SOANSociology and Anthropology
SOAN is in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice
Become an informed “neighbor” educated for service and reconciliation in the church and the world.
SOAN• Question
– Why the world is the way it is
Discover– Deep understanding
and explanations
• Engage– In creative social
change
Why SOAN
• Combine the structural insights of Sociology with the cultural perspectives of Anthropology
• Learn about families, organizations, crime, race, gender, ethnicity, demography, inequality, religion, communities
Major and Minors
• SOAN Major
• Minors
– Gender Studies
– Urban Studies
– SOAN
Minors or double majors in other departments such as Foreign Languages, Communication, Business, TESOL, Criminal Justice, and others are encouraged
Opportunities for enrichment ...
• Service-Learning in many courses
• International study
• Philadelphia Campus – Temple University
• Internships and Practicums
• Sociology Honor Society - AKD
• Independent study and research
Strengths of the SOAN Pogram …
• Faith perspective
• Quality faculty
– From a variety of quality grad schools
– With relevant real world experience
– Involved in research, service, leadership and social change
• Flexibility
• Broad foundation in liberal arts
• Strong reputation with Grad schools
• Service-Learning in Courses
• Academic rigor and strength
• Pluralism and multicultural focus
• Quantitative and qualitative research perspectives
Sociology Courses• Principles of Sociology
– Volunteer at a Youth Detention Center, tutor at an inner city school, or meet weekly with an elder friend at Messiah Village
• Cultural Anthropology– Learn about the Kung in the Kalahari Dessert
• Quantitative and Qualitative Research– Analyze a national survey and learn interviewing
• Native American Cultures – Observe a Native American cultural Pow Wow
• Social Welfare Policy and Social Change– Learn to do policy analysis
• Social Conflict, Justice and Peacemaking– Hands on training in conflict resolution
• Harrisburg Neighborhoods– Interview organizations and neighborhood people
• Senior Thesis– Put all you have learned to work in a major research project on a topic
of interest to you
SOAN is good preparation for work in:• Community Development in US
and abroad
• Seminary and missions
• Business – Marketing, Human resource s, sales, management
• Law School
• Research
• Peace and Justice and Conflict Transformation work
• Teaching and other jobs in higher education
• Many jobs in government
• Health care
• Graduate school in many areas
• Gerontology
• Working with youth
Current employment of SOAN Alumni• Activities Counselor at a program for
developmentally disabled persons
• Admissions Counselor for Residential Treatment Center
• Grad Student –in Social Work
• Business consultant and analyst
• Pastor
• Writer TV Program “Medium”
• Director home repair ministries in Appalachia
• Wycliffe Linguist Surveyor
• Protection from Abuse Victim Witness Assistance Program
• Faculty – Bryn Mawr University
• Research Analyst and evaluator for K-12 and higher education programs
• Academic Advisor and Student Life at a college
• Case manager for drug and alcohol detox center
• Conflict transformation in Central America
• Survey specialist for social policy research center
• Marketing research
• School social worker
• Addictions Counseling
• Research technologist Penn State
• Executive Director community development organization
Preparation for Quality Graduate Schools
• Penn State University
• Temple University
• SUNY Albany
• Univ. of Mass
• Univ. of Chicago
• George Washington University
• Northwestern University
• Johns Hopkins
• University of Colorado
Jenell Williams Paris, Ph.D.• Professor of
Anthropology
• Ph.D. American University
• Teaches Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Women and Men in American Society, Senior Thesis, Qualitative Research Methods, and other classes
Edward C. Polson, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology
• Ph.D., Baylor University
• Teaches Intro to Sociology, Quantitative Research Methods, Sociocultural Theory and other classes
More information …• Web site
– www.messiah.edu/departments/socio
• E-mail a faculty member
– See web site for addresses and home pages