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Home 2012-2013 Undergraduate College Catalog Undergraduate Programs of Study Sociology and Anthropology

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Sociology and Anthropology

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology aims to develop a critical awareness of the relationship between the individual and the larger society in an historical context. Courses are designed to enhance personal development by examining the major social forces that influence our lives. By understanding the social roots of personal concerns and social issues we are better able to construct a more just society.

The program prepares students not only for graduate study in the social sciences, but also for careers in law, criminal justice, teaching, business management, social research, communications, and social action. Courses in social class, race and gender relations, globalization and development, social conflict, crime, science and technology, mass media, family, sports, and education are rooted in both historical and contemporary research on social issues.

Faculty and Professional Interests

Carolee Berg — Cultural anthropology, medical anthropology, language

Elizabeth Cherry — Political sociology and social change, environmental sociology

Nancy Harris — Education, sports, women’s studies, research methods

John Murray — Social class, mass media, science and technology, race and ethnicity

Eric Slater — Urban studies, world-historical sociology and globalization, quantitative methods

Beth Williford — Social movements, women’s studies

Adjunct Faculty: Phyllis Gillians (Social Work), Marlene Yahalom (Holocaust Studies and Sociology of Law), Peter Bell (Media & Social Change)

Sociology and Anthropology Major Requirements

Ten courses in the department must be completed satisfactorily for a major in sociology. The following four are required:

The requirement of 10 courses should be considered a minimum; students majoring in the department may wish to include additional sociology and anthropology courses in their programs. Courses in anthropology count as electives in sociology and students may focus on anthropology while completing the major requirements in sociology. Students planning to do graduate work in sociology should develop a reading knowledge of a foreign language.

All 10 courses required for the major must receive letter grade evaluations of at least C, or its equivalent; additional electives in sociology and anthropology may be taken on a pass/fail basis.

Sociology and Anthropology Required Course Sequence

Sociology majors should take Social Science Research (SOC 2091) in the spring semester of the Junior year. It is a prerequisite for the Advanced Research Seminar (SOC 3091), which must be taken in the fall semester of the Senior year. It is strongly recommended but not required that majors take Classical Social Theory (SOC 3033) in the Spring semester in the Junior year.

Sociology and Anthropology Minor Requirements

A minor in sociology is satisfied through the successful completion (letter grade evaluations of at least C, or its equivalent) of SOC 1001: Introduction to Sociology and four additional courses in sociology, one of which must be taken at the 3000 level. These requirements are flexible, but in all cases students should consult with the sociology faculty to insure that course selections are compatible with their interests.

Sociology and Anthropology Departmental Honors

Qualified students may apply for admission to the Department’s Honors Program following recommendation by their Academic Advisor.

Opportunities. (Fall)

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