Sociology and Anthropology

Return to: College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department Head: Judson Finley
Location: Main 224
Phone: (435) 797-9296
FAX: (435) 797-1240
E-mail: soan@usu.edu
WWW: www.usu.edu/soan

Undergraduate Program Directors
Sociology:
Stephen VanGeem, Main 224D, (435) 797-7331, stephen.vangeem@usu.edu

Anthropology:
Judson Finley, Main 245A, (435) 797-9621, judson.finley@usu.edu

Criminal Justice:
M. Scott Henrie, CBB-213, (435) 613-5135, scott.henrie@usu.edu; or

Graduate Program Directors
Sociology (MS, PhD) Director:
Erin Hofmann, Main 224J, (435) 797-9123, erin.hofmann@usu.edu

Anthropology (MS) Director:
David Byers, Main 245C, (435) 797-1178, david.byers@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Science (MS), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Sociology; Associates degree (AS) in Criminal Justice; BS and BA in Sociology with a Criminal Justice Emphasis; BS, BA, and MS in Anthropology.

Online majors for both Anthropology and Sociology are available, as well as for the Associates degree in Criminal Justice.

Graduate Specializations: PhD in Sociology—Demography; Environment and Community; and Social Inequality; MS in Anthropology—Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management

Full details of the learning objectives, assessment plan, student outcomes, and evidence of continuous improvement for these programs of study can be found at sswa.usu.edu/assessment.

Undergraduate Programs

Objectives

The Department Sociology and Anthropology offers educational programs for students to prepare for positions in business, social welfare, teaching, research, personnel, government service, social services, cultural resource management, health care, law enforcement, and industry, as well as providing liberal and general education for all interested students. The department offers a wide range of courses for the study of social, cultural, and behavioral dynamics. The department also provides University Studies, Liberal Arts, and other service courses for students from all majors.

Requirements

Departmental Admission Requirements

New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to the sociology and anthropology majors. Undeclared and transfer students from other USU majors or other institutions must have a minimum 2.5 overall GPA for admission to the anthropology major. For sociology, students must have a minimum of 2.75 overall GPA. In addition, for admission to the sociology major, students must have earned a grade of C or better in SOC 1010 .

University Honors Program

The University Honors Program offers students in all colleges and majors the unique opportunity to deepen their educational experience with hands-on practical applications of their academic knowledge. The Honors Program admits incoming, transfer, and existing USU students based on application. High achieving students with at least one year remaining are encouraged to apply. See the University Honors Program catalog entry and website (honors.usu.edu) for more information.

Sociology

Undergraduate Program Director: Stephen VanGeem
Program Office: Main 224D, (435) 797-7331, stephen.vangeem@usu.edu

The study of the human individual and human groups is central to sociology. Sociology offers a broad foundation for understanding human behavior on an individual and group basis, and encourages the development of skills necessary for establishing favorable societal conditions for human development.

Students learn to systematically describe and explain group behavior, including the effects of one group on another and of groups upon individual behavior. Required sociology classes deal with how people in different societies organize and control their societies; critical issues, such as race, class, and gender, as they have developed through history; and research and statistical methods for analyzing sociological data.

Upon completion of the prescribed program for a major in sociology, the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge essential for understanding society from a sociological perspective;
2. Identify and critically evaluate the contributions of sociologists, social scientists, and scholars;
3. Identify and critically evaluate the forces and institutions that influence his or her life as a member of society;
4. Identify, comprehend, and critically evaluate the influences of race, class, gender, age, and disability on a member of society;
5. Pursue careers in sociological areas, business, government, and/or graduate study; and
6. Apply the methods and concepts of sociology to the analysis of social issues, problems, and conflicts in preparation for participation as agents of creative social change.

Students select elective courses from four different areas: Crime and Deviance; Social Inequality; People, Place, and Change; and Social Health and Wellbeing. 

Career Opportunities

Surveys of graduates indicate that sociology majors pursue a wide range of occupations. About one-third are employed in the professional sector, while close to one-fourth are in service occupations. In addition, over 25 percent are involved in management or administration. In terms of specific job titles, social service is a popular option, as are retail sales and teaching. Other frequent job titles include vocational rehabilitation counselor, research analyst, data coordinator, management analyst, district sales manager, parole officer, juvenile probation officer, social services director, civil service test examiner, personnel director, insurance salesman, and correctional service officer. A variety of government and business positions are also expanding for sociology majors with the new emphasis on a liberal arts education. The growing awareness of the value of sociological perspectives for problem-solving continues to provide an increasing range of opportunities for employment in a variety of work settings.

