Department Fact Sheet

MAJORS: Sociology; Anthropology; Sociology-Anthropology; Social Work

INTERDEPARTMENTAL MAJORS: Economics-Sociology; Government-Sociology; Psychology-Sociology

MINORS: Sociology; Anthropology

All department programs encourage understanding and critical analysis of culture, social institutions, and social issues. The department's curricula serve students with general interests in the social sciences and human service professions. A major in the department prepares students for fields requiring knowledge of social science and human services as well as for graduate training in the social sciences, social work, business, law, and other professional fields.

The Sociology program emphasizes social issues and analysis of both large-scale social institutions and small-scale social interaction. Students elect courses in such areas as social psychology, social inequality, family, urban sociology, and criminology. The Sociology major includes rigorous course work in social theory, research methods and statistics. Seniors carry out social scientific research projects, including data analysis, in the department's Senior Seminar.

The Anthropology program incorporates area studies (e.g., sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific, American Indians) as well as substantive fields (e.g., psychological anthropology, symbolic behavior, ecological anthropology). We also offer a wide range of archaeology courses. Many anthropology students study abroad for a semester. Students emphasizing archaeology often become involved in archaeological excavations.

Anthropology administers a program in contract archaeology that offers students a diverse array of archaeological field and laboratory experiences. Through this program Skidmore students may receive training and experience in on-going survey and excavation projects, including environmental impact assessments.

The Social Work program stresses professional development based on a strong liberal arts education. The Social Work major includes course work in the history and theory of social work practice, human behavior, and social policy and planning. Social Work students have a senior year field experience in which they apply their skills and knowledge in a human service setting. Students are integrated into a social service agency as beginning social work practitioners in such roles as counselor, advocate, and researcher. Skidmore's program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education--one of the few such social work programs at small, highly selective liberal arts colleges.

The department participates actively in Skidmore's interdisciplinary programs in Scribner Seminars, Law and Society, Environmental Studies, and Women's Studies.