Department of Sociology and Anthropology

In the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, students will gain the knowledge and skills to make a difference in their community and in the world. An education grounded in sociology or anthropology empowers students to explore the world - it gives them the vision to know the questions to ask, the research tools to find the answers to those questions, and the skills to turn the findings into social solutions.

Students in the department gain real-life, job-related experience while they earn their degree.

Undergraduate

A student graduating with a B.A. degree in Anthropology will be able to:

describe and explain key research methods of anthropology that are appropriate to a research question;
identify, describe, and apply anthropological theoretical paradigms and use them appropriately;
read and critically evaluate anthropological source materials and identify the purpose, concepts, and arguments;
demonstrate argumentation, analysis, and synthesis skills through writing, in a variety of contexts.

A student graduating with a B.S. degree in Sociology will be able to:

use the sociological perspective and core concepts to formulate sociological explanations of human behavior and social phenomena;
understand the role of theory in sociology, such that students will be able to: describe theoretical perspectives using key concepts and apply sociological theories to better understand social phenomena;
understand the process of gathering and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data in order to formulate and empirically support a sociological explanation of a social phenomenon.

Graduate

The Master of Arts with a major in Social Science offers students a multidisciplinary curriculum for understanding and investigating the social aspects of human behavior, social structure and culture in a global context. The program emphasizes the wide range of skills and perspectives that students need in order to analyze the historical, cultural, individual, and institutional conditions that shape our lives. We are committed to helping students become informed, responsible, active citizens and ethical workers in diverse communities. Consistent with the University’s mission, the program inculcates a culture of engagement that bridges theory with practice, extends the learning environment beyond the classroom, and promotes student growth.

Students in the M.A. Social Science program develop a program of study in conjunction with their advisor. A student will select an area of concentration within one of three areas - Anthropology, Political Science, or Sociology.

Programs

Undergraduate Program(s)

Undergraduate Minor(s)