School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Human Evolution and Ecology
  • Unit Code

    SCH1132
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr David Antony COALL

Description

The place of humans in the natural world is explored through the fossil record, the molecules that make us, the behaviour of living nonhuman primates and the behaviours and biology of modern people. Evidence of our evolutionary past is visible in the fossil record, in our DNA, our hominid anatomy, our physiology and our behaviour. Even so, the field of human evolutionary study abounds with controversies: intelligent design and creationism; the aquatic ape hypothesis; the little people of Flores; human altruism, selfishness and genocide; is 'Homo sapiens' the architect of Planet Earth's sixth mass-extinction? This unit presents the scientific evidence for human evolution and critically appraises significant controversies within Biological Anthropology.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Classify Primates into infraorders, suborders, superfamilies, families and subfamilies.
  2. Compare sexual selection to natural selection.
  3. Critically analyse a range of contemporary human evolutionary controversies.
  4. Describe the forces of evolution and how they can lead to the formation of species.
  5. Describe the roots and scope of Biological Anthropology.
  6. Explain how an understanding of cellular anatomy and DNA structure and function has led to molecular tools for bioanthropological research.
  7. Explain primate evolutionary trends and the possible selection forces that gave rise to them.
  8. Identify hominid features and describe hominid progression from early hominid forms through to the emergence of Homo sapiens.
  9. Recognise the key postulates and interpretations that led Darwin to his theory of natural selection.

Unit Content

  1. Biological anthropology and the principles of evolution: from Charles Darwin to Richard Dawkins.
  2. Hominid progression and palaeoanthropology.
  3. The Primate Order and its diversity: a continuing taxonomic debate.
  4. The importance of peer-reviewed research in long-standing and recent controversies in evolutionary anthropology.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit comprises lectures (including industry based guest lecturers), interactive tutorials and a three-hour Primate field trip at Perth Zoo, which runs four times to accommodate all enrolled students. Total contact time for this unit is 3 hours per week. At the Zoo, students work in small teams to record and corroborate observations. In tutorials, students working in teams debate controversies in biological anthropology, critically evaluating opposing views and formulating their own ideas. The sustainable use of resources via LMS will be promoted throughout this unit.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioTake home activities investigating primate diversity40%
EssayCritique of a peer reviewed research article30%
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination30%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioTake home activities investigating primate diversity40%
EssayCritique of a peer reviewed research article30%
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination30%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SCH1132|1|1

School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Human Evolution and Ecology
  • Unit Code

    SCH1132
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr David Antony COALL

Description

The place of humans in the natural world is explored through the fossil record, the molecules that make us, the behaviour of living nonhuman primates and the behaviours and biology of modern people. Evidence of our evolutionary past is visible in the fossil record, in our DNA, our hominid anatomy, our physiology and our behaviour. Even so, the field of human evolutionary study abounds with controversies: intelligent design and creationism; the aquatic ape hypothesis; the little people of Flores; human altruism, selfishness and genocide; is 'Homo sapiens' the architect of Planet Earth's sixth mass-extinction? This unit presents the scientific evidence for human evolution and critically appraises significant controversies within Biological Anthropology.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Classify Primates into infraorders, suborders, superfamilies, families and subfamilies.
  2. Compare sexual selection to natural selection.
  3. Critically analyse a range of contemporary human evolutionary controversies.
  4. Describe the forces of evolution and how they can lead to the formation of species.
  5. Describe the roots and scope of Biological Anthropology.
  6. Explain how an understanding of cellular anatomy and DNA structure and function has led to molecular tools for bioanthropological research.
  7. Explain primate evolutionary trends and the possible selection forces that gave rise to them.
  8. Identify hominid features and describe hominid progression from early hominid forms through to the emergence of Homo sapiens.
  9. Recognise the key postulates and interpretations that led Darwin to his theory of natural selection.

Unit Content

  1. Biological anthropology and the principles of evolution: from Charles Darwin to Richard Dawkins.
  2. Hominid progression and palaeoanthropology.
  3. The Primate Order and its diversity: a continuing taxonomic debate.
  4. The importance of peer-reviewed research in long-standing and recent controversies in evolutionary anthropology.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit comprises lectures (including industry based guest lecturers), interactive tutorials and a three-hour Primate field trip at Perth Zoo, which runs four times to accommodate all enrolled students. Total contact time for this unit is 3 hours per week. At the Zoo, students work in small teams to record and corroborate observations. In tutorials, students working in teams debate controversies in biological anthropology, critically evaluating opposing views and formulating their own ideas. The sustainable use of resources via LMS will be promoted throughout this unit.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioTake home activities investigating primate diversity40%
EssayCritique of a peer reviewed research article30%
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination30%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioTake home activities investigating primate diversity40%
EssayCritique of a peer reviewed research article30%
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination30%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SCH1132|1|2