Anthropology | School of Anthropology, Political Science, and Sociology | SIU

Anthropologists study humanity in many different dimensions, across time and space. The field is divided into three main areas of inquiry: modern human societies (Socio-cultural Anthropology), past human societies (Archaeology), and human and primate biology (Biological Anthropology). At Southern Illinois University, we strive to offer students an integrated, multi-field approach to the study of humans, at the undergraduate and graduate levels, along with opportunities to work with active researchers in all areas. 

In addition, Anthropology maintains close ties with the Center for Archaeological Investigations and with the University Museum. Many students work on field and curation projects with both units. Faculty are also active participants in the Center for Ecology, the Center for Delta Studies, and the Global Media Research Center, which are inter-disciplinary research centers on campus.

Anthropology also forms a central part of several interdisciplinary minors on campus, including minors in Africana Studies (also now available as a major), Forensic Science, Latino and Latin American Studies, and Native American Studies.

Our faculty and students work and study all around the world, in addition to our home base on the scenic campus in the beautiful hills of southern Illinois. We invite you to visit us through our website (our history, our faculty and student research, and our programs of study) or to drop by in Faner Hall, above the University Museum.

Student Research Experiences

SIU Anthropology provides many opportunities for student research projects, both undergraduate and graduate. Here are stories of some of our recent student endeavors.

Leppert travels to Mexico to study wind energy effects on indigenous tribe

Green energy is good, many would agree. But when global forces dictate that your backyard is the place to begin the revolution, local populations can suffer, especially when maximizing profit remains the main objective of the energy companies involved.

Undergraduate researcher Amanda Leppert discovered as much last summer in Mexico, where she examined how a major wind farm project in Oaxaca was impacting local people. A Research-Enriched Academic Challenge (REACH) award through SIU enabled Leppert to spend six weeks with the Zapotec, one of the country’s many indigenous ethnic groups to discern how the project is impacting the community. Full story»

Vargas discusses research on Hurricane Harvey

Video: Undergraduate Grace Vargas describes her experience in SIU Anthropology and her research on Hurricane Harvey.

More details about Grace's collaboration with Professor Roberto Barrios studying the social after-effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas can be found featured on SIU News.