Sociology and Anthropology Major
Salve Regina University’s sociology and anthropology program takes a global, comparative and multidisciplinary approach to studying human social organization and cultural practices. Here you’ll build a strong foundation for employment, civic engagement and graduate studies.
Salve’s sociology and anthropology major primed me to effectively communicate with a clinician or laboratory researcher one moment and a community health worker the next, while maintaining a focus on a project’s ultimate objectives.
Jenna Nelson ’15, associate program manager
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
Prepare to Serve Diverse Populations
Learning how peoples' lives are shaped by markets, ethnicity, race, gender, religion and other social institutions prepares our graduates for a wide range of careers serving diverse populations in the private and public sectors.
With only 14 courses required for the major, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to double major or minor in areas like cultural and historic preservation, environmental studies, French and Francophone studies, global studies, Hispanic studies, Italian studies, philosophy, political science, social work or women, gender and sexuality studies.
What Sets Salve Apart
Salve is ranked among the 390 Best Colleges by The Princeton Review, and the Best Regional Universities by U.S. News.
Go Broad
Our coursework, field research and other experiential opportunities cover a wide range of cultural, environmental and global studies. This interdisciplinary approach to three major branches of the field helps you build a strong foundation across all of them and develop combined expertise.
Go Deep
In your capstone course, you'll develop a research-driven project that addresses a global issue at the local level. Through written analysis and public presentations, you'll propose and define a solution with a measurable impact.
Gain Hands-On Experience
Take your studies beyond the classroom in our summer field school. Here you’ll participate in all aspects of the archaeological process, from developing a research design to surveying, excavating, documenting, cataloging and analyzing artifacts. Or apply your skills and knowledge in an internship while you gain valuable work experience.
Alumni Making Waves
Mary Brown '16
Program manager, climate neutral and resilient regions, Climate KIC
Mary Brown's experience at Salve led her on a journey that has taken her across the world. After graduating with a degree in sociology and anthropology, she earned a master’s degree in cultural anthropology and sustainability from Utrecht University, taught English in the Netherlands for refugees and other students, and is now working at Europe’s leading climate innovation agency and community.
Heather McKee '24
Archaeological technician, U.S. Forest Service
Heather McKee graduated with a double major in cultural and historic preservation and sociology and anthropology. While at Salve, she received the student paper award at the Eastern States Archaeological Federation's annual meeting, and her research was published in Northeastern Archaeology. Today she conducts archaeological surveys on the Ouachita National Forest in Waldron, Alaska. Read more about McKee's Salve experience.
Jessi McNeill '18
Ph.D. student in cultural anthropology, City University of New York
While at Salve, Jessi McNeill explored the global, health and social implications of food deserts in Rhode Island. She went on to receive her master’s degree in cultural anthropology at the City University of New York.
Emma Valade '22
Graduate student, Binghamton University
A double major in cultural and historic preservation and sociology and anthropology, Valade completed an internship with Dr. Heather Rockwell as a field supervisor on an excavation project at Salve’s Ochre Court while she was a student. After graduation, she was a seasonal archaeology technician for the Bureau of Land Management in Billings, Montana. Since then, she has worked for the U.S. Forest Service as an archaeology technician for the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland in Prineville, Oregon, and in a seasonal archaeology job with the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands in Grants, New Mexico. She has enjoyed the opportunity to work across various regions of the country and start her career in the federal government. She will begin a master’s program at Binghamton University this fall.
Find Your People
Connect with like-minded students in the Association of Student Researchers, Cultural and Historic Preservation Society, Environmental Club, Hydroponics Club, Protect Our Wildlife, Preservation After Dark and other campus organizations.
Career Paths in Sociology and Anthropology
Some of our alumni are educators and researchers. Others have found successful careers within nonprofits, advocacy organizations and government agencies.
Here’s where our alumni are now:
- Archaeological technician, U.S. Forest Service
- Contract archaeologist, Goodwin and Associates
- Co-founders, Flying Kites Global
- Community environmental promoter, Peace Corps (Paraguay)
- Executive director, Professional Young Visionaries of Tomorrow
- Ph.D. candidate in cultural anthropology, City University of New York
- Ph.D. candidate in informatics, University of California, Irvine
- Ph.D. candidate in sociology, Colorado State University
- Senior clinician, Adoption Rhode Island
- Senior director of global programs, UNICEF USA
- Vice president of global franchise strategy and brand management, Hasbro
Degree Options
Bachelor of Arts in sociology and anthropology
Our sociology and anthropology program prepares you for employment, civic engagement and/or graduate study. Courses take a global, comparative and multidisciplinary approach to the study of human social organization and cultural practices. You'll learn how peoples' lives are shaped by markets, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, and other social institutions and processes.
Minor in sociology and anthropology
Meet Our Sociology and Anthropology Faculty
Our faculty work to create classroom moments that transform their students - and themselves.
Dr. Jameson Chace
- Professor
- Chair, Cultural, Environmental and Global Studies
Dr. Victoria Gonzalez
- Assistant professor
Dr. Nathaniel Kitchel
- Assistant professor
Jessica McCauley
- Adjunct professor
Todd Mele
- Adjunct professor
Dr. James G. Mitchell
- Professor
- Co-director of Core Curriculum
Kathryn Morgan
- Adjunct professor
Dr. Laura O'Toole
- Adjunct professor
Dr. Heather Rockwell
- Assistant professor
- Associate director, Pell Honors Program
Dr. Jeroen van den Hurk
- Associate professor
- Program coordinator
