Sociology and Anthropology
Sociology and Anthropology
Salve Regina University's bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology provides students with a robust platform for employment, civic engagement and graduate studies. Courses in each of the disciplines of sociology and anthropology use a global, comparative and multidisciplinary approach to the study of human social organization and cultural practices.
Prepare to Serve Diverse Populations
Our students gain an understanding of how peoples' lives are shaped by markets, ethnicity, race, gender, religion and other social institutions and processes.
Salve Regina's sociology and anthropology program prepares students for myriad careers serving diverse populations in both the private and public sectors, including jobs in business, technology, health care and government. The major also provides students with excellent preparation for graduate education in sociology, anthropology, urban studies and more.
Alumni Spotlight: Mary Brown '16
Mary Brown ’16 grew up in a small town in Maine, but her experiences at Salve Regina led her on a remarkable journey that has taken her all across the world. Brown, who majored in sociology and anthropology with minors in global business and economics and global studies, has lived or studied in Italy, Vietnam, the Netherlands and Germany.
Brown earned a master's degree in cultural anthropology and sustainability from Utrecht University in 2020, but remained in the Netherlands and is currently teaching English to refugees and other students. Overall, she credits her Salve Regina experience for inspiring her journey and allowing her to encounter unexpected people and places.
Our Faculty
I strive to create moments in the classroom setting that are transformative for both my students and for me, as we learn and grow together in this very complicated and chaotic but beautiful world.
Dr. Debra Curtis, associate professor
Life After Salve
Graduates of sociology and anthropology programs often pursue careers in:
- Advertising
- Architecture
- Business (domestic and international)
- Community development
- Criminal justice and rehabilitation
- Cultural resource management (archaeology)
- Disability advocacy
- Education (secondary education, higher education, academic advising or administration)
- Government and public policy
- International development
- Journalism
- Law
- Marketing
- Medicine or public health
- Museums, archives and library science
- Public relations
- Refugee resettlement
- Social services and social work
- Urban planning
Put your full effort into your studies because you never know where life will take you. I thought I would never have to deal with mathematics past freshman year, but now 50% of what I do involves statistical applications. You never know what circumstances you will face in the future, but Salve helps prepare you for whatever might come your way.
Cassandra Cupka ’14, data analyst, NCI
Major in Sociology and Anthropology (B.A.)
14 courses | 42 credits
Required courses:
- CEG222: Research Methods
- CEG390: Current Issues
- CEG450: Capstone
- ENV334: Environmental Justice
- SOA110: The Sociological Imagination
- SOA130: Anthropology: Interpreting Cultural Differences
- SOA200: The Social Fabric: Language in Society
- SOA311: Social Theory
- SOA335: Global Capital
- One of the following: BIO140: Humans and Their Environment, ECN101: Introductory Macroeconomics or GLO100: Introduction to Global Studies
Students also choose four of the following sociology and anthropology electives:
- CEG451: Thesis in Cultural, Environmental and Global Studies
- CHP335: Archaeological Laboratory Methods
- SOA190: Introduction to Archeology
- SOA211: Race and Ethnic Relations
- SOA218: Exploring North American Indigenous Cultures
- SOA219: Popular Culture
- SOA223: World Archaeology
- SOA230: Gender and Sexuality: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
- SOA235: Sociological Approaches to Intersectionality
- SOA249: Global Health: Society, Medicine and the Body
- SOA310: American Immigration
- SOA320: "Sex" at "Work"
- SOA331: Northeastern Archaeology
- SOA332: Archaeological Field School
- SOA340: Race, Inequality and Health
- SOA350: Food Matters
- SOA360: Social Movements
- SOA390: Field School in Historical Archaeology
- SOA399: Special Topics
- SOA420: Gender Violence
- SOA450: Sociology and Anthropology Research
- SOA491: Internship
Minor in Sociology and Anthropology
6 courses | 18 credits
The minor is especially helpful for students from other disciplines who wish to augment their major field of study with a nuanced understanding of culture.
Required courses:
- SOA110: The Sociological Imagination or SOA130: Anthropology: Interpreting Cultural Differences
- SOA311: Social Theory
- SOA335: Global Capital
Students also choose three of the following sociology and anthropology electives:
- CHP335: Archaeological Laboratory Methods
- SOA190: Introduction to Archeology
- SOA200: The Social Fabric: Language in Society
- SOA211: Race and Ethnic Relations
- SOA218: Exploring North American Indigenous Cultures
- SOA219: Popular Culture
- SOA223: World Archaeology
- SOA230: Gender and Sexuality: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
- SOA235: Sociological Approaches to Intersectionality
- SOA249: Global Health: Society, Medicine and the Body
- SOA310: American Immigration
- SOA320: "Sex" at "Work"
- SOA331: Northeastern Archaeology
- SOA332: Archaeological Field School
- SOA340: Race, Inequality and Health
- SOA350: Food Matters
- SOA360: Social Movements
- SOA390: Field School in Historical Archaeology
- SOA399: Special Topics
- SOA420: Gender Violence
- SOA450: Sociology and Anthropology Research
- SOA491: Internship
- SOA499: Independent Study