Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Anthropology Vs. Sociology

Article Source : https://education.seattlepi.com/anthropology-vs-sociology-1536.html


Anthropology Vs. Sociology

Sociology and Anthropology are social science disciplines that focus on studying the behavior of humans within their societies. Students interested in researching civilizations -- past and present -- as they relate to social hierarchies should consider studying anthropology and sociology. Many institutions combine both disciplines into one department due to the similarities between the two. The key difference between the two social sciences is that sociology concentrates on society while anthropology focuses on culture.


Definitions

Sociology is the study of social life, social change and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Columbia University notes that sociological thinking involves the relationships among people -- or more specifically, the associations between people and the products of human interaction such as organizations, technologies, economies, cities, culture, media and religion.
The American Anthropological Association defines anthropology as the study of humans, past and present. Anthropological viewpoints are inspired by observing cross-cultural differences in social institutions, cultural beliefs and communication styles.


Focus Areas

Anthropologists are concerned with four concentration areas that include cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology and biological anthropology. Anthropologists often integrate the perspectives of several of these areas into their research, teaching and professional lives. Anthropologists are interested in researching issues such as the ritual of female genital mutilation in Sudan.
The American Sociological Associations describes the work of sociologists as interesting and complex because sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations and societies and how people interact within these contexts. Since all human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob, from organized crime to religious traditions, from the divisions of race, gender and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture.


Careers in Anthropology

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the job outlook for anthropologists should increase by 21 percent from 2010 to 2020. Due to the small number of positions expected to be available, the BLS warns that competition among applicants will be extremely stiff. Most anthropologist positions require a master's or doctoral degree. Anthropologists occupy positions in a variety of academic and nonacademic environments. Anthropologists serve as college faculty, program directors with government and nonprofit agencies or museum curators. Some anthropologists secure jobs working with police departments to assist with identifying mysterious or unknown remains. A study commissioned by The American Anthropological Association titled, "The Changing Face of Anthropology," indicated that 30 percent of the anthropology majors surveyed revealed they are working in positions that require education related to the discipline.


Careers in Sociology

Employment for sociologists is expected to grow by 18 percent from 2010 to 2020. The number of available jobs will far exceed applicants. Most sociologist positions require a master's degree or Ph.D. Most sociologists work as professors, policy analysts, urban planners, program supervisors, research directors or human resources managers. The American Sociological Association has continuously reported over the last couple of years that the job market for sociologists is one the rise. At one point over the course of the last couple of years, the ASA observed a 32-percent increase in positions available in its job bank.