University News
IBHE Approves WIU Anthropology Degree
April 7, 2009
MACOMB, IL -- The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) today (April 7) approved Western Illinois University's request to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology degree.
The 120-semester hour degree, which was approved by Western's Board of Trustees in December 2007, was created to provide students with the understanding and skills related to human behavior, diversity and social problems. The program will be delivered at the WIU-Macomb campus beginning Fall 2009.
According to WIU Provost and Academic Vice President Jack Thomas, the new degree program will build upon the University's successful and popular anthropology minor, which has been offered for nearly 30 years.
"We created the anthropology degree program, which has a concentration in environmental issues to provide graduates of the program with greater understanding of human biological and cultural diversity," Thomas added. "As a dynamic major, the program will address many topics related to resources sustainability, such as forensic and environmental anthropology, public archaeology, law enforcement and justice administration and gender differences. We are pleased to offer this new academic option to our students."
Fall enrollments are projected to grow from 10 in the first year to approximately 30 in five years.
"We are so glad to be able to add another new degree to the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) academic program offerings," said CAS Dean Inessa Levi. "Thanks to the hard work of the anthropology faculty; the leadership of John Wozniak, sociology and anthropology department chair; and the support of President Goldfarb and Provost Thomas, students entering Western Illinois University have more learning opportunities than at any time in the University's history.
For more information, contact the department of sociology and anthropology at (309) 298-1056.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
Connect with us: