Anthropology: Archaeology, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Anthropology, Archaeology Concentration
The Archaeology 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, field schools, and in our extensive research collections.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Anthropology, Archaeology Concentration
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 coursework 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| The following two courses are required: | ||
| Introduction to Archaeology | ||
| Biological Anthropology | ||
| Choose 1 additional core course from the 4 options listed below: | ||
| Anthro in a Changing World | ||
| Talking Culture | ||
| Sociocultural Anthropology | ||
| Language in Culture | ||
| Archaeology Courses (24 hours distributed as follows): | ||
| One course in Cultural Archaeology History chosen from the following: | 3 | |
| People of the Ice Age | ||
| The Prehistory of Africa | ||
| North American Archeology | ||
| The Ancient Maya | ||
| Four courses in Methods/Materials Analysis chosen from the following: | 12 | |
| People of the Ice Age | ||
| Case Studies Global Heritage | ||
| Zooarchaeology | ||
| Archaeological Surveying | ||
| Stone Tool Technology Analysis | ||
| Landscape Archaeology | ||
| Archaeological Field School | ||
| Lab Analysis in Archaeology | ||
| Heritage Management | ||
| Museum Theory and Practice | ||
| Pottery Analysis | ||
| Three Archaeology courses chosen from the following: | 9 | |
| People of the Ice Age | ||
| Case Studies Global Heritage | ||
| The Prehistory of Africa | ||
| North American Archeology | ||
| Archaeological Surveying | ||
| Stone Tool Technology Analysis | ||
| Landscape Archaeology | ||
| Contemporary Archaeology | ||
| The Ancient Maya | ||
| Heritage Management | ||
| Hist of Archaeological Theory | ||
| Museum Theory and Practice | ||
| Pottery Analysis | ||
| Additional 300-/400-upper division Archaeology Anthropology coursework (9 hours distributed as follows in consultation with the departmental advisor): | ||
| One course in Biological Anthropology | 3 | |
| Two courses related to the student’s area of emphasis in archaeology | 6 | |
| Senior Capstone Project | 3-6 | |
| Choose one option below (Honors Thesis, Senior Capstone Seminar, Internship, or 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 | ||
| Minimum Concentration Hours | 45 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Anthropology, Archaeology Concentration
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 | ANTH 220 | 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 |
| ANTH 240 | 3 | Anthropology Core course | 3 |
| Cultural Archaeology History course | 3 | Methods/Materials Analysis 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 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Methods/Materials Analysis course | 3 | Methods/Materials Analysis course | 3 |
| Archaeology course | 3 | Archaeology course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Additional 300-/400- upper division Archaeology Anthropology coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Additional 300-/400- upper division Archaeology Anthropology coursework | 3 | Archaeology course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Additional 300-/400- upper division Archaeology Anthropology coursework | 3 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
| Senior Capstone | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Methods/Materials Analysis course | 3 | Free elective course | 2 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Anthropology, Archaeology Concentration
Students who graduate with a BALAS degree in Anthropology will have:
- A broad knowledge of cultural, social, linguistic, archaeological, and biological facets of the human condition and the methods anthropologists use to study them.
- An understanding of the ethical and social dimensions of anthropological research and their impacts on society.
- The ability to conduct independent research through data collection, critical analysis, synthesis, and written presentation of findings.
Students who graduate with a concentration in Archaeology will have:
- Knowledge of the theories and methods for understanding cultural and societal change through time and the role of heritage in the present.
- An understanding of the ethical issues and legal responsibilities concerning cultural resource management.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Anthropology, Archaeology Concentration
Department of Anthropology Website
Anthropology Faculty
Anthropology Advising
anthro@illinois.edu
Overview of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences & Admissions Requirements