How to Get Involved with Sociology and Anthropology

For many people (including myself), having a wide range of opportunities to get involved was one of the most important factors when choosing what university to go to, what to major in, etc.

While NC State as a whole has over 700 student groups and organizations, there are also many exciting opportunities for involvement within our own Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

This article includes just about everything you need to know in order to start getting involved in the department!

Anthropology Club

The Anthropology Club is a space where students of all majors can come together to learn more about the discipline of anthropology through a variety of means. This club features guest speakers from our Department of Sociology and Anthropology that talk to members about their respective concentrations in the field, documentary nights where members watch anthropology-related films and discuss their implications, alumni presentations, and special meetings to celebrate holidays like the Day of the Dead and Anthropology Day. As a non-Anthropology major, I love getting to dive into this field in a smaller setting than in the classroom (though that’s fantastic as well)! 

• Meeting information: Every other Tuesday from 5:30-7:00 PM in Room 129 of the 1911 Building. Flyers with the semester schedule can be found in Park Shops, the 3rd floor of the 1911 Building, and the door of Room 129 in the 1911 Building.
• Contact information: Erin Migenco, President (eemignec@ncsu.edu)

Criminology Club

In the Criminology Club, students of all majors meet to dive deeper into the field of criminology. Members hear from guest speakers from criminal justice agencies like the Raleigh Police Department and the State Crime Lab, attempt to solve unsolved case files as a group, and tour crime labs (pre-COVID, but tours will hopefully open again soon). Being a part of this club feels like I’m adding to the knowledge that I’ve gained so far as a Criminology major, and it has been a great way to meet more Criminology majors!

• Meeting information: Every other Tuesday at 7:15 PM in Room 129 of the 1911 Building. Contact Briana Wilson for the GroupMe information and meeting schedule. 
• Contact information: Briana Wilson, President (bwilson6@ncsu.edu)

Student Ambassadors

The Student Ambassador Program in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology allows students to serve as representatives of the department at information sessions, admitted student events, CODA-specific information sessions, student orientation, etc. Each Student Ambassador is given a group of students within the department to contact twice every month as part of the Student Connections Program. This program allows Ambassadors to connect with people in the department, answer questions, inform their group about opportunities for involvement, and more. Ambassadors also write articles for the departmental newsletter and create posts for the department’s Facebook page. I have loved every minute of being an Ambassador! It has been such a joy and a privilege to meet with new or prospective students from all over the country and share my story, and I’ve enjoyed emailing my Student Connections group and getting to know some of them. This role is so fulfilling because I feel like I have the chance to make a difference in the department with my amazing fellow ambassadors and our director, Ms. Stephanie Jares. If you’re interested in being a Student Ambassador, the qualifications are as follows:

• Minimum 2.5 GPA in your major (Anthropology, Criminology or Sociology) when applying.
• Minimum 2.5 NC State GPA.
• Have completed one semester at NC State when applying and have completed at least one semester in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
• Freshman applicants are encouraged, so long as they have completed one semester at NC State and one semester in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
• Undergraduate major in Anthropology, Sociology or Criminology 

Contact information: Stephanie Jares (sjares@ncsu.edu)

Taylor Sociology Club

The Taylor Sociology Club is a student organization committed to community building, inclusivity, and scholarship available to any student, but it is primarily geared toward those majoring or minoring in Sociology. The purpose of the club is to promote a scientific understanding of sociology, provide members with information on career options within the field of sociology, and promote interactions between students and faculty. Currently, the Taylor Sociology Club is planning to meet 3-4 times per semester. 

