Anthropology and Sociology

Anthropologists and sociologists explore the social worlds that humans have created for themselves across the world and throughout history.

Anthropology and sociology are distinct fields united by a common interest in understanding human beings and their communities. In this department we explore how racial, gender, and class differences affect people's experiences and life chances. We investigate whether personal troubles such as poverty, harassment, or family dysfunction are really public or social problems. Our courses examine global processes of change, human evolution, family and kinship, education, religion, media, art, disability, and healing. The Department of Anthropology and Sociology offers majors and minors in both anthropology and sociology, with opportunities for students to take courses and work with faculty in both fields.

Both anthropology and sociology at Albion emphasize hands-on research and help to prepare students for a wide variety of careers in government and the private sector. Recent graduates of the department have gone on to work in fields as diverse as public policy, law, urban planning, social work, business administration, veterinary medicine, historic preservation, government, and journalism. Our alumni have pursued advanced degrees in sociology, cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, and American studies at many different universities, including Harvard University, the University of Michigan, Indiana University, the University of Wisconsin, UCLA, and the University of London.