Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) Program
The Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) program is an interdisciplinary minor and student-based club. The minor is housed in the Department of Anthropology and co-directed by Dr. Christopher Lynn (Anthropology) and Dr. Leslie Rissler (Biological Sciences). It combines courses in biology, anthropology, geology, psychology, philosophy, and history. Students are required to complete 18 credits that will introduce students to the principles of evolution and its numerous applications for understanding all life. The purpose of this program is to provide students a foundation in one of the most important explanatory theories of modern thought.
This minor includes two team-taught capstone course that are integrated with the University's Alabama Lecture's on Life's Evolution (ALLELE) series. Speakers for this series change annually, and a list of current and past speakers can be found here. This integration involves the interaction of students with invited speakers from various disciplines inside and outside the classroom, exposure intended to provide students with a vantage on post-baccalaureate opportunities for people with training in evolutionary studies.
EvoS is part of a worldwide consortium that includes 42 other institutions. This affiliation provides students access to additional resources outside UA, including an EvoS Journal, archived lectures by evolution experts, a newsletter, blogs, and links to student EvoS groups active at other institutions.
In addition to the minor, students have formed an EvoS Club. The purpose of the club is to engage in evolution-oriented activities outside the classroom, including relevant field trips, additional exposure to ALLELE speakers, and outreach efforts, among other opportunities. EvoS Club membership is not exclusive to EvoS minors.
Declaring a minor in Evolutionary Studies (EvoS): There are no prerequisites for admission to the EvoS minor. Students are expected for formally declare the EvoS minor with the assistance of the EvoS program directors, Christopher Lynn (cdlynn@ua.edu) and Leslie Rissler (rissler@as.ua.edu).
Grade point average: A 2.0 grade point average in the minor is required. The minor GPA is calculated based on all courses applicable to the major that the student has attempted at UA and all work attempted applicable to the minor throughout the entire higher education career.
Courses in the minor (20 credits total):
Introduction (optional)
- FLC 101, Evolutionary Attitudes (Freshman Learning Community to introduce incoming freshmen to the minor (available Fall 2011), 1cr
Required “Foundation” Courses (12 credits)
- ANT 150, Introduction to Evolutionary Studies (no prerequisites), 3cr
- BSC 220, Principles of Biological Evolution (no prerequisites), 3cr
- ANT 450, Advanced Evolutionary Studies and Big Questions (prereqs: ANT 150, BSC 220), 3cr
One of the following:
- ANT 270, Physical Anthropology, 3cr
- GEO 102, Earth Thru Time, 4cr
- PHL 387, Philosophy & Evolution ("W"), 3cr
Integrative Courses (2 credits)
- ANT 431, Readings in ALLELE, 1cr (taken between ANT 150 and ANT 450)
- Independent Research, 1 cr (taken between ANT 150 and ANT 450 in conjunction with a faculty mentor--consult EvoS program director to determine what department you take this in)
Elective “Context” Areas (6 or more credits from at least TWO DIFFERENT departments that are not your major)
Anthropology electives:
- ANT 270, Physical Anthropology*, 3cr
- ANT 208, Human Sexuality, 3cr
- ANT 275, Race, Ethnicity, & Variation, 3cr
- ANT 311, Population, Health, & Origins (prereqs: ANT 100 or 270 or permission), 3cr
- ANT 312, Non-Human Primates (prereq: ANT 101 or 270 or permission), 3cr
- ANT 471, Fossil Humans and Evolution (prereq: ANT270 or perm), 3cr
- ANT 473, Human Osteology (prereq: ANT270 or permission), 3cr
- ANT 475, Biology, Culture, & Evolution (prereq: ANT270 or permission), 3cr
- ANT 479, Human Paleopathology (prereq: ANT270 or permission), 3cr
Astronomy electives:
- AY 155, Life in the Universe, 3cr
Biological Sciences electives:
- BSC 315, Genetics (prereq: BSC 114:115 or BSC 118, & CH 101:102 or 117 and 118), 3cr
- BSC 373, Vertebrate Zoology (prereq: BSC 114:115 or 118 & 116:117 or 120), 4cr
- BSC 400, Vertebrate Functional Morphology (prereq: BSC 114:115 or 118 & 116:117 or 120; 300), 4cr
- BSC 420, Principles of Systematics (prereq: BSC483 & 360, 373 or 76), 3cr
- BSC 428, Biology of Fishes (prereq: BSC 373 & 385), 3cr
- BSC 441, Developmental Biology (prereq: BSC300 & 315), 3cr
- BSC 448, Animal Behavior (prereq: BSC385 or permission), 3cr
- BSC 434, Plant Systematics (BSC114:115 or 118 & 116:117 or 120), 4cr
- BSC 464, Biology of Algae (prereq: BSC 114:115 or 118 and 116:117 or 120), 4cr
- BSC 482, Conservation Biology (prereq: BSC 114:115 or 118, 116:117 or 120), 3cr
- BSC 483, Evolution (prereq: BSC 220), 3cr
Geology electives:
- GEO 102, Earth Thru Time*, 4cr
- GEO 355, Invertebrate Paleontology (prereqs: GEO 102 or BSC 376 or permission), 3cr
- GEO 367, Sedimentology & Stratigraphy (prereq: GEO 102 & 210 or permission), 3cr
- GEO 401, Paleoclimatology (prereq: GEO 101 or 102 or permission), 3cr
- GEO 462, Quaternary Climates & Environments (prereq: GEO 401 or permission), 3cr
History electives:
- HY 400, Darwin, Evolution & Revolutions, 3cr
Philosophy electives:
- PHL 387, Philosophy & Evolution* (prereq: 6cr in PHL or permission), 3cr
- PHL 367, Philosophy of Cognitive Science (prereq: 6cr in PHL or permission), 3cr
- PHL 390, Art & Human Nature (prereq: 6 credits in PHL or permission), 3cr
Psychology electives:
- PY 313, Sensation & Perception (prereq: PY 101 or permission), 3cr
- PY 352, Developmental Psychology (prereq: PY 101 or 105 or permission), 3cr
- PY 372, Social Psychology (prereq: PY 101 or 105 or permission), 3cr
- PY 413, Physiological Psychology (prereq: PY 355 or permission), 3cr
University Honors:
- UH 300, Topics in Vertebrate Paleontology, 3cr
- UH 300, Primate Religion & Human Consciousness, 3cr
* if not taken as Foundation course