Overview
This course examines the behaviour and evolution of modern non-human primates. Primates include monkeys, apes, lemurs and other prosimians, and people. Understanding other primates helps us to contextualize the behaviour, culture and language, and biology of our own species, as well as being fascinating in its own right. Video materials allow the student to observe the behaviour of several different species.
Outline
ANTH 310 is organized into eleven units, listed below.
- Unit 1: What is Primatology?
- Unit 2: Introduction to the Order Primates
- Unit 3: Evolution and Behaviour
- Unit 4: Sex, Evolution, and Social Organization
- Unit 5: Food, Sex, and Social Organization
- Unit 6: Living in Groups: Female Strategies
- Unit 7: Sociosexual Behaviour: Male Strategies
- Unit 8: Primate Life Histories and Development
- Unit 9: Primate Communication and Cognition
- Unit 10: Community Ecology
- Unit 11: Primate Conservation
Evaluation
Your final grade in Anthropology 310: Primate Behaviour is based on the grades you achieve on a telephone quiz, two written assignments, and two examinations. To receive credit for this course, you must complete both examinations, achieving a minimum grade of 50 percent (D) on each examination, and a minimum composite course grade of at least D (50 percent).
| Activity | Weight |
| Telephone Quiz | 5% |
| Assignment 1 | 15% |
| Midterm Exam | 25% |
| Assignment 2 | 20% |
| Final Exam | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
The midterm and final examinations for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Strier, Karen B. 2017. Primate Behavioral Ecology. 5th edition. Boston, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Other Materials
The course materials also include a study guide.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the ANTH 310 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.
| Activity | Weight |
| Paper Exam (3 hours) | 100% |
| Total | 100% |
Challenge for credit course registration form