Sociology/Anthropology Department

Sociology is the scientific study of human behavior in society. Because of its broad-ranging concerns and the wide variety of skills it inculcates, a bachelor’s degree in sociology will put you on excellent footing to pursue jobs in many fields. Sociology graduates can be found in business, government and the non-profit sector in jobs ranging from data analyst to manager to advocate for the disadvantaged. Additionally, our internship program will help you build crucial skills and connections for success after graduation.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology is a good choice if you are interested in working with people in counseling, social or public service, personnel, managerial or administrative positions. Careers in sociology, law, counseling, and ministry are possible with graduate training. All of our students participate in our intern program where you may choose from existing positions or create one specific to your interests.

Sociology and Anthropology Features

Majors learn social research skills, including constructing a questionnaire, building a database, and analyzing data, and these skills are widely applicable in the workplace. Students gain knowledge about diversity and social justice, with a selection of courses in race, class, gender, and disability. Due to our wide array of electives, students have the opportunity to fashion their individual programs around special interests which build on a core curriculum. For example, we have multiple classes in social inequality, deviance, culture and social change, health and disability, family and marriage, and social problems.

Minors are offered in anthropology and sociology. For details about the requirements of these programs, contact the sociology and anthropology department.

Anthropology students will emphasize the holistic study of humankind from a cross-cultural perspective. An appreciation of human diversity leads to a greater awareness of the common concerns and interests of people in many different societies. Courses in anthropology provide exposure to the major areas of cultural anthropology, human paleontology, and archaeology.

Accelerated 4 + 1 M.S. Organizational Development and Leadership option

This is an accelerated program open to any Shippensburg University student pursuing a bachelor’s degree with undergraduate requirements including free electives that align with Organizational Development and Leadership course offerings.

Students can choose to pursue the 4 + 1 bachelor degree/M.S. program any time prior to the start of their senior year at the university (two semesters before graduation/ 75 credits completed). For students on a four-year track, they would start the program during the fall of their senior year. All students seeking to enroll in the program must be admitted to the graduate program and have at least a 3.0 grade point average at the time they would begin the accelerated program.

Students will complete one 400-level or 500-level graduate course (recommended by the ODL director) during each of their last two undergraduate semesters. Those courses will be double-counted towards both the bachelors degree and M.S. degree upon successful completion of graduate coursework. Students will then complete two additional semesters of full-time graduate work (9 graduate credits per semester), and a six-credit graduate internship and capstone experience the following summer to complete both degrees.

Sociology and Anthropology Career Opportunities

Because sociology is the scientific study of social relationships, it is ideal preparation for many professions and careers: social service, social research, law, business, government and all its related fields, personnel work, family and marriage counseling, and any career in which human interaction is important.

The anthropology minor combines well with almost any major. It is most commonly paired with History, International Studies, Political Science, and Sociology. Students have found it to be valuable in preparation for careers in international business, counseling, government, and research. Cross-cultural interaction is increasingly common, both within our diverse American population and with people abroad. Anthropology is a field designed to make such human interaction easier and more successful.

Programs

Major

Sociology, B.A.

Minor

Courses

Anthropology

Sociology