2026-2027 Course Catalog

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

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.

Course List

 | 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 |

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; however, it may not be used to fulfill more than one of those requirements. | | | | Anthropology Core Courses | | 9 | | The following 2 courses are required: | | | | ANTH 230 | Sociocultural Anthropology | | | ANTH 270 | Language in Culture | | | Choose 1 additional core course from the 4 options listed below: | | | | ANTH 102 | Human Origins and Culture | | | ANTH 105 | World Archaeology | | | ANTH 220 | Introduction to Archaeology | | | ANTH 240 | Biological Anthropology | | | Sociocultural & Linguistic Anthropology Courses | | | | Regions of the World List 1 (select 1 course): | | 3 | | ANTH/AFRO 106 | Hist Arch Americas | | | ANTH/JS/PHIL/REL 108 | Religion & Society in West I | | | ANTH 112 | Language, Race, and Ethnicity in the United States | | | ANTH 160 | Race and Contemporary Social Issues | | | ANTH/AIS 165 | Lang & Culture Native North Am | | | ANTH 182 | Latin American Cultures | | | Regions of the World List 2 (select 2 courses): | | 6 | | ANTH 221 | Archaeology of South Asia | | | ANTH/LLS 259 | Latina/o Anthropology | | | ANTH/AFRO 261 | Intro to the African Diaspora | | | ANTH/GWS 262 | Women's Lives | | | ANTH 263 | Body, Personhood, and Culture | | | ANTH 268 | Images of the Other | | | ANTH/GLBL/SAME 272/TURK 270 | Language and Culture in Turkey | | | ANTH/EALC 285 | Intro to Korea Through Film | | | ANTH 287/EALC 288 | Contemporary East Asia | | | ANTH/AIS/HIST 288 | American Indians of Illinois | | | Theoretical or Topical Areas (select 4 courses): | | 12 | | ANTH 350 | Cultures of Law | | | ANTH 351 | Language and Race | | | ANTH 352 | Language and Gender | | | ANTH 353 | Language and Humor | | | ANTH 363 | Anth of Dance/Movement | | | ANTH 364 | Performing 'America' | | | ANTH 372 | Topics in Lang & Culture | | | ANTH 374 | Anth of Science and Technology | | | ANTH 375 | The Culture of Nature | | | ANTH 379 | Medical Anthropology | | | ANTH 387 | Anthropology of Crime | | | ANTH/REL/GWS/GLBL/SAME 403/HIST 434 | Women in Muslim Societies | | | ANTH 405 | 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 | | ANTH 411 | Research Methods in Socio-Cultural Anthropology | | | ANTH 471 | 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. | | | | 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 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.

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:

1. A broad knowledge of cultural, social, linguistic, archaeological, and biological facets of the human condition and the methods anthropologists use to study them.
2. An understanding of the ethical and social dimensions of anthropological research and their impacts on society.
3. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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