Sociology and Anthropology are disciplines for students with a special interest in the interaction of the individual, society and culture; and the multiplicity of interactive cooperation, conflict and communication which constitutes any society. Both Sociology and Anthropology explore the social and cultural realities of human life. Societies and cultures have become so linked, through migration, communications, mass consumerism and capital flows, that the borders of social and cultural life have been radically changed.

Aims of the Major Stream
• An understanding of key concepts and theoretical approaches that have developed and are developing within and between Sociology and Anthropology.
• An understanding of the nature and extent of diversity and commonality as seen from a variety of perspectives, for example, social, cultural, biological, ecological.
• An understanding of the value of analyses that consider relations between different times, different places and different cultures.
• An understanding of the social nature of the relationship between individuals, groups and social institutions.
• An understanding of the nature and appropriate use of research strategies and methods in gaining sociological knowledge
• An appreciation of the relationship between local, social and global forms, and global processes and broader temporal developments, with particular reference to Australia’s place in the world.
• An appreciation of the complexity of human experience, social situations and events, and an ability to assess the merits of competing explanations.
• An ability to question cultural assumptions, and think critically, imaginatively and creatively.
• An ability to undertake independent study.
• An ability to identify the ethical issues in social research.
• An ability to undertake and present scholarly work that values reasoned and open-minded discussion and debate.
• An ability to examine the relevance of sociological and anthropological work to issues in the community.

A student who wishes to gain a major stream in Sociology and Anthropology must complete 54 units of credit including 12 uoc at level 1, at least 18 uoc at level 2 and at least 18 uoc at level 3 including the capstone course.

Students taking the Sociology and Anthropology major stream are encouraged to take the following course as a free elective:

Sociology and Anthropology Courses:

The following courses from other subject areas can also be counted towards the Sociology and Anthropology major stream: