Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)

Module HUSS3261: CURRENT ISSUES IN BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Department: Anthropology (Human Sciences) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

HUSS3261: CURRENT ISSUES IN BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Type	Tied	Level	3	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2010/11	Module Cap	None.	Location	Queen's Campus Stockton

Tied to	L600

Prerequisites

Completion of Methods & Analysis I: Research Techniques (HUSS2101) AND Methods and Analysis II: Research Project (HUSS2111).

Corequisites

Human Sciences Dissertation.

Excluded Combination of Modules

Current Issues in Medical Anthropology, Current Issues in Social and Cultural Anthropology.

Aims

To provide students with an introduction to issues of contemporary research concern in biological anthropology.

Content

In the first part of the module students will meet in seminars to practice various skills required to review, precis and critically evaluate research papers and projects in this discipline.
In the second part of the module lectures focusing on up-to-the-minute research of individual members of staff and some guest lecturers will provide students with a rare opportunity to learn about the topics that their tutors have chosen to study and to appreciate and assess the relationship of this research to wider anthropological endeavour.
Class work will focus on recent literature pertaining to the theme of each lecture.
In all instances the emphasis will be on the critical assessment of the ideas presented and students will be encouraged to draw on earlier coursework to inform their discussion and/or debate.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Familiarity with the scope of biological anthropology and its relationship to the other sub-fields of anthropology.
Awareness and understanding of the paradigms used by biological anthropologists when conducting research.
Knowledge and understanding of the current research being undertaken by biological anthropologists at the University.
Familiarity with recent publications in peer-reviewed journal of biological anthropology, and understanding of debates or disputes with the literature.

Subject-specific Skills:

Ability to engage in discussion and debate regarding research issues in biological anthropology.
Familiarity with journals publishing primary research in biological anthropology.
Capacity to identify appropriate material in scientific journals, making use of the electronic databases etc. to track the history of a topic or debate through the literature.

Key Skills:

Summarise or precis primary research papers, verbally and in writing.
Argue for a particular position using appropriate research-evidence to build argument.
Conduct longitudinal reviews of literature and track developing ideas/debates.
Develop ability to engage in knowledgeable discussion with researchers and develop pertinent questions regarding research.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Lectures
Tutorials
Seminars
Exam
Critique

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	7	Weekly	1 hour	7
Tutorials	7	Approx Weekly	1 hour	7	■	■
Seminars	6	Approx Fortnightly in Michaelmas Term, 2 in Easter Term	2 hours	12	■	■
Preparation and Reading				174
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 70%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
two-and-a-half-hour seen examination		100%
Component: Critique		Component Weighting: 30%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
1500 word critique		100%

Formative Assessment:

Summary of 1 lecture presentation & class discussion (1000 words).

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University