It all starts with a curiosity about human nature. What does it mean to be human? Why do we behave the way we do? How can we live together in this world? What can we learn about ourselves—and the future—from studying our ancestors and how they lived?
As sociologists and anthropologists, these are the questions that fascinate us. And every day, we search for the answers—in the classroom, through our research, and in a variety experiential learning and fieldwork opportunities. If you share this curiosity about what it means to be human, and the social and cultural impact of our interactions, we invite you to join us.
Why Sociology and Anthropology at URI?
| DIG IN | INTERACT AND ENGAGE | WORK WITH THE BEST |
|---|---|---|
| We believe in learning by doing. That’s why we integrate experiential learning into all our degree programs, with options for a range of interests, including internships at the Feinstein Center for a Hunger-Free America, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, and summer fieldwork opportunities in Mexico and Southern Italy. | Teaching undergraduates is our priority, and it’s personal. With 13 full-time faculty members in the department, you’ll get to know your professors and they’ll get to know you. And if you’re undecided about your major, we’re here to answer your questions, offering the support you need to make a decision. | You’ll have opportunities to work with some of URI’s biggest thinkers—award-winning faculty researchers, who invite students to work with them on projects such as examining how incarceration affects our aging prison population, or studying human energetics from an evolutionary perspective by researching energy use in apes. |
Recent News
New chapter by Holly Dunsworth and alumna Libby Ware - Congratulations to Dr. Holly Dunsworth and alumna Libby Ware (Anthropology ’23) for their chapter in a new open access book: “Sex and Gender: Toward Transforming Scientific Practice.” Their chapter is entitled “How Can Gender/Sex Entanglement Inform Our Understanding of Human Evolutionary Biology?”
Hilda Lloréns named Distinguished Scholar at Wellesley College - Hilda Lloréns, professor of Anthropology, Gender & Women’s Studies, and Marine Affairs, has been appointed as the 2025-2026 Cornille Distinguished Scholar at Wellesley College. Lloréns will work on completing her latest book during her residency.