Department of Folk Studies & Anthropology

Office: 237 Ivan Wilson Center for Fine Arts
Phone: (270) 745-6549
Fax: (270) 745-6889
Website: www.wku.edu/fsa

Dr. Michael Ann Williams, Head
Email:Michael.Williams@wku.edu

Professors: E. Brady, M. A. Williams
Associate Professors: D. Applegate, T. Evans, K. Hudepohl, J.A.K. Njoku
Assistant Professors: M. Agozzino, L. Powell
Instructor: B. Kaufkins

The programs and coursework of the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology have in common the goal of providing WKU students and the University constituency with the training, intellectual tools, and resources to understand the cultural and biological dimensions of humankind in terms of the myriad shaping factors addressed in our respective disciplines. Although the disciplines of anthropology and folk studies are distinct, they share the University’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and public service, recognizing that this mission continues to evolve in response to regional, national, and global change.

Both undergraduate and graduate programs in folk studies stress the examination of traditional expressive culture as a key to understanding human experience. The discipline of folklore has close affinities with literature, anthropology, sociology, history, geography, linguistics, philosophy, ethnomusicology, and psychology. The folk studies program integrates humanistic and social scientific perspectives on culture with pragmatic skills needed for professional involvement in research or for a variety of fields of employment such as public and applied folklore, historic preservation, cultural resource management and museum work.

In response to the growing importance of cross-cultural studies, the department offers an undergraduate minor in folklore in order to provide students with opportunities to enrich their general knowledge of the folk traditions and customs of specific societies and culture areas and to develop greater understanding of related forms of human thought and expression.

The anthropology program at Western Kentucky University offers students a coherent program of study that enriches their knowledge of human culture, develops their cross-disciplinary perspectives, and prepares them for a variety of careers. In particular, the program provides opportunities for students to study the interaction of culture and biology, both in contemporary societies as well as in the archaeological and evolutionary past. The curriculum prepares students for graduate studies and employment in cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, or cultural resource management. Anthropology enriches the study of history, religion, languages, biological and physical sciences, and other social sciences. The anthropology program maintains extensive archaeological, biological, and cultural collections at the Anthropology Laboratory in the Rock House.  The anthropology program also houses a state-of-the-art Ethnographic  Video Production lab with digital cameras and editing stations.

When planning programs of study in this department, students should be aware of the University’s academic requirements and regulations contained in this catalog in the chapter “Academic Information.” Specific attention should be given to the subsections in the chapter entitled (a) Academic Programs, (b) General Education Requirements, and (c) Academic Requirements and Regulations. Students should be aware that some academic programs may require additional scholastic regulations and standards not specified in the catalog. To obtain a copy of these regulations, students should contact the department head.

Minor in Folklore
The minor in folklore (reference number 362) requires a minimum of 21 semester hours. Required courses are FLK 276, 399, and fifteen hours of restricted electives, at least one of which must be at the 400-level (excluding 479 and 489), selected in consultation with the program advisor. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses applied to the folklore minor.

Major in Anthropology
Students interested in this program should check the department web site for information on the recommended four-year course of study (www.wku.edu/anthropology).

A major in anthropology (reference number 608) requires a minimum of 30 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least half of the total semester hours must be in upper-division (300, 400) courses. Requirements of the major include core courses, concentration courses, and electives. All students complete the five-course (15-hour) core curriculum consisting of ANTH 120, 125, 130, 135, and 399. Each student completes at least one of four three-course (9-hour) concentrations in Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology, and/or Cultural Resource Management, each concentration having its own required courses. Students choosing to complete only one concentration must complete 6 hours of electives to be selected from anthropology offerings in consultation with the advisor. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all core courses of the anthropology major. Students must complete a second major or a minor.

Core Requirements completed by all majors (15 hours): ANTH 120, 125, 130, 135, and 399

Concentration Requirements (9 hours): Select at least one concentration.
Cultural Anthropology: One area course selected from: ANTH 340, 342, 345, 350 and 378; one topics course selected from ANTH 343, 382, 400, 410, 442, 446, 448 and 449; one additional area or topics course.
Biological Anthropology: ANTH 300, 305, 450
Archaeology: One course selected from ANTH 335 and 336; at least three hours in ANTH 432; ANTH 438
Cultural Resource Management: ANTH 436; two courses selected from ANTH 434, 470, and 493, FLK 434, 445, 446, and 464.

Electives: 6 hours: (For students completing one concentration) to be selected from anthropology offerings in consultation with advisor.

Minor in Anthropology
A minor in anthropology (reference number 311) requires a minimum of 21 semester hours. At least 12 hours must be in upper-division (300, 400) courses. Each student must complete four required core courses: ANTH 399 and three courses selected from ANTH 120, 125, 130 and 135. In addition, each student must complete 9 hours of upper-division elective courses (with approval of advisor). Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all core courses of the anthropology minor.

Core Requirements completed by all minors (12 hours): Three courses selected from ANTH 120, 125, 130, 135; and 399

Electives (9 hours): To be selected from anthropology offerings in consultation with advisor

Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology offers a Master of Arts in folk studies. See the Graduate Studies Catalog for details. Several graduate assistantships are available each year. Inquiries about courses and degree programs in folk studies should be addressed to Dr. Michael Ann Williams, Department Head of Folk Studies and Anthropology (270) 745-5898, Michael.Williams@wku.edu.