Sample Four-year Plan for Sociology Major

A sample semester-by-semester four-year plan for students working toward a bachelor’s degree is available in the CHaSS advising office, and students should consult with the Sociology advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual needs and interests.

Sociology and Social Work Dual Major

Sociology majors desiring additional preparation for employment in the social services may complete a dual major in sociology and social work. With the help of advisors, students who will seek positions in other special areas could include appropriately related courses.

Sociology BA/BS, Sociology BA/BS with Criminal Justice Emphasis, and Criminal Justice AS

Students who have achieved the AS in Criminal Justice and who seek further understanding of the effects of social forces, systems, and related issues, may take a major in Sociology which offers an Emphasis in Criminal Justice option. Students who do so are very strongly encouraged to seek assistance from professional advisors in choosing coursework and appropriate class prerequisites.

Teaching License

In addition to completing the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) through the School of Teacher Education and Leadership, students may select sociology as an approved teaching minor. The requirements for the minor include: SOC 1010 , SOC 3010 , SOC 3110 , SOC 4010 , plus six elective credits in courses having a SOC prefix.

Gerontology Program

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology is one of several departments sponsoring an interdisciplinary gerontology program, which prepares students for careers in the field of aging. Students may earn a certificate in gerontology by completing a selected list of course requirements, including supervised field practicum in a gerontological setting.

More information concerning the gerontology certification program may be obtained from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies .

American Studies Major

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology is one of several departments offering an area of concentration for the American Studies program. Students who wish to focus their work in American culture should refer to the American Studies - BA, BS  program description.

Anthropology

Program Director: Judson Finley
Program Office: Main 245A, (435) 797-0219; or Main 224, (435) 797-1230

Anthropology is the integrated study of humans in all their aspects. It offers a broad framework for understanding humans as individuals and as members of widely varying societies through courses dealing with the biological evolution of humans, prehistoric culture change, and present diversity of cultures and human populations. Two parallel goals of the discipline are to explore and develop an appreciation for human diversity and the shared legacy of our common humanity.

Anthropology includes the following subspecialties: cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology, and applied anthropology which can cross-cut the other subspecialties. Major requirements are designed both to encourage broad exploration across anthropology and more in-depth learning of one subspecialty. Students who major in anthropology examine a wide range of peoples and cultures, both past and present. They study lifeways as different as the hunter-gatherers of North America, tribal horticulturalists of lush interior Amazonia, and the diverse ethnic neighborhoods of modern U.S. cities. They explore both the biological and cultural basis of human behavior, and examine how it is manifested in individuals and groups. Anthropology courses use both scientific and humanistic approaches to the study of humankind, in all its complexity. Courses emphasize critical reasoning, oral and written communication skills, global literacy and the expansion of thinking beyond the familiar.

The contemporary social science student lives in a world of diminishing cultural and national barriers. In this setting, a major in anthropology can lead to a wide variety of careers. Anthropologists are on the staff of leading medical, business, law, public affairs, and other professional schools, and have played critical roles in international ventures, public health programs, community development activities, and minority and migrant social actions. Additionally, anthropology serves applied interests in international development, archaeology and cultural resource management, cross-cultural health care, and osteology/ forensics. With first-hand experience in every region of the country and around the world, anthropologists bring a unique understanding of specific social and ethnic groups and of the biological, ecological, and cultural factors that influence human behavior.

Special features of the anthropology program include smaller classes, individualized attention, opportunities for laboratory, museum, and field work, and the opportunity of working in teaching assistant positions. All these features give anthropology majors choices and experiences unavailable to undergraduates in most programs. The Anthropology Museum and Field Schools provide additional hands-on learning opportunities. Anthropology participates in the Department of Geology emphasis in Geoarchaeology, the American Studies Program, and the Folklore Program in the Department of English. The Anthropology Program also hosts USU’s Museum Studies, a CHaSS Area Studies Certification Program, which can be pursued by students with any background and major, and at the undergraduate or graduate level. Anthropology also hosts the Interfaith Initiative, as well as the Native American Studies Minor.

