Dec 06, 2025  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Social Science (BA)

Location(s): Manhattan Campus, Manhattan Online

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The Social Science interdisciplinary major focuses primarily on the critical examination of society’s institutions—their structures, theoretical foundations, evolution, and interrelationships—and how they affect and are affected by human behavior.  

Cutting across a variety of social science disciplines, including American ethnic studies, anthropology, economics, geography, gender, women, and sexuality studies, mass communications, political science, psychology, social transformation studies, and sociology, the major intentionally trades depth of learning for broader scope of inquiry. By offering more latitude in its curriculum design, the program allows students to prepare for a range of pathways, including admission to certain professional programs. 

Students are expected to select a thematic emphasis that is bridged by the two concentration areas selected in consultation with their advisor. To best meet individual needs and interests, career goals and the program requirements, close collaboration with the advisor is expected.

Students majoring in Social Science must earn grades of C or better in all courses required for the program in Social Science Foundational Courses, Social Science Concentration Area 1, Social Science Concentration Area 2, Thematic Elective and Social Science Capstone.   

Kansas State University Core: 34-36 Credit Hours

KBOR Statewide Transfer (SWT) Courses: https://www.kansasregents.org/academic_affairs/transfer-articulation.

English (Written Communication Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours

Communication (Oral Communication Outcomes): 3 Credit Hours

Math & Statistics (Quantitative Literacy Outcomes): 3 Credit Hours

Natural & Physical Sciences (Natural & Physical Sciences Outcomes): 4-5 Credit Hours

Choose 1 subject area which must include a lab.

Social & Behavioral Sciences (Social & Behavioral Sciences Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours

At least 2 courses from 2 subjects under this area.

Arts & Humanities (Arts & Humanities Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours

At least 2 courses from 2 subjects under this area.

Free Electives (Institutionally Designated Area): 6 Credit Hours

Includes ALL 100 and 200 level courses at K-State or in Transfer. 
Note: One course may be used to satisfy more than one requirement. However, students must complete a total of 34-36 credit hours of general education courses.

For a Full Listing of K-State 100/200 level courses you may search those courses individually via the University Course Catalog.

TOTAL CREDITS: 34-36

Program Requirements: 10 credits

Orientation: 1 Credit Hour

Outside Concentration: 9 Credit Hours

Outside credential of at least 9 credit hours (May be from any unit, except ****, etc, OR from approved interdisciplinary credentials within the unit).

OR

Any 9 credit hours in a single prefix (except for ****) (all must be 300 level or above OR at any level with a prereq in the same prefix; up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

OR

Any 9 credit hours in a microcredential (up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

Overlays: [9] Credit Hours

May be fulfilled in K-State Core, Outside Concentration, electives, or the Program itself.

  • Ethical Reasoning Overlay Credits: [3]
  • Global Perspectives Overlay Credits: [3]
  • US Multicultural Overlay Credits: [3]

Program: 52-65 Credits

Social Science Foundational Courses: 9 credit hours

Students choose 3 courses (9 credits) from the following list in three different disciplines: 

Social Science Concentration Area One: 12 Credit Hours

12 credit hours from one Social Science discipline: ADC, AMETH, ANTH, CRIM, ECON, GEOG, GWSS, MC, POLSC, PSYCH, STRAN, SOCWK, SOCIO. 9 credits of the 12 must be at the 300 level or higher. Coursework may not overlap with Concentration Area Two or with Foundational Courses. 

STRAN may be combined with AMETH or GWSS, but not both. Students cannot choose both AMETH and GWSS as their two disciplines.  

ADC may be combined with SOCWK.  

Social Science Concentration Area Two: 12 Credit Hours

12 credit hours from one Social Science discipline: ADC, AMETH, ANTH, CRIM, ECON, GEOG, GWSS, MC, POLSC, PSYCH, STRAN, SOCWK, SOCIO. 9 credits of the 12 must be at the 300 level or higher. Coursework may not overlap with Concentration Area One or with Foundational Courses. 

STRAN may be combined with AMETH or GWSS, but not both. Students cannot choose both AMETH and GWSS as their two disciplines.  

ADC may be combined with SOCWK.  

Thematic Elective: 3 Credit Hours

In consultation with advisor, select a minimum 3 credit hours, at or above the 300 level, enhancing one or both concentration areas through research, applied learning, or other experiential learning opportunities. Other courses may be substituted so long as approval is obtained and elective demonstrably aligns with thematic focus. Must be 300-799. 

ADC 300-799 

AMETH 300-799 

ANTH 300-799 

CRIM 300-799 

DAS 400   

ECON 300-799 

GEOG 300-799 

GWSS 300-799 

MC 300-799 

POLSC 300-799 

PSYCH 300-799 

STRAN 300-799 

SOCWK 300-799 

SOCIO 300-799 

Social Science Capstone: 1 Credit hour

BA Arts and Humanities Restricted Electives: 6 Credit Hours

3 credit hours in each of the following, at any level

One course in Humanities Credits: 3

Any course or combination of courses in Fine Arts Credits: 3

BA Natural and Quantitative Restricted Electives: 6 Credit Hours

One course in each of the following at any level

Natural Science or Quantitative course Credits: 3

Natural Science, or Quantitative, or Social Science with MATH or STAT Credits: 3

BA Second Language Requirement: 3-16 Credit Hours

Choose one of the following:

Option 1: 3-14 Credit Hours

At least 3 credit hours of coursework culminating with level 4 or above (i.e., French 4, German 4, Spanish 4, etc.) or the equivalent of level 4 in a second language sequence.

Option 2: 16 Credit Hours

At least 16 credit hours of coursework in which student takes the first and second levels of two different languages, selected from any language offered within the department of Modern Languages, ASL, or from any other second language transferred in at an equivalent level.

Option 3: 3 Credit Hours

Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement by meeting the English Proficiency Admission Standards for K-State or by completing the appropriate level of exit courses with the English Language Program.

Free Electives: 7-14 Credit Hours

In addition to K-State Core Free Electives requirement, take any course so that the total credit hours completed equals 120.

Credit Grand Total for Program of Study: 120

Arts & Sciences common degree requirements for the BA are satisfied by the following:

  • BS Natural and Quantitative Restricted Electives
  • BS Fine Arts and Humanities Restricted Elective (two courses at any level)
  • Social Science Concentration Area 1 (at least one course will be at 300 level or above)
  • BA Second Language Requirement

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