Sociology and Anthropology, BA or BS

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The Sociology and Anthropology program honors the shared intellectual foundations and inquiry of two distinct disciplines. Our curriculum emphasizes an appreciation of diversity and a critical, historical, and comparative perspective of our social world. Students develop the analytic skills and research techniques for understanding identity, behavior, culture, power, and social change. Students engage in learning in and out of the classroom to prepare for a wide range of careers and graduate education.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of a BA/BS in Sociology and Anthropology, graduates will be able to:

Describe and explain how people interact with one another and their environment in specific social and cultural contexts across time and space, with attention to power and inequality.
Systematically document, analyze and interpret social and cultural patterns in human experience.
Write and speak effectively on sociological and anthropological topics for public and academic audiences.
Practice ethical and civically engaged sociology and anthropology.

Requirements for the Sociology and Anthropology Major:

1. Fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements.

2. A minimum of 66 credits in the major, 54 of which must be upper division.

All credits earned toward the major must be taken for a letter grade, except practicum.

3. GPA Requirement

A minimum 2.7 GPA in major courses required for graduation, earning a C- or better in all major courses.

4. Complete Required Courses

Complete STAT 243Z or EC 232 , earning a C- or better.

5. Complete core requirements outlined below:

Core Requirements:

I) Foundations (12 credits)

Select one course from list below (4 credits)

SOAN 211 - The Anthropocene: Archaeology and World Prehistory 4 credits
SOAN 213 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 4 credits

Select one course from list below (4 credits)

SOAN 204Z - Introduction to Sociology 4 credits
SOAN 206Z - Social Problems 4 credits

Select one additional lower division SOAN course (4 credits)

Please note that some upper-division courses in the curriculum require specific lower-division prerequisites.

II) Core Research Methods Courses (all required–8 credits)

SOAN 301 - Introduction to Social Research I 4 credits
SOAN 327 - Quantitative Data Analysis 4 credits

III) Research Methods Elective (select two course from list below – 8 credits)

At least one course must have a SOAN prefix

* Some classes in other programs may have prerequisites outside major requirements.

SOAN 302 - Introduction to Social Research II 4 credits
SOAN 329 - Data Visualization 4 credits
SOAN 360 - Ethnographic Research Methods 4 credits
SOAN 370 - Archaeological Research Methods 4 credits
SOAN 493 - Program Evaluation 4 credits
ES 349 - Maps, Cartography, and Geospatial Technology 5 credits / ES 349L
HST 300 - Research and Writing 4 credits
PS 311 - Public Opinion & Survey Research 4 credits

IV) Conceptual Thinking (select three courses from list below)

SOAN 407 - Seminar 1 to 4 credits
SOAN 420 - Environment, Culture, and Society 4 credits
SOAN 425 - Food, Power, and Agriculture 4 credits
SOAN 452 - Global Environmental Movements 4 credits
SOAN 455 - USA Migration Studies 4 credits
SOAN 456 - Global Health 4 credits
SOAN 471 - Society and Identity 4 credits
SOAN 474 - Antiracist Social & Feminist Theory 4 credits
NAS 440 - American Indian Identities 4 credits

V) Upper Division Electives (select four courses - 16 credits)

Choose four upper division SOAN classes (not including those classes that a student will count toward requirements outlined above or below).

VI) Practicum (4 credits)

SOAN 409 - Practicum 1 to 8 credits (4 credits required)

VII) Senior Experience (6 credits, 2 credits per term)

Students must complete SOAN 301 and SOAN 302 before enrolling in SOAN 414A . In addition, students are expected to complete at least one additional Research Methods course and one Conceptual Thinking course before beginning capstone.