The study of sociology first appeared in Mount Holyoke College's course bulletin in the 1899/1900 academic year as a course entitled "Principles of Sociology" in the Political Economics Department. In the 1905/1906 academic year, one subheading under the History Department included the study of sociology ("American History, Political Economics, and Sociology"). From 1906 to 1908, Politics and Social Economics was listed in the course bulletin. In the 1908/1909 academic year, the Economics and Sociology course of study was founded. The Department of Economics and Sociology, with its own chairperson and faculty, was established in the 1928/1929 academic year. In this year the Anthropology Department was also established as an independent entity. In 1949, however, the Anthropology Department disbanded and courses in anthropology were taught through the Department of Economics and Sociology. In 1971/1972, Sociology joined Anthropology to form the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.