Social Anthropology Undergraduate Program

Social Anthropologists study the social and cultural diversity of contemporary human communities and groups. The Social Anthropology Program in the Department of Anthropology invites students to think cross-culturally about the human condition, and to understand the political, economic, and cultural interconnections among the world’s societies. The Program offers a conceptual toolkit for students interested in an international experience, whether studying abroad, preparing for an international career, or becoming informed citizens of a globalized world. It is an excellent foundation for careers in the public policy and non-profit sectors, education, journalism, law, business, medicine and academia. The concentration combines well with pre-med or pre-law courses of study.

The concentration offers:
• A variety of opportunities to produce original knowledge through participation and personal involvement
• Training in ethnography and other qualitative social science methods as well as their use in combination with film and digital media
• A grounded approach to social theories and their real-world applications
• Mid-sized department with accessible, diverse, and globetrotting faculty
• Flexible course of study
• Intimate tutorial structure
• Encouragement to study abroad while earning concentration credit
• A thesis honors track in which students design and conduct fieldwork-based projects with guidance from faculty and graduate student advisers

Areas of study include:
Global Culture and Society; Medical Anthropology and Cultural Psychiatry; Political Ecology; Anthropological Linguistics; Religion; Visual Anthropology, Filmmaking and Media Studies; Conflict, Crisis, and Displacement. Faculty conduct their research world-wide, including Africa, Asia (East, South, and Southeast), Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States.

Annual Fall Letter to Social Anthropology Concentrators

Forms for Social Anthropology Concentrators
Anthropology 92zr: Research Methods in Museum Collections Enrollment Application Form for Social Anthropology
Anthropology 91zr Course Form
Form for Permission to Count Non-Anthropology Course for Social Anthropology Requirement

A Student's Guide to Reading and Writing in Social Anthropology Do you find it challenging to read ethnographic literature? Are you wondering how the goals and expectations for social anthropology papers might differ from those you have written for classes in other departments? Read this guide to familiarize yourself with the expository strategies specific to scholarly writing in social anthropology. You’ll also pick up tips on how you can incorporate these strategies into your own coursework and research papers.

Contacts

	Director of Undergraduate Studies Steve Caton - Professor of Contemporary Arab Studies - Social Anthropology Program William James Hall 318 (617) 495-1886 caton [at] wjh.harvard.edu | website
	Assistant Head Tutor for Social Anthropology Andrea Murray - Lecturer on Anthopology - Social Anthropology Program William James Hall 402 aemurray [at] fas.harvardedu
	Undergraduate Program Coordinator Elizabeth (Penny) Rew William James Hall 352 617 495-3814 rew [at] wjh.harvard.edu