Sociology and Anthropology Major

Maria Luisa Amado, Assistant Professor, Chair

Edwins Gwako, Associate Professor
Thomas Guthrie, Assistant Professor

Naadiya Hasan, Assistant Professor
Martha Lang, Visiting Assistant Professor

Julie Winterich, Visiting Assistant Professor

Sociology and anthropology study society and culture. Since people live every aspect of life within a complex, socio-cultural environment, it is possible to develop the self fully only with extensive knowledge of that environment. Sociology and anthropology help provide specific knowledge and theoretical frameworks as bases for understanding our relationships with society, culture and each other and for comprehending and guiding socio-cultural change.

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology uses the methods, theories and content of both fields in a scientific and humanistic context that emphasizes an objective appraisal of social life, concern for its quality and techniques for its improvement. Career preparation is important in the department and is based on the conceptualization of sociology and anthropology as both humanistic and scientific. By engaging students in the critical analysis of the institutions and human practices that produce and reproduce social structures, cultures and individual identities, students should be equipped with a perspective that enables them to analyze, comprehend and offer creative solutions for personal and organizational dilemmas, as well as larger social problems.

During the college years, there are many opportunities for internships with various kinds of private and public agencies, independent study projects, off-campus seminars, special topics seminars and honors work. There are ample opportunities to study with instructors who are seriously concerned with the best development of each student and who have made major commitments to high-quality teaching. A semester or a summer of study abroad or in a markedly different part of the student’s own culture also is encouraged to help strengthen the cross-cultural perspective.

In addition to the specific content listed, each course focuses to some extent on social processes, especially those that help to create and resolve social problems.

Courses outside the Greater Greensboro Consortium transferred to Guilford will only transfer to Guilford at the 100 or 200 level.

 

Degrees Offered

The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered in sociology and anthropology.

Major Requirements

The sociology and anthropology major requires a minimum of 32 credit hours (eight courses).

1.  SOAN 101 Principles of Sociology or
SOAN 102 Social Problems	4 credits
2.  SOAN 103 Cultural Anthropology or
SOAN 105 HP:Anthropology of Colonialism	4 credits
3-4. Two courses at the 200 level
(either Sociology or Anthropology courses)	8 credits
5.  SOAN 337 Social Research Methods	4 credits
6.  SOAN 342 Social Theory	4 credits
7.  Any 300 or 400 level course in
either Sociology or Anthropology	4 credits
8.  One course from SOAN 413, 415, 425, 429 taken either in the	4 credits
senior year, or after all other requirements have been fulfilled
Total credit hours required for A.B. degree in sociology and anthropology	32 credits

Beyond the four courses specifically required, the variety of offerings makes it possible for each student to tailor a program to individual interests and long-range plans. These plans may be implemented by various emphases within the sociology and anthropology program: students may train for a wide range of careers, may prepare for graduate school or may seek certification for elementary school teaching. A concentration, arranged with the help of an adviser, can support and broaden the emphasis in the major.