• Meeting information: The next meeting will be a presentation from the Career Development Center on Career Readiness on April 4th at 6:30 PM in Room 129 of the 1911 Building.
• Contact information: Dr. Margaret Stiffler (stiffler@ncsu.edu)

Alpha Kappa Delta

Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) is an international sociology honor society that serves to promote academic scholarship and interest in the sociological understanding of human life.  Criminology and Sociology students are invited via email by the Coordinator of Academic Advising, Stephanie Jares to join AKD in the Fall and Spring Semesters who are  Sociology or Criminology Majors, in their Junior Year, with an overall GPA of 3.3, with a 3.0 GPA in the Major and must have completed at least four undergraduate courses in Sociology or Criminology at NC State. Alpha Kappa Delta is a society of scholars. Alpha Kappa Delta limits its membership to students who have devoted serious attention to their studies and are most likely to fulfill Alpha Kappa Delta’s mission of promoting human welfare by developing knowledge that can be applied to solving social problems. You can learn more about Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) from its website. Students who accept this invitation to become members of AKD will be acknowledged for their accomplishments at the Sociology Departmental Graduation Ceremony.

When you join AKD, you are connected to a vast network of scholars and fellow students in the field of sociology. This honor society is perfect for people that are interested in networking, research, scholarship, and working together to improve the lives of people everywhere.  

• Contact information: Stephanie Jares (sjares@ncsu.edu)

Anthropology Honors Program

Students may enter the Honors program in their junior year if they have a minimum GPA of 3.50 overall and in the major with at least 12 hours of major coursework. Qualified students are identified and notified of their eligibility via email by the Coordinator of Academic Advising, Stephanie Jares.  An “Honors Course Plan of Work” form is normally submitted early in the junior year, but must be submitted at least two semesters before graduation.  Application and admission to the Honors Program are determined by the Anthropology Director of the Honors Program upon approval of the plan of work form.

Requirements

To complete the program successfully, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.50 overall and in the major, and complete the following requirements:

• Must complete 6 hours of undergraduate coursework taken for honors credit at the 300 or 400 level in ANT courses.
• Must complete 3 hours of master’s level coursework at the 500 level in ANT courses. 
• Must maintain a minimum B+ grade in undergraduate courses taken for honors credit and a minimum B grade in graduate courses taken for honors credit.
• The Honors coursework must be in courses at the 300 level or above and taken for Honors credit (not including courses for which the student has already received credit), and must be taught by tenured or tenure-track faculty. 
  • ANT 411 and ANT 416 are eligible for inclusion as Honors credit courses.
• “Honors Course: Plan of Work” form must be completed and signed by the student and the instructor and submitted to the Anthropology Director of the Honors program prior to the end of the second full week of classes of the semester in which the Honors course is taken. 

Contact information: Stephanie Jares sjares@ncsu.edu

Even though I’m not an Anthropology major, I think the Honors Program sounds like an amazing opportunity! Having the chance to take Master’s level coursework as an undergraduate would allow people that are planning to go to graduate school to gain some valuable experience, and it could help those that are unsure whether or not graduate school is their next step. 

Sociology and Criminology Honors Program

Students may enter the Honors program in their junior year if they have a minimum GPA of 3.25 overall and in the major with at least 9  hours of major coursework at NC State.  Qualified students are identified and notified of their eligibility via email by the Coordinator of Academic Advising, Stephanie Jares. An “Honors Course Plan of Work” form is normally submitted early in the junior year, but must be submitted at least two semesters before graduation.  Application and admission to the Honors Program are determined by the Director of the Honors Program upon approval of the plan of work form.

Requirements

To complete the program successfully, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 overall and in the major, and complete the following requirements:

• Thesis: The thesis is a 20-30 page paper prepared under the supervision of a departmental faculty member. It may be empirical or discursive, applied or basic research, but it must be explicitly grounded in sociology literature. The paper usually represents work undertaken in connection with SOC 498H or some other course, but must not constitute duplication of any paper submitted in a course for which the student has also received regular or Honors credit. 
• “Honors Thesis: Plan of Work” form must be completed and signed by the student and the instructor and submitted to the Sociology Director of the Honors program prior to the end of the second full week of classes of the semester in which the Honors course is taken.
• Contact information: Stephanie Jares sjares@ncsu.edu

For those of you who are considering going to graduate school, I think that doing the Honors program would be a great foundation/practice for writing a Master’s thesis or even a dissertation!

As you can see there are lots of great ways to get involved with your Department of Sociology and Anthropology!

This post was written by Sarah Isenhour, a Department of Sociology and Anthropology student ambassador double-majoring in criminology and psychology with a minor in cognitive science.