Anthropology leads to a variety of “real-world” jobs. Anthropology graduates are lawyers, nurses, health care administrators, teachers of all kinds, cultural resource professionals, agency and program administrators, and technical writers. They work for museums, government land management, environmental and Foreign Service agencies, Indian tribes, and are common in both the government and private sectors of the environmental-cultural heritage management industry. They can be found in public and private foundations, bureaus, and agencies for the arts, humanities, sciences, and tourism.

Graduate study in anthropology opens the world of practicing anthropology. Not limited to college teaching, anthropologists with graduate degrees can be found in a variety of private sector and government agency positions in jobs that often weather economic downturns better than those in many other sectors.

For students seeking a dual major, an Anthropology major can complement a major in American Studies, Biology, Geology, Geography, History, Languages, Political Science and various others. It also pairs well with majors in Natural Resources, because cultural resource and Native American issues are important to many positions in private firms and government agencies concerned with land management and the environment. 

Sample Four-year Plan for Anthropology Major

Students should consult with both their major advisor and their HASS advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual needs and interests.

Associate of Criminal Justice Program

Program Director: M. Scott Henrie, USU-Eastern CIB 213 (435) 613 5135, scott.henrie@usu.edu

The Criminal Justice Program is an associate degree available on all USU campuses. Associate degrees are designed to meet the qualifications of the first two years of a baccalaureate degree. A student who transfers from USU to another public four-year institution of higher education in the state of Utah will be automatically cleared of all general education requirements if he or she has received an associate degree (students receiving the Associate of Pre-Engineering may have to take additional general education credits). Most accredited four-year institutions of higher education in the United States will accept the associate degree. Students are advised to examine the catalog of the institution to which they plan to transfer.

Credit for courses numbered 1000 or above earned at USU-Eastern are transferable within the Utah State System of Higher Education and will be carried on the student’s transcript by the receiving institution. Acceptance of credit should not be confused with its application toward a specific set of requirements or major. Credit other than that intended wholly to meet the General Education requirements of the receiving institution will be applied on the basis of the appropriateness of credit to a particular institution’s specific degree program requirements, as determined by the receiving institution.

Students must complete the General Education Requirements :

• Three credits from each of the following: Humanities, Fine Arts and Humanities or Fine Arts

Students must also complete the University Studies Depth Requirements :

• Three credits from each of the following: Earth Science, Life Science and Physical Science
• Students planning to transfer to the BA or BS program in Sociology at the USU main campus are advised to take STAT 1040  to fulfill the Quantitative Literacy requirement.

Career Opportunities

The Criminal Justice field across the United States employs over 2.4 million individuals. There has consistently been a demand for individuals to work in the various criminal justice fields, including courts, corrections, and police. There is a strong demand for employees, for example in the corrections field, where employment has grown over 500% in the last two decades. Different agencies can require various levels of education from a high school degree through graduate degrees. 

Sociology Graduate Program

Graduate Program Director: Erin Hofmann
Program Office: Main 224, (435) 797-9123

The Sociology Graduate Program offers graduate work leading to the MS and PhD degrees in Sociology.

The department offers the MS and PhD degree in Sociology and supports training in three specializations: Demography and Health; Environment and Community; and Social Inequality. Typically, admission to the PhD program is limited to students who have already earned a master’s degree in Sociology or a related field. However, exceptionally qualified students may enter the PhD program with a bachelor’s degree. Masters and doctoral students take core theory and methods classes and multiple seminars in substantive areas of sociology as part of their training. Sociology PhD students are required to pass a single written comprehensive examination in one of the supported specialization areas, and to complete depth coursework in a second specialization area. Both MS and PhD students must conduct original research and write and defend a thesis or dissertation to complete their degrees.

The Graduate Program in Sociology provides a unique integrative and reinforcing combination of demographic, organizational, political-economic, and critical orientations to the study major domestic and global issues. Graduate students have the opportunity to merge basic foundation coursework in social theory and research methods with more specialized training in the specialty areas. There are ample opportunities for mentoring experiences on both basic and applied research projects. Sustained personal interaction between faculty and students is a hallmark and strength of the program. 

