Sociology and Anthropology, BA
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Program Description
Introduction
Sociologists and Anthropologists study human behavior in systematic ways within societies and cultures. The Sociology and Anthropology (SOCY/ANTH) program at Stockton University is particularly concerned with social justice issues, such as those manifested in race/ethnicity, social class, gender/sexuality, globalization and imperialism. The program emphasizes community engagement in teaching and research. Program coursework highlights both qualitative and quantitative methods of research-for example, field methods and ethnography, interviewing, historical analysis, survey work, statistical analysis, laboratory analysis and interpretation.
The SOCY/ANTH curriculum gives students disciplinary knowledge as well as competencies in research, verbal and written communication, and critical thinking. These academic and professional skills are coupled with a focus on cultivating engaged citizenship both at the university and in the community at large. We offer students opportunities to deepen their understanding of life within U.S. and global societies.
Sociology (SOCY), in particular, focuses on the analysis of human beings as members of societies including social interaction among individuals, groups, and cultures; the institutions that constitute a society; and the processes that create, sustain, and resist social inequality. In addition, sociological analysis sharpens the understanding of various levels of social life, from interpersonal interactions (such as those found in families, small work groups, friendships, and casual encounters); through the organization and function of social institutions (such as the family, religions, education, politics, media, and medicine); to the structure and functioning of social systems as a whole (class structure, racial/ethnic relations, gender inequities, cultural ideology, and various legal and governmental processes).
Anthropology (ANTH) examines the diversity of human experiences across time and space to develop a greater understanding of what it means to be human. In Anthropology, people are understood in terms of their biological and behavioral variation cross-culturally. Ethnographic field methods expose students to lived realities in a range of global contexts, while archaeological field methods expose students to the complex roots of cultural heritage, past human behavior, and human impacts on their environment. Anthropological analysis investigates the dynamics of culture including kinship, religion, ethnicity, nationalism, colonialism, migration, and relationships with the environment and other living species. Stockton students have the opportunity to study the four subfields of Anthropology (Archaeology, Biological, Cultural, and Linguistic Anthropology) and to explore the ways they intersect through the discipline’s fundamental focus on culture.
Program Organization
The Sociology and Anthropology program (SOCY/ANTH) at Stockton University combines methodological and theoretical breadth with applied, engaged study of local and global issues to prepare students to critically analyze and contribute to their social and cultural worlds. With a focus on community engagement to address social inequities, the SOAN program cultivates critical thinking, research and writing skills, and prepares students for a range of opportunities to pursue graduate study and/or work in many professional fields.
Program Mission and Learning Goals
As sociologists and anthropologists, we prepare students across disciplines to critically analyze the nature and transformation of the human condition and to confront problems and possibilities facing our uneven and interconnected world. Student learning objectives include the acquisition of knowledge (information about cultures and societies and how they function), professional skill sets (research and data literacy, reading and writing skills), and habits of mind (ways of thinking including critical thinking, self-reflection, understanding of ethnocentrism and cultural relativity, intersectionality and inequality).
All students in the SOCY/ANTH major will be expected to develop a command of the essential substantive and methodological core of Sociology and/or Anthropology. Beyond this core, students are able to build upon their specific interests within the major, in cognate areas, and in areas “at-some-distance” from the major. The program promotes internships, fieldwork, and overseas study to enable students to gain practical and professional development and to apply the knowledge derived from their university experience. Finally, program courses strongly encourage students to actively participate in community and civic engagement and service-learning projects.
Admission to the Program
The program is open to any Stockton student with an interest in Sociology or Anthropology. To ensure that all program requirements are met for graduation by the end of the senior year, students are encouraged to declare their major by at least the beginning of their junior year. Transfer students are especially urged to consult with the program chair before enrolling in classes. When declaring a major in Sociology/Anthropology, students should select a preceptor from the program who will assist in making course selections and advise them on career options. Both program declaration and preceptor selection may be done digitally through the goStockton portal. A student planning to complete a minor or take advantage of one of the concentration options below may also declare these intentions through the goStockton portal.
Curriculum Overview and Graduation Requirements
For a B.A. degree in Sociology/Anthropology, students must satisfactorily complete 64 credits in program and cognate studies, as well as the University’s 64-credit general education requirement.
