Social science is a branch of learning that examines society’s institutions—their structures, theoretical foundations, evolution, and interrelationships—and how they affect and are affected by human behavior. The social science disciplines include American ethnic studies, anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology, and women’s studies. Selected courses in mass communication may also qualify.

A student works closely with a social science adivsor to determine a plan of study with a thematic emphasis. This theme includes a minimum of 12 credit hours of courses in the major. In general, only one course outside the stipulated social science disciplines may be used to count toward the major, if the course fits the student’s theme.

The student’s social science advisor may encourage him or her to confer with other social science faculty members who have expertise in the area of the student’s interest.

A total of 36 credit hours must be completed with at least 3 credits being completed in each of four different social science disciplines. At least 9 credit hours must be completed in one social science discipline, including at least one course at the 500–699 level.

At least 15 credit hours must be completed in social science disciplines at the 500–699 level.

Students must complete at least one course in social science research methods or data analysis. This course may be any statistics (STAT) course that a student is qualified to take, or it may be selected from: GEOG 700  Quantitative Analysis in Geography; HIST 586  Junior Seminar in History; POLSC 400  Political Inquiry and Analysis; POLSC 700  Research Methods in Political Science; PSYCH 350  Experimental Methods in Psychology; SOCIO 520  Methods of Social Research.

The research/data course cannot be used to fulfill any other requirement in the major. It can, however, be used to fulfill a general requirement. No more than 9 credit hours may be counted toward both the general requirements and the major.

A 2.0 GPA in the major is required for graduation. The social science major is not available to students who will earn a degree in anthropology, economics, geography, history, mass communications, political science, psychology, sociology, or women’s studies.