Module Specification
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Human Evolution
Code LIFE336
Coordinator Prof RH Crompton
Musculoskeletal Biology II
Rhcromp@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 6 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):
None 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:
 

Co-requisite modules:
 

Linked Modules:
 

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours   24
This refers to 12 timetabled seminars (2h each) in which key concepts are explained
        24
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 126
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Unseen Written Exam  120  Semester 2  80  Yes    Written Examination 
Open Book Written Exam  60  Semester 2  20  Yes    In-class assessment Notes (applying to all assessments) - none 
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             

Aims

To develop in students an understanding of the course of human evolution 

To enable students to appreciate the adaptive and other evolutionary processes underlying it
 
 To develop in students knowledge and deep understanding in human evolution, and ability to apply, critically evaluate and interpret this knowledge to assemble cogent arguments.

Learning Outcomes

To assess the relationships, content and definition of the order Hominini

To appraise the pattern of species diversity and geographic distribution over time in Hominini and crown hominoids
 

To evaluate the influence of climate change and cyclicity in hominin evolution

To evaluate the broad patterns of locomotor, and craniofacial and dietary evolution of hominoids and hominins
 

To evaluate the extent and nature of any relationship between hominin technology and biological evolution
 

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Seminar - This refers to 12 timetabled seminars (2h each) in which key concepts are explained

Syllabus
1 

Dating, Context and Palaeoecology of Miocene Hominoidea
 
Evolutionary and functional morphology and context of extinct Crown Hominoids, and Protohominins:
 
Evolutionary and functional morphology and context of Archaic Hominins

Evolutionary and functional morphology and context of Transitional and Early Homo
 
Evolutionary and functional morphology and context of Archaic Homo
 
Evolutionary and functional morphology and context of Early and Modern Homo sapiens
 
Hominin dietary evolution and ecology
 
Hominin Locomotor evolution and ecology
 
Palaeolithic Technology and Art       


   
Module material will be delivered primarily through seminars. To support independent learning, students will be provided with materials on VITAL (such as lecture handouts and links to research papers) and other web-based resources. Students will also be guided to key articles in the literature (textbooks, original papers and review articles) and be expected to use this material to supplement their independent learning. An open-book essay half way through the course will test knowledge and ability to assemble arguments in the form, and to the length/timing used in the final assessment. Written and where requested oral feedback will be provided for the open book essay.< i>                       

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List:

Klein RG: 1999 The Human Career, Second Edition, University of Chicago Press.

 

Students will be directed to key research literature and media sources