Sociology and Social Anthropology

Location:	Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building 6135 University Avenue Room 1128 P.O. Box 15000 Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
Telephone:	(902) 494-6595
Fax:	(902) 494-2897
Website:	sociologyandsocialanthropology.dal.ca/

Introduction

Dalhousie's Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology offers a unique program of research and teaching that is interdisciplinary, comparative, and critically engaged. We draw on the strengths of our two disciplines – Sociology and Social Anthropology – by recognizing their distinct intellectual and methodological heritages, while emphasizing how they complement each other.

Sociology and Social Anthropology provide a broad and rigorous academic training, which develops knowledge and research skills that can be translated to the job market, future studies, and everyday life.

Sociology

Sociology investigates social processes that are fundamental to how society works, but often invisible and misunderstood. It focuses on how relationships among people shape their experiences. It unpacks deterministic and egocentric understandings in order to offer better accounts of a wide range of pressing social issues, such as the environment, health, crime, inequality, immigration, transnationalism, identity, and social change. Sociology uses a wide range of evidence including interviews, historical sources, and even statistics. Sociological perspectives can be applied to multiple social contexts and scales, from the world all the way down to everyday interactions. Because the discipline challenges commonly held assumptions, sociologists are often on the cutting edge of contemporary debates.

Social Anthropology

Social Anthropology is unique in its global and comparative approach to cultural diversity in the contemporary world. Anthropology focuses on how people and groups shape and are shaped by broad forces of history, cultural symbols and beliefs, and social and political structures. We draw on the rich international anthropological heritage while also actively encouraging a continuous renewal of that tradition, its thoughts and practices. Often living with the communities of people studied for an extended period of time, anthropologists generate first-hand accounts of everyday life to see the world through their eyes. Along the way they discover both vast differences and deep similarities across the varied human experience. Thus, the perspectives anthropologists gain through long-term fieldwork prepare us to engage with people different from ourselves in this increasingly globalized world. Social Anthropology shows that another world and way of life is not only possible, but already exists.

Degree Programs

The Department’s BA degree program is offered as a 90 credit hour minor or a 120 credit hour major in Sociology and Social Anthropology. The BA honours degree is offered through more specialized programs of study in Sociology or in Social Anthropology. Dalhousie graduates wishing to upgrade from a 90 credit hour minor may complete an additional 30 credit hours to be awarded the Major Conversion or the Honours Conversion. An honours degree is normally the required preparation for graduate study.

All Bachelors degree programs are governed by the general Requirements for Degrees set out in the University Calendar, in addition to the departmental requirements stated below. See Degree Requirements for complete details.

NOTE:

1. No more than six credit hours may be obtained for introductory courses from SOSA 1500.06, SOSA 1002.03, SOSA 1003.03.
2. For purposes of gaining entry to 2000 and 3000 level SOSA courses, King’s Foundation Year satisfies the introductory course prerequisite.
3. If they so elect, King’s Foundation Year students may also obtain credit for one introductory course from SOSA 1500.06, SOSA 1002.03 and SOSA 1003.03.