The Graduate Program in Sociology has developed a Graduate Program Handbook that provides more details about the application process, financial assistance decisions, and graduation requirements. An electronic copy of this handbook is available on the departmental website: sociology.usu.edu/academic_program/graduate-studies/index.

The typical graduate application has five main components:

1. A formal on-line application form, available from the School of Graduate Studies at gradschool.usu.edu;
2. Transcripts from the applicant’s undergraduate and graduate studies;
3. For international applicants whose native language is not English, test scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examinations are required. Minimum score requirements for the TOEFL are a score of 213 or higher on the computer-based TOEFL, or 79 or higher on the internet based test. For the IELTS, USU requires a minimum score of 6.0. Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are not required for any applicant, but may be submitted as part of the application packet at the applicant’s discretion.
4. Letters of reference from faculty or scholars who can attest to the applicant’s abilities to succeed in graduate school; and
5. Submission of a separate letter of intent providing detailed information about the applicant’s training, interests, and experiences, as well as an overview of the applicant’s career goals and specific reasons why graduate training in sociology at Utah State University is important to the applicant.

All parts of the application can be done online at gradschool.usu.edu. 

The department offers financial assistance to most graduate students enrolled in departmental programs. These funds are distributed through a competitive process, based on student qualifications, performance, and interests. Graduate assistants typically earn enough to cover basic costs of tuition and living expenses. In order to be considered for financial assistance for the following academic year, complete applications must be received by USU no later than December 20. Decisions on graduate student funding are usually based on an overall evaluation of all five components of the application.

Applications are screened throughout the year by the Graduate Program Executive Committee. No applications will be considered until all required information arrives in the School of Graduate Studies or a formal petition to review a nearly-complete file is made and approved.

Students with or without an undergraduate degree in sociology may enter the master’s degree program. However, before matriculating, basic competencies in sociology that have not been acquired through prior courses or experience must be satisfied. Students entering the doctoral program must complete master’s level prerequisites in sociological theory and research methods and statistics.

Research

The graduate program’s research agenda is focused within the framework of the department’s specialty areas. Since the areas are integrative, research tends to involve collaborative participation by several faculty members. Several active research projects are supported by the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. Research is conducted at various levels, including international, national, regional, and state. The department has two active research units: (1) the Institute for Social Science Research on Natural Resources and (2) the Yun Kim Population Research Laboratory. Departmental research is supported by grants from federal and state agencies, local governments, private foundations, and the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. Faculty members participate in many cross-campus research efforts, including the Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research, the USU Water Initiative, the Utah Water Research Laboratory, the Mountain West Center for Regional Studies, and the Ecology Center.

Financial Assistance

Both departmental support and formal research grant support are available to graduate students and are awarded on a competitive basis. Some highly qualified departmental graduate students are also nominated to compete for university fellowships. Students who wish to be considered for financial aid must submit applications by December 20 for the coming academic year. Late applications are considered only if additional funds are still available.

Teaching assistantships are available through the department. Research assistantships are available through faculty members who have ongoing projects with the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station or who have research grants from the university, private companies, and federal or state agencies. University fellowships are available for exceptionally qualified students.

Career Opportunities

Traditionally, persons with advanced degrees in sociology have been employed in government, private industry, and college and university settings. Recent evidence has shown a greater variety of career paths. A survey conducted by the American Sociological Association showed that 21 percent of sociologists holding the doctoral degree were employed in the private sector; 31 percent were working in the nonprofit sector; 46 percent were working in federal, state, or local government agencies; and 12 percent were self-employed. USU sociology graduates have followed this pattern of diversity. They have secured appointments in a variety of academic, governmental, and private settings, both domestic and abroad. A sizeable number have achieved key leadership positions and high visibility in the profession.

Anthropology Graduate Program

Graduate Program Director: David Byers
Program Office: Main 245, (435) 797-0219

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology offers graduate work leading to the Master of Science degree in Anthropology with a Specialization in Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management.

Cultural Resource Management (CRM) archaeology provides industry and government agencies with an evaluation of heritage resources that by law must be “taken into account” prior to the alteration of our public landscapes. CRM is now an institutionalized element of the environmental management industry in the United States and in many other countries. Archaeologists identify and record all prehistoric and historic cultural resources, from ancient villages and camps, to pioneer cabins, 19th century gold mines, and human skeletal remains. Archaeologists help industry and agencies to find ways to protect what is of value by avoidance and occasionally by mitigation, and they facilitate land management. Federal and state laws and regulations govern the practice of archaeology by issuing permits, and a national Register of Professional Archaeologists certifies professional standards. The minimum degree requirement for the permits and the professional registry is a master’s degree.

