Bi7878 General Anthropology I: Biological Anthropology

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Martin Čuta, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Mikoláš Jurda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Arwa Kharobi, PhD (lecturer)
RNDr. Robin Pěnička, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. RNDr. Václav Vančata, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Mikoláš Jurda, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Mgr. Mikoláš Jurda, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Wed 18:00–19:50 Bp1,01007
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 51 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 24/51, only registered: 0/51, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/51
Course objectives
"Where are we? Who are we? Where are we going? "- the answers to these fundamental questions are contained in this lecture series designed for Masaryk University students. The program is based on empirical studies (biological, social and cultural anthropology), in which lecturers from the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, actively participate. It is based on the knowledge that humans and communities, their origins, evolution and transformation are determined by the interaction of biological, medical, psychological, social and cultural contingencies.
In the autumn semester, humanness is presented primarily as a biological entity (human biological variability, comparison to other biological species, especially our closest relatives - the primates).
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course the student will be able to understand and explain the role humans play in nature, i.e. common characteristics humans share with other primates as well as the unique human characteristics which distinguish us biologically from other animals. The student will be able to describe the main events and the circumstances which led to human evolution and explain specific adaptational characteristics. The student will also be able to assess the current adaptability of such characteristics in the context of postmodern society/civilization.
Syllabus
  • Historical development of biological anthropology, structure and objectives of contemporary anthropology, subject and methods of biological anthropology
  • Contemporary trends in biological anthropology, virtual anthropology
  • Human anatomy – verticalization of the human body as a key to hominization: changes in skeleton, causes and consequences
  • Morphological signatures of specific human behaviors Human evolution I: human as primate, ape and evolution of first hominins
  • Human Evolution II: Homo erectus, H. heidelbergensis, H. neanderthalensis, H. sapiens, evolution, spread and demography of modern humans
  • Human ontogeny and individual growth
  • Human variability and adaptability, historical approaches
  • Human variability in response to environmental conditions, adaptation to physical and biological factors and dietary adaptation
  • Human reproduction and sexuality
  • The ethnic diversity of the contemporary world
  • Human and stress: environment, aggression, diseases
Literature
  • Malina J. (ed.) a kolektiv (2010): Panoráma biologické a sociokulturní antropologie. Brno: Masarykova univerzita. Dostupné na: http://is.muni.cz/elportal/?id=883579
  • Malina J. a kolektiv (2009): Antropologický slovník. Brno: Masarykova univerzita. Dostupné na: http://is.muni.cz/elportal/?id=858696
Teaching methods
lectures in Czech and English
Assessment methods
The course is concluded with a written test. The test consists of 30 questions with 1-4 correct answers, determining the level of knowledge acquired throughout the semester. For each correct answer, the relative score is added (0.25–1, depending on the number of correct answers in the given question). For each selected wrong answer, one-third of a point is deducted. This means that the whole point for one question will be awarded only for choosing all the correct answers and only them. A minimum of 15 points is required to pass the test. Depending on a current situation, testing will take place either in distant form or in person.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
The course is composed of lectures by several lecturers, some will be full-time (face-to-face), some will be online. Most of the lectures will be in Czech, some in English. Study materials will be available in an interactive syllabus in IS and may be in Czech or English. The final exam test will be in Czech.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022.
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