SEMINAR: HUMAN EVOLUTION

BIOL 0280

Course Description

Topics will vary depending upon availability of staff and student interest. Primarily for juniors and seniors. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor. One semester hour.

A variety of readings pertaining to topics in human evolution (e.g. adaptations to physical environments, locomotion, brain and speech, fossil evidence, and the dispersal of modern humans) will be discussed in an online forum. Students will also choose a topic of personal interest to research in greater depth before developing a web page showcasing their project.

Instructor: Karen Pinco, Ph.D.

Email: kpinco@wsc.ma.edu

Office: 213 Wilson Hall

Office phone: 413-572-5776

Office Hours

M and W from 1:00-2:00pm

T from 11:00-12:00pm

Also by appointment or most any time my door is open.

*Note: You will have to walk through the computer laboratory to reach my office. If it appears a class is in session, walk quietly and politely - the other professors will understand.

Course Website

This class will be using this course website: http://biology.wsc.ma.edu/Biol280/. Please be sure you check this site early and regularly.

Required Materials:

Internet Access

Instructor Provided Reading Packet

The Complete World of Human Evolution by Chris Stringer and Peter Andrews

Conduct of the Course:

This course will be conducted entirely online (there will be no time-restricted required presence - you may complete your work at any time during the day).

Students are responsible for completing the assigned reading in order to participate effectively in the online discussions. We will have five different discussion units this semester covering some of the basics of human evolution. Each unit will be worth 10 points. Please see the grading rubric to determine how your participation will be assessed.

Students will also be researching a topic of their choosing (subject to instructor approval) and developing a web page that will present their work to the class and any interested viewers.

As a jr./sr. seminar, the instructor must also assess your biology portfolio.

Academic Honesty:

Academic honesty, a necessary foundation of a learning community, is expected of all students. Violations of academic honesty include cheating on examinations, plagiarism, and submission of papers for credit for two or more courses. Plagiarism consists of utilizing the work, words, or ideas of another person as if they were your own. All papers must have proper footnotes and references. Violations of academic honesty are unacceptable and are subject to academic penalties, including failure of the course."(Westfield State College Bulletin)

Grading:

The extent to which students meet the above objectives will be determined in the following manner:

Discussion Units @ 10 points each

Independent Project = 50 points

A final grade consists of a student's total from a possible 100 points expressed as a percent and converted to a letter grade by a scale no more stringent than:

A = 90 to 100%

A- = 89-89.9%

B+ = 86-88.9%

B = 80-85.9%

B- = 79-79.9%

C+ = 76-78.9%

C = 70-75.9%

C- = 69-69.9%

D = 60 - 68.9%

F = < 60%

Under no circumstances should the student assume that a "curve" or "scale" will be applied.

SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITH DUE NOTICE

NOTE:

Any student in this course who has a disability that prevents the fullest expression of their abilities should contact the instructor as soon as possible, so that we can discuss class requirements.