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Online Course

Becoming Human: Anthropology

Macquarie University via Open2Study

Found in Anthropology

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Provider Open2Study
Cost Free Online Course
Session Finished
Language English
Start Date
Duration 4 weeks long
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Overview

Impressively, humans are the only creatures produced by evolution that are capable of understanding evolution. In Becoming Human: Anthropology, you can explore how evolution works and how variation arises.

Find out why, of all the orders of life, primates produced us. How did apes start to look like us, walk on two feet and grow big brains that over the past 200,000 years have figured out where we came from? This course will give you some thought-provoking answers.

What will I learn?

Basic evolutionary concepts
The traces of human evolution in our bodies
Darwin’s contributions to evolutionary theory
The genetic dimensions of human evolution
The processes of cooperation and symbiosis
Niche creation, learning, and other types of inheritance
The differences between men and women
Why sex is so important to evolution
The role of our needy babies
'Natural’ human sexuality
What brains are good for
The cost of having a big brain
Tools, technology and new evolutionary tricks
Whether or not human evolution is over

This course requires approximately 2 - 4 hours of study per week, but can vary depending on the student. This includes watching videos, and taking quizzes and assessments.

If you pass this course you'll receive a Certificate of Achievement. While this certificate isn't a formal qualification or credit, you can use it to demonstrate your interest in learning about this area to potential employers or educational institutions.

Where could this lead me?

If you're wondering what your future could look like in this area, here are some potential careers you could head towards.

Researcher
Scientist
Policy Adviser

Syllabus

MODULE 1: INTRODUCING: BECOMING HUMAN
MODULE 2: DARWIN
MODULE 3: SEX
MODULE 4: BRAINS

Taught by

Assoc. Prof. Greg Downey

Reviews for Open2Study's Becoming Human: Anthropology Based on 12 reviews

5 stars 67%
4 stars 33%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 0%

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Robert L

5 years ago

Robert completed this course, spending 8 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be medium.

Professor Downey is fantastic! This was a great course with some great new information including genomic info. The forum is great as well and there was much student participation adding to a great experience. I recommend this course to anyone interested in humanity.

7 people found
this review helpful