Anthropology, basically, is the study of humans. You’ve probably heard of archeology, right? Well, that’s only one part of Anthropology. There are other focuses, including biology, linguistics, and culture. This last subtype is the kind of Anthropology we do in our department: Socio-cultural Anthropology. This means we study how society is organized in different times and places, including both the exotic and familiar.

Sociology is similar to Anthropology; in fact, they are related areas of study. Many of the “important people” (theorists, scholars) of one are also considered important in the other. Sociology focuses more on our own society and those most like it. It sheds light on the way we live, helping us to see more of the social world around us, and helping us to see it more surely and clearly. It can help us to understand many issues and phenomena in our lives. Sociologists study societies themselves, but of course, this means, at least on some level, studying the humans that make up that society.

This is where it gets a bit abstract, but bear with us, it’s worth it! First of all, it is because we are humans who live in societies that these are important disciplines of study. We tend to take our own experiences for granted and assume that our ideas of the world are the same as everyone else’s, and this can lead to misunderstandings, and even violence. Anthropology and Sociology (and other similar Arts courses), will change your perspective about the world, allowing you to understand why misunderstandings occur, and how to open your mind to diversity.

Okay, that’s the theoretical answer, but you want the concrete one. (I know, I can read your mind.) These areas of study are also important to you because they will help you in your career. They aren’t just for people who want to become anthropologists and sociologists. In fact, they can help you in just about any career. And they count as “teachables” for some education programs. The important thing to remember is that university is not designed to train people for specific careers (though some degrees naturally lead into certain professions). What university can do is help you develop your interests and gain experience in areas related to your field. (Of course, having the piece of parchment with your name on it helps you get jobs too). Click here for more info about An/S and career prospects.

Okay, you want the lowdown. Let’s start with Professors. What are they like? Well, to state it simply, they are people, like you and me, except they have studied intensively in their chosen fields. They have Masters degrees, and most of them have PhDs. (Those with PhD’s are referred to by the title of Dr.). They are educators and researchers; they teach classes but they also do their own research in their fields of interest, writing articles and books. They are concerned about education, and they are generally happy to help students out. They don’t bite. And they aren’t “old” or “stuffy”, or any of the stereotypes you normally associate with the word “professor”. (Ok, I’ll admit, I’ve met some who are absent-minded…but we won’t go there). At Cape Breton University we are lucky to have professors who can get to know us on a first name basis, since our numbers aren’t as high as some universities’. This means that, often, our professors become our friends!

Now, as for classes, they are similar to your classes in high school. They vary in size (here) from very small (10 students) to what some would consider large (100-200 students). But remember, having a class with that many students is rare at Cape Breton University and generally limited to certain intro science classes. Also remember that at some universities that would be a small class, especially for first year courses. The main difference from high school is that the workload is more demanding, and the concepts become more complex. Also, you don’t get “in trouble” if you don’t go to class…it’s all on you. BUT, the general consensus is that if you miss a lot of classes, you will be in trouble…at least when your grade comes in! (And at these prices, failing courses is really not a viable option!)

Let’s deal with the An/S part first. There are several ways for you to get more information; feel free to pick which one works for you!

• Explore the rest of the An/S Department site; your questions may be answered there.

• Talk to us! As department assistants, we are students too, and it’s our job to answer your questions. We're gone for the Summer right now, but check with us during the school year when we will be reachable by email, by phone, or in person.

• Talk to Faculty. You can email or phone any of the professors, or you can drop by the An/S Department (B266). For the specific email addresses and phone numbers, check out the faculty page.

Now, as for Cape Breton University, there are many ways to gather more info:

• Start by checking out the website; it contains much of the information you'll need.

• You can also ask any friends who are now studying at Cape Breton University. They'll have valuable experiences to share.

• You can ask us; we've been here for a few years and we like to think we know what's going on most of the time. If you have more specific questions, check out this section of Cape Breton University's website.

For general information, check out the “Prospective Students” section of the Cape Breton University website. From there you can access admission requirements, printable application forms (click on “Admissions”, then “Admission Application Forms”), and a wealth of information about fees and costs, residence, registration, scholarships, etc.