Christine Kray, Program Co-Director
(585) 475-4686, cakgss@rit.edu
Kijana Crawford, Program Co-Director
(585) 475-2943, drcgss@rit.edu
Program overview
The sociology and anthropology major is dedicated to understanding and appreciating social and cultural complexity and diversity across the globe and through time. Students are exposed to critical perspectives, theories, and research skills that are necessary to engage complex global and local issues that crosscut the economy, politics, society, gender, ethnicity, and culture. Understanding societies past and present better prepares us to face the challenges of a rapidly changing world and to assume positions of leadership that promote vision and equity.
Plan of study
This integrated, interdisciplinary degree program explores the common scholarly roots and creative differences of sociology and anthropology, through which students gain a synergistic set of perspectives and skills that prepare them for social analysis in the widest array of social and cultural settings. Students develop a specialization by choosing one of five tracks: archaeology, cultural anthropology, sociology, urban studies, or thematic.
Graduates pursue careers in medicine and public health, law, business, international development, the not-for-profit sector, urban planning, architecture, social work, education, and government, among other possibilities.
Cooperative education and field experience
Students apply their classroom knowledge with opportunities for hands-on learning through cooperative education assignments, internships, archaeological, ethnographic, or linguistic fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and study abroad.
Curriculum
Sociology and anthropology (archaeology track), BS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| First Year Writing Seminar | 3 | |
| ANTH-103 | Archaeology and the Human Past | 3 |
| Choose two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| ANTH-102 | Cultural Anthropology | |
| SOCI-102 | Foundations of Sociology | |
| SOCI-103 | Urban Experience | |
| First Year LAS Elective | 3 | |
| LAS Perspective 1, 2, 3, 4, 5‡ | 15 | |
| ACSC-010 | Year One: College Experience | 0 |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| ANTH/SOCI-201 | Ethnographic Imagination: Writing About Society and Culture (WI) | 3 |
| ANTH/SOCI-301 | Social and Cultural Theory | 3 |
| ANTH/SOCI-302 | Qualitative Research | 3 |
| ANTH-215 | Field Methods in Archaeology | 3 |
| Track Elective§ | 3 | |
| ANTH-250 | Themes in Archaeological Research | 3 |
| LAS Perspective 6, 7A, 7B | 9 | |
| LAS Immersion 1 | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| ANTH/SOCI-303 | Quantitative Research | 3 |
| ANTH-255 | Regional Archaeology | 3 |
| Track Electives§ | 15 | |
| LAS Immersion 2, 3 | 6 | |
| LAS Elective | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| ANTH-498 | Practicum | 0 |
| ANTH-499 | Cooperative Education | Co-op |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| ANTH-501 | Senior Research Project | |
| ANTH-502 | Scholar’s Thesis I | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Track Elective§ | ||
| ANTH-503 | Scholar's Thesis II | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| LAS Electives | 18 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.
‡ Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3- or 4-credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, students must take both the lecture and lab portions to satisfy the requirement. The lecture section alone will not fulfill the requirement.
§ Students choose from among the following archaeology track electives: Archaeology and Cultural Imagination (ANTH-230), Native North Americans (ANTH-260), People Before Cities (ANTH-312), Archaeology of Cities (ANTH-315), Historic Archaeology (ANTH-355), Humans and their Environment (ANTH-360), Islamic Culture and the Middle East (ANTH-365), Native American Repatriation (ANTH-375), Archaeological Science (ANTH-415), Exploring Ancient Technology (ANTH-420), Garbage Archaeology (ANTH-435), Applications Geographic Information System (ENVS-250).
Sociology and anthropology (cultural anthropology track), BS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| First Year LAS Elective | 3 | |
| First Year Writing Seminar | 3 | |
| ANTH-102 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| Choose two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| ANTH-103 | Archaeology and the Human Past | |
| SOCI-102 | Foundations of Sociology | |
| SOCI-103 | Urban Experience | |
| LAS Perspective 1, 2, 3, 4, 5‡ | 15 | |
| ACSC-010 | Year One: College Experience | 0 |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| ANTH/SOCI-201 | Ethnographic Imagination: Writing About Society and Culture (WI) | 3 |
| ANTH/SOCI-301 | Social and Cultural Theory | 3 |
| ANTH/SOCI-302 | Qualitative Research | 3 |
| Track Electives§ | 9 | |
| LAS Perspective 6, 7A, 7B | 9 | |
| LAS Immersion 1 | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| ANTH/SOCI-303 | Quantitative Research | 3 |
| Track Electives§ | 18 | |
| LAS Immersion 2, 3 | 6 | |
| LAS Elective | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| ANTH-498 | Practicum | 0 |
| ANTH-499 | Cooperative Education | Co-op |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| ANTH-501 | Senior Research Project | |
| ANTH-502 | Scholar’s Thesis I | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Track Elective§ | ||
| ANTH-503 | Scholar's Thesis II | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| LAS Electives | 18 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.
