SSCC sociology course takes students back to their roots

For genealogy enthusiasts, tracing family roots is likely to go only as far as recorded documents will attest.

This spring, Southern State Community College offers people the opportunity to find out their own beginnings in the human race.

Sociology 199 Seminar is a course based on National Geographic’s landmark study, the Genographic Project that traces the journey of humankind.

The two-credit-hour course will be held on two campuses: Mondays from 5-6:50 p.m. at Central Campus in Hillsboro; and Thursdays from 7-8:50 p.m. on South Campus near Sardinia.

No textbook is required for the course; the class lab fee covers the purchase of a DNA kit.

According to National Geographic’s web site, new DNA studies indicate that all humans descended from an African ancestor who lived only 60,000 years ago.

The Genographic Project’s goal is to follow what it calls “the ultimate human history, as written in our genes.”

Students taking Sociology 199 will participate in this “ultimate” historical investigation. Using the kits, students will gather a sample of their DNA that will be sent anonymously to National Geographic’s Genographic Project headquarters. There, the DNA is isolated and the results will identify the student’s haplogroup, tracing the student to his/her original ancestors out of Africa. Students will be able to see the migration path their ancestors took from Africa. Personalized information about their specific genetic haplogroup will also be provided after the DNA results are analyzed.

“It’s like researching your genealogy from the beginning forward,” says Louis Mays, professor and librarian at the college and one of the team teachers organizing the course.

In addition to discovering their personal genetic journey, students will learn about genetics and its role in tracing our ancestors from both a social science and a biological perspective. Students will also learn to participate in Facebook and other social networking sites that support specific genetic haplogroups from this project found around the world. The highlight of the course will be a virtual lecture and class visit provided by Dr. Spencer Wells, the project director for the Genographic Project.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Wells visit our class virtually, giving our students the opportunity to talk first-hand to one of the world’s most formidable geneticist and cultural anthropologist”, says Jeff Foster, professor of biology at Southern State.

The course is team taught by several faculty members and guest lecturers as it covers a variety of subjects including sociology, genetics and biology, anthropology, and cultural diversity and awareness.

Spring quarter begins March 29 and registration is under way. Senior citizens may audit the course tuition-free; however, in order to participate in the Genographic Project, the optional DNA kit will be provided on the first day of class. For more information or to register, contact SSCC at 800-628-7722, Ext. 3580. To learn more about SSCC, please visit www.sscc.edu.