College Catalog: 2014-2015

Social Science is an interdisciplinary contract major offered through the School of Social Science and Human Services. It is designed to enable students with specialized interests in the Social Sciences to develop, in collaboration with a faculty advisor, a coherent program of courses in areas of inquiry for which regular majors are not offered, allowing students to explore specialized or emerging fields. Examples of such programs include, but are not limited to:

• Community Mental Health
• Cultural Studies
• Gender Studies
• Ethnic Relations
• Labor Studies
• Justice (Adult Degree Completion Program)

It is recommended that students consider combining their major concentration with an appropriate minor (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Substance Abuse, Women’s Studies, Africana Studies, Latin American Studies, Economics).

Each of the concentrations requires 10 courses at least 4 of which must be at the upper level, and a research methods course.  In addition to those 10 courses, a fieldwork experience is required for all Social Science majors.  This requirement can be met through one of the following credit or non-credit options:  a fieldwork course in one of the social science convening areas; an internship or co-op; a fieldwork experience embedded in a course within the contract major; a study abroad course; a non-credit fieldwork project, designed by the student in conjunction with the convener and approved by the Dean.  Since the choice of concentration and design of the major are individualized, the nature and length of the fieldwork will vary depending on track of study and goals of the major.  Students interested in the social science major are encouraged to contact the convener early in their college careers.

The major is offered by the School of Social Science and Human Services and leads to a BA degree.In addition to the major requirements, students must fulfill the following General Education and School of Social Science and Human Services requirements below.

1. Transfer students who have 48 or more credits accepted at the time of transfer are waived from the courses marked with a (W) below.  Waivers only apply to General Education Requirements NOT School Core or Major Requirements.
2. Double counting between General Education, School Core, and Major may be possible.  Check with your advisor to see if any apply.
3. Writing Intensive Requirement (six courses):  three writing intensive courses in the general education curriculum are required: First Year Seminar, Critical Reading and Writing, and Readings in the Humanities; the other three courses are taken in the major.
4. Not all courses are offered each semester.  Please check the current Schedule of Classes for semester course offerings.

Note: A 2.0 GPA in the major is required for graduation.

General Education Requirements
Four Year Plan
Graduation Requirements
School of Social Science and Human Services Website
Degree Completion Program
Faculty Profiles