Anthropology, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humans across time and space, integrating biological and cultural information from prehistoric times to the present. The field is global in perspective, and includes findings from the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts. It is a broad discipline linked by a deep interest in exploring the fundamental notion of what it means to be human. Anthropology consists of four areas or subfields: Sociocultural Anthropology, the study of contemporary societies; Linguistic Anthropology, the study of talk, text, media, and other forms of communication; Archaeology, the study of the material remains of past societies; and Biological Anthropology, the study of human origins, primatology, biological diversity, genetics, genealogy, and forensic sciences. At the University of Illinois, we specialize in and integrate all four of these areas.
Students pursuing this major must select one of the following in consultation with an advisor:
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Anthropology
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60- 75 hours). Please see your adviser.
Departmental distinction: The department may award distinction, high distinction, or highest distinction to any Anthropology major whose overall and major grade point averages are 3.25 or higher; and who successfully completes 33 hours of anthropology courses, including 4-6 hours of ANTH 494 and ANTH 495 resulting in an Honors Thesis. The level of distinction is based on evaluation of the honors thesis. See the departmental academic advisor for details.All students must discuss their selection of anthropology courses and supporting course work with a departmental adviser.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
Minimum hours required major and supporting course work: 45-48. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level Anthropology courses must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-20 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation and Professional Development | ||
| LAS 101 | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 |
OR | ||
| LAS 100 & LAS 101 | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 |
OR | ||
| LAS 102 | Transfer Advantage | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 or 3 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students can choose one of the following optional concentrations: | ||
| Students who don't choose an optional concentration are required to take the coursework below: | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core Requirements and Electives | ||
| 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. | ||
| Anthropology Core Courses | 9 | |
| Choose 3 of the following core courses. May select no more than one 100-level course from the list below. | ||
| Introduction to Archaeology | ||
or ANTH 105 | World Archaeology | |
| Sociocultural Anthropology | ||
or ANTH 103 | Anthro in a Changing World | |
| Biological Anthropology | ||
or ANTH 102 | Human Origins and Culture | |
| Language in Culture | ||
| Talking Culture | ||
| Anthropology (ANTH) courses (6 credit hours at the 200-level and 15 credit hours at the 300-400 level) | 21 | |
| Additional 300-/400- upper division courses within Anthropology or closely related departments that complement the student’s area of study (determined in consultation with the advisor). | 9 | |
| Research and Service-Learning Coursework | 3 | |
| Choose one course from the following areas in consultation with the departmental advisor: | ||
Archaeology | ||
| Zooarchaeology | ||
| Stone Tool Technology Analysis | ||
| Archaeological Field School | ||
| Lab Analysis in Archaeology | ||
| Contemporary Archaeology | ||
| Pottery Analysis | ||
Biological Anthropology | ||
| Forensic Anthropology | ||
| Human Osteology | ||
| Evolutionary Immunology | ||
| Human Genetics | ||
| Methods in Bioanthropology | ||
| Research in Bioanthropology | ||
| Advanced Skeletal Biology | ||
Sociocultural & Linguistic Anthropology | ||
| Research Methods in Socio-Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Ethnography through Language | ||
Museum Anthropology | ||
| Museum Theory and Practice | ||
or MUSE 390 | Museum Internship | |
| Senior Capstone Project | 3-6 | |
| Choose one option below (Honors Thesis, Senior Capstone Seminar, Internship, Study Abroad) in consultation with and approval of the departmental advisor: | ||
| Honors Thesis - 6 hours. Two consecutive semesters of research resulting in a written thesis | ||
| Honors Senior Thesis I | ||
| Honors Senior Thesis II | ||
| Senior Capstone Seminar (Independent Research) - 3 hours | ||
| Senior Capstone Seminar | ||
| Internship - 3 hours. A portfolio and report associated with an approved departmental internship. | ||
| Individual Study | ||
| Study Abroad - 3 hours. A portfolio and report associated with an approved Study Abroad experience. | ||
| Individual Study | ||
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Anthropology
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| LAS 101 | 1 | Anthropology Core course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Anthropology Core course | 3 | Anthropology Core course | 3 |
| ANTH 200-level course | 4 | ANTH 200-level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ANTH 300-400 level course | 3 | ANTH 300-400 level course | 3 |
| ANTH 300-400 level course | 3 | ANTH 300-400 level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | ANTH 300-400 level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Additional 300-/400-level upper division coursework in Anthropology | 3 | Additional 300-/400-level upper division coursework in Anthropology | 3 |
| Senior Capstone Project | 3 | Additional 300-/400-level upper division coursework in Anthropology | 3 |
| Research and Service-Learning coursework | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Anthropology
Students who graduate with a BALAS degree in Anthropology will have:
- A broad knowledge of cultural, social, linguistic and biological facets of the human condition and the methods anthropologists use to study them.
- The ability to conduct independent research through data collection, critical analysis, synthesis, and written presentation of findings.
- An understanding of the ethical and social dimensions of anthropological research and their impacts on society.
Students who graduate with a concentration in Archaeology will be able to:
- Learn theories and methods for understanding cultural and societal change through time and the role of heritage in the present.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical issues and legal responsibilities concerning cultural resource management.
Students who graduate with a concentration in Socio-cultural and Linguistic Anthropology will:
- Learn theories and methods for understanding cultural and linguistic variation in human societies, and how power and politics contribute to understandings of self and society.
- Demonstrate ways of thinking about the world that demonstrate the diversity and the interconnectedness of local, regional, and global processes.
Students who graduate with a concentration in Biological Anthropology will:
- Learn theories and methods for understanding biological variation and how this information is applied to forensic science and health sciences.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Anthropology
Department of Anthropology
Anthropology faculty
Anthropology advising
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Overview of College Admissions & Requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences