Anthropology finally a major of its own
Lisa Brock
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: News
A request by the department of sociology and anthropology to offer an anthropology major at Western Illinois University beginning in the fall 2009 semester was approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education on April 7.
Adding an anthropology major is expected to allow the department of sociology and anthropology to grow from 10 students in the fall of 2009 to at least 30 students in the next five years.
At the moment, the university only offers a minor in anthropology. The minor allows only 18 hours of anthropology coursework with two three-credit-hour core courses. There are currently 50 anthropology minors at the university, according to Heather McIlvaine-Newsad, associate professor of anthropology. The major offered in the fall will allow for 12 credit hours of core course work and 27 hours of anthropology-directed electives.
The current anthropology minor does not acknowledge the four fields of anthropology that the major will. In the major, students will gain formal training in anthropology theory and methods offering flexibility in studies and more specialization choices for students. In the fall 2009 semester, students can choose from cultural/social, linguistic, archeology and physical/biological anthropology courses.
Anthropology professors are willingly accepting to teach more classes. Although teaching more classes will consume their time and not raise their salaries, they are willing to put in an effort to make the new major successful. Four courses will be added to the 23 anthropology courses currently taught at the university.
"We consistently lose students in the minor because they want to major," McIlvaine-Newsad said.
"A survey in 2006 of anthropology minors indicated that of the 234 students enrolled in the minor, one hundred of those students said they would be interested in an anthropology major," said Darcie Shinberger, Director of University Relations.
Freshman student Zoe Hodgdon said that anthropology has been a part of her life since childhood, coming from a very diverse neighborhood and family. She plans to use her anthropology degree as a basis to improve cultural relations around the world.
Adding an anthropology major is expected to allow the department of sociology and anthropology to grow from 10 students in the fall of 2009 to at least 30 students in the next five years.
At the moment, the university only offers a minor in anthropology. The minor allows only 18 hours of anthropology coursework with two three-credit-hour core courses. There are currently 50 anthropology minors at the university, according to Heather McIlvaine-Newsad, associate professor of anthropology. The major offered in the fall will allow for 12 credit hours of core course work and 27 hours of anthropology-directed electives.
The current anthropology minor does not acknowledge the four fields of anthropology that the major will. In the major, students will gain formal training in anthropology theory and methods offering flexibility in studies and more specialization choices for students. In the fall 2009 semester, students can choose from cultural/social, linguistic, archeology and physical/biological anthropology courses.
Anthropology professors are willingly accepting to teach more classes. Although teaching more classes will consume their time and not raise their salaries, they are willing to put in an effort to make the new major successful. Four courses will be added to the 23 anthropology courses currently taught at the university.
"We consistently lose students in the minor because they want to major," McIlvaine-Newsad said.
"A survey in 2006 of anthropology minors indicated that of the 234 students enrolled in the minor, one hundred of those students said they would be interested in an anthropology major," said Darcie Shinberger, Director of University Relations.
Freshman student Zoe Hodgdon said that anthropology has been a part of her life since childhood, coming from a very diverse neighborhood and family. She plans to use her anthropology degree as a basis to improve cultural relations around the world.
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