Anthropology Major

Program Description

The General Anthropology Concentration includes the four fields of biological anthropology (biological diversity and evolutionary history of human and nonhuman primates), archaeology (human prehistory and the organization and growth of technology and society), sociocultural anthropology (comparative study of identity and power in social contexts from hunter-gatherer to complex urban settings, with attention to contemporary global movements of peoples and diasporic social formations), and linguistic anthropology (comparative study of languages and communication). Although you should strive for a topical and geographical balance, you may specialize in one of these four branches and may also study some world cultural area intensively through an area studies program.

When a course is listed under two or more categories, the student may decide which of the requirements the course should fulfill; however, it may not be used to fulfill more than one of those requirements.

All students must discuss their selection of coursework with a departmental advisor.

 

Program Requirements

Anthropology Core Courses (9 credit hours)

Choose 3 of the following core courses. Students may make one substitution for 1 of the 3 required courses, choosing from the option listed.

• ANTH 220 Introduction to Archaeology (OR ANTH 105 World Archaeology)
• ANTH 230 Sociocultural Anthropology (OR ANTH 103 Anthro in a Changing World)
• ANTH 240 Biological Anthropology (OR ANTH 102 Human Origins and Culture)
• ANTH 270 Language in Culture (OR ANTH 104 Talking Culture)

Thematic Areas  (21 credit hours)

Choose courses from our inter-subfield Career Paths. Students must meet with the departmental advisor to discuss the selection of courses

Immigration, Transnationalism & Diasporas

People all over the globe are on the move, both by choice and by necessity. Courses in this theme explore the complex reasons for such mobility.

• ANTH 261 Intro to the African Diaspora
• ANTH 290 Jewish Cultures of the World
• ANTH 402 Transnational Islam, Europe-US
• ANTH 403 Women in Muslim Societies
• ANTH 472 Border Latina/Latino Cultures

Language, Culture & Communication

The ability to think and communicate with language is a fundamental part of the human experience. Courses in this area examine both spoken and other semiotic practices that make our lives meaningful and shared.

• ANTH 165 Language and Culture of Native North America
• ANTH 243 Sociality of the Great Apes
• ANTH 271 Language in Culture
• ANTH 362 Body, Personhood and Culture
• ANTH 363 Anthropology of Dance/Movement
• ANTH 372 Topics in Language and Culture
• ANTH 425 Anthropology of Education
• ANTH 471 Ethnography Through Language

 

Anthropology of the Americas

Select from this wide range of courses that cover contemporary and historical issues and communities in North, Central and South Americas.

• ANTH 106 Historical Archaeology of the Americas
• ANTH 157 Archaeology of Illinois
• ANTH 182 Latin American Cultures
• ANTH 259 Latina/o Cultures
• ANTH 288 American Indians of Illinois
• ANTH 368 ‘America’ in the World
• ANTH 370 Latina/o Ethnography
• ANTH 405 Contemporary Central America
• ANTH 449 North American Archaeology
• ANTH 459 The Ancient Maya
• ANTH 472 Border Latina/Latino Cultures
• ANTH 481 Andean Ethnography

Criminality, Law & Social Justice

Courses in this area examine the roles played by law and legal institutions in the pursuit of contemporary political values such as peace, justice and prosperity and will prepare students for careers in law, forensics, social work, government, policing and related fields.

• ANTH 160 Contemporary Social Issues
• ANTH 246 Forensic Science
• ANTH 346 Forensic Anthropology
• ANTH 456 Human Osteology
• ANTH 499 The Anthropology of Policing
• ANTH 499 Culture of Law

Engaged Globalization

Courses in this area give students the necessary resources to engage with local and global issues and perspectives in an increasingly connected world.

• ANTH 209 Food, Culture, and Society
• ANTH 210 Families in Global Perspectives
• ANTH 362 Body, Personhood and Culture
• ANTH 368 'America' in the World
• ANTH 379 Medical Anthropology
• ANTH 403 Women in Muslim Societies
• ANTH 420 Case Studies in Global Heritage
• ANTH 423 Economic Anthropology
• ANTH 425 Anthropology of Education
• ANTH 448 The Prehistory of Africa
• ANTH 488 Modern Europe

Health, Medicine & Wellness

Build your interdisciplinary expertise in biocultural anthropology in preparation for a practicing career in the health and medical professions, or advanced bio-medical and genetics research.

