2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog Department of Sociology and Anthropology

The Honors Program seeks to facilitate customized learning for Honors students in their disciplines by offering the opportunity for students to engage in Honors education and to have Honors Learning Experiences in upper division courses. Honors students may choose to focus their Honors Learning in their major and pursue the Honors in the Major designation, which is awarded at graduation. Learn more about Honors in the Major.

For more information on Honors in Sociology and Anthropology, including admission and retention standards, please visit the Honors website.

Interdisciplinary Minors

The Department of Sociology/Anthropology participates in a number of interdisciplinary minors at the University. Coursework offered by the Department contribute to the following minors: African-American Studies, African Studies, Children’s Studies, Civic Engagement and Responsibility, Cognitive Science, Ethnic Studies, International Studies, Latin American and Latino/a Studies, Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies, Native American Studies, Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies, Urban Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. For further information on any of these minors and their advisors, please consult the Interdisciplinary Studies Programs section.

Minor in Social Aspects of Aging (Interdisciplinary Minor)

For information concerning the Minor in Social Aspects of Aging, please consult the Interdisciplinary Studies Programs section.

Minor in Food Studies (Interdisciplinary Minor)

For information concerning the Minor in Food Studies, please consult the Interdisciplinary Studies Programs section.

Major in Sociology

Sociology majors at Illinois State explore a diverse range of topics and learn to think critically about the social world. Our distinguished faculty members are committed to helping students develop the analytical skills they need to gain a deeper understanding of the world in which we live.

Sociologists look under the surface of social life. They analyze data and develop theories in order to understand and explain social patterns, issues, and problems. Sociology not only helps us understand the roots of these issues and problems, but can also help inform policies that contribute to their solutions.

All students in the Sociology major must complete one of the following sequences.

Social Research Sequence

The Social Research Sequence places an emphasis on advanced research and analytical skills that will prepare students for graduate program work or career paths that focus on policy, analyses, or data management.

View Social Research Course Requirements

Social Inquiry Sequence

The Social Inquiry Sequence places an emphasis on tailoring electives to support the unique interests and aspirations of our students across a broad spectrum of areas of specialization within the discipline.

View Social Inquiry Course Requirements

Minor in Sociology

18 total credit hours in Sociology required

Required course

• SOC 106

15 credit hours of electives, 9 credit hours must be at the 200- or 300-level. 

Note: 

No Anthropology course may be counted toward the 18 credit hours in Sociology required for the minor

Major in Anthropology

Anthropology is a discipline concerned with people in their entirety: our evolution and physical variation, the remnants of our prehistoric past, the cultural and linguistic diversity of human societies past and present.

Anthropology has four subfields: archaeology, anthropological linguistics, cultural anthropology, and biological anthropology. An anthropological education begins with learning the fundamentals. This means taking courses representative of all four subfields.

Students in the Anthropology major must complete one of the following sequences.

Anthropology Sequence

View Anthropology Course Requirements

Accelerated Anthropology Sequence

View Accelerated Anthropology Course Requirements

Program Admission Requirements

The Accelerated Anthropology Sequence (AAS) is a pathway to the Master’s Program in Anthropology. Accelerated degree programs offer high-achieving students the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree and master’s degree with one additional year of study. Students accepted to the sequence will be allowed to take courses during their senior year that will count toward both the undergraduate and graduate programs in anthropology. Qualifying students must apply to the AAS in the spring semester of their junior year. Admission is based on space availability and competitiveness of the applicant. Application procedures and deadlines are available on the Anthropology Program website.

Acceptance into the AAS constitutes acceptance into the Master’s Program in Anthropology and thus students will take up to 12 hours of graduate-level credits during their senior year. To transfer to graduate-only status for their second year, students must submit an application to the Graduate School for the Master’s Program in Anthropology in the spring of their senior year. This application to the Graduate School will be considered pro-forma if students are in good standing and have made good progress towards their M.A. degree during their senior year.

A maximum of 12 of the total 15 hours of elective courses may be taken for graduate credit

Some 300-level courses are offered for undergraduate or graduate credit. Students in the Accelerated Sequence who want to count a 300-level course toward their 12 hours of required graduate coursework, must enroll in the 300-level course for graduate credit at the beginning of the course in order for it to count.

To graduate in this sequence, a student must take at least one course for graduate credit during the senior year. The student must consult with an advisor and the instructor prior to the start of each new course to ensure approval.

Notes

The following anthropology courses may be taken by anthropology majors to fulfill General Education requirements but do not count towards electives for the major: ANT 143, ANT 176, ANT 197

All anthropology majors are encouraged to take SOC 275 (Social Statistics) as part of their undergraduate curriculum, however no Sociology courses may be counted toward the 40 hours in Anthropology required for the major

Special topics courses (ANT 306 and ANT 383) vary from semester to semester may be taken twice for credit if the content is different.

All Graduate School admission deadlines and policies apply to courses for graduate credit

Minor in Anthropology

18 total credit hours in Anthropology required

Required courses

• ANT 102
• ANT 185
• At least 9 credit hours must be at the 200-level or higher

Note: Additional Anthropology electives will be recommended on an individual basis. No Sociology course may be counted toward the 18 hours in Anthropology required for the minor.