Sociology and anthropology students study human cultures and societies, past and present, on a comparative basis.
The disciplines are concerned with analyzing and understanding the social structures and values that shape our lives, the institutions and social forces in our own and other societies.
The department offers a wide variety of topics for study, including archaeology, social anthropology, American minorities, and the sociology of medicine.
Many of these courses may be taken by students who are interested in the subject but do not intend to major in sociology and anthropology.
Students who choose such a major take nine courses, including an introductory course in each discipline (SOAN 101; SOAN 102), a course on classical social theory (SOAN 304) related to both disciplines, a methods course (SOAN 310; SOAN 311), a selection of more specialized upper-level courses, and a senior seminar.
The major provides students with a suitable preparation for careers or graduate study in such fields as law, business management, public administration, teaching, journalism or social work.