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George Mason University
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2016-2017 University Catalog 
  
2016-2017 University Catalog

Sociology and Anthropology


Phone: 703-993-1440

Web: soan.gmu.edu

Faculty

Emeritus faculty: Black, Dumont, Golomb, Williams (anthropology); Borkman (sociology)

Professors: Schiller, Seligmann (anthropology); Best, Dennis, Jacobs, Kurtz, Witte, Scimecca (sociology)

Associate professors: Bickford, Trencher (anthropology); Bockman, Dale, Davis, Guagnano, Hanrahan, Kim (sociology)

Assistant professors: Hughes Rinker, Klaus, Mantz, Sadana, Takahashi, Temple (anthropology)

Term associate professor: Masters

Term assistant professor: Storelli (sociology)

Adjuncts: Gerber, Hodges, Lowry (anthropology); Mitcho, Nambiar, Pearlman, Smith (sociology)

Affiliate faculty: Avruch, Blum, Usher (anthropology); Goldstone, Johnson, Nambiar, Sandole-Staroste, Smith, Spalter-Roth (sociology)

Courses

This department offers all courses designated ANTH, SOAN, and SOCI in the Courses  section of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

Anthropology

The department offers a bachelor of arts degree in anthropology. The program draws broadly from the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences, making it a strong undergraduate major that provides a sound interdisciplinary preparation for a variety of careers.

Honors in the Major

Highly qualified students majoring in anthropology may apply to graduate with honors in the major. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 60 credits, taken ENGH 302  for the social sciences, completed 15 credits of anthropology (including ANTH 114 ), and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 and a minimum grade of B+ in anthropology courses.

If accepted, students complete two honors courses. The first course is an honors section of one of these courses: ANTH 496 , 420 , 430 , 450 , 495 , or another course chosen in consultation with the honors director. The second course is ANTH 499 , in which students complete an honors paper written under the guidance of an anthropology faculty member. All candidates for honors in the major participate in an honors colloquium. To graduate with honors in the major, students must complete the honors coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.50.

Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Program

The department offers highly qualified majors in anthropology the opportunity to apply to an accelerated master’s degree program in anthropology. If accepted, students will be able to earn both the undergraduate and graduate degrees after satisfactory completion of 144 credits, sometimes within five years.

Sociology

The department offers a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Sociology majors study how social movements emerge from the collective efforts of individuals and the role that social forces play in defining racial identities and gender roles. They take courses in the theories that explain social phenomena and develop strong research skills, learning how to conduct surveys, interviews, systematic observation as well as how to evaluate sources.

With the strong research skills, critical thinking, and effective writing that are the hallmark of sociology graduates, they are prepared for a variety of career paths from teaching, human service, and human resource occupations to work in the criminal justice system, marketing, and social research. The sociology major is also excellent preparation for students considering law school or graduate training in the social and behavioral sciences.

Honors in the Major

Highly qualified students majoring in sociology may apply to graduate with honors in the major. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 75 credits, taken ENGH 302  for the social sciences, completed 21 credits of sociology, and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 and a minimum grade of B+ in sociology courses. Applicants must have completed SOCI 303  and SOCI 311  with a minimum grade of B in each.

If accepted, to graduate with honors in sociology, students must complete SOCI 480  and SOCI 481  with a minimum grade of B+ in each of these courses and have an overall GPA of 3.50 in sociology courses presented for graduation. SOCI 481  includes completion of an honors thesis, which will be presented at a sociology colloquium.

Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Program

The department offers highly qualified majors in sociology the opportunity to apply to an accelerated master’s degree program in sociology. If accepted, students will be able to earn both the undergraduate and graduate degrees after satisfactory completion of 147 credits, sometimes within five years.

Minors

The department offers minors in anthropology and sociology available to students in any major.

The department coordinates the interdisciplinary minor in immigration studies  and the faculty participate in many other minors in the college. See Minors and Interdisciplinary Minors  in this section for more information.

Graduate Programs

Anthropology

The department offers a master’s degree in anthropology. Students can choose one of three emphases: advanced training in sociocultural anthropology; culture, health and bioethics; or transnational and global issues. They can chose from many courses that are richly interdisciplinary covering such diverse topics as nationalism and transnationalism; bioethics; social movements, ethnicity and identity; conflict and violence; migration, displacement, and refugees; regional ethnography; and political economy and globalization. Departmental specializations include the following regions: Central and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the United  States. Course work progresses from core courses to more advanced courses and culminates in a thesis.

Sociology

The department offers master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology. Students pursuing a master’s degree in sociology take required courses in theory and methods and a host of electives. Students may choose to focus their electives in one of two specializations: institutions and inequalities or sociology of globalization.

The doctoral degree in sociology provides rigorous training in public and applied social research, including skills in research design, data analysis, and substantive areas that are pertinent to various sectors in the Washington, D.C., area. Graduates have the theoretical, analytical, and professional skills that prepare them for academic positions in teaching or research. They are also well-qualified for nonacademic positions in the many settings that rely on the expertise of sociologists including human service agencies, marketing research firms, educational systems, nonprofit foundations, and law enforcement agencies.

Funding

The department has a limited number of teaching assistantships, which are awarded on a competitive basis. Other sources of funding such as grants, loans, and employment on campus are also available. Students awarded assistantships must register for a minimum of six credits a semester and show satisfactory progress toward their degree.

Nondegree Status

Applicants who do not wish to pursue a degree may apply for nondegree status. Nondegree students must meet the same admission requirements as degree-seeking students (minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00, among other criteria). Nondegree students may later apply for admission to a degree program. Up to nine credits earned in nondegree status may transferred to the master’s degrees in anthropology or sociology, subject to the approval of the program director and dean.

Programs

    Undergraduate Degree(s)Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Minor(s)Undergraduate Minor(s)Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Program(s)Master’s Degree(s)Doctoral Degree(s)