Goals and Requirements for the Major

In successfully completing a major in the Sociology and Anthropology Department, a student will possess:

• the sociological and anthropological imagination to see the connections between individual lives and the social and cultural forces which impact them, as well as the forces which promote both wide variation and patterns of convergence;
• a fundamental understanding of the distinctive history, scope, and theoretical contours of their major academic discipline, developing an awareness of the major issues, problems, and questions that have provoked the emergence of the human sciences over the past two centuries;
• oral and written skills for effective communication of anthropological and sociological knowledge to others, both inside and outside academic contexts;
• the ability to work both independently and cooperatively in application of sociological and anthropological ideas, ranging from data gathering to service opportunities; and
• the ability to access, organize, scrutinize, analyze, and produce knowledge about humans as social beings, examining the social groups to which humans belong and from which they derive their social identities. This process includes sufficient mastery of contemporary technology to facilitate movement from the consumption of information to the production of knowledge.

Requirements for Major or Minor

The sociology and anthropology majors are available as bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degrees. See page 3 for degree requirements.

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology (SOAN) offers courses in two distinct major-related categories which are identified accordingly: those supporting only sociology (SOCL) and those supporting only anthropology (ANTH). Courses serving both areas are designated SOAN.

For a major in Sociology: 40 credits in Sociology (SOCL) and Sociology/Anthropology (SOAN) courses, including SOAN 040; SOCL 101; SOAN 307; SOAN 385; one other 300-level course; SOAN 485/486. Seniors required to take a 400-level seminar in addition to the SOAN 485/486 sequence.

For a minor in Sociology: 20 credits in Sociology (SOCL) and Sociology/ Anthropology (SOAN) courses, including SOCL 101 and at least one 300- or 400-level course.

For Bachelor of Science in Sociology: Those students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology are strongly encouraged to take either MATH 140 and/or SOAN 375. Completion of a thesis is strongly encouraged.

For a major in Anthropology: 40 credits in Anthropology (ANTH) and Sociology/Anthropology (SOAN) courses, including SOAN 040; ANTH 111; either ANTH 105, ANTH 112 or MDLA 340; one world area, in the department or, with approval of the SOAN chair, a world area course from another department; SOAN 307; SOAN 485/486. Seniors required to take a 400-level seminar in addition to the SOAN 485/486 sequence.

For a minor in Anthropology: 20 credits in Anthropology (ANTH) and Sociology/Anthropology (SOAN) courses, including ANTH 111; one world area, in the department or, with approval of SOAN chair, a world area course from another department (e.g. HIST); and at least one 300- or 400-level course.

The following courses in the major must be completed with a grade of C- or higher: ANTH 111 or SOCL 101 (for the respective major), SOAN 307, SOAN 385, SOAN 400-level seminar, SOAN 485/486. Seniors are required to take a 400-level Seminar in addition to the SOAN 485/486 sequence. These seminars serve as a capstone experience in which majors build on their four-year course sequence by producing original research on a topic of sociological and/or anthropological significance. These research papers become eligible for the Howd and Gebauer Prizes. Additionally, Sociology and Anthropology majors are encouraged to write senior theses (based on original research or scholarship) or to curate a museum exhibit. Theses and museum exhibits become eligible for the Howd and Gebauer Prizes. Students completing senior theses or museum exhibits receive departmental honors.

For Oregon Initial Teaching Licensure in Social Studies, a student must complete the Linfield Teacher Education Program and the State of Oregon licensure requirements (see page 39). In order to complete these requirements, a student must begin taking education courses no later then his/her sophomore year. The student must be advised by an Education Department faculty member each semester prior to registration.