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 361 -- Sociology of Medicine
  • SOC 369 -- Social Movements
  • SOC 491 -- Graphic Society: Topical Seminar (CRN 14048)

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

  • Spring 2026 SOC 491-02 Topical Seminar in Sociology  Graphic Society  Reading Graphic Novels, Understanding Society   Did you know that graphic novels are a form of sequential art or book length comics? And did you know that there was a time, not too long ago, in which comic books were censored in this country?  In this course we will study society, social groups, and culture from the uniquely breathtaking perspective of graphic novels? we will analyze, interpret and understand social behavior at'its best and at its worst.  Course Schedule: Mondays & Wednesdays, 9:00AM-10:15AM Instructor: Dr. Alessandra Seggi  Got questions? Send them to aseggil75@wecupa.edu

  • Spring 2026  Soc B6O  OCIALMOVE  Dr. John Leveille  M.W.F. 1:00-1:50  About the Course  Why do protest movements arise when and where they do? How are protest movements organized, and what tactics do they use?  These are some of the questions we will explore in this course. Along the way, we will pay particular attention to numerous case studies of social movements such as the civil rights movement, the right-wing authoritarian and fascist movements, the environmental movement, the gay rights movement, the labor movement, and several others.

  • 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

  • SOCIOLOGY OF MEDICINE  COME LEARN HOW SOCIAL SPRING FACTORS. DETERMINE AND 2026 INFLUENCE OUR HEALTH  QUESTIONS? ARICHMANGWCUPA.EDU

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