Department of Sociology, Egyptology and Anthropology

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Sociology

Associate Professors: I. Morrison (chair), H. Rizzo 

Assistant Professors: G. Heck, D. Makram Ebeid

Assistant Professor and Core Teaching Faculty: N. Abdalla, Y. Moataz

Sociology is the systematic study of society with special attention to social interaction and the social making of humans. It investigates the forces that hold society together and that threaten to pull it apart through the analysis of interaction at every level from micro-group interaction to competition of nation states and large-scale social change including revolutions and social movements. Having as its goal a holistic understanding of human society, human beings and their lives, sociology is relevant to a wide range of other disciplines and every day life issues. As a result, sociology has a broad scope that includes culture, family, gender, crime, religion, politics, development, population, and urbanization, among others. Besides their coursework, sociology majors are given the opportunity to carry out supervised field research as a part of their undergraduate program.

Egyptology

Professor Emeriti: F. Haikal, K. Weeks

Distinguished University Professor: S. Ikram

Professors: J. Swanson (Special Advisor to the Provost)

Associate Professors: M. Ayad, L. Sabbahy

Assistant Professor: M. El-Dorry

Egyptology is the scientific study of the history and culture of Ancient Egypt, from the earliest times to the Arab conquest, a time span covering some 4,600 years. Egyptology covers all aspects of Ancient Egyptian civilization, from language and religion to art, architecture and social structure.

Anthropology

Professor Emeriti: D. Cole

Professor: S. Altorki

Associate Professor: H. Sabea

Assistant Professors: R. Aly, E. Stock, M. Schwab

Assistant Professor and Core Teaching Faculty: G. Talley, Y. Moataz

Cultural Anthropology encompasses a wide range of subjects relating to culture, such as political systems, kinship, the media, religion and ritual, economics, youth, gender and sexuality, migration, rural and urban lives, language, art, war, and violence to name a few. Anthropology approaches these fields of inquiry through ethnographic research that sees people’s everyday practices and ways of life as the most important source of knowledge about the world. Anthropology offers a unique perspective on humanity and provides students with excellent research, writing and people skills that are invaluable in a broad range of careers. Our approach to teaching anthropology promotes hands-on ethnographic research and innovative theoretical engagement with emergent issues of both local and global concern.

Sociology - Anthropology

Professor Emeriti: D. Cole

Professors: S. Altorki

Associate Professors: I. Morrison (chair), H. Rizzo, H. Sabea

Assistant Professors: R. Aly, G. Heck, D. Makram Ebeid, M. Schwab, E. Stock

Assistant Professors and Core Teaching Faculty: N. Abdalla, Y. Moataz, G. Talley

The graduate program in sociology and anthropology equips students with a thorough grounding in the theory and research methods of both disciplines. It offers a unique opportunity for students to conduct original research amidst an intellectually stimulating environment. Its longstanding tradition of combining scholarship with a commitment to social, economic and political justice makes the program a dynamic environment for learning and research. The program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to social theory and research and has broad applications. The program accepts qualified applicants from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds especially those who are talented and interested in acquiring alternative and critical perspectives on society and politics. Our students conduct research in Egypt and throughout the Middle East on topics such as: urban transformation, gender, religious and social movements, memory and politics of the past, migration environment, health, the family, poverty, ethnicity and nationalism, media, activism, art and expressive culture, and violence.

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