Hello and welcome to the new web site of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology!
This is a great time to take Sociology and Anthropology at the Mount.
We have a full roster of courses this year, taught by some of the most exciting professors on campus:
- Dr. Dianne Looker is the former long time Chairperson of Sociology at Acadia University and the University’s only Tier 1 Canada Research Chair.
- Dr. Anthony Davis, recently MSVU’s Vice-President of Research was a top notch teacher and researcher at St. Francis Xavier University.
- Dr. Alex Khasnabish, a committed, prolific and political scholar came to us from Dalhousie University.
- Dr. Alan Brown is an imaginative and creative import from the University of Ottawa.
- Dr. Hazel MacRae, our defender of micro-sociology, symbolic interaction and the elderly,rounds out our faculty complement this Fall.
- Dr. Leslie Brown is on sabbatical this term and very busy with her large scale research on co-ops and the social economy.
- Myself, I am particularly interested in both the negative experiences, like discrimination and injustice, and the positive achievements of ethnic groupings as they spread out around the world.
We are also proud of our part-time faculty this term, who excel at teaching. They include:
What can we offer you besides interesting courses taught by good professors?
In our department, we pride ourselves on the exemplary track record our faculty have in receiving research grants, including several whose budgets are well into six figures.
How does this affect you?
If you are a major, we are currently in the process of revamping our program to highlight the provision of specific analytical skills that will give you a leg up in the job market. These include hands on experience in quantitative analysis - things like surveys and number crunching and an equal emphasis on qualitative research like case studies and ethnographies.
For all students, whether you take a single course, a minor or concentration in Sociology and Anthropology or more, you will emerge with a more critical mind set. Your training will have you question statements and things taken for granted by others. On what evidence or research are so-called facts based on? What are the assumptions that people are making? How are they affected by the social context? What are my own assumptions and beliefs? What should I do personally?
Get involved!
The SOAN department has much to offer you outside of the classroom as well. During the Fall 2011 term, the department will be buzzing with activity, including Orientation Week, the first meeting of the SOAN Student Society, the 3rd Annual Career Night, and more. Watch our News and Events section for updates.
Questions?
If you have any questions about our program or need advising, or just information, please feel free to contact our acting chair for the Winter term, Dr. Anthony Davis or our super-competent administrative assistant, Marisa Grant. You may want to check out our Frequently Asked Questions section as well. Please also feel free to contact your professor.
Thank you and have a great term!
Dr. Norman Okihiro
Chair, Sociology/Anthropology