Program

From broad overviews of the field to more specialized offerings and required upper-level seminars, A&S courses collectively allow students to build crucial skill sets, including analytic skills and critical thinking, research design and practice, qualitative and quantitative methods, communication and effective writing, group projects and presentation skills. We aim not only to shape budding anthropologists and sociologists, but to encourage students to use these scholarly traditions as a platform to succeed in whatever profession they might choose. In particular, anthropology and sociology courses help prepare students for careers that require strong analytic and research capabilities, the capacity to work effectively in diverse or cross-cultural environments, global sophistication, effective communication, and real people skills.

Studying anthropology and sociology at Lafayette gives you

• an overall appreciation of the structure of society and the nature of social interaction;
• broad understanding of people;
• awareness and sensitivity to different cultural perspectives that are invaluable in today’s global society;
• observation skills that enable you to analyze groups in action and draw conclusions about how organizations function; and
• the skills for collecting and analyzing data.

Major requirements

The anthropology and sociology major consists of at least 10 courses in the department. Students are required to take the following core courses:

• A&S 102 Cultural Anthropology
• A&S 103 Introduction to Sociology
• A&S 200 Research Methods and Design
• A&S 342 Theories of Society

In addition, students must complete six additional Anthropology & Sociology electives, with at least one elective in the 300 to 350 range (excluding A&S 342).

It is recommended that students wishing to major in A&S take A&S 102 and 103 in their first and/or second year of study, A&S 200 in the fall or spring of their third year, and A&S 342 in their third or, more typically, fourth year.

Double majoring

Students may choose to combine their studies with another discipline by double majoring or minoring in A&S.  Popular double majors include combining A&S with English, government and law, history, psychology, economics, biology, or art.

Requirements for minor

The minor in anthropology and sociology consists of six courses: two chosen from among A&S 102, 103, and 342, and four additional courses selected in consultation with the minor adviser.

Honors Thesis in Anthropology and Sociology

Students who meet minimum GPA requirements may be eligible to pursue an honors thesis in anthropology and sociology. For more details, see http://anthrosoc.lafayette.edu/honors-thesis/