• ANTH 209 Food, Culture, and Society
• ANTH 242 History of Human Evolution
• ANTH 249 Evolution and Human Disease
• ANTH 258 Sex in Nature and Culture
• ANTH 343 Behavior and Biology of Women
• ANTH 360 Evolution and Human Health
• ANTH 361 Ecology and Human Health
• ANTH 379 Medical Anthropology
• ANTH 404 Disability, Culture & Society
• ANTH 432 Genes and Behavior
• ANTH 479 Race, Medicine and Society

Identity & Politics: Race, Class, Gender & Sexuality

 

Courses in this area critically examine social and personal identities and how these are mobilized within a range of political issues and power.

• ANTH 143 Biology of Human Behavior
• ANTH 160 Contemporary Social Issues
• ANTH 225 Women in Prehistory
• ANTH 241 Human Variation and Race
• ANTH 258 Sex in Nature and Culture
• ANTH 259 Latina/o Cultures
• ANTH 262 Women's Lives
• ANTH 268 Images of the Other
• ANTH 343 Behavior and Biology of Women
• ANTH 359 Advanced Topics in Latina/o US
• ANTH 403 Women in Muslim Societies
• ANTH 404 Disability, Culture & Society
• ANTH 466 Class, Culture and Society
• ANTH 472 Border Latina/Latino Cultures

Additional courses (9 credit hours)

3 courses within Anthropology or closely related departments that complement the student's career path of study

Research and Service Learning Coursework (3 credit hours)

Choose ONE of the following areas in consultation with the departmental advisor:

Archaeology

• ANTH 454 Archaeology Field School 
• ANTH 455 Archaeological Lab Research

Biological Anthropology

• ANTH 444 Biological Field School
• ANTH 445 Biological Lab Research

Sociocultural/Linguistic Anthropology

• ANTH 411 Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology
• ANTH 499 Research Methods in Linguistic Anthropology

Museum Anthropology

• ANTH 462 Museum Theory and Practice 
• MUSE 390 Museum Internship

 

Senior Capstone Project (3 credit hours)

Choose one option below in consultation with the departmental advisor:

Honors Thesis (6 credit hours) 
Two consecutive semesters of research resulting in a written thesis

• ANTH 494 Honors Individual Study 
• ANTH 495 Honors Senior Thesis

Departmental distinction: To be eligible for distinction, a student must complete 33 hours of anthropology courses (including at least 2 hours of both ANTH 391 and ANTH 495), maintain a 3.6 average in those hours and a 3.5 overall average. All candidates for distinction must submit a thesis for judgment by at least two members of the anthropology department.

Senior Capstone Seminar (Independent Research) (3 credit hours) 

• ANTH 498 Senior Seminar

Internship (3 credit hours)
A portfolio and report associated with an approved departmental internship 

• ANTH 390 Individual Study

Study Abroad (3 credit hours)
A portfolio and report associated with an approved Study Abroad experience

• ANTH 390 Individual Study

Research and/or Field School (3 - 6 credit hours) 
Data analysis and a research report associated with one of the following:

• ANTH 454-Archaeology Field School and ANTH 455- Lab Analysis in Archaeology)
• ANTH 444- Methods in Bioanthropology and ANTH 445 Research in Bioanthropology

 

 

 

Program Description

This concentration offers students a program to explore the human past through its material remains to understand cultural and societal change through time, and the role of heritage in the present. We offer many opportunities for students to conduct research with faculty in our archaeology labs and in our extensive research collections.

All students must discuss their selection of coursework with a departmental advisor.

When a course is listed under two or more categories, the student may decide which of the requirements the course should fulfill; however, it may not be used to fulfill more than one of those requirements.

This program is a total of 45 credit hours.