Program Core
These five courses and a Senior Portfolio are required of all SOAN majors (20 credits):
SOCY 1100 Introduction to Sociology or ANTH 1100: Introduction to Anthropology
SOCY 3642: Social Research Methods
SOCY/ANTH 3643: Qualitative/Field Methods
SOCY/ANTH 3681: Social Theory
SOCY/ANTH 4685: Senior Seminar
These five required program courses should be taken in the following order: One introductory course (ANTH 1100 or SOCY 1100) should be taken in the first year or sophomore year; students may take both if they wish. During the junior year students should take Social Research Methods (SOCY 3642) in the fall and Qualitative/Field Methods (SOCY/ANTH 3643) in the spring. During the senior year students should take Social Theory in the fall (SOCY/ANTH 3681), and Senior Seminar (SOCY/ANTH 4685) in the spring. The Portfolio is completed concurrently with or subsequent to Senior Seminar.
Portfolio Requirement
A Portfolio is a collection of digital artifacts articulating experiences, achievements and learning, and a format for reflecting on the student’s Stockton experience. The SOAN Portfolio facilitates SOCY/ANTH program assessment and enables each student to document and reflect on academic achievement and professional skill development while at Stockton. SOCY/ANTH majors complete a Portfolio as part of the requirements for graduation. Students submit "artifacts" (previously completed assignments) and reflect on how these assignments have helped to build skills and competencies in four outcome areas: understanding inequality, community engagement, research skills, and writing skills. Portfolios are submitted by graduating seniors with the guidance of faculty and preceptors at the end of their final term at Stockton.
Electives and Program Competency
An additional five elective courses (20 credits) drawn from either Sociology or Anthropology complete program requirements for the major.
SOAN graduates demonstrate professional competencies in data literacy and cultural studies. The program competency requirement may be met with one course in statistics, selected from a list of approved courses available on the SOAN website, OR the completion of a minor in a foreign language (Languages and Culture Studies); Africana Studies; Global Studies; Latin American and Caribbean Studies; Migration Studies; Public Health, Sustainability, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies; or another minor suited to the student’s academic and career plans, if approved by the student’s preceptor and the program chair.
Cognates
The cognate courses (24 credits, equivalent to 6 courses) complement SOCY/ANTH program requirements. Cognates are generally chosen from the following Social and Behavioral Science disciplines: criminal justice, economics, political science, psychology, social work, behavioral neuroscience, childhood studies, gerontology, and/or victimology. Other courses may be considered as cognates after consultation with a preceptor or the program chair. For example, business, information science, or history courses may be considered cognate courses for students with certain educational aims, and “at-some-distance” courses for other students.
Many linkages are possible between SOCY/ANTH and fields such as social work, business studies, history, nursing, literature, health science, computer science, biology, and environmental studies. Cognate or non-cognate clusters or minors, which may have career benefits for the students, can be constructed with the help of the preceptor. Additionally, with the guidance of a preceptor, students may choose an area of study which will specifically prepare them for graduate or professional school.
Concentrations
SOCY/ANTH majors may choose a general concentration or may elect to complete a concentration in one of the five focus areas below. Required electives vary by concentration; updated lists of approved courses are available on the program website. Focused concentrations are not required of majors or minors but are designed to augment an education in Sociology/Anthropology with special knowledge and skills that may be useful in graduate study or in a variety of occupations. It is also possible for students to focus more on either Sociology or Anthropology through those respective concentrations within the major.
General Concentration: Five electives (20 credits) in Sociology and/or Anthropology.
“Focus” Concentrations:
Anthropology: Five program electives (20 credits), including three or more in Anthropology.
Sociology: Five program electives (20 credits), including three or more in Sociology.
Archaeology
The Archaeology concentration allows students to focus on material culture, relying upon fieldwork and laboratory techniques and interdisciplinary coursework. Together with courses in Natural Science and Mathematics (NAMS) and Arts and Humanities (ARHU), this concentration prepares students for careers in research science, museum/historical archiving, and cultural resource management. Of the 20 credits required for this concentration, students must take two specific anthropology courses (ANTH 1100 and ANTH 2108) and select three electives from a set of approved courses in sociology/anthropology, art history, biology, environmental studies, geology, historical studies, and general studies. Preceptors will work with students to approve acceptable course substitutions if necessary. In consultation with faculty and the program chair, students may have the opportunity to complete a field placement in archaeological field work.
Biological Anthropology
The Biological Anthropology concentration combines coursework in the biological sciences with Sociology/Anthropology course offerings. This concentration exposes students to the study of human primate evolution, genetics, and morphology and prepares students for careers or graduate-level education in the allied health sciences, forensics, nutrition, medical anthropology, paleoanthropology, and primatology. Students will acquire knowledge in the biological diversity of humans and other primates, including the evolutionary history that resulted in this diversity. Of the 20 credits required for this concentration, students must take two specific anthropology courses (ANTH 1100 and ANTH 2105) and select three electives from a set of approved courses drawn primarily from outside the major and social sciences.
