Sociology and Anthropology

Sociology: Major 
Anthropology: Major, Minor

The sociology and anthropology department will challenge you to critically examine continuing and urgent issues of inequality and social marginalization, focusing on complex human interactions in diverse cultures within a globalized world. 

You will learn to analyze structures of power and hierarchy, draw connections between your personal experiences and larger social and historical processes, as well as question preconceived ideas about the nature of society and representation of cultures around the world. Our graduates enter a wide variety of occupations well prepared with sharp analytical skills and as knowledgeable and engaged citizens.

The department combines a humanistic concern for the quality and diversity of human life with a commitment to the empirical analysis of culture and society. The sociology curriculum will give you qualitative and quantitative research skills to tackle pressing 21st century issues. Courses draw attention to history, culture, and social structure and their effects on people’s lives. The anthropology curriculum focuses on human cultural experiences around the world, with an emphasis on the contemporary challenges wrought by globalization. Courses often highlight the geographical areas in which faculty work (Latin America, Asia, and Africa) and focus on a diverse range of topics.

Sociology and Anthropology Department Statement on Black Lives Matter: Racial Justice and Action

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Program Highlights

Classes in sociology and anthropology give students the analytical tools to apply to complex issues that face us in the 21st century, including:

  • Global structures of inequality
  • Race and ethnicity
  • Gender and sexuality
  • Power and class
  • Religion
  • Environment
  • Media and popular culture
  • Health, medicine, and the body
  • Social movements
  • Family and kinship
  • Work and employment
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Opportunities

From internships to study abroad to independent research, opportunities abound for sociology and anthropology students.

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In the Community

Many department courses engage students in community-based learning, where academic learning and civic engagement meet.

Alumni in Rehm Library
Careers

Graduates apply their skills in many careers, including business, health, education, marketing, and non-profits.

Sociology and Anthropology News

Students hold a banner in front of a large crowd
The Climate Crisis: Holy Cross Students, Faculty and Staff Explore a Warming World
Climate change is such a large, global challenge, it can be hard to imagine how a single person can make an impact. But not for Renee LeBlanc ’21, an environmental studies and political science double major, and co-chair of the …
Dariana Rodriguez '23
Blog: Rodriguez ’23 Looking Forward to Stepping Out of Her Comfort Zone at Holy Cross
Name: Dariana Rodriguez ’23 Hometown: Boynton Beach, Florida Interested in studying: Anthropology, business, ethics, and society, and economics Activities: Women’s Rowing Team, The Agency, Women in Business Why did you choose Holy Cross? “I wanted to spend the next four years of my life in a competitive, …
two students study in their room
Home Sweet Campus: A Peek Inside Residence Life at Holy Cross
Ninety percent of Holy Cross students live in one of 11 residence halls on campus — but how do they make those spaces feel like home? The answer is both literal and emotional. The Holy Cross housing experience starts as …