2026-2027 Course Catalog

Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/anthropology-balas/biological-anthropology/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Anthropology, Biological Anthropology Concentration

The Biological Anthropology 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.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Anthropology, Biological Anthropology Concentration

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

Minimum hours required major and supporting course work: 43-46. 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.

Course List

 | 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 |

Course List

 | 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 |

Course List

 | 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. It may not be used to fulfill more than one of those requirements. | | | | Anthropology Core Courses | | 9 | | The following course is required. | | | | ANTH 240 | Biological Anthropology | | | Choose 2 of the following core courses. These need to be in different categories, and may select no more than one 100-level course from the list below. | | | | ANTH 220 | Introduction to Archaeology | | | or ANTH 105 | World Archaeology | | | ANTH 230 | Sociocultural Anthropology | | | or ANTH 103 | Anthro in a Changing World | | | ANTH 270 | Language in Culture | | | or ANTH/LING 104 | Talking Culture | | | Biological Anthropology Courses | | 24 | | Students take 6 credit hours at the 200-level and 18 credit hours at the 300-/400-level from the following list: | | | | ANTH 241 | Human Biological Variation | | | ANTH 242 | History of Human Evolution | | | ANTH 243 | Sociality of the Great Apes | | | ANTH 246 | Forensic Science | | | ANTH 247 | Forensic Science DNA Lab | | | ANTH 249 | Evolution and Human Disease | | | ANTH 343 | Behavior and Biology of Women | | | ANTH 346 | Forensic Anthropology | | | ANTH 347 | Human Osteology | | | ANTH 358 | People of the Ice Age | | | ANTH/IB 360 | Evolution and Human Health | | | ANTH/IB 361 | Ecology and Human Health | | | ANTH 407 | Evolutionary Immunology | | | ANTH 408 | Human Evolutionary Anatomy | | | ANTH 435 | The Neandertal Debate | | | ANTH 438 | Primate Life History Evolution | | | ANTH 440 | Human Paleontology | | | ANTH/ANSC 441 | Human Genetics | | | ANTH 443 | Primate Form and Behavior | | | ANTH 444 | Methods in Bioanthropology | | | ANTH 445 | Research in Bioanthropology | | | ANTH 447 | Advanced Skeletal Biology | | | ANTH 450 | Zooarchaeology | | | ANTH 468 | Primate Microbial Seminar | | | 3 additional 300-/400- upper division courses from another subfield of anthropology or a related field | | 9 | | (This is in consultation with the departmental advisor. Course selection should complement the student’s Biological Anthropology focus.) | | | | Senior Capstone Project | | 3-6 | | Choose one option below (Honors Thesis, Senior 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 | | | | ANTH 494 | Honors Senior Thesis I | | | ANTH 495 | Honors Senior Thesis II | | | Senior Capstone Seminar (Independent Research) - 3 hours | | | | ANTH 498 | Senior Capstone Seminar | | | Internship – 3 hours. A portfolio and report associated with an approved departmental internship. | | | | ANTH 390 | Individual Study | | | Study Abroad - 3 hours. A portfolio and report associated with an approved Study Abroad experience. | | | | ANTH 390 | Individual Study | | | Minimum Concentration Hours | | 45 |

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Anthropology, Biological Anthropology Concentration

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.

Total Hours: 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Anthropology, Biological Anthropology Concentration

Students who graduate with a BALAS degree in Anthropology will have:

1. A broad knowledge of cultural, social, linguistic and biological facets of the human condition and the methods anthropologists use to study them.
2. An ability to conduct independent research through data collection, critical analysis, synthesis, and written presentation of findings.
3. An understanding of the ethical and social dimensions of anthropological research and their impacts on society.

Students who graduate with a concentration in Biological Anthropology will have:

• Knowledge of the theories and methods for understanding human 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 in Anthropology, Biological Anthropology Concentration

Department of Anthropology

Anthropology faculty\ Anthropology advising

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Overview of College Admissions & Requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences