Kevin D. Hunt: IU Classes (see bulletin for current offerings)

Human Origins and Prehistory (A105): In discussion groups, labs, andwell-illustrated lectures the origins of features that make humans unique are investigated. Students learn what our ancestors looked like at each stage of our evolution, and why. We search for the origins of bipedalism, the reasons for our loss of body hair, and why we have large brains and rich diets. We look for the beginnings of our reliance on technology, and the roots of our current numerical success. Our fellow primates provide ecological and evolutionary examples that guide our evolutionary investigation of humans.

Sister Species: Lessons from the Chimpanzee (E105): Sister Species is as much a survey of the natural sciences as of chimpanzees. Chimpanzee research is merely the nexus through which students are introduced to the fields of history and philosophy of science, taxonomy, anatomy, functional morphology, kinesiology, physiology, ecology, nutrition, ethology, molecular biology, epidemiology, pathology, endocrinology, embryology, genetics, psychology, linguistics, public policy, and animal conservation.

Introduction to Biological Anthropology (B200): B200 is an introduction to the biological study of humans. Students learn the basics of genetics, evolutionary theory, human evolution, human adaptation, and human variation. Five supervised labs give students hands-on experience with primate morphology, dental anatomy, fossil anatomy, and biological methods.

Evolution of Primate Social Behavior (B368/568): Primate societies are are parsed into 5 basic systems, after which variations on these themes are investigated. Students learn that nonhuman primates vary from solitary, positively antisocial species, to animals that gather in groups of up to 300. The evolutionary and ecological bases of primate intelligence, communication, tool use, territoriality, aggression, parenting, affiliation, and sociality are detailed.

Human Paleontology (B464): Our understanding of human evolution istraced from classical Greek philosophy, to the modern synthesis, to socioecology. Epistemology from Plato to Popper is related to the human fossil record. Four labs allow students to examine fossil primates and fossil humans first-hand to gain an in-depth familiarity with every stage of human evolution. Ecology, subsistence strategy, and functional anatomy are emphasized.

PRIMATES (B466): Primates is an upperclass/graduate level seminar meant for advanced bioanthropology undergraduate majors and graduates with research interests in primate behavior and ecology. In the course of the semester we will work our way through John Fleagle's masterful Primate Adaptation and Evolution. Among the issues Fleagle addresses are the evolution of primate feeding strategies, primate functional anatomy, the evolutionary and ecological bases of sociality, evolution of territoriality and primate phylogeny are covered in the text. Familiarity with primate taxonomy, socioecology and evolutionary theory are helpful.

Up from the Ape: Why Are There Humans? (B400/600): In this seminarstudents discuss hypotheses that purport to explain why and when humans evolved characteristics unique among the primates. Seminar begins with a discussion of which features define humanity. A series of lectures on human evolution follows. Students read, discuss and debate the merits of scientific articles that grapple with critical issues in human evolution.

Theory and Method in Human Paleontology (B524): Hypothesis testing, experimental design and evolutionary theory are examined through the primary literature. A selection of diverse and influential research articles focus discussion. Interwoven with readings are labs in which students observe, measure and then interpret hominid fossils in light of the readings. Paleoecology, species identification, molecular taxonomy and cladistics are critiqued as the meaning of human fossils is explored. Graduate students achieve a level of familiarity with hominid fossils that prepares them to teach human paleontology to undergraduates with confidence and currency.

Advanced Readings in Human Paleontology (B400/600): Advanced undergraduates and graduate students read and discuss the merits and meaning of up-to-the-week human evolution research. Focus is on ground-breaking works from the months and weeks Ð and sometimes hours Ð before each meeting. Students have a strong voice in the choice of weekly topics.