grenfell_cviewbk_2011_incl_cover - Memorial University of ...

SOCIAL/CULTURAL STUDIES
BACHELOR OF ARTS
(BA)
You and your classmates might come from a
variety of backgrounds, but you all have one
thing in common: an innate curiosity and
THE DESIRE TO FIND OUT WHY
PEOPLE DO THE THINGS THEY DO.
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The social/cultural studies program examines the practices
and meanings of everyday life from social, cultural and
historical perspectives. It questions why we wake the dead,
have differing notions of the perfect family, allow the mass
media to influence us, choose a particular form of medical
care or feel bound to the place where we were born.
Some say our culture – the knowledge and skills we
learned as we grew up – shapes us. Others argue that
society – our community and the media – influences us.
The program allows you to examine the interplay of society,
culture and history from three complementary perspectives:
anthropology, folklore and sociology. These areas share an
emphasis on the concept of culture and rely on the
ethnographic method – an approach that helps you understand
the world from the perspective of the people you are studying.
The social/cultural studies degree will prepare you for work in
social research, governmental and non-governmental
organizations, social policy and community/rural development,
immigration, public relations, journalism, cultural heritage
preservation and promotion, and the expanding cultural
tourism sector. It also provides a valuable background for
careers in business, human resources, policing, law, medical
care and social work.
Candice Pike, BA