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.
The pass degree courses are planned, not to provide specialised professional training, but to present students with an overall understanding of biological anthropology and its main sub-fields. Honours courses offer more specialist training and examine in more depth the discipline's theoretical basis. Students considering the possibility of entering careers as professional biological anthropologists should plan their courses with a view to taking the degree with Honours. Specific preparation for honours work begins in third year.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Due to structural changes in the undergraduate program rules in 2012, the courses that make up the new 2012 majors may be different to the pre-2012 majors, and therefore some courses cannot be counted between majors. Students are advised to contact the CASS Student Office if they are unsure about their Majors.
Learning Outcomes
Students who complete this major will have the skills and knowledge 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 four 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
- Bachelor of Arts (BARTS)
- Bachelor of Arts/Master of International Affairs (BARTVMIA)
- Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (Sustainability) (BISSU)
- Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (Sustainability) Advanced (Honours) (AISSU)
- Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) - Arts and Social Science (APHAR)
- Bachelor of Science (BSC)
- Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) (ASCAD)
Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:
A maximum of 12 units of courses at 1000 level
A minimum of 6 units of courses at 3000 level
A minimum of 24 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIAN2015 | Human Skeletal Analysis | 6 |
| BIAN2115 | 'Race' and Human Genetic Variation | 6 |
| BIAN2119 | Nutrition, Disease and the Environment | 6 |
| BIAN2126 | Primate Evolutionary Biology | 6 |
| BIAN3014 | Research Design and Analysis in Biological Anthropology | 6 |
| BIAN3018 | Primate Behavioural Ecology Field School in Cambodia | 12 |
| BIAN3113 | Human Evolution | 6 |
| BIAN3125 | Ancient Health & Disease | 6 |
| BIAN3127 | Primate Ecology and Behaviour | 6 |
A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH2026 | Medicine, Healing and the Body | 6 |
| ANTH2132 | Food for Thought: Anthropological theories of food and eating | 6 |
| ANTH2133 | Social Animals: anthropological perspectives on animal-human relationships | 6 |
| ARCH3028 | Archaeology of Death and Mortuary Practices | 6 |
| ARCH3108 | Animals, Plants and People | 6 |
| BIAN2064 | Anthropology of Environmental Disasters | 6 |
| BIAN2120 | Culture, Biology and Population Dynamics | 6 |
| BIAN2128 | Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology | 6 |
| BIAN2130 | Ancient Medicine | 6 |
| BIAN2131 | Evolutionary Perspectives on Parenting and Childcare | 6 |
| BIAN2132 | Sexual Selection and Human Evolution | 6 |
| BIAN3010 | Scientific Dating and Isotope analysis for Archaeology and Palaeoanthropology | 6 |
| BIAN3016 | Analysis of Mammalian Remains | 6 |
| BIAN3021 | Primate Conservation Biology | 6 |
| BIAN3124 | Evolution and Human Behaviour | 6 |
| BIAN3129 | Supervised Research in Biological Anthropology | 6 |
| BIOL2103 | Human Physiology | 6 |
| BIOL2151 | Principles of Genetics | 6 |
| BIOL2191 | Ecology of Health and Disease | 6 |
| BIOL3131 | Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology | 6 |
| BIOL3142 | Parasitology | 6 |
| BIOL3204 | Human Genetics | 6 |
| ENVS2011 | Human Ecology | 6 |
| ENVS2012 | Sustainable Urban Systems | 6 |
| PSYC2007 | Biological Basis of Behaviour | 6 |
A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:
1000 level courses in:
- Anthropology (ANTH)
- Archaeology (ARCH)
- Biology (BIOL)