Sociology Major Requirements
Sociology courses draw attention to history, culture, and social structure and their effects on people's lives. The curriculum features the analysis of cultures and social institutions, of social problems and social change, and of the contribution of social science to policy formulation and implementation. The sociology major is designed to provide a critical assessment of the modern world and knowledge of the latest issues in social theory and research. Students interested in conducting original research are encouraged to apply for summer research fellowships with faculty. The department also offers an honors program.
The major is appropriate for students with a wide range of educational and career interests. Majors often pursue graduate work in law, medicine, health care, communications, urban affairs, and gerontology, and careers in business, government, education, journalism, management, social services, and public health.
Requirements (10 course minimum)
- The Sociological Perspective (Sociology 101)
- Logics of Inquiry (Sociology 223)
- The Development of Social Theory (Sociology 241)
- Social Statistics (Sociology 226)
- One advanced sociology course at 300 or 400 level: e.g., a seminar, tutorial, or research practicum
- Five sociology electives, two may be anthropology courses. A maximum of 14 courses can be taken in the major.
Students interested in the sociology major should complete the Sociological Perspective early in their program. While all majors explore a range of social phenomena and issues, students are also encouraged to design a program that creates a subdisciplinary specialization within the department's offerings. Sociology majors are expected to complete the required courses in Theory and Social Statistics soon after declaring the major. Once students have taken Social Statistics, they should enroll in Logics of Inquiry, preferably by their third year. Study Abroad is enthusiastically supported; with prior approval, a theory course taken abroad may be used to meet the theory requirement, but the Logics of Inquiry and Social Statistics requirements must be taken at Holy Cross. A maximum of four courses from Study Abroad may be applied toward the major.
Anthropology Major Requirements
The anthropology major, focused on sociocultural anthropology, offers students opportunities for the extended study of cultures outside the industrialized West, with special strengths in the study of Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The program emphasizes training in ethnographic field methodology, giving students the chance to apply their knowledge through fieldwork-based research in the Worcester environs. Courses address such topics as art, religion, politics and violence, economic change, globalization, gender, race, urban life, national identities, consumption and fashion. Students interested in conducting original research are encouraged to apply for summer research fellowships with faculty. The department also offers an honors program.
Anthropology can lead to further study or careers in the fields of law, development work, international business or journalism, and medicine, or to graduate studies in anthropology and the opportunity for research abroad.
Requirements (10 course minimum)
- The Anthropological Perspective (Anthropology 101)
- Ethnographic Field Methods (Anthropology 310)
- Anthropological Theory (Anthropology 320)
- One advanced anthropology course at the 300 or 400 level: e.g. a seminar, tutorial, or research practicum
- Six anthropology electives, two of the electives may be sociology courses.
Students interested in the major should enroll in the Anthropological Perspective early in their program. Anthropology majors interested in the honors program are expected to complete the theory and methods requirements by the end of the junior year. Study abroad is enthusiastically supported; with prior approval, a theory course taken abroad may be used to meet the theory requirement, but the methods requirement must be taken at Holy Cross. A maximum of four courses from Study Abroad may be applied toward the major. A maximum of 14 courses can be taken in the major.
Anthropology Minor Requirements
The minor in anthropology is available to students in any major except sociology. The anthropology minor provides students with the opportunity to explore non-Western cultures from a cultural anthropological perspective.
Requirements (6 courses)
- The Anthropological Perspective (Anthropology 101)
- Ethnographic Field Methods (Anthropology 310) or Theory in Anthropology (Anthropology 320)
- Four additional anthropology courses, by student interest