Anthropology: Sociocultural & Linguistic Anthropology, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Anthropology, Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology Concentration
The Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology Concentration offers students a program of more focused coursework in these closely related fields. Sociocultural anthropologists study the daily lives of people around the world, both at home and abroad. They conduct field research to get a hands-on feel for people’s lives and passions and examine everything from beauty pageants to political protest marches, from Disney films to the lab practices of nuclear scientists. Sociocultural anthropology distinguishes itself from other disciplines by its conviction that these local and personal details offer a crucial 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, on social media, or at the United Nations, as well as how the way we talk creates our sense of self and reality.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Anthropology, Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology 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 | |
fulfilled by ANTH 270 | ||
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
fulfilled by ANTH 270 and any other course approved as Social & Behavioral Sciences | ||
| 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 2 courses are required: | ||
| Sociocultural Anthropology | ||
| Language in Culture | ||
| Choose 1 additional core course from the 4 options listed below: | ||
| Human Origins and Culture | ||
| World Archaeology | ||
| Introduction to Archaeology | ||
| Biological Anthropology | ||
| Sociocultural & Linguistic Anthropology Courses | ||
| Regions of the World List 1 (select 1 course): | 3 | |
| Hist Arch Americas | ||
| Religion & Society in West I | ||
| Language, Race, and Ethnicity in the United States | ||
| Race and Contemporary Social Issues | ||
| Lang & Culture Native North Am | ||
| Latin American Cultures | ||
| Regions of the World List 2 (select 2 courses): | 6 | |
| Archaeology of South Asia | ||
| Latina/o Anthropology | ||
| Intro to the African Diaspora | ||
| Women's Lives | ||
| Body, Personhood, and Culture | ||
| Images of the Other | ||
| Language and Culture in Turkey | ||
| Intro to Korea Through Film | ||
| Contemporary East Asia | ||
| American Indians of Illinois | ||
| Theoretical or Topical Areas (select 4 courses): | 12 | |
| Cultures of Law | ||
| Language and Race | ||
| Language and Gender | ||
| Language and Humor | ||
| Anth of Dance/Movement | ||
| Performing 'America' | ||
| Topics in Lang & Culture | ||
| Anth of Science and Technology | ||
| The Culture of Nature | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Anthropology of Crime | ||
| Women in Muslim Societies | ||
| Contemporary Central America | ||
| Additional 300-/400-upper division Sociocultural & Linguistics Anthropology courses or courses in related fields that complement the student’s sociocultural/linguistic focus. Meet with the departmental advisor to discuss the selection of courses. | 9 | |
| Research and Service-Learning Coursework (choose one) | 3 | |
| Research Methods in Socio-Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Ethnography through Language | ||
| 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 in Anthropology, Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology 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 230 | 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 | ||
| Total Hours 31 | |||
| Second Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Anthropology Core Course | 3 | ANTH 270 | 3 |
| Regions of the World List 1 course | 3 | Regions of the World List 2 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 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
| Third Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Regions of the World List 2 course | 3 | Additional 300-/400-upper division Sociocultural & Linguistics Anthropology course | 3 |
| Additional 300-/400-upper division Sociocultural & Linguistics Anthropology course | 3 | Theoretical or Topical Area course | 3 |
| Theoretical or Topical Area course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Additional 300-/400-upper division Sociocultural & Linguistics Anthropology course | 3 | Research and Service-Learning coursework | 3 |
| Senior Capstone Project | 3 | Theoretical or Topical Area course | 3 |
| Theoretical or Topical Area course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 29 | |||
Total Hours: 120
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Anthropology, Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology 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 sociocultural and linguistic anthropology will have:
- Knowledge of the theories and methods for understanding cultural and linguistic variation in human societies, and how power and politics contribute to understandings of self and society.
- An understanding of the ways of thinking about the world that demonstrate the diversity and the inter-connectedness of local, regional, and global processes.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Anthropology, Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology Concentration
Department of Anthropology
Anthropology Faculty
Anthropology Advising
anthro@illinois.edu
Overview of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences & Admissions Requirements