Elwyn L. Simons, Ph.D.

COURSES OFFERED AT DUKE:

HUMAN EVOLUTION

• Department: BAA
  Course Number: 132
  Permission required? N
  
• Prerequisites: BAA 093
• Synopsis of course content:
  This course provides a background to understanding the ancestry, origin, and emergence of humans. Evolutionary principles and archaeological and paleontological field methods are covered. The record of fossil primates, especially those finds (and sites) documenting extinct higher primates and the ancestry of humans is presented. How fossils and environmental evidence are used to reconstruct the past will be dealt with. Personalities, theories, and conflicting hypotheses are presented in solving the puzzle of human origins.
• Textbooks:
  "Getting Here: The Story of Human Evolution" by W. Howell (optional); "Human Origins" by E.L. Simons (Science 45:1343-1350, 1989); "Human Evolution", 3rd edition, R. Lewin
• Possible reserved readings references
• Mid-term and final
• No Term Papers
• Grade to be based on exams and class participation

HOMINID FOSSIL RECORD

• Department: BAA
  Course Number: 247 (offered only during the Spring semester)
  Permission required? Y
  
• Prerequisites:
  BAA 093 or BAA 132, or instructor's permission
• Synopsis of course content:
  This course presents a complete review of the origin and successive stages of human ancestry; new developments are illustrated by casts and topical videos or movies; current views on the origin and evolution of modern humans and successive cultural developments will be discussed; as well as personalities and current controversies in the study of hominid fossils. A review of theories as to the origin of language, art, and culture will be offered.
• Textbooks:
  "Reconstructing Human Origins: A Modern Synthesis" by Glenn C. Conroy (1997).
• Course handouts/reprints provided
• Mid-term and final
• Term Papers will be decided by participants and professor
• Grade is to be based on exams, participation, and term paper (if chosen)