Race/Ethnicity
The Race/Ethnicity concentration provides the opportunity for students to develop both broad and in-depth knowledge about the topics of race and ethnicity. Taking courses in multiple disciplines (anthropology, sociology, and potentially others) allows students to tackle challenging issues such as inequality, identity, and resistance. Completing the 20 credits required for the concentration assures students both local and global understandings of race and ethnicity as well as cross-cultural and intersectional frameworks. Of the 20 credits required for this concentration, students must take two specific SOAN courses (either ANTH 1100 or SOCY 1100, and ANTH 2245) and will select three electives from a specific set of anthropology and sociology courses, although up to two substitutions may be made from outside the discipline with program approval.
Graduation with Distinction
A Bachelor of Arts degree with Distinction in Sociology/Anthropology will be awarded to those students who achieve 70% A or A- grades and a GPA of at least 3.5 in Stockton program and cognate course work, a GPA of at least 3.75 in SOAN program courses completed at Stockton University, and an A or A- in Senior Seminar.
Minors in Sociology, Anthropology, and Archaeology
Minor in Sociology (20 credits): The Sociology minor requires SOCY 1100 and four additional SOCY courses, (one ANTH course may be substituted), at least one of which must be at the 3000 level or higher.
Minor in Anthropology (20 credits): The Anthropology minor requires ANTH 1100 and four additional ANTH courses (one SOCY course may be substituted), at least one of which must be at the 3000 level or higher.
Minor in Archaeology (20 credits): The Archaeology minor requires ANTH 1100, ANTH 2108, and three additional courses, at least one of which must be at the 3000 level or higher. These three courses must be selected from the approved focus lists posted to the Sociology and Anthropology website, and must all come from the same focus list, depending on student interests in general archaeology, classics, geoarchaeology, or zooarchaeology.
Dual Degree B.A./M.A. Program in SOCY/ANTH and American Studies
The Dual Degree “4+1” SOCY/ANTH/MAAS program allows students to earn both a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology (SOAN) and an M.A. in American Studies in 5 years.
American Studies is a 30-credit, interdisciplinary Master of Arts (M.A.) degree program serving the cultural, historical and arts communities of southern New Jersey since 2011. MAAS (Master of Arts in American Studies) graduates work in secondary and higher education, creative arts, historical preservation, heritage tourism, library science, politics, journalism, grants administration and further fields.
Students in their senior year (with at least 96 credits earned and at least a 3.2 cumulative G.P.A.) can take three American Studies M.A. classes, which will count as Cognates to Sociology/Anthropology or At Some Distance (ASD) credits. These three graduate courses also fulfill requirements in the M.A. in American Studies program. In other words, these three AMST graduate courses double count for the B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology and M.A. degree in American Studies.
Students may apply to the SOAN/MAAS dual degree program upon or after admission to the university as first-year or transfer students. Transfer students with over 96 transfer credits should use the "direct entry" application for the M.A. in American Studies. Students interested in the dual degree program should contact the program chairs of SOCY/ANTH and MAAS.
Eligibility requirements:
Minimum of 96 credits
Minimum of 20 credit hours in SOAN courses
3.2 GPA in the SOAN major
Successful completion of either SOCY 1100 or ANTH 1100
Grade of C or better in two Advanced courses in Sociology or Anthropology including:
One at 3xxx level or higher, and
One at 2xxx level or higher
Once enrolled, to maintain accepted status in the dual degree program, students MUST:
Maintain a 3.2 GPA in the SOAN major and
Earn a grade of C or better in SOCY/ANTH 3681 AND either SOCY 3642 or SOCY/ANTH 3643.
Special Opportunities
For up-to-date information about special opportunities, SOCY/ANTH students should refer to the Sociology and Anthropology website and/or the SOCY/ANTH Facebook page.
Internships, Community and Civic Engagement
All students are encouraged to participate in internships related to their areas of interest. SOCY/ANTH majors may intern with local social and cultural organizations, family service agencies, juvenile rehabilitation centers, hospitals, museums, and nursing homes, or in nonprofit organizations and governmental institutions locally or through the Washington Internship program.
Students have participated in community engagement and service-learning projects in non-profit organizations and public schools. SOCY/ANTH students have helped build community gardens, mentored students in after-school programs, analyzed data for various community organizations, aided those affected by hunger insecurity, conducted archaeological fieldwork, analyzed artifacts, designed museum exhibits, conducted archival research for state-funded programs at local cultural heritage institutions, developed public art projects for downtown revitalization initiatives, conducted policy analysis with local government and nonprofit agencies, and worked with groups aiding victims of Hurricane Sandy. In addition to making a difference in the community, these projects have enabled hands-on work experience and employment opportunities. Preceptors can provide additional information and help students get involved in an internship program or community engagement/service-learning opportunities.
Undergraduate Research
Research projects sponsored by program faculty provide students with the opportunity to engage in scholarly investigation. Such research experiences can serve career goals or as the basis for further work in graduate school. Students may apply for Board of Trustees Fellowships for Distinguished Students, or faculty-student research opportunities through the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Stockton Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning, or the Community-Based Social Research Collaborative (CBSRC).
Study Abroad
The SOCY/ANTH program encourages students to undertake overseas study. An international experience is worthwhile and may act to strengthen the transcript of students pursuing degrees in Sociology/Anthropology, particularly in relation to linguistic and culture studies. Students may take advantage of studying abroad to strengthen their foreign language skills and/or cultural immersion through one of many language immersions and international exchange programs. Interested students should consult with their preceptor and with the Office of Global Engagement.
Field Schools
Majors may wish to attend summer field schools in archaeology, ethnography, sociology or other program subfields. Field schools are run by several prominent universities throughout the United States and abroad. Students should consult with their preceptors or the program chair for details.
SOAN Club and Honor Societies
Undergraduates interested in sociology and anthropology are welcome to join the Student SOAN (SOCY/ANTH) Club. Members gain leadership experience, plan special events, film screenings, discussions and career exploration opportunities, take field trips, and invite guest speakers to campus.
Sociology/Anthropology majors with a GPA of 3.3 or higher in all their course work and who have also maintained a 3.0 GPA in Sociology courses completed at Stockton University may be eligible for membership in Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society. Students need to be considered Juniors and at least four Sociology courses must be taken prior to initiation.
Sociology/Anthropology majors with a GPA of 2.5 or higher in all their course work and who have also maintained a 3.0 GPA in Anthropology courses completed at Stockton University may be eligible for membership in Lambda Alpha, the National Honor Society in Anthropology. At least four Anthropology courses must be taken prior to initiation.
Career Opportunities
A number of career opportunities are available for graduates of the SOCY/ANTH program. Majors should inform their preceptors of their career interests as early as possible so the preceptors can best advise them as to course options and postgraduate education. The program’s required e-Portfolio also assists with career development and planning.
In general, program completion constitutes strong preparation for students wishing to qualify for public service at the local, state or federal levels, and for positions in social service, research and nonprofit agencies. After completing their B.A. degrees, majors may go on to complete M.A., J.D., and/or Ph.D. graduate work to enter college teaching, law or policy, upper-level social/cultural research positions, research science, cultural heritage management, or enter administrative work in a variety of settings.
A sampling of career options for SOCY/ANTH majors are listed below:
Social Research: research design and implementation, data analysis and interpretation, database management, data visualization.
Cultural Heritage Management: CRM archaeology, curation, public education/interpretation, conservation, museum technician, digital heritage development.
Research Science: archaeological research, laboratory analysis, research design and implementation, data analysis, grant writing.
Community Organizing/Nonprofit Management: program administration, leadership and fund raising for social service organizations, nonprofits, historic or cultural preservation, child-care or community development agencies, or environmental groups.
Social Services: rehabilitation, case management, group work with youth or the elderly, recreation, or administration.
Teaching: elementary and secondary schools or higher education, in conjunction with appropriate teacher certification and graduate credentials.
Higher Education: admissions, alumni relations, program management, or placement offices.
Health Services: health planning and administration, family planning, substance abuse, rehabilitation counseling, hospital admissions, and insurance.
Communications: publishing, journalism, public relations, writing, research, and editing.
Government Services: federal, state, and local government positions in areas such as health, transportation, housing, economic development, agriculture, and labor.
Business: human relations, advertising, marketing and consumer research, insurance, real estate, personnel work, training, or sales.
Criminal Justice/Abolition: Release/reentry transition support, family support, criminal justice reform, or other related social services.
Full details about the Sociology and Anthropology curriculum can be accessed on the Sociology and Anthropology website.
