Congratulations to our Faculty Research Award recipients:

Dr. Aliza Richman - Community Engagement AWA (CE-AWA)
Dr. Jackie Zalewski - Research AWA (RAWA)
Dr. Heather Wholey - Research in Mathematics and Science (RIMS)


 
Anthropology and Sociology are social sciences oriented toward the systematic study of diverse peoples and groups, both sharing the desire to better understand society and culture.

The Mission of the Department of Anthropology and Sociology is to provide broad access to the skills and special knowledge inherent in our disciplines, to nurture an awareness of and appreciation for diversity, to promote a sense of civic responsibility, global awareness, and cultural competency in our students, and to support original and collaborative scholarship by faculty and students. It will meet this mission by offering courses leading to bachelor ’s degrees in anthropology and sociology and minor programs in anthropology, sociology, museum studies and ethnic studies; a broad range of courses permitting students to satisfy the university’s general education requirements; and internships, field experiences, service learning, and international study opportunities.

Department faculty study a wide range of topics, including globalization; inequalities experienced due to gender, race, ethnicity, and social class; the social determinants of health; biocultural perspectives on food and nutrition; social movements (protests, uprisings and the like); religion in cultural and social contexts; the digital social realm; environmental sustainability and sustainable food systems; ancient societies and cultures; and heritage and preservation.

The Department of Anthropology and Sociology offers the following degrees and programs of study:

  • Anthropology, B.A.
  • Sociology, B.A.
  • Anthropology minor
  • Sociology minor
  • Museum Studies minor
  • Ethnic Studies minor

The WCU Institute for Race and Ethnic Studies has joined the Department of Anthropology and Sociology.
For more information about our degrees and programs, please, email us at ANTSOC@wcupa.edu.

 

 

Upcoming Courses: SPRING 2026

Anthropology Courses

  • ANT 101 -- Introduction to Biological Anthropology
  • ANT 102 -- Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • ANT 103 -- Introduction to Archaeology
  • ANT 224 -- Native People of South America
  • ANT 230 -- Introduction to Primatology
  • ANT 314 -- Biocultural Food and Nutrition
  • ANT 330 -- Professionalism in Anthropology
  • ANT 348 -- Dimensions of Ethnographic Film/Video 
  • ANT 355 -- Anthropology of Tourism
  • ANT 366 -- Archaeological Lab Methods
  • MST 350-- Collections Care and  Management
  • MST 358 -- Museum Exhibit Curation 

Learn more about Anthropology at WCU

Sociology Courses

  • SOC 100 -- Introduction to Sociology
  • SOC 225 -- Digital Social Research
  • SOC 240 -- Sociology of the Family
  • SOC 309 -- Sustainable WCU & Beyond
  • SOC 321 -- Statistics of Sociological Research
  • SOC 340 -- Sociology of Work
  • SOC 341 -- Social Stratification
  • SOC 492 -- Senior Seminar

Learn more about Sociology at WCU

Course Flyers

  •             Spring Semester 2026            This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY            What kind of diet are humans best suited to from an evolutionary standpoint? (Does the Keto Diet make sense?)            How do culture and biology affect food choice? (Why do you crave sweets?)            What are the pressing nutritional issues in developing and developed societies? (Is obesity a type of malnutrition?)            Want answers? Sign up for:            ANT 314            Biocultural Perspectives on            Food & Nutrition            Blended (40-50% online): T 2-3:15, Anderson 204            Dr. Susan Johnston            sjohnston@wcupa.edu; x2657

  •             SOC 225: DIGITAL SOCIAL RESEARCH            SPRING 2026 | 50% online F2F meetings: 12:30-1:45 p.m. Thursdays            The digital revolution has allowed for unprecedented access to data about user practices, public attitudes, and social behaviors.            Learn the specialized skills and knowledge needed to scientifically study the digital social world, with guided use of professional platforms and software for gathering, analyzing, and presenting digital data.            CONTACT DR. WIEST: JWIEST@WCUPA.EDU

  •             Anthropology 330-01, Spring 2026 Professionalization in Anthropology            1 credit            Thursday, 2-2:50pm, Old Library 102 Instructor: Dr. Susan Johnston sjohnston@wcupa.edu            Students will:            *hear from working anthropologists about their professional experiences            *be able to articulate the relevance of anthropology to            specific career and/or educational paths            *prepare a curriculum vita (CV) or resume            *write a professional cover letter            *identify relevant job and/or graduate educational opportunities            employmentmary            application            contact employer' position            objectives            planning OD job            seek job skills            Vitae resume            identify            online            research            learning            life            field            guide            people            keep            personal            internet            email            network            goal            potential professional management-            person            work            employersopportunity strategy seekers            development interview            find            writing focus hire            prepare plan            long letter C offer            time process            step list            goals            experience curriculum cover            vision            careerhel            tips know company important relationships            found            search            education            references            develop

  •             YRAMIDE            A            Spring 2026            Social Stratification            SOC 341            Monday & Wednesday            3:00 pm - 4:15 pm            La Royaute            La Clericalisme.            Harime            RENVERS            Jo regne sur YO            Je prie pour            Ju tire A            Study the classical and contemporary theories of stratification            • Examine the sites where inequalities are re/produced            • Understand how media and            technology are sites of oppression and resistance            Je mar            Le Peuple. Je travaille pour vous.

  •             SPRING 2026            Register Now            SOCIOLOGY 309            SUSTAINABLE WCU & BEYOND TR 12:30-1:45PM            COURSE ATTRIBUTES:            SPEAKING EMPHASIS            SUSTAINABILITY PATHWAY ELECTIVE            COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PATHWAY ELECTIVE INTERDISCIPLINARY MINOR IN SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCE ELECTIVE            SOCIOLOGY ELECTIVE            PROJECT-BASED AND RESEARCH-DRIVEN            SUSTAINABLE ACTION            QUESTIONS? ARICHMAN@WCUPA.EDU

  • SPRING 2026            SOC 340:            THE SOCIOLOGY OF WORK             OVERVIEW             THIS COURSE COVERS: 1. FOUNDATIONS IN WORK            THEORY: 2. INEQUALITY AT WORK: 3. THE NEW             WORLD OF WORK: CONTINGENCIES AND PRECARITY:            AND 4. WORK AND ITS FUTURE.             IN THE FIRST UNIT WE EXAMINE THE CONCEPTS,            CRITICAL THEORIES. AND HISTORICAL ANALYSIS            THAT DEFINE SCHOLARSHIP IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF            WORK.             IN STR UCTO R IN THE SECOND UNIT, WE EXAMINE THE COERCIVE             POWER THAT EMPLOYERS INCREASINGLY EXERCISE             Dr. Jackie Zalewski OVER WORKERS AND THAT HELPS REPRODUCE            : STRUCTURAL INEQUALITY IN WORK.             IN THE THIRD UNIT, KE DISCUSS GREATER JOB N            PRECARITY AND ITS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC            EFFECTS IN OUTSOURCED LABOR MARKETS.             IN THE FOURTH UNIT, WE DISCUSS WORK AND ITS             100% FUTURE IN THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AGE. YOU            WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN SMALL GROUPS ON             ASYNCHRONOUS [J 25 vo wee saoko auacrca aveks            THE SOCIOLOGY OF WORK.            ONLINE

  • EVERYONE HAS BE            EVEN IF THEY HAT,             Spring 2026             ANT 355/555             THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF TOURISM            Tuesday/ Thursday             9:00-10:45 AM            Instructor: Dr. DiGiovine

  • Spring 2026 - MST: 350 - Collections Care and management - Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays - 4pm-5:15pm