Human Origins, Biology, and Behavior Major

Effective Fall 2012-Summer 2014 

May be elected as an interdepartmental major

Evolutionary Anthropology is a joint major, with courses from the Anthropology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Molecular and Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and Psychology Departments and the School of Natural Resources and the Environment. It combines anthropological and biological perspectives in the study of humans and related species. It is particularly appropriate for students planning to continue in the health sciences and for students interested in "whole organism" biology and ecology. Thus, many Evolutionary Anthropology majors are training for medical school, while others are planning to pursue careers in Natural Resource Management, Conservation, Animal Behavior, and other fields. Because evolutionary biology forms its primary theoretical basis, the major does not require courses in other sub-disciplines of anthropology. Students who are interested in biological anthropology and seek broader training in anthropological archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology may pursue a degree as an Anthropology concentrator. Students should contact the Undergraduate Advisor in the Department of Anthropology for further information.

Prerequisites to the Major

ANTHRBIO 161; and BIOLOGY 171, 172, 173, or BIOLOGY 195 and 173.

Requirements for the Major

Requires 32 credits distributed as follows:

1. Anthropology. A minimum of four of the courses below, at least two of which must be at the 400-level or above and must represent two of the three groups:*
   
   
   1. Evolution, paleontology, morphology:
      ANTHRBIO 351, 360, 365, 366, 465, 474, 475, 477, 479.
      
   2. Primatology, ecology, behavior:
      ANTHRBIO 361, 368, 467, 560, 472, 478
      
   3. Genetics, growth, adaptation, race:
      ANTHRBIO 362, 363, 364, 450/451, 461, 462, 464, 473.
      
   *Courses taken as ANTHRBIO 469 (Topics in Biological Anthropology) or graduate-level topics courses can be counted in the appropriate group.
   
   
2. Biology. A minimum of three courses representing both groups below:
   1. Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology:
      • ANAT 541
      • BIOLCHEM 415
      • BIOLOGY 207, 225/226, 305
      • EEB 341, 490
      • MCDB 307/308, 310 or 311
      • PHYSIOL 201, 502, 541
      • PSYCH 438, 532
   2. Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior:
      • BIOLOGY 252, 281
      • EEB 315, 381, 390, 424, 451, 472, 476, 492, 496
      • ENVIRON 281, 315, 415, 425, 451, 476
      • EARTH 418, 419, 437, 438, 439
      • NRE 415, 425, 451, 476
      • PSYCH 335, 530 (section titled Behavior of Dogs and Wolves)
        
3. Any remaining credits required to complete the major may be selected, subject to approval by the program advisor, from other anthropology or biology courses or from courses in other departments relevant to the major. Courses taken as ANTHRBIO 297 may be used toward any remaining credits.
   

Honors Plan

The Honors plan in Evolutionary Anthropology is individually arranged with the department advisor and requires a senior thesis. Recommendations for degrees with Honors are made by the department advisor after consultation with the Honors advisor in biological anthropology.