FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Major Requirements

1. I am a sophomore, junior, senior, or transfer student that has been in the anthropology program prior to Fall 2006. I have been following the old list of requirements. Do I have to change to the General Anthropology or Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology concentration requirements?
NO. IF you are a current or transfer student who entered the anthropology major prior to the Fall 2006, you have the option to choose which major concentration you will follow. You can either stay with the old concentration or if the new concentrations better suit your academic needs and goals, then you may choose which one to follow.

2. I am a student who entered the anthropology department in 2006 as a freshman. What major concentration do I follow?
As of the freshman class of the fall semester 2006, the anthropology department offers two major concentration options. 1) General Anthropology: follows a similar tract as the former general anthropology major with a four-fields approach to anthropology with the addition of a Senior Capstone Project. 2) Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology focuses primarily on the sociocultural and linguistic subfields of anthropology and requires a Senior Capstone Project. All students entering in 2006 and all subsequent students will choose between these two options.

3. What are Advanced Hours in Anthropology?
Each of the concentrations prior to and including 2006 require at least 12 hours of advanced coursework in anthropology. Advanced Hours/Courses are any course at the 300 level or above.

4. What is Supporting Course Work or Courses in Related Fields?
Each of the concentrations prior to and including  2006 require a range of 12-18 hours of supporting coursework. The amount of supporting coursework is outlined under each of the programs of study on the anthropology webpage at www.anthro.uiuc.edu. Supporting coursework is any course outside of anthropology that DOES NOT cross-list with anthropology that has relevance to your study (For example: BIO, CHEM, SOC, HIST, IB, MCB, GEOL, CLCV, etc). A range of 6-9 hours of any level of supporting coursework is required, as well as a minimum of 6-9 hours of supporting coursework at the 300 or above level. *NOTE to students who are double-majoring within LAS, the coursework for your double major will count for your supporting coursework. Additionally, some but not all minors require the advanced coursework necessary to fulfill the supporting coursework requirements. Check with your advisor before assuming that a minor will cover your supporting coursework requirements.

5. What is a Senior Capstone Project?
https://ui-integrate.apps.uillinois.edu

The Senior Capstone Project is a new addition for the two new concentrations in anthropology. Currently, there are four primary options in which to fulfill this requirement:
a ) Honors Senior Thesis--requires a two semester commitment taking ANTH 391 followed by ANTH 495. A student qualifies for a Honors Senior Thesis if s/he has a 3.6 GPA or higher in anthropology and at least 37 hours of anthropology coursework (only 6 of these hours may be constituted of ANTH 391 and 495). To register for these courses, a student must receive prior approval from a faculty advisor and receive his/her individual CRN number.

b) ANTH 497--Individual Field Data Analysis--this course requires that the student has undertaken some form of original field work in any subdiscipline in anthropology and works independently with a faculty advisor to complete a project based on field work. To register for this course, the student must seek prior faculty approval and his/her individual CRN

c) ANTH 400 level--A student may take any existing 400 level course in addition to the required 12 hours of advanced study to complete the Senior Capstone requirement. *Note: the 400 level course taken for the Senior Capstone Project will NOT count as a part of the advanced course work. The 400 level course must be IN ADDITION TO the advanced hours requirement. Regular registration procedures apply for this option, although the student is encouraged to talk to the professor and indicate that s/he is working on a Senior Capstone Project through this course.

c) ANTH 399--Special Topics in Anthropology/Independent Study--This option requires a student to work closely with a faculty advisor to complete either original library or field research OR additional research on a special topic as designed by the professor. To register for this course, you must have the consent of the faculty advisor or professor and his or her individual CRN number..

6. What is a Major Plan of Study Form and when do I need to fill it out?
The Major Plan of Study form is basically a worksheet that plans out your academic requirements and supporting or related coursework for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). Once this form is turned in to LAS, your DARS report will reflect the defined supporting/related coursework and additionally the courses you have taken in advanced course work. This form must be filled out with the anthropology undergraduate advisor in 109F Davenport Hall. The Major Plan of Study form is generally filled out in a student's fifth semester or first semester of the junior year in the anthropology program.

7. I decided to substitute one of the approved courses for my major requirements OR I did not take the supporting or related coursework classes that I originally planned to take on my Major Plan of Study Form. What do I have to do to rectify the discrepancy with what is stated on my Major Plan of Study form and in my DARs report?
You MUST visit your undergraduate advisor to fill out the required substitution form to rectify any discrepancies with LAS, the Major Plan of Study form, and your DARS Report.

8. What is a DAR Report and how can I access mine?
A DARs Report is your personalized Degree Audit Report. This report is like a transcript, but shows what requirements you have fulfilled and what requirements you have yet to fulfill. DARs reports can be accessed by students by following the directions at this link http://www.oar.uiuc.edu/current/dars/generate.html

9, I entered the anthropology program before 2006, do I have to complete a Senior Capstone Project?
NO. You have the option to stick to the older anthropology requirements, which do not require a Senior Capstone Project. However, if you elect to follow one of the new concentrations, then a Senior Capstone Project will be required of you.

10. Can I complete a Honors Senior Thesis if I am still following the old requirements?
YES. So long as you have a GPA of 3.6 or higher and 40 hours of anthropology coursework, you are eligible to write an Honors Senior Thesis for departmental distinction. The Honors Senior Thesis still requires you to take at least 3 hours of 391 and 3 hours of 495.