The class begins by tracking the development of evolutionary thought in the sciences, and follows with a discussion of the mechanisms of modern evolutionary theory.  We then explore the similarities and differences in biology and behavior among the Order Primates:  the form, function, and adaptations of our closest living relatives are viewed in light of their relationship to human origins and human nature.  The course concludes with an overview of the processes of fossilization, methods for dating fossil material, and a survey of human paleontology.  Both biological and cultural processes are synthesized into a cohesive bio-cultural model for understanding our ancestry.

The goal of this course is to provide a fuller understanding of the reconstructions posited by anthropologists concerning the adaptations of our early ancestors, utilizing an acquired understanding of evolutionary mechanisms, comparative anatomy, primate ecology & behavior, the paleontological record, and cultural processes.  This course therein provides a greater appreciation of our interdependence with the natural world, and with each other.