Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This is an asynchronous class which means we do not meet for Live sessions! And, it's only 8 weeks!

This class is an excellent opportunity to explore the 6 million year+ intersection of biology and culture. We center humans as a part of nature (not apart from it) and as, first and foremost, primates. We'll use this lens to explore:

• The development of human evolution theory
• The forces of evolution (natural selection, mutation, Founder's Effect, etc.)
• Heredity versus the myth of biological race 
• Social Darwinism
• Osteology
• Primate evolution and behavior
• Non-human primate habitat destruction, captivity and imprisonment, research and testing, and protection
• Paleontology and Paleoanthropology - fossil ancestors like the Australopithecines and the Genus Homo
• Cultural ecology

Learning assignments include a non-human primate observation project (you'll literally watch monkeys and apes for a few hours and report your findings), experiential learning activities (you'll never look at your thumbs in the same way again), evidence-based research (homework prepares you to participate in...) and analysis of three ethical issues - medical research and consent, testing on nonhuman primates, and working with human skeletal remains.

Content is free - an open-access text and other open access or publicly available media (documentaries, articles, and reports).

You will need to:

• maintain your PCC Gmail account
• operate Web browsing software
• operate windows based software packages
• access PCC Google Drive programs (DOCS, Jamboard)
• keep notes (using paper, electronic devises, Disability Services, etc.)
• use a reliable electronic device (PC, Smart Phone, Laptop, etc.) outfitted with a camera and microphone
• access to reliable Internet/wifi

If you do not have regular access to a personal computer or smart device, contact the college and they will help you with this! Please email me with any questions!