Sociology & anthropology

Connect lived experience to broad social issues

Studying sociology and anthropology at UNSW develops your capacity to connect lived experience with broad societal issues. Renowned as the first sociology program in Australia, we have a strong international reputation for theoretical innovation, teaching excellence and training. You’ll examine the realities, conflicts and challenges of social life in its many cultural forms.  

Combining sociology and anthropology in our program ensures that cultural diversity is central to our teaching. We provide you with a deep appreciation of the complexity and the possibilities of lived experience in a fast-changing world. The combined nature of our program creates a unique space that generates new perspectives on the diversity of social and cultural experiences.

Cutting-edge research that addresses big questions

What makes life meaningful? Why do we disagree and why do we care? What constitutes social change? The study of sociology and anthropology addresses these fundamental questions with conceptual rigour and the application of practical insights. Together, our academics and students seek to understand the differences in how we live our lives and the way cultural assumptions are enacted, challenged and transformed in everyday life. This approach underpins how we communicate and interact in the world and equips you in your studies, future work and research prospects. 

We teach and research a variety of topics such as:

• cultural and social theory
• Indigenous Australia and identity
• media sociology
• work and technology
• ecology and post-humanism
• visual sociology
• Asia Pacific region and Australia
• place, ethnicity, citizenship and globalisation
• applied cultural anthropology and sociology
• health, quality of life and life cycle.

Critical perspectives to broaden your worldview

The study of sociology and anthropology addresses the tensions and interactions between different social and cultural groups. This makes your training as a sociology and anthropology Major increasingly valuable in our highly globalised and interconnected world. 

Our graduates pursue a wide variety of careers in fields such as:

• public sector
• teaching
• research
• policy work
• not-for-profit organisations
• media industries
• marketing
• arts practice
• international and multilateral organisations.