Anthropology and Sociology

Faculty

Allison D. Harnish, chair and associate professor.
B.A., Western Kentucky University; Ph.D., University of Kentucky. Appointed 2013.

Bradley A. Chase, associate professor.
B.A., Northwestern University; M.S., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison. Appointed 2008.

Blake Darling, visiting assistant professor.
B.A., Albion College; M.A,, Western Michigan University. Appointed 2023.

Allison Jendry James, visiting assistant professor.
B.A., University of Michigan-Flint; M.A., Eastern Michigan University. Appointed 2021.

Scott A. Melzer, professor.
B.A., University of Florida; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Riverside. Appointed 2004.

Kaitlyn Sanders, vistiting assistant professor.
B.A., Yale University; M.S. Mercyhurst University; Ph.D. Purdue University. Appointed 2023.

Lynn M. Verduzco-Baker, associate professor.
B.A., California State University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Michigan. Appointed 2011.

Our Mission

The Anthropology and Sociology Department empowers students to critically examine human societies and cultures, past and present. We equip students with empirical methonds, interpretive theories, and analytical skills to understand the complexities of the human experience, including the social construction of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and social class within diverse global contexts. Our programs cultivate analytical, critical, and creative thinking, effective communication, and robust research abilities, preparing graduates for meaningful careers, advanced studies, and impactful leadership in a rapidly changing world.

Career Opportunities

An Anthropology & Sociology degree prepares students for a wide range of exciting careers by developing highly valuable skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and understanding diverse cultures and societies. These skills are sought after in nearly every field!

Our graduates pursue meanignful careers in areas such as:

Social Impact: Working in human services, public health, non-profits, community development, international diplomacy, and fighting for social justice. Our alumni include child welfare workers, disability justice activists, and program specialists for organizations like Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Research & Analysis: Collecting and understanding data to solve real-world problems in market research, urban planning, policy analysis, and even museum work. Graduates have become professors, urban planners, data specialist and crime analysts.
Business & Leadership: Applying your understanding of people and organizations in human resources, international business, management, and consulting. Alumni work in logistics, process management, and as VPs of People and Culture in healthcare.
Law & Public Service: Entering fields like law enforcement, corrections, and various legal professions. Our graduates include lawyers, associate attorneys, and federal park rangers.
Healthcare: Working in medical social work, hospital administration, and public health. Alumni are physicians, nurses, bioinformatic scientists, and public health specialists.
Education & Communication: Teaching, journalism, and cultural ambassadorship. Graduates have become teachers, school principals, and even cultural ambassadores to Japan.
Technology: Even in tech, our alumni use their analytical skills as information systems contrators and software implementation specialists.

An Anthroplogy & Sociology degree opens doors to diverse graduate programs and impactful careers, allowing our majors and minors to make a real difference in the world.

Student Learning Outcomes

Anthropology

Major

Students will be able to evaluate empirical research methods and interpretations in anthropology.
Students will be able to assess anthropological theories.
Students will be able to analyze global cultural diversity, past and present.
Students will be able to interpret global inequities, past and present.
Students will be able to develop independent scholarly research.

Minor

Students will be able to describe empirical research methods and interpretations in anthropology.
Students will be able to apply anthropological theories.
Students will be able to identify global cultural diversity, past and present.
Students will be able to recognize global inequities, past and present.

Sociology

Major

Students will be able to evaluate qualitative and quantitative research methods and interpretations in sociology.
Students will be able to assess sociological theories.
Students will be able to analyze the social construction of intersecting identities such as race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality.
Students will be able to interpret structural inequities in social and historical context.
Students will be able to develop independent scholarly research.

Minor

Students will be able to describe qualitative and quantitative research methods and interpretations in sociology.
Students will be able to apply sociological theories.
Students will be able to identify the social construction of intersecting identities such as race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality.
Students will be able to recognize structural inequities in social and historical context.

Anthropology-Sociology

Major

Students will be able to evaluate empirical research methods and interpretations in anthropology and sociology.
Students will be able to assess anthropological and/or sociological theories.
Students will be able to analyze global cultural diversity, past and present.
Students will be able to analyze the social construction of intersecting identities such as race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality.
Students will be able to interpret structural inequities, past and present, in social and historical context.
Students will be able to develop independent scholarly research.

Minor

Students will be able to describe empirical research methods and interpretations in anthropology and sociology.
Students will be able to apply anthropological or sociological theories.
Students will be able to identify global cultural diversity, past and present.
Students will be able to identify the social construction of intersecting identities such as race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality.
Students will be able to recognize structural inequities, past and present in social and historical context.

Programs

Major

Minor