Humans are as much a part of the natural world as plants and animals, and a full understanding of our anatomy, physiology and behaviour thus requires a deep appreciation of evolutionary principles. This major aims to provide that level of understanding by exploring human evolutionary history, a story spanning the last seven million years, and its relevance for humans today. Students in this major will strive to answer questions such as: How have evolutionary forces shaped the origin and maintenance of human adaptations? How are humans like other animals? What makes humans unique? And What evolutionary processes led to this uniqueness?
Learning Outcomes
Upon
successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Explain the processes of natural selection, adaptation and
speciation that underpin the evolution of animals and humans - Explain the characteristics of humans, including intelligence,
language, culture, morphology and behaviour, and place those in the context of
our place in the animal kingdom - Interpret and discuss hypotheses as to how and why uniquely human
adaptations initially evolved. - Critically evaluate and propose hypotheses about the future
directions of human evolution on the basis of existing evolutionary theory and
the selective factors acting on humans.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must consist of:
18 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:
BIAN1001 The Human Voyage: Introduction to Biological Anthropology
BIAN3113 Human Evolution
BIOL1003 Biology 1: Evolution, Ecology and Genetics
A minimum of 6 units from completion of courses from the following list:
BIOL3131 Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology
BIOL3186 Human Anatomy
BIOL3206 Evolution of Biodiversity
A minimum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following list:
BIAN2015 Human Skeletal Analysis
BIAN2119 Nutrition, Disease and the Environment
BIAN3124 Evolution and Human Behaviour
BIAN3127 Primate Ecology and Behaviour
A maximum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following list:
BIAN2126 Primate Evolutionary Biology
BIAN2133 Mating and Parenting: Evolutionary Ecology of Human Reproductive Strategies
BIAN3021 Primate Conservation Biology
BIAN3125 Ancient Health & Disease
BIOL2131 Ecology
BIOL2191 Ecology of Health and Disease
BIOL2222 Exquisite Corpse - Insight Into The Human Body
BIOL3204 Genetics of Human Disease 1
BIOL3205 Genetics of Human Disease 2
