Student Learning Goals

The interdisciplinary nature of this degree yields both overall learning goals, and discipline specific learning goals. 

Overall

1. Students will develop substantive knowledge in at least two fields within the Social Sciences.
2. Students will communicate effectively in oral presentations and in written projects.
3. Students will develop critical thinking and analytical skills, argumentation and skills in research methodology specific to the fields of Social Sciences studied.

 Discipline Specific

• Criminal Justice
• Economics
• History
• International Studies
• Journalism
• Political Science 
• Psychology
• Sociology

Degree Requirements  

Students receiving the Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences degree must complete 120 total credit hours including:

• General Education Core (30 cr.)
• Bachelor of Science Distribution Requirement (14-18 cr.)
• Social Sciences Track Requirement (36 cr.)
• Electives as needed to complete 120 total credit hours

• A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300- or 400-level
• Courses required for the major must be completed with a grade of C- or higher
• Courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise noted
• A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required

 Bachelor of Science Distribution Requirement

• MATH-A 118 or higher
• Three addtional in life science or physical science courses, with a least one having an associated or integrated lab component. (11-15 credit hours, depending on choice of courses.)
• See list of courses distinguishing between Life and Physical Sciences. 

Track Requirement

Multiple tracks are available for the students to assist them in attaining their degree. The
student should determine the appropriate track with the assistance of a Social Science advisor.

Dual Discipline Track (minimum 36 credit hours with grade of C- or better to apply to degree)

• 18 credit hours from two different disciplines in School of Social Sciences or Economics. 
• Complete the methods/statistics and capstone course(s) from one of the disciplines chosen, as part of the 18 required; as specified in grid below: 

Criminal Justice

• CJUS-P 295 Criminal Justice Data, Methods, and Resources 
• CJUS-P 470 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice 

Economics   

• ECON-E 270 Introduction to Statistical Theory in Economics and Business
• BUS-K 352 Business Analytics: Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics

History   

• HIST-H 236 The Historian's Craft
• HIST-J 495 Proseminar  for History Majors 

International Studies   

• HIST-H 236 The Historian's Craft

OR

• POLS-T/Y 388/387 Qualitative Research Methods AND Research Methods
• INTL-I 400 International Studies Capstone Seminar 

Journalism and Media   

• JOUR-J 200 Reporting, Writing, and Editing I
• JOUR-J 362 Journalism Multimedia Storytelling 

OR  

• JOUR-J 429  Public Relations Campaigns 

Political Science  

• POLS-T 388 Qualitative Research Methods
• POLS-Y 387 Research Methods in Political Science 
• POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar in Political Science

Psychology   

• PSY-P 341 Research in Psychology I 
• PSY--P 342 Research in Psychology II 

AND

• PSY-B 452 Seminar in Psychology 

Sociology   

• SOC-S 380 Methods of Social Research I 
• SOC-S 381 Methods of Social Research II

AND

• SOC-S 470 Senior Seminar 

Triple Discipline Track (minimum 36 credit hours with grade of C- or better to apply to degree)

• Complete a minimum of 12 credit hours in three different disciplines in the School of Social
  Sciences and Economics.
• Select one of these disciplines and include in the 12 credit hours the discipline’s methods/statistics and capstone course as specified in the grid above.