Despite its relatively short existence, the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology (DSSA) (formerly the Department of Social Studies and Ethnology) is a dynamic academic unit within the Faculty of Arts at Matej Bel University (UMB). The department is organized into two primary disciplinary domains, social anthropology and sociology, reflecting a balanced and interdisciplinary approach to education and research. The department offers comprehensive undergraduate (bachelor’s) and graduate (master’s) degree programmes in the combined study of sociology and social anthropology, providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make academic, professional, and social contributions.

DSSA members are actively involved in prestigious research initiatives, centres, institutes, and networks. Researchers in the department play a leading role in numerous projects, many of which are funded by Horizon 2020 (H2020) and Horizon Europe. These include: GENDERACTIONplus (Horizon Europe), RUINS (Interreg), ARCHE (Horizon Europe), INCULTUM (H2020), SECreTour (Horizon Europe), PROMISE (H2020), DocEnhance (H2020).

The DSSA focuses on a variety of interdisciplinary areas. Research in health and medicine, led by Souček (assistant professor) and Hofreiter (associate professor), explores topics such as the distrust in physicians and social determinants of health. In the cultural heritage team, Bitušíková (professor), Koštialová (associate professor), and Murin (associate professor) investigate how cultural heritage interacts with local and regional development, preservation and revitalization. The urban studies, culture, and society strand, driven by Chorvát (associate professor), Bitušíková (professor), and Koza Beňová (assistant professor), examines the dynamic relationships between urban spaces, social transformations, and culture, highlighting how these factors shape modern societies.