ANTHRO 763 : Contemporary Bio-Anthropology

Arts

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores the ethical dimensions of new and innovative approaches to the study of the behaviour and biology of humans and other primates. What emerging developments help us to understand the complexity of human and alloprimate lives? And what ethical dilemmas do they raise? Topics include: biocultural dynamics, multi-species entanglements and health in past and contemporary societies.

Course Overview

This course gives students an opportunity to critically read, debate and thoughtfully evaluate some of the most important issues in  anthropology particularly from the perspective of biological anthropology. We analyse how key areas and ideas about human biocultural variation have changed and developed. We consider what new research questions are appearing and how they can be tackled. Students have the opportunity to identify areas they are particularly interested in following (e.g. ethnoprimatology, bioarchaeology, biosocial perspectives on health, life history, medical anthropology, etc.).  Course content will be tailored to staff and student interests.

The course is taught in a weekly seminar format with everyone having a set role for each week so that we equally participate in discussions and debates. 

Course Requirements

Restriction: ANTHRO 710, 726, 751, 752

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Be able to identify and thoughtfully evaluate hypotheses derived from various theories (Capability 1 and 3)
  2. To recognise strengths and weaknesses of, or limitations to, various arguments and be able to suggest what more could usefully be done to resolve disagreements or uncertainties (Capability 4 and 5)
  3. Be able to demonstrate effective library research skills including being able to track arguments and ideas both backwards and forwards (Capability 4 and 5)
  4. Be able to to formulate and organise a logical written argument (Capability 6)
  5. Be able to to give and respond to constructive comment on both written and oral work through oral participation in the class and responding to draft comments in written work (Capability 6 and 7)
  6. Be able to present opinions and work orally to a small group and participate in such discussions (Capability 5 and 6)
  7. Develop an understanding and sensitivity to ethical issues particularly those relevant to working in the Pacific. (Capability 1 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 100% Individual Coursework

Next Offered

2026 Semester 2

Teaching & Learning Methods

Seminar discussions, brief presentations. 

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, each week you can expect 2 hours of seminars, 4 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including seminars to receive credit for components of the course.
Seminars will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable. 

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

There are articles to be read each week and these will be available via the Talis reading list (accessible via Canvas and/or the Library website). 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The current structure of the course is based on student feedback from previous years. Minor changes for 2025 include continuation of use of Perusall for readings.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 29/10/2024 08:54 a.m.