Program Overview
The Anthropology and Sociology program at Webster University equips students with critical thinking, cross-cultural awareness, and research skills to understand social phenomena. It emphasizes inequality, social change, and social organizations, preparing graduates for careers in research, social services, education, and beyond. The program offers a range of electives and opportunities for collaborative research, fostering a comprehensive understanding of human behavior and beliefs.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Name:
Anthropology and Sociology
Level:
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Overview:
The Anthropology and Sociology program at Webster University focuses on developing students' critical appreciation of social-structural dimensions of human behavior and beliefs. It provides analytical tools and conceptual knowledge to examine social change, inequality, diverse social-cultural identities, and complex relationships between individual lives and socio-cultural forces.
Objectives:
- Cultivate critical thinking and analytical skills for understanding social phenomena.
- Enhance cross-cultural awareness and empathy towards diverse societies.
- Develop effective communication and research abilities.
- Prepare students for careers in various fields, including research, social services, and education.
Program Description:
The curriculum emphasizes inequality, social change, and social organizations. It incorporates emerging trends in the field, such as informatics, environmental sociology, and social network analysis. Students have opportunities for collaborative research with faculty on ongoing projects and can supplement their coursework in related disciplines like human rights, criminology, and gender studies.
Outline:
Required Courses (33 credit hours):
- Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology
- Careers in Anthropology and Sociology
- Introduction to Research Methods
- Theories in Anthropology and Sociology
- Senior Thesis
- Anthropology and Sociology Electives
Electives:
- Global Social Problems
- Introduction to Archaeology
- Human Origins
- Introduction to Geography
- Culture and Communication
- Introduction to Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
- Environmental Anthropology and Sociology
- Introduction to Social Work
- Food and Culture
- Introduction to Measurement and Statistics
- Urban Sociology
- Asians in America
- Health, Illness, and Power
- Community Practicum
- Race and Ethnicity
- NGOs in a Global Arena
- Advanced Independent Reading Courses
- Advanced Social Science Lab
- Globalization
- Class, Status, and Power
- Global Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
- Immigration and Demography
Assessment:
The program employs various assessment methods to evaluate student learning, including:
- Exams
- Quizzes
- Written assignments
- Research papers
- Presentations
- Participation in class discussions
- Fieldwork experiences
Teaching:
The program is taught by experienced faculty members who are active in research and scholarship. They utilize a combination of teaching methods, including:
- Lectures
- Discussions
- Workshops
- Field trips
- Experiential learning opportunities
Careers:
Graduates of the Anthropology and Sociology program pursue diverse career paths, including:
- Anthropologists
- Sociologists
- Researchers
- Social workers
- Educators
- Policy analysts
- Non-profit professionals
- Cultural resource managers
- Government employees
- Media professionals