How does culture shape technology and technology shape culture? Does technology bridge inequalities or make them even wider? Anthropologists use computational tools and algorithms to analyze substantial amounts of data, gathered from a field site or by studying online social communities and social networks, to consider these questions. In computer science + anthropology, students will gain the knowledge necessary to use computer, social, and behavioral sciences within larger cultural questions of globalization, community, security, the ethics of privacy, social transformation, and social justice.

Computer Science and Anthropology Major

Program Description

How do we analyze memes, emojis, and language on social media? How does culture shape technology and technology shape culture? Does technology bridge inequalities or make them even wider? Anthropologists use computational tools and algorithms to analyze substantial amounts of data, gathered from a field site or by studying online social communities and social networks, to consider these questions. Through this work, anthropologists consider the humanity within technology. 

In computer science + anthropology, students will gain the knowledge necessary to use computer, social, and behavioral sciences within larger cultural questions of globalization, community, security, the ethics of privacy, social transformation, and social justice. This program prepares students for specializations in biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, sociocultural anthropology, computational anthropology, and archeology as well as CS-related work in social media, UX design, user experience research, product management, and online communities. This dual major program is a collaboration within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

Please review the LAS FAQ on CS + X Majors

Program Requirements

Please review the CS+ Anthropology catalog for requirements.

Program Contact Information

Dr. Petra Jelinek, Director of Undergraduate Studies 
Department of Anthropology
University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign
109 Davenport Hall (MC‐148)
607 Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: 
Email: elinek@illinois.edu

Dr. Maritza Quiñones, Undergraduate Academic Advisor
Department of Anthropology
University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign
109F Davenport Hall (MC‐148)
607 Mathews Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: (217) 265-8042
Email: quinonem@illinois.edu

Department of Computer Science, Undergraduate Advising
University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign
Phone: (217) 333-4428
Email: undergrad@cs.illinois.edu