Sociology or anthropology: which should I study?
Sociology may suit you better if you want to study social institutions, inequality, organisations and contemporary social change. Anthropology may suit you better if you are interested in culture, human diversity and understanding communities through in-depth, sometimes cross-cultural research. Compare the modules, methods, assessment and optional subjects on the specific courses.
Key points
- Sociology may include topics such as education, family, health, crime, politics and social stratification.
- Anthropology may cover cultural practices, belief systems, language, identity and human evolution, depending on the course.
- Both subjects can involve qualitative and quantitative research, and their boundaries may overlap.
- Consider which topics, research methods and career-related options you find most engaging.
Things to check
- Course content and the balance between social, cultural, biological or archaeological anthropology vary by university and country, so check official course information.