 

Program Requirements

Anthropology Core Courses (9 credit hours)

Choose 3 of the following core courses. Students may make one substitution for 1 of the 3 required courses, choosing from the option listed.

• ANTH 220- Introduction to Archaeology (OR ANTH 105 World Archaeology)
• ANTH 230- Sociocultural Anthropology (OR ANTH 103 Anthro in a Changing World)
• ANTH 240- Biological Anthropology (OR ANTH 102 Human Origins and Culture)
• ANTH 270- Language in Culture (OR ANTH 104 Talking Culture)

Archaeology Courses (18 credit hours distributed as follows)

One course (3 credit hours) in Cultural Archaeology History chosen from the following:

• ANTH 358 People of the Ice Age 
• ANTH 376 Aztec Civilization 
• ANTH 419 Civilization in Ancient Peru
• ANTH 448 The Prehistory of Africa
• ANTH 449 North American Archaeology 
• ANTH 459 The Ancient Maya

Two courses (6 credit hours) in Methods/Materials analysis chosen from the following:

• ANTH 358 People of the Ice Age 
• ANTH 420 Case Studies in Global Heritage 
• ANTH 450 Zooarchaeology
• ANTH 451 Archaeological Surveying
• ANTH 452 Stone Tool Technology Analysis 
• ANTH 453 Landscape Archaeology 
• ANTH 460 Heritage management 
• ANTH 462 Museum Theory and Practice 
• ANTH 477 Pottery Analysis

Three Archaeology courses (9 credit hours) chosen from the following: 

• ANTH 358 People of the Ice Age 
• ANTH 376 Aztec Civilization
• IB 363 (ANTH 378) Plants and Their Uses
• ANTH 419 Civilization in Ancient Peru
• ANTH 420 Case Studies in Global Heritage 
• ANTH 448 The Prehistory of Africa 
• ANTH 449 North American Archaeology 
• ANTH 451 Archaeological Surveying 
• ANTH 452 Stone Tool Technology Analysis 
• ANTH 453 Landscape Archaeology 
• ANTH 459 The Ancient Maya 
• ANTH 460 Heritage management 
• ANTH 461 History of Archaeological Theory 
• ANTH 462 Museum Theory and Practice 
• ANTH 477 Pottery Analysis

 

Additional Archaeology Anthropology coursework (9 credit hours)

One course  (3 credit hours) in Biological Anthropology
Two courses (6 credit hours) related to the student's area of emphasis and approved by the departmental advisor

Research and Service Learning Coursework (6 credit hours)

• ANTH 454 Archaeological Field School
• ANTH 455 Lab Analysis in Archaeology

 

Senior Capstone Project (3 credit hours)

Choose one option below in consultation with the departmental advisor:

Honors Thesis (6 credit hours) 
Two consecutive semesters of research resulting in a written thesis

• ANTH 494 Honors Individual Study 
• ANTH 495 Honors Senior Thesis

Departmental distinction: To be eligible for distinction, a student must complete 33 hours of anthropology courses (including at least 6 hours of both ANTH 391 and ANTH 495), maintain a 3.6 average in those hours and a 3.5 overall average. All candidates for distinction must submit a thesis for judgment by at least two members of the anthropology department.

Senior Capstone Seminar (Independent Research) (3 credit hours)

• ANTH 498 Senior Seminar

Research and/or Field School (3 - 6 credit hours)

• Further data analysis and a research report associated with ANTH 455, or an additional approved ANTH 454-Archaeology Field School and ANTH 455- Lab Analysis in Archaeology.

 

Program Desription

The Human Evolutionary Biology Concentration offers students a program to examine the interconnections between genetics, environment and culture to address issues from human origins and morphology to forensics and modern health.

All students must discuss their selection of coursework with a departmental adviser.

When a course is listed under two or more categories, the student may decide which of the requirements the course should fulfill; however, it may not be used to fulfill more than one of those requirements.

This program is a total of 42 hours.

 

Program Requirements

Anthropology Core Courses (9 credit hours)

Choose 3 of the following core courses. Students may make one substitution for 1 of the 3 required courses, choosing from the option listed.

