic to the discipline of biological anthropology. This module will examine the fundamentals of human osteology. Students will learn to identify and analyse human bone and also evaluate and interpret major research in biological anthropology that has as its basis the analysis of bone. [More Information]
Seminar/practical topics will include:
A detailed consideration of the basic properties of bone growth, development, and function in the human body.
An examination of all major skeletal structures and the morphological features associated with them. The focus will be on the function of these structures within the body as well as the identification of fragmentary remnants of them in a forensic or archaeological context.
Major techniques used in biological anthropology to analyse human bone, such as determination of age at death, sex, population affinity, cause of death, stature, and nutritional status.
SE567: Methodology in Anthropological Science
This course will introduce students to anthropological research, as well as basic statistics and data handling, through a combination of seminar/practicals on research methods, practical ‘pen and paper’ statistics, and instruction in the use of the computer program SPSS. The goal of this course is to understand how anthropological research works, and how to design and undertake an independent research project. Topics covered include an introduction to parametric and non-parametric statistical techniques, how to use SPSS, how to build and tests hypotheses, and field research methods. [More Information]
Seminar/practical topics will include:
Anthropological research design: Essential computing skills, Introduction to statistics, Statistical tests in SPSS, Analysing data and writing a dissertation.
Field methods: for primate behaviour, for social science, (including questionnaire development), for osteoarchaeology (including analysis of faunal remains).
Presentation of project proposals.
SE568: History of Evolutionary Thought
This course will explore the emergence of modern evolutionary biology, the ways it has reflected our concepts of life and nature, and the human and social implications of biological theories and ideas. We will focus on some of the central historical figures that have shaped our understanding - Linnaeus, Lamarck, Darwin, Mendel, Galton - and the implications of their ideas for who we are, where we come from and where we are going. [More Information]
Seminar topics will include:
Lamarckism
History of Evolutionary Theory: What Is a Species?
Lyell and Principles of Geology.
The Origin of Species, and Charles Darwin.
Mendel and Mendelism.
Social Darwinism, Eugenics, and the Nazis.
A field trip to Down House, the home of Charles Darwin.
SE580: Primate Behaviour and Ecology
Understanding primates, and using primates to understand the way evolution shapes behaviour, is key to a proper understanding of human evolution and modern human behaviour. This module will cover the fundamentals of animal ecology and behavioural ecology, using primates as examples. Students will learn details of the behaviour of particular species, as well as the principles that can be drawn from the variety seen across the primate order. [More Information]
Seminar/practical topics will include:
Why do primates show large brains for their body size?
what has driven the evolution of primate diversity?
Is there evidence of altruism among primates?
And a choice of:
SE574: Ecology and Evolution of Human Health and Sickness
This module will explore the influence of biological, physical, cultural, social and family environments on human health. We will use evolutionary, biocultural and ecological perspectives to investigate the relationship between humankind and its diseases. The module will begin with an overview of relevant theoretical paradigms and subsequent lectures will cover current research into particular epidemiological and health processes, as well as selected disease phenomena. The latter portion of the module will be dedicated to the application of these perspectives in current real-world scenarios. [More Information]
SE576: Biocultural Perspectives in Medical Anthropology
In this module we will begin with an overview of the major theoretical paradigms and methods that have guided research in medical anthropology. We will then focus on medical ecology to help us understand how and why different diseases have affected various human populations throughout history, followed by an overview of ethnomedical systems as a cultural adaptation to disease. The final part of the module will cover practical applications of medical anthropology. [More Information]
CL601: Archaeology of Death
The archaeological study of death is far more than the discovery and forensic analysis of bodies. How peoples have treated their dead provides fascinating insights into their minds, in relation for example to cultural behaviour, social order, and ideology. The cognitive rather than the forensic will be the principal focus of the module. This module will examine and discuss how archaeologists can use mortuary activity to further their understanding of human attitudes in the past. There will be an introduction to approaches to the use of mortuary evidence in archaeology with an emphasis on the cognitive. The application of principles drawn from both anthropological and post-Medieval studies will be considered as a means of discerning contemporary attitudes from the archaeological record. [more information]
DI503: Evolutionary Genetics and Conservation
Genetics is the basis of all diversity within life on earth. Evolutionary processes foster biodiversity and genetic diversity across time scales ranging from a few generations to millions of years. This module examines genetic principles within the context of conservation – ranging from the maintenance of genetic diversity in natural populations, to genetic management of wild and captive populations, the genetic problems encountered by small populations, the concept of extinction, and the modern molecular tools available to the conservation geneticist.
PS502: Forensic Archaeology
The aim of the module is to describe the analytical and investigative techniques used to find and analyse archaeological remains. The module will focus on specimen detection, dating and analysis, including geophysical techniques, radiocarbon dating, and DNA profiling.
= Required
= Optional