Exploration of human biological variation from an evolutionary perspective.

Biological Anthropology

• Developmental plasticity

• Forces of evolution

• Molecular genetics

• Anthropometry

• Variation

• Biocultural perspectives

• Evolutionary theory

• Scientific method

• Environment

• Trade-offs

• Describe principles of evolutionary theory to explain human variation
• Identify evolutionary links between biology, culture, and environment
• Explore human evolution using a form-function-adaptation approach
• Exercise critical thinking skills

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Course Description: At the dawn of the second millennium BC, Mesopotamia was in chaos. Eventually, the kings of Babylon established control and created an empire.  While Mesopotamian political, economic, social and religious systems were markedly different from ours, the problems and issues they faced were not. These include surviving political upheaval, the role of religion in everyday life, the dynamics of international trade, and human rights.

Professor Jeanne Nijhowne

June 1-July 2, 2021

A Term – Remote

9:25-11:00 AM

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In this class, we study disasters from a broad anthropological perspective questions the false dichotomy between nature and society, and has put front and center the role of human agency in the creation of disasters. This perspective argues that disasters occur within the context of archaeologically/historically created patterns of vulnerability.

Professor Geraldo Gutiérrez

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This course focuses on some of the present, and possible future, socio-ecological conditions of life on planet earth. In particular we will work to understand the historic, economic, political, and socio-cultural forces that created the conditions we call climate change. With this we will take a particular interest in the question of how race, ethnicity, Indigeneity, class, and gender articulate with the material effects of climate change. The course also focuses on how we, as scholars, citizens, and activists can work to alter these current conditions in ways that foster social and ecological justice for all living beings.

The course will be a combination of lecture and discussion. Students will be assigned a small group to work in, which will be the same group of students they will work with throughout the semester. Each student is expected to attend each class and participate in each class discussion. Many class meetings will involve group or paired work. Students are also expected to participate fully in the collaborative work.

Professor Jerry Jacka

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Explore 10,000 years of Maritime peoples, histories, and cultures!

• Key Themes: migration; human- nature relationships; development; resistance; sailing; knowledges; climate change

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Nonhuman primates (NHP) are our closest living relatives, and no other group of mammals can remind us of ourselves the way nonhuman primates do. We will start this course by examining the phylogeny, geography, and general evolutionary history of primates. You will learn to recognize different clades of primates and the main traits that distinguish them. As we are getting familiar with the different primate clades, we will also built a more theoretical understanding of the ecology of primates. How are primates adapted to inhabit tropical forests? Which foods do they eat, and which adaptations help them obtain nutrients and avoid toxins? How do primates interact with other animals? The next part of the course will focus on selecting mates, “growing up,” and social aspects of group living. We will intersperse these themes and end the course with primate communication, cognition, and culture.

Instructor Griëtte van der Heide

See the for specifics, recommendations, and prerequisites.

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Professor Kaifa Roland

See the  for specifics, recommendations, and prerequisites.

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See the for specifics, recommendations, and prerequisites.

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Instructor: Bailey Duhé

Who invented race? Do police really target communities of color? Are race and ethnicity the same thing? Is white privilege bad?

If you’ve asked any of these questions and want a space to work through the answers, ANTH 4020: Brown Studies is for you.

This is an introduction to Critical Race Theory course that uses mixed-race experiences in the United States as examples to answer, discuss, and problematize race as we understand it today.

Want more information? Got a question? bailey.duhe@colorado.edu

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Maymester 2021
Professor Laura DeLuca

ADVENTURING AS AN ARMCHAIR ANTHROPOLOGIST

Education Abroad’s  is going virtual this summer! Students on this virtual program will the opportunity to learn about East African cultures, immerse themselves in the Swahili language, and connect with amazing people on the African continent. Dr. Laura DeLuca, known to students as Mwalimu (Swahili for teacher), will teach the course along with a number of guest lecturers. These lecturers include top experts in their field, from safari guides to indigenous leaders, many of whom are on the ground to show students the location they’re learning about. For example, Edward Loure, the winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize will share his wisdom about Maasai land rights with our group. 

Students on the program will earn 3 upper-division anthropology credits over the course of the two and a half week program during Maymester. While students may not spend their summer wandering the winding streets of Arusha and Zanzibar, they can still gain meaningful cultural experiences, expand their social network, earn CU course credit, and all at a fraction of the on-site program cost. Are you interested in learning more about the nuts and bolts of global work and anthropology field immersion? This program is a great option for any student looking to dip their toes into an international experience and stand out to future employers whether they’re looking to pursue international development, environmental conservation work, medicine, law, education or the corporate world. Learn the skills that will serve you in a variety of global settings.

Key benefits of taking the Global Seminar Tanzania:

• The  Global Seminar Tanzania program will not be canceled due to COVID is also a key aspect. Students can make firm summer plans and know what they will be doing next summer.
• The program will be an amazing preparation for any students who plan to work in the non-profit, global development, or engaged anthropology or visit Tanzania in the future.
• The meetings with indigenous leaders, conservation experts, and live safari drives are “above and beyond” a regular course. This is a program, not just an online course. The experience will be life-changing for students.
• The highly interactive nature of the experience and its innovative approach will allow meaningful and engaging learning directly from local experts and from Anthropology Instructor Laura, the CU expert who has lived and worked in Tanzania. This is not an option on any “regular” courses.
• The global engagement experience thanks to the activities that Mwalimu Laura DeLuca and Dorobo carefully designed will be unparalleled and students will be able to feature it prominently on their resume. 
• There is no alternative to learning about the course content on campus or on-site this year.
• Contact Program Director Laura DeLuca for details at laura.deluca@colorado.edu

Learn more at the on Wednesday, January 27^th at 3:30 PM.

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