• ANTH 220 Introduction to Archaeology (OR ANTH 105 World Archaeology)
• ANTH 230 Sociocultural Anthropology (OR ANTH 103 Anthro in a Changing World)
• ANTH 240 Biological Anthropology (OR ANTH 102 Human Origins and Culture)
• ANTH 270 Language in Culture (OR ANTH 104 Talking Culture)

 

Human Evolutionary Biology Courses (18 credit hours)

Students take courses from 4 different categories: 2 courses from each of 2 categories, plus 1 course in each of the 2 remaining categories.

Evolution and Genetics:

• ANTH 241 Human Variation and Race
• ANTH 242 History of Human Evolution 
• ANTH 249 Evolution and Human Disease 
• ANTH 408 Human Evolutionary Anatomy 
• ANTH 435 The Neandertal Debate
• ANTH 438 Primate Life History Evolution 
• ANTH 440 Human Paleontology 
• ANTH 441 Human Genetics

Health:

• ANTH 258 Sex in Nature and Culture 
• ANTH 347 Human Osteology 
• ANTH 343 Behavior and Biology of Women 
• ANTH 437 Primate Behavioral Endocrinology 
• ANTH 438 Primate Life History Evolution 
• ANTH 447 Advanced Skeletal Biology

Behavior:

• ANTH 243 Sociality of the Great Apes 
• ANTH 258 Sex in Nature and Culture 
• ANTH 343 Behavior and Biology of Women 
• ANTH 435 The Neandertal Debate
• ANTH 437 Primate Behavioral Endocrinology 
• ANTH 438 Primate Life History Evolution 
• ANTH 440 Human Paleontology 
• ANTH 443 Primate Form and Behavior 
• ANTH 446 Behavioral Inference and Fossils 
• ANTH 347 Human Osteology
• ANTH 447 Advanced Skeletal Biology

Comparative Anatomy:

• ANTH 243 Sociality of the Great Apes 
• ANTH 347 Human Osteology 
• ANTH 346 Forensic Anthropology 
• ANTH 408 Human Evolutionary Anatomy 
• ANTH 435 The Neandertal Debate
• ANTH 443 Primate Form and Behavior 
• ANTH 446 Behavioral Inference and Fossils 
• ANTH 447 Advanced Skeletal Biology

3 additional courses (9 credit hours)

Select from any of the 4 categories, or another field of anthropology, or a related field such as statistics, psychology, chemistry etc. Course selection should complement the student's Human Evolutionary Biology focus. Meet with the departmental advisor to discuss course selection.

Research and Service Learning Coursework (3 credit hours)

Choose one of the following:

• ANTH 444 Methods in Bioanthropology
• ANTH 445 Research in Bioanthropology

 

Senior Capstone Project (3 credit hours)

Choose one option below in consultation with the departmental advisor:

Honors Thesis (6 credit hours) 
Two consecutive semesters of research resulting in a written thesis

• ANTH 494- Honors Individual Study 
• ANTH 495- Honors Senior Thesis

Departmental distinction: To be eligible for distinction, a student must complete 33 hours of anthropology courses (including at least 6 hours of both ANTH 494 and ANTH 495), maintain a 3.6 average in those hours and a 3.5 overall average. All candidates for distinction must submit a thesis for judgment by at least two members of the anthropology department.

Senior Capstone Seminar (Independent Research) (3 credit hours)

• ANTH 498 Senior Seminar

Internship (3 credit hours)
A portfolio and report associated with an approved departmental internship 

• ANTH 390 Individual Study

Study Abroad (3 credit hours) 
A portfolio and report associated with an approved Study Abroad experience

• ANTH 390 Individual Study

Research and/or Field School (3 - 6 credit hours) 
If not taken to meet the Research and Service Learning Coursework requirement above choose one of the following:

• ANTH 444 Methods in Bioanthropology 
• ANTH 445 Research in Bioanthropology

 

Program Description

The Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology Concentration offers students a program of more focused coursework in sociocultural and linguistic anthropology.

