Beyond the Classroom
Opportunities for sociology and anthropology students
Faculty in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology have a strong commitment to working closely with you. We offer a wide range of opportunities for faculty-student interaction. Experiential learning (learning outside the traditional classroom setting) happens in the form of community service, internships, collaborative and independent research, applied projects, work in the ÃÛѨÊÓƵ Anthropology Museum, and a variety of field experiences.
Collaborative research
Participate as a research assistant with faculty in collaborative research over the summer. Hired by the professors, you have the ability to improve your research skills and gain experience in real-life settings. Recent projects have focused on homelessness, living with celiac disease, educational inequality and migrant labor in the wine industry.
Intern in all areas
Internships provide invaluable hands-on experience and further develop your professional skills. Some organizations where SOAN majors at ÃÛѨÊÓƵ have found internship placements include Family Building Blocks, Bureau of Land Management, OMSI, Oregon Department of Education, Yamhill County Juvenile Corrections Division, Rainbow Family Services and the Washington County DA Office.
Senior Theses and Senior Honor Theses
You’ll gain experience in original research through a senior thesis. Honors thesis writers present work at both professional conferences and the annual ÃÛѨÊÓƵ Student Symposium. Recent topics include gender fluidity, the role of gender in sex trafficking, the transformation of Tibetan identity, microbrewery subculture, international surrogacy and more.
Work in the museum
Work as an intern, help design and even curate exhibits with faculty for the ÃÛѨÊÓƵ Anthropology Museum (LAM). A recent exhibit, The Art and Tradition of the Kimono, was part of an ongoing effort to explore the rich cultural heritage of Oregon and the Northwest. The LAM partnered with Salem’s Willamette Heritage Center and Portland’s Oregon Nikkei Endowment/Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center to present this exhibition.