It is located in the central part of the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus, and houses the College of Liberal Arts (COLA), which includes multiple departments, as well as the Sharp Museum.

[3] Faner Hall was designed by architecture firm Geddes Brecher Qualls Cunningham in the Brutalist style.

[4][5] On March 6, 1972, a collapse at the construction site killed university freshman Michael G.

[7] Faner Hall houses many of the departments which belong to the University Core Curriculum as well as other areas of study.

Departments include Africana Studies, Anthropology, Art & Design, Communication Studies, Criminology & Criminal Justice, Economics, English, Geography & Environmental Resources, History, Languages, Cultures & International Trade, Linguistics, Paralegal Studies, Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology.