Introduction to the Department

In the intertwined disciplines of sociology and anthropology, you explore social inequalities, cultural diversity, and contemporary social issues in a changing world. These topics encompass frequently controversial issues such as poverty and homelessness, crime and deviance, racial relations, physical and mental health, gender and sexuality, family, religion, social justice, and globalization. The fields attract students from a variety of backgrounds interested in learning how society operates and how to influence social change.

In the SOAN Department, you focus on differences across cultures and nations, as well as within the United States. You learn how to understand people's experiences and participate as citizens in a global community. Through engaging discussions and real-world experiences, you acquire high-demand skills in research, analysis, critical thinking, and communication for today's careers.

Department Features

• The SOAN department offers both theoretical and applied approaches to these issues through our courses, independent studies, and internships.
• Our students often undertake internships and service-learning opportunities in and around central Ohio, as well as more widely within the United States and internationally.
• Our students are highly represented among campus leaders and activists who seek greater social justice and understanding of difference in this world. Our graduates carry these concerns with them as they find their own place in the wider society and world.
• The faculty regularly offers Travel-Learning Courses, most recently taking students to Turkey, England, and the American South. In recent years students and faculty have traveled to Bolivia and Micronesia through OWU's Theory-to-Practice Grants.
• The SOAN Department focuses on the shared intellectual tradition and methods of sociology and cultural anthropology. Our graduates are well-prepared to use the explanatory power of the disciplines to enter a great diversity of careers upon graduation or continue to graduate school in either field.