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Welcome to the Department of Sociology and Anthropology

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to provide students with a deep understanding of social structures and cultural dynamics.

Upcoming Events

Sociology & Anthropology Featured Videos

Aug

13 August
Undergraduate Coursework Programme Welcome Tea(opens in new tab)
3 - 5PM
AS1 02-12

20 August
Seminar: What world is this? Students’ Urban Ethnography of Seoul & Tokyo(opens in new tab)
3 - 4.30PM
AS1 02-12

27 August
Graduate Research Programme Teaching Workshop and Welcome Tea(opens in new tab)
1.30 - 5PM
AS1 03-14 & 02-12

Sept

3 September
Seminar: Hierarchy and the Fate of the Performing Arts in Southeast Asia(opens in new tab)
3 - 4.30PM
AS1 02-12

4 September
Joint-Seminar: Unequal Aging: Investigating Trends in Physical Limitations, Daily Functioning and Depression Among Taiwanese and Mainland Older Adults in Taiwan(opens in new tab)
12 - 1.30PM
AS7 06-42

Oct

29 October
Seminar: Enactments of Belonging at the End of Life(opens in new tab)
3 - 4.30PM
AS1 02-12

Nov

13 November
Seminar: Digital Pop Culture, Video Games, and Indian Cultural Heritage(opens in new tab)
2 - 3.30PM
AS1 02-12

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Watch our introductory videos on Sociology & Anthropology and hear from our Anthropology graduate, Jia Jia, now a Research Assistant at the Asian Civilisations Museum, as she shares her journey and passion for archaeology.

Latest News and Highlights

GSA

🎉 We are delighted to welcome the inaugural cohort of the Master of Arts in Global Sociology and Anthropology.

On 6 August, our new graduate coursework students gathered for a welcome tea, marking the beginning of their academic journey with us. The session provided an opportunity for students to meet our faculty members, connect with their peers, and learn more about the vibrant community they will be joining.

Through the MA programme, students will engage with advanced sociological and anthropological theories and methods while developing the analytical and research skills to address complex global and societal challenges.

We warmly welcome our pioneering MA students to the NUS community and wish them every success as they embark on this exciting and enriching journey.

Welcome MA in Global Sociology and Anthropology Pioneer Cohort
haseena congrats

👏 Congratulations to Ms Haseena Hashim for winning the FASS Service Award!

The FASS Service Award recognises our administrative staff members who have demonstrated exemplary performance in delivering consistently high-quality services to our students, colleagues and other stakeholders, including members of the public. This award also aims to cultivate an excellent service attitude among our administrative staff.

Read more: FASS Service Award 2026(opens in new tab)

Congratulations to Ms Haseena Hashim for winning the FASS Service Award!
dr-noeleen-banner

📢 We are delighted to welcome our distinguished Sociology alumna, Dr Noeleen Heyzer, as NUS Pro-Chancellor, with effect from 1 August 2026.

Click here(opens in new tab) to read more on Dr Noeleen Heyzer.

Welcome Dr Noeleen Heyzer as NUS Pro-Chancellor from 1 August 2026
anthronewss2026

NUS celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of Anthropology majors, alongside its Sociology majors, at the Commencement ceremony on 22 July 2026, marking a significant milestone for our Department. More than 60 years after anthropology was first taught at NUS and four years after the launch of its standalone undergraduate major, the pioneer cohort leaves behind not only a new academic programme, but also a vibrant student community and a legacy of curiosity, empathy and critical inquiry. Equipped to "make the familiar strange and the strange familiar", these graduates enter an increasingly AI-driven world with the skills to better understand people, cultures and the complexities of human experience. Click here(opens in new tab) to read the NUS News article.

Class of 2026: First Batch of Anthropology Majors
farid congrats

👏 As Prof Syed Farid Alatas retires on 30 June 2026, we are delighted to share that he will be appointed as Emeritus Professor from 1 July 2026. This well-deserved honour recognises his decades of service and contributions to the Department and the University. Congratulations and best wishes to Prof Farid!

Happy Retirement and Congratulations to Prof Syed Farid Alatas!
MCJ (1)

📢 We are pleased to announce the launch of the Minor in Criminal Justice(opens in new tab), from AY26/27 Semester 2.

The Minor in Criminal Justice offers students a rigorous, multidisciplinary foundation in the study of crime, criminality, justice, and social control, with a central focus on how criminal justice systems define, govern, and respond to crime.

Also featured on The Straits Times "NUS introduces minor in criminal justice after strong uptake of related courses" online (opens in new tab)and on print(opens in new tab).

New Minor in Criminal Justice from AY26/27 Semester 2
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Articles

24/07/2026

NUS Names Former UN Under-Secretary-General Dr Noeleen Heyzer as Pro-Chancellor

NUS Anthropology graduates 2026
24/07/2026

NUS Celebrates First Anthropology Graduates at Commencement 2026

19/07/2026

Diverse Pathways to Permanent Childlessness in Singapore: A Latent Class Analysis

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