Archaeology

Cultural

Linguistics

Physical

Applied

Cognitive Science

Museology

Museology

Two NIU anthropologists (Professors Creamer and Gebo) hold adjunct or research associate appointments with the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. This connection facilitates the ability of NIU students to use the extensive collections housed in the Field Museum's Anthropology Department, Division of Mammals, and other branches. During the past five years, several students also have held internships or temporary jobs at the Field Museum. Dr. Jonathan Haas, MacArthur Curator of Archaeology, is an Adjunct Professor in this department.

The department also has close ties to many local museums. Professor Mark Mehrer holds positions at both the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, IL and the Midwest Museum of Natural History located in downtown Sycamore, IL. Both institutions provided graduate and undergraduate students internship opportunities and a behind the scenes view of museum work.

Additionally, the department’s Museum of Anthropology serves all university students through museum course work and hands-on experiences with all phases of museum work. It also serves the public through an active in-house and outreach educational program. The bulk of the museum’s collection along with it’s laboratory and workshops are located in the basement of Cole Hall while the Museum itself is located in the Stevens building, across from the department’s office.

All of these resources are available to departmental students and form the bases for the Interdisciplinary Certificate of Graduate Study in Museum Studies, the only certificate program of its kind available in the Northern Illinois region.