Human Evolutionary Biology

Professor David Pilbeam, Co-Head Tutor Professor Daniel E. Lieberman, Co-Head Tutor

Human Evolutionary Biology addresses why humans and primates are the way they are from an evolutionary perspective. Understanding the biological bases for the behavioral and physical traits that distinguish humans from other primates is one of the great challenges of modern biology, and is the focus of Human Evolutionary Biology. Many new, unprecedented opportunities make this an exciting time to tackle the question of how evolution made us human. We now have the complete human and chimpanzee genomes, considerable data on human genetic diversity, and even some fossil DNA. New genetic techniques enable us to identify important candidate genes in human evolution, and study their expression and developmental effects in the lab. The fossil and archaeological records of human evolution are expanding rapidly in size and quality, and include for the first time a number of our earliest ancestors from very close to the split between the human and chimpanzee lineages. Recent advances in geochemistry now permit us to calculate the age of many fossils to give a detailed chronology of our species' history, and to study ancient diets and life histories from fossils. And we have a rich and increasingly sophisticated understanding of the behavioral and reproductive ecology of our closest non-human relatives, especially the chimpanzees, as well as of humans.

Human Evolutionary Biology provides a general foundation in human and organismic biology as part of the Life Sciences cluster of concentrations. Human Evolutionary Biology is also linked to the social sciences at Harvard, and complements the pre-existing track in Biological Anthropology within the Anthropology Concentration. Students interested in addressing questions about human and non-human primate cognition from the perspective of human evolutionary biology also may pursue a special program of study affiliated with the University-wide Mind, Brain and Behavior Initiative.

The concentration is designed to offer a rigorous background in human and evolutionary biology while encouraging a broad range of interdisciplinary work. All students take a sophomore tutorial, and we offer many small, advanced courses, which afford them the opportunity to work intensively with members of the faculty. We encourage all concentrators to get involved in research at some level, and require a research experience within the concentration as part of a junior research seminar. We also encourage concentrators to do senior theses, and/or to get involved in research opportunities in the laboratory and the field.

For information on the secondary field in Human Evolutionary Biology, please see page 345 of this Handbook or the secondary fields website (www.secondaryfields.fas.harvard.edu/HEB/program-desc-HEB.htm).

REQUIREMENTS

Basic Requirements: 12 half-courses

1. Required Courses:
1. Life Sciences 1a and 1b (normally in freshman year).
2. Four half-courses, to be chosen from among the following subfields: human evolution, human anatomy and/or physiology, human reproductive biology, primate behavioral ecology, human behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics and genomics.
3. Four additional half-courses in related fields. These can include: up to three half-courses from Physical Sciences 1, 2, and 3; up to two half-courses of Math and/or Biostatistics; one half-course of organic chemistry; up to two half-courses in approved courses in additional related fields (e.g., anthropology, organismic and evolutionary biology, molecular and cellular biology, psychology).
2. Tutorials (All letter-graded)
1. Sophomore year: Sophomore tutorial (ordinarily taken in the spring term of the sophomore year). This seminar integrates the field with modules on each of the major subfields within the discipline; it also provides a joint experience for all concentrators in an intimate seminar environment.
2. Junior year: Junior research seminar. A small, intensive research course, normally to be taken in the junior year, which includes some independent research component and is taught by a member of the faculty.
3. Thesis: None
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information:
1. Pass/Fail: Two courses may be taken pass/fail and counted towards concentration with permission from the Head Tutor. These ordinarily include courses in related fields. All tutorials are letter graded.
2. Languages: No requirement, but proficiency in a foreign language is recommended for students planning to pursue a PhD in Anthropology.

Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 14 half-courses

THESIS TRACK

1. Required Courses:
       a-c. Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Tutorials (All letter-graded):
1. Sophomore year: Sophomore tutorial (ordinarily taken in the spring term of the sophomore year). Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Junior year: Thesis candidates must take a thesis research-related course, either a junior research seminar or a supervised reading and research (91r).
3. Senior year: 99 (full course, letter graded), culminating in the submission of a senior thesis, followed by an oral examination on the thesis.
3. Thesis: Required
4. General Examination: The department will administer to each student a one-hour examination covering primarily the substance of the thesis as well as general knowledge of the field.
5. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements.

NON-THESIS TRACK

1. Required Courses:
       a-c. Same as Basic Requirements.
       d. Two additional half-courses in human evolutionary biology approved in advance by the Head Tutor. These courses are ordinarily advanced lecture or supervised reading courses on a focused topic; the topic should be related to one half-course selected from the Basic Requirements. They may not include HEB 99 (senior tutorial).
2. Tutorials (All letter-graded):
1. Sophomore year: Sophomore tutorial (ordinarily taken in the Spring term of the sophomore year). Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Junior year: Junior research seminar. Same as Basic Requirements. c. Senior year: None.
3. Thesis: None.
4. Submission of written work and General Examination: Prior to reading period in the eighth term each student will submit to the department a substantive piece of writing in the field, ordinarily a term paper or report on original research, as well as a senior essay assigned by the Head Tutor that integrates the advanced courses selected for the focused topic. The department will then administer to the student a General Examination covering the substance of the senior essay as well as general knowledge of the field.
5. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements.

Human Evolutionary Biology/Mind Brain and Behavior Track

14 half-courses

1. Required Courses:
1. Life Sciences 1b (normally in freshman year).
2. Science B-62 (or B-29 for classes of 2010 and earlier).
3. MCB 80 (formerly Biological Sciences 80).
4. Two half-courses, to be chosen from among the following subfields: human evolution, human anatomy and/or physiology, human reproductive biology, primate behavioral ecology, human behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics and genomics.
5. Two additional half-courses in Mind, Brain, and Behavior.
6. Three additional half-courses in related fields. These can include: up to three half-courses from Physical Sciences 1, 2, and 3; up to two half-courses of Math and/or Biostatistics; one half-course of organic chemistry; up to two half-courses in approved courses in additional related fields (e.g., anthropology, organismic and evolutionary biology, molecular and cellular biology, psychology).
2. Tutorials (All letter-graded):
1. Sophomore year: Sophomore tutorial (ordinarily taken in the spring term of the sophomore year). Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Junior year: One half-course MBB-approved seminar.
3. Senior year: 99 (full course, letter graded), culminating in the submission of a senior thesis, followed by an oral examination on the thesis.
3. Thesis: Required.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements.

ADVISING

Dr. Carole Hooven, the concentration adviser, is available to provide guidance on course selection, laboratory research, and the fulfillment of concentration requirements. Visit www.lifescience.fas.harvard.edu/concentrations/ for more information. The Head Tutors and members of the Biological Anthropology wing of the Anthropology Department also provide mentoring on academic and career issues.

For up-to-date information on advising in Human Evolutionary Biology, please see the Advising Programs Office website: www.fas.harvard.edu/~advising/concentrations/HumanEvolBiology.html.

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE

Concentration adviser: Dr. Carole Hooven, Peabody 26, 617-495-1870, hooven@fas.harvard.edu. Co-Head Tutors of Human Evolutionary Biology: Professor David Pilbeam, Peabody 51B, 617-495-4736, pilbeam@fas.harvard.edu; and Professor Dan Lieberman, Peabody 53H, 617-495-5479, danlieb@fas.harvard.edu. More information about the Human Evolutionary Biology concentration can be found at www.lifescience.fas.harvard.edu/concentrations/.

ENROLLMENT STATISTICS

Number of concentrators as of November