Why study sociocultural anthropology?
At the core of sociocultural anthropology is the question of how we humans organize our lives together, and why we do so in such vastly different ways. Studying society means studying social relations: relations between kin and neighbours, between genders and generations, between ethnic groups and nations, between rich and poor, between people and the natural environment, between people and technologies, and between people and their gods. These relations are both material and meaningful. When we study culture, we attempt to grasp the meaningful, symbolic and communicative dimensions of social life – the ways in which we come to understand the world around us.
Careers for Anthropology Arts (HBA)
Careers for Anthropology Arts (HBA) graduates can be found in the private sector, non-profit and non-governmental organizations, and government, in a wide range of areas including:
- Advertising
- Business
- Consulting
- Diplomacy
- Education
- Environment
- Foreign Affairs
- Health Care
- Human Rights
- Immigration
- International Development
- Journalism
- Law
- Market Research
- Political Activism
- Policy Analysis
- Politics
- Public & Global Health
- Public Policy
- Public Relations
- Publishing
- Social Policy
- Social Services
- Social Work
To find out what some of our Sociocultural Anthropology (HBA) graduates are doing today, visit HBA Alumni Profiles.
“My degree in Anthropology has served as a strong foundation in my career as a communications professional. From recognizing the diverse sociocultural constructs that shape us, to asking the ‘how’ and ‘why’ we communicate, engage and socialize the way we do – Anthropology is at the core of understanding human behaviour.” - Shaun Dias, Director of Communications & Public Affairs at Partners Community Health
Undergraduate programs
UTM undergraduate students who study sociocultural anthropology normally enrol in one of the following programs:
- Specialist Program in Anthropology (Arts) ERSPE1775
- Major Program in Anthropology (Arts) ERMAJ1775
Learn about Anthropology programs at UTM
Undergraduate courses
For students interested in archaeology, most of our recommended upper-level courses are anthropology social science credits.
Teaching and research specialties
Sociocultural Anthropology faculty at UTM specialize in a broad range of subjects and geographic areas. We have expertise in social and anthropological theory, political and legal anthropology, anthropology of religion, medical and environmental humanities, disability studies, queer theory, media studies, science and technologies studies and ethnographic research methods. We research and teach on topics such as:
- war, toxicity and the body
- populism, violence and sovereignty
- science and government
- citizenship, literacy and social movements
- media, the state and politics
- religion, magic, witchcraft and science
- borders and transnational flows
- legal evidence and evidentiary regimes
- environment and infrastructure
Our sociocultural faculty do fieldwork and have regional expertise in the Middle East, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and North America.