Anthropology and Sociology

Understanding cultural and social life

Anthropology is the study of what it means to be human through the lens of cultural diversity. Anthropologists are interested in all peoples and societies, from small-scale farming communities to large-scale industrial urban societies.

Sociology studies how human actions in modern societies are shaped by membership in social groups and by wider social, economic and political processes. Both fields share a common interest in the comparative study of human societies in all their historical and contemporary variation. This major brings both fields together to broaden your scope for interdisciplinary research and professional practice.

The process of global change, such as industrialisation, urbanisation, increasing inter-ethnic contact and multiculturalism, environmental transformation, and the spread of new modes of communication can have significant effects on cultures and societies.

Your anthropological studies will explore how cultural differences shape the ways in which humans think about and act in the world. You will examine how contemporary local, regional and national cultures and societies are affected by, and react to, their incorporation into a globalised world.

Your sociology studies will challenge you to see human behaviour as a product of social influences through membership in small groups and communities, and in wider networks of relationships extending to the global level. Both fields will encourage you to examine and question your everyday assumptions and beliefs about how societies work and your place within them. You’ll be encouraged to look behind the surface facts of social and cultural life to uncover the major forces which have shaped, and are shaping, our world. You’ll seek to link private concerns to public issues and acquire analytical and practical skills to deal with the many challenges of living in a globalised world. You’ll be encouraged to find the ‘general’ in society and social change through the ‘particular’ of historical events and everyday life.

In this major, you will explore contemporary societies and cultures in change. You will focus on local and global contexts, particularly studying Australia, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific region. You’ll explore, by way of specific events, institutions, social groups and everyday life, how each is being transformed in the context of globalised communication, economics and political systems. You’ll study a wide variety of topics, including family, sport, gender relations, media, education, work and economic change, community development, environment, health, crime and human rights.

Anthropology and Sociology is offered as part of the Bachelor of Arts. You can enhance your studies with a secondary major or choose from a range of elective units to support your career goals.

You can study this major as part of a Science and Arts double degree.
See the Courses Handbook for the structure of this part of the double degree.

Why Anthropology and Sociology?

• Our staff are research-active, working in many parts of the world, including Australia, and have won a range of state and national teaching awards. You can be sure you are learning from the best.
• We provide a friendly, supportive and lively learning environment in which the skills you acquire will allow you to engage critically and constructively with the major social issues of the day such as economic and technological change, unemployment, political instability, environmental transformation, and the accelerating pace of change.

Credit for previous study

If you have previously worked or studied in this field, you are encouraged to contact the Faculty to discuss eligibility for recognition of prior learning.

Try our RPL search to find out what credit you might be eligible for.

Possible careers

International Development

Anthropology and Sociology can be combined with one of the following majors to maximise your employability in this field:

• Asian Studies
• International Relations
• Sustainable Development

Or you can take the following electives with an Anthropology and Sociology single major:

• International Relations: Theory and Practice
• Democracy and Dictatorship in Asia
• Australia and Asia Transformed
• Religion, War and Terror in South and West Asia
• Human Rights and Social Justice
• International Political Economy
• Sustainable Livelihoods.

Indigenous, Ethnic and Multicultural Affairs

This major can be combined with one of the following to maximise your employability in this field:

• History
• International Relations
• Asian Studies

Or you can take the following electives with an Anthropology and Sociology single major:

• Japanese Society and Culture
• Chinese Society and Culture
• Islam in Contemporary Asia
• Contested Knowledge: Truth, Lies and Memories.

• Australian & NZ students
• International students