About the Sociology & Anthropology Program
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at UTEP has excellent BA programs in Sociology and Anthropology and a fine MA program in Sociology (with close collaboration of the Anthropology and Geography faculty).
Students who want specific information on degree plans for the Sociology and Anthropology majors or the MA degree should click on the "Undergraduate Programs" or "Master's Program" links.
Many of our professors do research on the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, and we are recognized for high-quality research and teaching on the unique social and cultural features of border regions. However, we study other regions and issues as well, especially: migration, health, environment, education, and applications of social sciences for social justice. Because of our regional and thematic focuses, we also have topical strength in Latinos and Native Americans and ethnic and racial relations. Because our department has anthropologists, geographers,and sociologists, we encourage extensive interdisciplinary sharing, in courses,programs, research projects, and faculty collaborations.
The Department is an Affiliate of the American Sociological Association and American Anthropological Association. The borderland region of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez,Chihuahua, Mexico is a natural laboratory for the study of important social science issues that affect the nation as a whole. Consequently, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology offers undergraduate and graduate students unique opportunities to work and study in a multi-cultural, bi-national setting. Research programs in the Department have been funded by The National Science Foundation, The National Institutes of Health, The National Endowment for the Humanities, The United States Department of Agriculture, and other respected foundations and agencies.
The Department is dedicated to real-world applications of Sociology, Anthropology, and Geography, including certificates for anthropology majors and minors in applied cultural anthropology and archeology/cultural resource management. We offer hands-on learning opportunities that provide students with job and graduate program-related skills. We are committed to research and teaching that meets the goals and needs of the people of the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez region.