Senior archaeologists working in CRM realize the need for graduate training to be more than applied archaeology. In order to produce career-path archaeologists, graduate training needs to include adequate knowledge of the scientific research contexts of archaeology, as well as experience in the conduct of research, to prepare students for careers, and not just as technicians in a transient labor force. The graduate program in Anthropology at Utah State University responds to the changing needs of archaeology and to recommendations of archaeologists in the CRM industry. The master’s degree will also prepare students intending to pursue a PhD degree at another institution.

Following the recommendations of the 2006 SAA forum on graduate training in CRM, the program has been designed around the following performance goals:

1. The curricula should recognize the much broader scope of CRM and should incorporate business, ecology, and the legal/regulatory environment in which CRM archaeology exists.
2. Written and verbal communication skills should be gained.
3. Students should gain experience in the preparation of proposals and research design.
4. Basic applied field techniques, including survey, mapping, GPS, and sampling, should be taught.
5. Students should master basic applied techniques in data analysis, collections processing, and collections management.
6. Experience should be given in report preparation.
7. The graduate curricula should provide structured mentorships or internships with CRM companies and/or government agencies.

The Graduate Program in Anthropology has developed an MS Anthropology Program Handbook providing more details about the application process, financial assistance decisions, and graduation requirements.

Further information about Graduate Studies in Anthropology at USU can be found at anthropology.usu.edu/academic_programs/graduate-program.

Application Requirements

The MS Program in Anthropology application has six main components:

1. A formal application form, available online at gradschool.usu.edu.
2. Transcripts from the applicant’s undergraduate and graduate studies
3. Letters of reference from faculty or scholars who can attest to the applicant’s abilities to succeed in graduate school
4. A resume
5. A letter of intent providing background about the applicant’s training, interests, and experiences, as well as an overview of the applicant’s career goals and specific reasons why graduate training in archaeology and cultural resource management is important to the applicant
6. Test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for all applicants, and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE) examinations for international students whose native language is not English

TOEFL scores are required for international candidates, with a minimum score of 600 (paper test) or 250 (computer-based test) deemed acceptable. The TSE examination is also strongly recommended, with a minimum score of 50 deemed acceptable. International applicants who are admitted without having taken the TSE will be required to take a test of spoken English fluency administered by the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) at Utah State University prior to beginning their first semester in the MS program. Dependent upon the test results, the student may be required to complete a program of English language training during the first semester of residence in the MS Degree Program in Anthropology.

Students requesting financial support, including continuing students, should apply no later than February 1. Applications to the program will be accepted through June 15. No application will be considered until all required information arrives in the School of Graduate Studies or until a formal petition to review a nearly complete file is made and approved.

All application materials should be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies, 0900 Old Main Hill, Utah State University, Logan UT 84322-0900.

Financial Assistance

Some financial assistance is available, primarily in the form of graduate assistantships. These funds are distributed through a competitive process, based on student qualifications, performance, and interests. The program sometimes offers scholarships to exceptional incoming and continuing students, and all students are strongly encouraged to fill out a FAFSA form and to explicitly request, among other forms of aid, a work-study award. In order to be considered for financial assistance for the next academic year, complete applications must be received no later than February 1. Decisions on graduate student funding are usually based on an overall evaluation of all six components of the application.

Career Opportunities

Nationwide the CRM industry is valued at several billion dollars per year. By the late 1990s, “60-70 percent of the membership of the Society for American Archaeology (SAA), and the Society for Historical Archaeology are engaged in cultural resources management” (SAA Bulletin 1997:20). An inventory of job listings on the SAA website during summer 2007 reveals that 82 percent of the advertised positions are in private or government sector CRM. In Utah there are more than 50 private companies holding archaeological permits, with 18 firms maintaining offices in the state. The Utah Division of State History reports that more than 1,700 archaeological field projects are conducted in the state each year. CRM is a thriving industry looking for qualified individuals, and the MS program in Anthropology at USU is specifically designed to provide the training and degree qualifications sought after by employers in both the public and private sectors.

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