‡ Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3- or 4-credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, students must take both the lecture and lab portions to satisfy the requirement. The lecture section alone will not fulfill the requirement.
§ Students choose from among the following cultural anthropology track electives: Culture and Globalization (ANTH-210), Language and Culture (ANTH-220), Globalizing Africa (ANTH-225), Immigration to the U.S. (ANTH-235), Muslim Youth Cultures (ANTH-240), Ritual and Performance (ANTH-245), Native North Americans (ANTH-260), Native Americans in Film (ANTH-265), Cuisine, Culture, and Power (ANTH-270/INGS-270), Global Islam (ANTH-275), Sustainable Development (ANTH-280), Religion and Culture (ANTH-285), Language and Sexuality (ANTH-290), Comparative and Historical Linguistics (ANTH-305), African Popular Cultures (ANTH-310), Bodies and Culture (ANTH-325), Cultural Images of War (ANTH-330), Culture and Politics in Latin America (ANTH-335), Divided Europe (ANTH-340), Genocide and Post-Conflict Justice (ANTH-345), The Global Economy and the Grassroots (ANTH-350), Media and Globalization (ANTH-370), Native American Repatriation (ANTH-375), Nationalism and Identity (ANTH-380), Anthropology and History (ANTH-385), Marxist Perspectives (ANTH-390), Global Cities (ANTH-410), Global Sexualities (ANTH-425), Visual Anthropology (ANTH-430).
Sociology and anthropology (sociology track), BS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| First Year Writing Seminat | 3 | |
| Choose two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| ANTH-102 | Cultural Anthropology | |
| ANTH-103 | Archaeology and the Human Past | |
| SOCI-102 | Foundations of Sociology | |
| SOCI-103 | Urban Experience | |
| First Year LAS Elective | 3 | |
| LAS Perspective 1, 2, 3, 4, 5‡ | 15 | |
| Track Elective§ | 3 | |
| ACSC-010 | Year One: College Experience | 0 |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| ANTH/SOCI-201 | Ethnographic Imagination: Writing About Society and Culture (WI) | 3 |
| ANTH/SOCI-301 | Social and Cultural Theory | 3 |
| ANTH/SOCI-302 | Qualitative Research | 3 |
| SOCI-225 | Social Inequality | 3 |
| SOCI-235 | Women, Work and Culture | 3 |
| SOCI-220 | Minority Group Relations | 3 |
| LAS Perspective 6, 7A, 7B | 9 | |
| LAS Immersion 1 | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| ANTH/SOCI-303 | Quantitative Research | 3 |
| Track Electives§ | 18 | |
| LAS Immersion 2, 3 | 6 | |
| LAS Elective | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| SOCI-498 | Practicum | 0 |
| SOCI-499 | Cooperative Education | Co-op |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| SOCI-501 | Senior Research Project | |
| SOCI-502 | Scholar’s Thesis I | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Track Elective§ | ||
| SOCI-503 | Scholar's Thesis II | |
| LAS Electives | 18 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.
‡ Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3- or 4-credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, students must take both the lecture and lab portions to satisfy the requirement. The lecture section alone will not fulfill the requirement.
§ Students choose from among the following sociology track electives: Urban Experience (SOCI-103), African American Culture (SOCI-210), Changing Family (SOCI-215), Sociology of Work (SOCI-230), Deaf Culture in America (SOCI-240 ), Gender and Health (SOCI-245), Globalization and Security (SOCI-250), Disaster, Public Health Crises, and Global Responses (SOCI-255), U.S. Housing Policy (SOCI-310), Global Exiles of War and Terror (SOCI-315), Population and Society (SOCI-320), Urban Poverty (SOCI-345), Social Change (SOCI-350), Marxist Perspectives (SOCI-390).
