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Undergraduate program

The Department of Anthropology offers both a B.A. and a B.S. degree for majors in anthropology. Either degree may be obtained with honors and can be used to gain certification to teach social sciences at the junior and senior high school levels. The department also offers a minor in anthropology, which should be of special interest to students in art history, biological sciences, business management, foreign languages and literature, geology, humanities, social sciences, and visual communications.

Some of the department's lower division courses can be used by non-majors toward fulfilling the distributive studies area requirements in the university's general education program. The department participates in the interdisciplinary minors in black studies, international studies, Latino/Latin American studies, linguistics, Southeast Asian studies, urban studies, and women's studies.

How to Apply

Freshmen and transfer students are encouraged to visit Northern Illinois University's Office of Admissions website for application related questions. Their site also contains an online version of NIU's admissions application, for your convenience. A copy of the Undergraduate Catalog, in PDF format, may be obtained from the Office of Registration and Records if you have specific questions about any particular program.

Major in Anthropology (B.A. or B.S.)

Requirements In Department (36-37)

  • ANTH 210, General Prehistoric Archaeology (3)

  • ANTH 220, General Cultural Anthropology (3)

  • ANTH 230, Anthropology of Language (3)

  • ANTH 240, General Physical Anthropology (3)

At least one 300 or 400 level course in each of the following categories (12‑13)

  • Archaeology

  • Ethnology

  • Linguistic anthropology

  • Physical anthropology

At least two 300 or 400 level courses selected from the following categories (6)

  • Cultural-social anthropology

  • History and theory of anthropology

  • Special or multidisciplinary

At least 6 additional hours of electives chosen in anthropology in consultation with faculty adviser (6)

Requirements outside Department (B.A., 9-21; B.S., 20-24)

At least 9 hours of course work at the 200 level or above in a single discipline other than anthropology to be chosen in consultation with faculty adviser. Work taken to meet the special requirements for the B.A. or B.S. degree will not be counted toward the 9 hours. (9)

For the B.A. degree

Fulfillment of foreign language requirement (0-12)

(See "Foreign Language Requirement for the B.A. Degree.")

For the B.S. degree

Laboratory science/mathematical/computational skills sequence (11-15)

  (See "College Requirement for the B.S. Degree.")

Total Hours for a Major in Anthropology: 45-58 (B.A.) OR 56-61 (B.S.)

Recommendation

Students seeking an advanced degree here or elsewhere should work closely with a faculty adviser and be aware of graduate school entrance requirements, such as satisfactory completion of a course in statistics.

Teacher Certification

Students who want to be certified to teach anthropology/social sciences in grades 6‑12 must declare their intention to do so with he office of teacher certification in the Department of History at he earliest possible opportunity. Certification involves significant requirements in addition to the completion of a degree in anthropology.

Admission

Students are admitted to the certification program when they have

  1. established a file with the Department of History's office of teacher certification and completed satisfactory reviews of progress each semester after establishment of the file;

  2. attained junior standing and completed at least 12 semester hours at NIU with a minimum GPA of 2.75;

  3. completed at least 6 semester hours of anthropology at NIU and earned a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all anthropology courses taken at the college/university level;

  4. completed the core competency requirements in English and oral communication;

  5. completed at least 20 clock hours of approved early clinical experiences; and

  6. obtained approval from the Department of History's office of teacher certification.

Retention

Students admitted to the program must maintain the GPA requirements and complete a satisfactory review of progress each semester with the Department of History's office of teacher certification

Department Requirements

Students must complete the requirements for a degree I anthropology. In addition, they must complete ANTH 496X, History and Social Science Instruction in Grades 6-12. Except in unusual circumstances, ANTH 496X must be taken in the semester immediately prior to enrollment in student teaching.

Other Requirements

Students must complete HIST 400, Student-Teaching in History Social Sciences in Grades 6-12. Except in unusual circumstances students are admitted to HIST 400 only upon satisfactory completion of all other work required for graduation an certification

Students must complete the minimum requirements for teaching endorsements in both U.S. history (8 semester hours) and world history (8 semester hours).

Illinois requires 100 clock hours of substantial, varied, and sequential clinical experiences prior to student teaching. Students must obtain permission from the Department of History's office of teacher certification for enrollment in these experiences.

Students must complete course work I in human development and learning, techniques of assessment, foundations of education, and integrating exceptional students into the regular classroom. Students should consult with the Department of History's office of teacher certification to determine which courses are approved for satisfying this requirement.

Degree with Honors

Majors with at least a 3.30 overall GPA and a minimum 3.50 GPA in anthropology courses are eligible for the Anthropology Honors Program. Additional requirements for earning the baccalaureate degree in anthropology with honors include taking 15 semester hours of honors courses in anthropology, taking 6 semester hours of ANTH 499H (senior thesis) in lieu of 6 semester hours of electives in anthropology, and presenting an acceptable senior thesis.

Minor in Anthropology (18)

Select at least two of the following (6)

  • ANTH 210, General Prehistoric Archaeology (3)

  • ANTH 220, General Cultural Anthropology (3)

  • ANTH 230, Anthropology of Language (3)

  • ANTH 240, General Physical Anthropology (3)

Select at least four courses in anthropology in consultation with faculty adviser (12)

Six or more semester hours in the minor must be taken at NIU.

Program requirements (pdf - 100k)

 

  
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Department of Anthropology
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
Phone: (815) 753-0246
Fax: (815) 753-7027

Departmental Chair: Dr. Judy Ledgerwood (jledgerw@niu.edu)
Departmental Secretary: Ms. Kathy Truman (ktruman@niu.edu)
Webmaster: Dr. Michael Kolb (aloha@niu.edu)