Biological anthropology is the branch of anthropology that focuses on the evolutionary and biological aspects of humankind: Homo sapiens as an evolved species - human populations as varied and dynamically changing sets of biological individuals, adaptable but also vulnerable to ever-changing circumstances. It is also concerned with the non-human primates, and with current debates on the biological bases of human social behaviour. The subject thus encompasses what used to be called physical anthropology, as well as primatology, palaeoanthropology and human population biology, including human genetics and the study of human health, nutrition, growth, demography and ecological adaptation, viewed comparatively and synthetically.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- define the scope of biological anthropology as a discipline and situate it in a wider anthropological context
- apply the discipline's theoretical approaches and research methodologies in the investigation of primate evolutionary and population biology
- critically discuss contemporary and historical research in at least two of the following subfields: fossil evidence for human evolution; evolutionary primatology; behavioural primatology; human skeletal morphology; bioarchaeology; anthropological genetics; human population health, nutrition and environmental adaptability; human population dynamics
- recognise and reflect on local and international perspectives on research in biological anthropology
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This minor requires the completion of 24 units, which must consist of:
6 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIAN1001 | The Human Voyage: Introduction to Biological Anthropology | 6 |
18 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIAN2015 | Human Skeletal Analysis | 6 |
| BIAN2119 | Nutrition, Disease and the Environment | 6 |
| BIAN2126 | Primate Evolutionary Biology | 6 |
| BIAN3113 | Human Evolution | 6 |
| BIAN3124 | Evolution and Human Behaviour | 6 |
| BIAN3125 | Ancient Health & Disease | 6 |
| BIAN3127 | Primate Ecology and Behaviour | 6 |