Sociology and anthropology (urban studies track), BS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| First Year Writing Seminar | 3 | |
| Choose two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| ANTH-102 | Cultural Anthropology | |
| ANTH-103 | Archaeology and the Human Past | |
| SOCI-102 | Foundations of Sociology | |
| SOCI-103 | Urban Experience | |
| First Year LAS Elective | 3 | |
| LAS Perspective 1, 2, 3, 4, 5‡ | 15 | |
| Track Elective§ | 3 | |
| Year One: College Experience | 0 | |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| ANTH/SOCI-201 | Ethnographic Imagination: Writing About Society and Culture (WI) | 3 |
| ANTH/SOCI-301 | Social and Cultural Theory | 3 |
| ANTH/SOCI-302 | Qualitative Research | 3 |
| Track Electives§ | 9 | |
| LAS Perspective 6, 7A, 7B | 9 | |
| LAS Immersion 1 | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| ANTH/SOCI-303 | Quantitative Research | 3 |
| Track Electives§ | 18 | |
| LAS Immersion 2, 3 | 6 | |
| LAS Elective | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| ANTH/SOCI-498 | Practicum | 0 |
| ANTH/SOCI-499 | Cooperative Education | Co-op |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| ANTH/SOCI-501 | Senior Research Project | |
| ANTH/SOCI-502 | Scholar’s Thesis I | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Track Elective§ | ||
| ANTH/SOCI-503 | Scholar's Thesis II | |
| LAS Electives | 18 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.
‡ Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3- or 4-credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, students must take both the lecture and lab portions to satisfy the requirement. The lecture section alone will not fulfill the requirement.
§ Students choose from among the following urban studies track electives: Immigration to the U.S. (ANTH-235), Archaeology of Cities (ANTH-315), Global Cities (ANTH-410), Urban Economics (ECON-440), Applications Geographic Information Systems (ENVS-250), State and Local Politics (POLS-250), Minority Group Relations (SOCI-220), Community and Economic Development: Rochester (SOCI-325), Urban Deviance (SOCI-330), Urban Cultures (SOCI-335), Urban Planning and Policy (SOCI-340), Urban Poverty (SOCI-345), Diversity in the City (SOCI-410), Sustainable Communities (STSO-550).
Quarter Curriculum - For Reference Only
Effective fall 2013, RIT converted its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. The following content has been made available as reference only. Currently matriculated students who began their academic programs in quarters should consult their academic adviser for guidance and course selection.
Program overview
Eighty percent of U.S. residents work, learn, and raise families in metropolitan areas. Countries around the world are rapidly urbanizing, and the urban populations of the world are linked participants in a global economic and cultural system. Cities also present challenges regarding land use, access to resources, cross-cultural communication, pollution, crowding, and traffic. The prominence and interdependence of today’s urban landscape create a pressing need for individuals who possess the skills, aptitude, and commitment to create sustainable cities and communities for our shared future.
The bachelor of science program in urban and community studies explores the institutional and structural forces that shape, interconnect, and subdivide geographically bounded communities. The program’s interdisciplinary combination of classes in the liberal arts, sciences, and computing gives students a broad knowledge base that lets them approach urban issues from a number of perspectives.
Students enter the work force technically grounded in and knowledgeable of urban theories, policies, and practices. Upon graduation, students will be equipped to take on positions in city and regional government, social services, and local or international development.
Tracks
The urban and community studies program offers three distinct tracks, allowing students to focus their interests in one particular area. The urban and community development track investigates the role of public, private, and nonprofit organizations in how cities function, with an emphasis on topics such as housing, urban planning, neighborhood revitalization, and crime and justice. A second track, communities in global perspective, is designed for students interested in regional economic and cultural issues within international settings. The third track, community: race, class, and gender, examines how political, economic, social, and environmental forces shape the life experiences of different subgroups. Special attention is paid to issues such as poverty, racial segregation, gender inequality, work and labor, and family life.
Curriculum
Urban and community studies, BS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 0515-442 | The Urban Experience | 4 |
| 0515-444 | Social Change | 4 |
| Choose one of the following courses: | 4 | |
| 0515-210 | Foundations of Sociology | |
| 0510-210 | Cultural Anthropology | |
| Mathematics and Science Requirements‡ | 22 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| 1105-051, 052 | First-Year Enrichment | 2 |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 0526-440 | Quantitative Methods | 4 |
| 0515-406 | Qualitative Methods | 4 |
| 0515-485 | Diversity in the City | 4 |
| 0510-445 | Global Cities | 4 |
| 0515-413 | Urban Planning and Policy | 4 |
| 4002-320 | Introduction to Multimedia: The Internet and the Web | 4 |
| Liberal Arts* | 24 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 0526-441 | GIS Applications in Urban and Community Studies | 4 |
| UCS Track | 24 | |
| General Education Electives | 20 | |
| Cooperative Education or Internship (summer) | Co-op | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| UCS Track | 4 | |
| General Education Electives | 12 | |
| Senior Thesis | 4 | |
| Free Electives | 20 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 184 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.
† Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
‡ Please see Mathematics and Science General Education Curriculum.
Additional information
Cooperative education and field experience
Students will perform fieldwork with government and not-for-profit agencies and organizations through internships or cooperative education assignments.