What is the Difference Between Sociology and Anthropology?

Understanding Human Societies:

Sociology and Anthropology Tackle Some of Life's Biggest Questions

What can I do with Anthropology?

What do "non-social scientists" have to say?

Answer: What CAN'T you do?

Archaeological and biological subfields

"Sociology is the study of the obvious. I have no idea how you make a living doing this."

Anonymous

Doctoral Candidate in Biostatisics

• Anthrozoological

• Biocultural

• Evolutionary

• Feminist

• Forensic

• Maritime

• Palaeoanthropological

"You mean to tell me they're giving you 30 minutes to tell a bunch of high school students the difference between whatever it is you do, and basically what Indiana Jones does?"

Anonymous

Linguistics subfields

Fields of Anthropology

So what can U of Ottawa offer me

in Sociology?

• Archaeology

• Biological anthropology

• Linguistic anthropology

• Cultural anthropology

• Social anthropology

• Descriptive

• Ethno-

• Historical

• Semiotic

• Sociolinguistics

Similarities

Vs.

• Study groups
• Subjects include society, culture, family religion, social stratification, etc.
• Social Anthropology vs. Cultural Sociology

• Family
• Health and Illness
• Social problems
• Demography
• Feminism
• Political Sociology
• Classical / Contemporary
• Canadian / Francophone
• Ethics
• Art / Culture
• Technology
• Global Economics

For More Information

So, what really is Anthropology?

What is Anthropology?

• http://www.socialsciences.uottawa.ca/soc-ant
• http://www.socialsciences.uottawa.ca/undergraduate
• Tel.: 613-562-5720
• socio@uOttawa.ca

According to the Canadian Anthropology Society:

"Anthropology is the study of us, humans, both past and present. The word itself derived from the Greek “anthropos” (humans) and “logia” (study). Anthropologists study both our human species and our closest related species, the primates which include lemurs, monkeys and apes. "

Short Answer: The comparative study of human societies and cultures and their development.

What is Sociology?

The Ethnographic Method

Short Answer: The study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society

• Doesn't use formal instruments
• Involves field work
• Involves participant observation
• Takes time
• You never really know what you'll find until you get there

What can U of Ottawa offer me in terms of Anthropology?

Differences

Things aren't always what they seem

• Different histories
• Use of statistics vs. participant observation
• Micro vs Macro level
• Use of material / physical culture

• Social and cultural
• Fieldwork
• Family
• Indigenous People
• Human Rights
• Health
• Contemporary
• Economics
• Political
• Techniques, Environment
• Africa, Asia

What can I do with Sociology?

So, what really is Sociology?

Answer: What CAN'T you do?!

Sociology is the study of social life and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. In the words of C. Wright Mills, sociology looks for the "public issues" that underlie "private troubles."

C. Wright Mills

• Sociological Imagination - Most influential work
• Public becomes private
• Social Structure
• Power Structures
• "The Power Elite" - Military-Industrial Complex

The Sociological Imagination

photo credit Nasa / Goddard Space Flight Center / Reto Stöckli