Module ANTH2327: Primate Societies

Department: Anthropology

ANTH2327: Primate Societies

Prerequisites

• Human Evolution and Diversity (ANTH1091) OR Organisms and Environment (BIOL1161)

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop awareness and understanding of evolutionary biology as applied to primates. 
• To equip students with an understanding of the evolution of primate societies, and the major adaptive problems primates face in the wild.
• To examine the colonial history of primatology and the implications of the dominance of the Global North in science for our understandings of primates.
• To prepare students for Level 3 modules requiring an evolutionary perspective.

Content

• The evolutionary systematics, ecology, and adaptive diversity of non-human primates.
• Primate behaviour and ecology, and current theories about the evolution of primate societies.
• Space for students to co-design the curriculum by choosing topics for seminars.

Learning Outcomes

• Familiarity with the diversity and evolution of primate social systems and primate behaviour. 
• Critical understanding of theories used by primatologists and anthropologists to understand the evolution of primate behaviour.
• An understanding of biases in the species we study and in who ‘does’ primatology, and how that influences our understanding of primates.

• Familiarity with key methods and concepts in the study of primatology and behaviour.
• Understanding the scientific process and biases in the scientific literature.
• Ability to critically analyse and evaluate written scientific information. 
• The ability to evaluate anthropological arguments and evidence. 

• Searching information sources effectively (e.g., libraries, archives) and find information.
• Using academic literature effectively.
• Integrating and evaluating a range of information and data from primary and secondary sources.
• The ability to communicate a complex topic in an effective and compelling manner.

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

• Lectures cover subject-specific knowledge. 
• Seminars further develop subject-specific knowledge and key skills.
• Assessment surgeries provide an opportunity to talk through ideas for the assignment to ensure that student creations meet the assessment criteria.
• The summative assignment assesses subject-specific knowledge and key skills.
• For the summative assignment students create a study aid for a topic that challenged them during the module, accompanied by an explanatory statement for their choice of topic, what they are attempting to show, and what they learned. 
• Formative assessment consists of oral and written feedback in seminars and assessment ‘surgeries’. 
• The module will have a dedicated Learn Ultra site on which course information and materials will be posted. 

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Oral and written feedback in seminars and assessment surgeries, and through example study aids and practical guidance on Ultra.

■ 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