Why Study Anthropology and Sociology at K?
Small class sizes, community engagement opportunities, immersive study abroad programs, and close relationships with faculty make K an excellent school to study anthropology and sociology.
As an anthropology and sociology (ANSO) student, you will learn how communities, organizations, institutions, systems, and cultures affect and are affected by the people who form them. By integrating the two disciplines, you will be able to explore these topics from multiple perspectives, research methodologies, and types of evidence—providing a more nuanced understanding of the local and global aspects of modern issues.
To perform this in-depth analysis of society, you need to understand how politics, economics, culture, and identities (class, gender, ethnicity, race, and sexuality) interact with one another. You will gain this critical awareness through your coursework, community engagement, research, study abroad/away experience, and the completion of your Senior Integrated Project.
Notably, in your courses—such as Sex and Sexuality; Money, Technology and Material Culture; Medicine and Society; and Africa in a Global Context—you will learn about aspects of society through the retelling and analysis of lived experiences: readings, discussions, case studies, and service-learning components with partner organizations in Kalamazoo.
The lessons you will learn during your four years with the department will not only prepare you for a career in anthropology and sociology, but also in related fields, such as journalism, law, medicine, public health, urban affairs, international development, government, business and education.
What can you do with an Anthropology and Sociology degree?
Below are some of the careers, employers, and graduate schools of our ANSO alumni.
Careers
- Therapist
- Project Manager
- Teacher
- Communications Specialist
- Attorney
Employers
- The Atlantic
- Peace Corps
- AIDS Action Committee
- Northwestern Mutual
Graduate Schools
- University of Michigan
- Michigan State University
- Cornell University
- University of Southern California
- Queen Mary University of London
Program Spotlights
Discover your home in ANSO and take that knowledge out into the world
Many of our students find their home in the Anthropology and Sociology Department because they are interested in a specific topic—such as migration, public health, or politics—and then come to appreciate this uniquely human line of thinking and research. Given how anthropology and sociology cover the broad spectrum of humanity—from individuals to institutions—our recent alumni have been able to apply their knowledge in numerous ways throughout their careers as lawyers, policy experts, public health figures, teachers, and more!
Your coursework in action through study abroad
Before you embark on one of the College’s 50+ study abroad programs, your coursework will provide tools for more sophisticated analysis and understanding of your experience. For students interested in programs with built-in community engagement, the department recommends the community and global health or sustainable development programs in San José, Costa Rica, or the cultural conservation and decolonization program in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Conduct meaningful research in your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)
All K students complete a SIP as a part of their K-Plan; typically, students use this as a chance to research a subject of their choosing. Then in the spring, we celebrate all your hard work at the annual Hightower Symposium, where you will present your findings to your professors, classmates and family. Many of our students have presented their research across the country at conferences, such as the Midwestern Sociological Society, the North Central Sociological Association, and the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies.
Meet the Current Departmental Student Advisor
Tali Deaner (she/her)
Major: Anthropology & Sociology
Minor: Spanish
Concentration: Environmental Studies
Study Abroad: Quito, Ecuador
Best Adjective to Describe You: Energetic
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
The way you get to learn what you’re interested in and the connections with professors!
What drew you to the department?
I knew I was interested in anthropology when I started college, took Intro to Society and Culture my first year fall, and the rest is history!
What is your favorite thing about K?
The connections I’ve made with friends and professors and proximity to the Kalamazoo community!
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
I have taken all kinds of cool classes like Intro to Complex Systems, Urban Planning as a Liberal Art, Developmental Psychology, and more.
What is your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)?
It’s a library SIP in the ANSO department studying the language we use around food systems and how it applies to the food system and food access here in Kalamazoo supervised by Dr. Joshi.
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
Spend some time teaching experiential education and then eventually get a MSW or M.Ed or something like that. I want to work with people and make a positive difference in the world!
Sara Reathaford (she/her/hers)
Majors: ANSO and Spanish
Study Abroad: Madrid – Long-term (Winter-Spring)
Best Adjective to Describe You: Determined!
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
The best part is the diverse faculty backgrounds and wide-ranging classes that explore a vast array of ANSO topics.
What drew you to the department?
What drew me to the ANSO department was the intellectual challenge it presents. Every class leaves my head spinning with the complexity of institutional problems, without simple, black-and-white solutions. I fell in love with this ambiguity and the drive to make sense of intricate social structures.
What is your favorite thing about K?
My favorite thing about K is the sense of community we have built. Due to the small campus, it is rare to see a new face walking down the sidewalk. I love crossing the quad and waving hello to my classmates, teammates, professors, and friends.
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
I’ve taken advantage of the flexible curriculum by exploring a wide range of subjects outside of my main area of focus. Although my interest lies heavily within ANSO and Spanish, I have also dabbled in Psychology, Economics, Political Science, and even French! This interdisciplinary approach has not only deepened my appreciation of different fields of study, but also prepared me by broadening my perspective and acquiring new skills.
What is your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)?
I am doing an interdisciplinary SIP in the Winter, mixing what I’ve learned in my ANSO and Spanish majors. I plan to research multicultural education and cultural pluralism in multilingual landscapes. I will be using my experiences as a volunteer at a bilingual elementary school, my time studying abroad, and my job working with teens in Costa Rica over the summer to analyze my observations about teaching Spanish in different cultural landscapes.
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I am currently applying for a Fulbright award that would pay for my MA in Social Sciences in Madrid! In the future, I am hoping to have my own classroom that works with students from all over the world!