Mission Statement

The Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology provides 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.

The Programs in Folk Studies offers instruction in folklore and folklife at the baccalaureate and graduate levels. The graduate program aims to offer both outstanding training for the MA student intending a career in public folklore or historic preservation, and excellent preparation for further graduate work toward a doctoral degree elsewhere. As well as building a solid foundation for graduate work in folklore, museum studies, or historic preservation, the undergraduate minor in folk studies is intended to give any student the skills, knowledge, and insight to participate effectively in an increasingly diverse workplace and society.

The Anthropology program provides students with a variety of opportunities to engage in the discipline of anthropology through diverse course offerings, major and minor programs, experiential learning activities, and student organizations. In the holistic study of humans, the interaction of culture and biology is emphasized, both in contemporary societies as well as in the archaeological and evolutionary past. While a broad, four-field approach is emphasized in the program, the curriculum prepares students for graduate studies and employment in cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, archaeology, or cultural resource management.