Sociology & Anthropology

Sociology is the scientific study of human relationships. Sociologists seek to understand the ways that often unseen social forces shape our lives. Sociologists have broad interests ranging from families, racial and ethnic identity, organizations, social inequality, sex and gender, sexuality, the welfare system, education reform, human rights, to peace and war. Sociology has a distinct perspective on social inequality, patterns of behavior, forces for social change and resistance, and how social systems work.

Anthropology is the holistic study of human biology and culture across time and place. The intent is to examine all aspects, both physical and mental, of all humans, both living and dead. Traditionally, the discipline encompasses the four sub-disciplines of archaeology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and socio-cultural anthropology.

What sociology and anthropology have in common is the way our disciplines reflect and interact with real world issues. At a fundamental level, sociology and anthropology invite us to break through our common sense ideas about the world, allowing us to better understand and potentially improve society.