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Sociology and Anthropology

Students can customize the major in many ways.

anthro presenters

Senior anthropology majors presented their projects at the Central States Anthropological Society meetings. They are, from left, Angelica Keating-Aguilar, Abigail Neal, Victoria Witkowski and Ella Iacoviello.

Because human society and culture are intertwined, sociology and anthropology are combined as one major at Augustana. You’ll customize your path according to what inspires you most, with faculty mentors as your guides.

If that path is leading to a master’s in social work, Augustana offers a pre-master of social work (MSW) track. Most students in the pre-MSW program choose the sociology and anthropology major, but some major in other areas.

Whatever path you choose, you’ll learn social science methods ranging from statistics and quantitative survey design and analysis to qualitative ethnographic fieldwork. You’ll have opportunities to collaborate with professors on research, and will complete your own substantial project.

Your research experience will give you direction for your future, and your project will reflect your thinking and skills as you head into a career or graduate school for anthropology, archaeology, sociology, social work, criminal justice, law, museum studies, public administration, education leadership or counseling.

What you'll learn

Intercultural competence

Intercultural competence

Understand real and imaginary similarities and differences. Use more than one perspective to view issues.

Intellectual curiosity

Intellectual curiosity

Set yourself up for lifelong intellectual growth. Take responsibility for your own learning.

Disciplinary knowledge

Disciplinary knowledge

Gain a deep understanding of your subject and how it connects to other subjects.

Communication competence

Communication competence

Read and listen carefully. Express ideas (writing or speaking) suited to the audience.

Collaborative leadership

Collaborative leadership

Make decisions and act for the good of the community as a group.

Distinctions

• Every year, students are invited to showcase their research at college, regional and national conferences.

• Students have conducted ethnographic research in Bermuda, Ireland, Israel, West Africa, with Native American communities, refugees in the Quad Cities, and more. A $2,000 Augie Choice grant helps cover expenses for internships, travel and research.

• Employers seek Augustana sociology and anthropology majors for their research skills and knowledge of social relations and organizations. Every year, students complete internships in non-governmental and nonprofit organizations, business, public health, education, museums, research and publishing.

• Along with internships and research, students can get hands-on experience working on community projects with local organizations such as World Relief and the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.

• On-campus student groups of special interest include the Sociology and Anthropology Club and Augustana’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the international honor society.

• A senior member of the faculty is the Richard A. Swanson Professor of Social Thought and director of the Center for the Study of Pluralism and the Civil Sphere at Augustana, bringing known sociologists and other scholars to engage students and speak on campus.

anthro turkish cafe

Anthropology faculty and students enjoy dinner at a Turkish cafe in Bloomington, Ind. They traveled to Bloomington to participate in the Central States Anthropological Society conference, where the students presented their Senior Inquiry research.

Recent grads

Tracy Pham ’21 is pursuing a dual-degree M.D. and M.P.H. at the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Medicine.

Krishna Marmé '20 is pursuing the M.P.H. in Health Policy at the University of Iowa.

Catherine Priebe '20 is attending Mercer Law School in Macon, Ga.

Abi Buchanan '18 is pursuing a doctorate in medical anthropology through a full-ride scholarship to Michigan State University.

Lizandra Gomez-Ramirez '17 is an assistant public defender in Rock Island, Ill.

Samantha Turner '15 Lundeen is the director of marketing and events for the DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, Chicago.

Micaela Terronez '15 is a Special Collections librarian and instructor at the Tredway Library, Augustana College.

Abi Buchanan
More Than I Imagined Abi Buchanan
“I am fortunate to have received a full-ride at Michigan State University for its doctoral program in anthropology.”
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Rebecca
More Than I Imagined Rebecca Garbe
“Dr. Adam Kaul helped set a foundation for how I will continue to think and be a part of anthropology as a discipline as I move forward.”
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Rosalia
More Than I Imagined Rosalia Flores
“Because of the amazing professors in the sociology department, I am confident in what I will accomplish in my future career.”
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Scotland

Students discover new perspectives, friends and adventures on travels abroad

Dozens of Augustana students experienced a new culture during the 2022 spring semester and earlier this summer. Find out which Italian sandwich shop now displays an Augustana pennant.

Lindberg Center

1 in 2 Augustana grads has double (sometimes triple!) majors

Around the country, about 25% of college students double major. At Augustana, it’s much higher — 53.4% of the Class of 2020 had double or triple majors. What are the advantages?