Sociocultural anthropology is the study of the daily lives of people around the world, both at home and abroad. Sociocultural anthropologists conduct field research to get a hands-on feel for people's lives and passions. They examine everything from beauty pageants to political protest marches, from Pixar films to nuclear scientists' lab practices. Sociocultural anthropology distinguishes itself from other disciplines by its conviction that these local and personal details offer a wonderful window on the largest processes and problems of our time, from globalization to race relations and violence.

Linguistic anthropology complements sociocultural anthropology with detailed attention to spoken and signed languages-their structure and use in the daily lives of people around the world, both at home and abroad. Linguistic anthropologists examine such things as the "English Only" movement in the United States, the persuasive language of advertising and politics, racism and hate speech, oral/gestural storytelling traditions around the world, communication in the classroom or at the United Nations, as well as how the way we talk creates our sense of self and reality. Because the field of anthropology presents a wide range of disciplinary perspectives on the human condition, students electing this major concentration are encouraged to select from among relevant course offerings in archaeology or biological anthropology to fulfill General Education requirements.

All students must discuss their selection of coursework with a departmental adviser.

When a course is listed under two or more categories, the student may decide which of the requirements the course should fulfill; however, it may not be used to fulfill more than one of those requirements.

This program is a total of 45 credit hours. 

 

Program Requirements

Anthropology Core Courses (9 credit hours)

Choose 3 of the following core courses. Students may make one substitution for 1 of the 3 required courses, choosing from the option listed.

• ANTH 220 Introduction to Archaeology (OR ANTH 105 World Archaeology)
• ANTH 230 Sociocultural Anthropology (OR ANTH 103 Anthro in a Changing World)
• ANTH 240 Biological Anthropology (OR ANTH 102 Human Origins and Culture)
• ANTH 270 Language in Culture (OR ANTH 104 Talking Culture)

Socio-cultural and Linguistic Anthropology Courses (21 credit hours)

• 3 courses from locations across at least 2 regions of the world
• 4 courses from theoretical or topical areas course offerings in socio-cultural and linguistic anthropology chosen in consultation with the departmental advisor. Four courses must be at the 300- or 400-level.

Additional/Related Courses (9 credit hours)

3 additional socio-cultural and linguistics anthropology courses or courses in related fields (9 credit hours) such as Sociology, Linguistics, Psychology, Education, History, Gender and Women's Studies, African American Studies, Latina/Latino Studies, Asian American Studies, African Studies, Jewish Studies that complement the student's sociocultural/linguistic focus.

Meet with the departmental advisor to discuss the selection of courses.

Research and Service Learning Coursework (3 credit hours)

Choose one of the following: 

• ANTH 411 Research Methods in Cultural Anth 
• ANTH 499 Research Methods in Linguistic Anthropology

 

Senior Capstone Project (3 - 6 credit hours)

Choose one option below in consultation with the departmental advisor:

Honors Thesis (6 credit hours) 
Two consecutive semesters of research resulting in a written thesis

• ANTH 494- Honors Individual Study 
• ANTH 495- Honors Senior Thesis

Departmental distinction: To be eligible for distinction, a student must complete 33 hours of anthropology courses (including at least 6 hours of both ANTH 494 and ANTH 495), maintain a 3.6 average in those hours and a 3.5 overall average. All candidates for distinction must submit a thesis for judgment by at least two members of the anthropology department.

Senior Capstone Seminar (Independent Research)- 3 credit hours 

• ANTH 498 Senior Seminar

Internship (3 credit hours)
A portfolio and report associated with an approved departmental internship 

• ANTH 390 Individual Study

Study Abroad (3 credit hours)
A portfolio and report associated with an approved Study Abroad experience

• ANTH 390 Individual Study

Research and/or Field School (3 - 6 hours) 
Data analysis and a research report associated with one of the following:

• ANTH 454 Archaeology Field School and ANTH 455- Lab Analysis in Archaeology)
• ANTH 444 Methods in Bioanthropology and ANTH 445 Research in Bioanthropology