About the DepartmentDepartment of Sociology and Anthropology

The Sociology and Anthropology Department supports the liberal arts' goals and mission of Gustavus Adolphus College, including community, diversity, justice, and service. The department's mission is to foster in our students curiosity, open-mindedness, respect for other cultures and experiences, and engagement with pressing social problems and the world's greatest challenges. We focus on sociology's ability to foster in students the skills to analyze "public issues that underlie private troubles" and anthropology's capacity to promote cultural understanding. The department produces life-long learners who think critically, analytically, and independently.

• The curriculum combines sociological and anthropological thinking.
• Numerous courses on social movements, health and healing, global interdependence, religion, family, and social justice.
• Areas of academic emphasis include the study of inequality and social problems.

Skills Developed in Sociology/Anthropology Majors

• Research and Data Analysis - Learning both qualitative and quantitative research methods to recognize trends and produce social statistics.

• Communication - Conveying ideas effectively in both writing and oral presentations.

• Critical Thinking - Looking beyond the surface of issues to discover the "why" by using developed analytical skills.

• Global Perspectives - Education around different cultures and how to analyze the interactions of groups and societies.