UCINTEVO317.5 ECTSEnglishBachelor
Evolution, Culture, and Human Nature
Faculteit—
NiveauBachelor
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
Upon completion of the course, students are able to:
- Explain the basic elements of biological evolution, including adaptation, (sexual) selection, drift, kin-selection, co-evolution etc.
- Discuss the relevance of evolutionary thinking where the concept of evolution is applied in a variety of disciplines, including religion, psychology, history, medicine, economics, arts/music.
- Understand perceived conflict of and misconceptions behind the application of evolutionary theory in various disciplines
- Explain and discuss the application of the evolution concept to solve a complex multi-disciplinary topic
- Understand & explain specific characteristics of human nature using multidisciplinary and/or cultural perspectives.
- Apply their creative, reflective, critical, motivational and life-long learning capacities to deliver a product which is both useful for their personal development as well enriching for the course goals in general.
Relationship between tests and course goals
In this course, the final course grade is based on six elements: two written exams, an interdisciplinary paper, a book review plus pitch, a group project and a free assignment.
- Written in-class exam 1: this tests your knowledge on the basics of evolutionary biology (Course aim 1)
- Written in-class exam 2: this tests your knowledge and ability to apply evolutionary thinking based on the (guest) lectures of this course. (Course aims 2 & 3)
- Interdisciplinary paper: In this paper, which you will write together with a fellow student, you can demonstrate your ability to write on an interdisciplinary (evolutionary) topic in which the Repko-steps have been followed resulting in an integration of disciplinary perspectives. (Course aims 4 & 6)
- Individual book review: after having read a popular science book on an evolutionary inspired topic, you will express your understanding of that book in both a reflective essay and a short pitch reflecting your analytical and communicative abilities. (Course aim 5)
- Group project: with a team of 4-5 fellow students you will demonstrate your ability to formulate a research question (using the first 4 steps by Repko) on a specific aspect of “what makes us human”, both in written form and in an oral presentation. (Course aim 6)
- Free Assignment: you will show your involvement and academic attitude by working on a topic which is both relevant for your personal development as well as for the course in general. (Course aim 7)
Content
Darwin’s (dangerous) idea of evolution has united the biological disciplines in the previous century and is currently recognized as a very fruitful concept for Humanities and Social Sciences as well. The application of evolutionary theory in other disciplines than Biology however often raises criticism or is notoriously controversial. Not only in society (e.g. intelligent design, eugenics), but also within the academic world groups of scientists question the relevance and applicability of evolutionary thinking to human affairs. In this course some attention will also be given to the arguments and counterarguments that are often used, and which still lead to (heated) debates (e.g. on gender, sexuality, cooperation/reciprocity, racism, more).
This course on evolution allows students of different departments to get acquainted with the evolutionary theory and its manifold implications as well as to practice ‘evolutionary thinking’, referring to analyzing complex topics from an evolutionary point of view or applying the concept of evolution to understand other topics outside the scope of Biologists.
Through this course students will combine their knowledge from different departments and disciplines, and construct a fresh and interdisciplinary look at broader scientific, social and cultural issues.
This course on evolution allows students of different departments to get acquainted with the evolutionary theory and its manifold implications as well as to practice ‘evolutionary thinking’, referring to analyzing complex topics from an evolutionary point of view or applying the concept of evolution to understand other topics outside the scope of Biologists.
Through this course students will combine their knowledge from different departments and disciplines, and construct a fresh and interdisciplinary look at broader scientific, social and cultural issues.
Format
Students will read, discuss and present recent papers on developments in the field of ‘evolution, culture and human nature’; they will work in teams on the preparation of a debate session, and will perform an interdisciplinary research project. The last two weeks of the course are focused on a final project that aims at the integration and application of the knowledge gained.
Students will read, discuss and present recent papers on developments in the field of ‘evolution, culture and human nature’; they will work in teams on the preparation of a debate session, and will perform an interdisciplinary research project. The last two weeks of the course are focused on a final project that aims at the integration and application of the knowledge gained.
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