Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LI Evolution of Humans and Other Animals
School	School of Bioscience
Department	School of Biosciences
Module Code	03 28780
Module Lead	Mary Blanchard
Level	Intermediate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-30 hours Practical Classes and workshops-8 hours Guided independent study-162 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	The primary aim of this module is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of comparative animal biology in an evolutionary context. Humans are part of the animal kingdom, and our own evolution is also best understood from this perspective. We will explore examples that point to the fact that evolution shapes biodiversity, not merely by the rise and fall of species over millions of years, but also by the often rapid transition of species traits from one form to another at pace with rapid environmental changes, some caused by humans. We will focus on the processes by which evolution operates, resulting in adaptation and/or speciation, by studying key themes in animal biology, such as the evolution of the, sociality. Insodoing, the course will expand student understanding of core evolutionary concepts such as convergent evolution and units of selection, and will broaden their knowledge of the origins and maintenance of biodiversity.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Explain how human adaptations show that modern humans and our ancestors have been subject to the same evolutionary processes as the rest of the animal kingdom . Explain how human adaptations show that modern humans and our ancestors have been subject to the same evolutionary processes as the rest of the animal kingdom . Understand and discuss evolutionary principles sufficiently well to be able to 1) conduct thought experiments on the evolutionary consequences of future events and 2) convey evolutionary principles and events in an appropriate way for a lay audience to understand. Construct a logically sound well structured argument when writing and be able to recognise and critically analyse weak arguments when reading them.
Assessment	28780-01 : Continuous Assessment : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessments: in-course assessments (100%): Group based assessment sharing evolutionary knowledge with a lay (general) audience (50%) Individual written assignment (50%) Reassessment: To re-do the failed element(s): Independent assessment to share evolutionary knowledge with a lay audience (with a different topic to the original assessment). Individual written assignment (with a different topic to the original assessment).
Other
Reading List