Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Biological Anthropology (Online)

ANTH 1020-30I

Course: ANTH 1020-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: HSOC
CRN: 32293

Course Description

This course explores basic evolutionary theory and human genetics from an anthropological perspective. It traces human evolution through time; compares humans to their closest living relatives, non-human primates; and examines the significance of modern human biological variations and adaptations. (Fall, Summer [As Needed]) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Required Texts

Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology, 2nd Edition edited by Shook, Braff, Nelson, & Aguilera. Open Educational Resource: https://pressbooks.calstate.edu/explorationsbioanth2/

Learning Outcomes

ANTH1020 is a General Education (GE) course in the Social and Behavioral Science category. These GE courses are intended to develop students’ understanding of themselves and the world through the study of methods and theories used by historians and scientists. Courses in this knowledge area seek to, describe, explain, and analyze individual and collective human behavior and relationships. These courses prepare students to grasp the diversities and complexities of human life, past and present, and come to an informed sense of self and others. More specifically, ANTH1020 will introduce students to (and assess their progress on) two essential learning outcomes over the course of the semester:

  1. Intercultural Knowledge and Competence: Students demonstrate that they possess a set of cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills and characteristics that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.
  2. Knowledge of Human Cultures: Students will be able to: (1) Demonstrate understanding of relevant social and behavioral science methodologies and how they are used to understand or explain human relations or interactions; (2) Identify general principles of behavioral and social functioning; (3) Connect those questions and issues to the students’ own experiences; and (4) Demonstrate a critically reasoned understanding of social patterns and individual variation congruent with and divergent from those patterns.

Course Requirements

Reading Notes

10 points each, 12 submissions

Discussion Boards

20 points each, 14 discussion boards

Quizzes

30 points each, 13 submissions

Mid-term Assignment: Media Review

100 points

Final Assignment: Hominin Profile

110 points

Course Outline

Module 1: Syllabus and Introduction to Biological Anthropology
Module 2: Evolutionary Theory
Module 3: Genetics
Module 4: Forces of Evolution
Module 5: Biology and Living People
Module 6: Biology and Other Living Primates
Module 7: Media Review
Module 8: Primate Behavior
Module 9: Fossils
Module 10: Primate Evolution
Module 11: Hominin Evolution
Module 12: Early Homo
Module 13: Modern People
Module 14: The Past 10,000 Years
Finals Week: Final Assignment

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

All due dates and times are in Cedar City time (Mountain Time). Missing a deadline because you are in another time zone is not a valid excuse.

By enrolling in this course, you agree to abide by the policies outlined in this course. This includes refraining from using AI-generated text or images on discussion boards or in other assignments. Late assignments are accepted for a reduction in points. Late work will be accepted up to two weeks after the deadline. 2% will be deducted from the score for each day the assignment is late (e.g. for an assignment submitted 4 days late, the maximum score you can earn is 92%). The maximum late deduction is 20%. It is important to note that assignments will NOT be accepted after the end of the course. So, an assignment that was due on Monday of Week 3 could be turned in on Monday of Week 5 for a maximum possible score of 80%. But an assignment due the last day of class must be turned in before the end of the class, and will not be accepted late. 

Attendance Policy

This is an online asynchronous class, so there is not an explicit attendance policy. Some relevant policies are included in the late work section of the syllabus, and in this excerpt from the section on discussion boards: Before posting complete the assigned reading, take notes, and watch the video(s). Read through the existing posts before you post to ensure you can make an original contribution. Take your time and write meaningful discussion forum postings. Your ideas and contributions are important—as are grammar, spelling, clarity, and sentence structure—so proofread before you post. Check Canvas often to communicate with me and your classmates. This is our primary means of communicating and getting to know each other, so please have fun and be respectful!

Course Fees

 Courses in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences are assigned a program fee of $4.00 per credit hour. Online courses are assigned a technology fee of $8.00 per credit hour. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.