Social Science, B.A.

Professors: Mark Henkels, Mary Pettenger

Mission

Combines a general social science perspective with a specific discipline focus. The program prepares graduates for a specialized field as well as giving mobility across fields. Students learn the methods developed by their discipline to understand both the past and the present. Graduates apply these methods to resolving local, national and international issues.

Learning Outcomes

Critically analyze social issues from two or more disciplinary perspectives.
Effectively communicate about social issues in speech and in writing.
Demonstrate the ability to research the nature and consequences of social action in specific contexts.

Core Courses

The major requires 72 credits which must be from the following disciplines: Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Geography, History, Political Science or Sociology. A minimum of 36 credits must be upper division courses.

Social Science majors must also choose a concentration in Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Geography, History, Political Science or Sociology and take at least 27 upper division credits in that discipline. The remaining credits in the major should be chosen in consultation with the student’s Social Science major adviser.

Student must also take at least one theory course and one methods course from the following list:

Theory Courses

ANTH 311 Human Evolution Credits: 4
ANTH 324 Anthropological Theory Credits: 4
ANTH 480 History and Theory of Archaeology Credits: 4
CJ 450 Criminology Credits: 4
GEOG 495 Seminar in Geography and Sustainability Credits: 4
PS 414 Political Parties, Pressure Groups and Elections Credits: 4
PS 419 American Presidential Elections Credits: 4
PS 426 Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations Credits: 4
PS 440 Causes of War Credits: 4
PS 441 Causes of Peace Credits: 4
PS 449 Environmental Values and Political Action Credits: 4
PS 451 Political Theory: Plato to Marx Credits: 4
PS 452 Political Theory: Marx to Habermas Credits: 4
PS 469 Congress and the Presidency Credits: 4
PS 492 Political Ideologies Credits: 4
SOC 420 Political Sociology: Theories of the State Credits: 3
SOC 460 Feminist Theory Credits: 3
SOC 471 Classical Sociological Theory Credits: 3
SOC 472 Contemporary Sociological Theory Credits: 3
Any course approved by the academic adviser for this purpose

Methods Courses