Combining sociology's focus on contemporary and historical patterns of social interaction with anthropology's interests in systems of shared and contested cultural meanings, Southwestern's Sociology and Anthropology Department offerings encourage awareness and understanding of human diversity and cultural variation both locally and globally.

At the heart of Sociology and Anthropology lies an interest in understanding the ways in which group membership, cultural context, and social hierarchies affect people's experiences and worldviews. The Department seeks to emphasize how the two disciplines of Sociology and Anthropology complement each other. We offer majors in both Sociology and Anthropology, a paired major in Sociology and Anthropology, as well as minors in both fields.

Coursework within our department will challenge students to examine some of their most basic assumptions about the world, and will contribute to a critical understanding of how the social world operates—an essential characteristic of a liberally educated global citizen. We encourage in our students a commitment to social justice based on an appreciation of social and cultural diversity and the awareness of social inequality. These progressive principles can be seen in our faculty’s research and teaching as they encourage students to use the knowledge, skills and perspectives they gain to promote positive social change.



Graduates of the Sociology and Anthropology Department are well prepared to enter leading graduate programs in Anthropology, Sociology, Law, Social Work, Public Health, International Development, Latin American Studies and Public Policy. Our graduates live throughout the United States and world working in community development, public health, marketing and a variety of non-profit organizations. Others have joined the Peace Corps, Americorps, Vista and similar programs.

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