Apr 28, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Social Science (BS)

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

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 hour microcredential (up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

Overlays: [9] Credit Hours

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

  • Ethical Reasoning Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
  • Global Perspectives Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
  • US Multicultural Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]

Programs

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, AMETH, and/or GWSS may be combined in a single concentration. However, both concentrations may not be from STRAN, AMETH, and/or GWSS. 

ADC may be combined with SOCWK.  However, both concentrations may not be from ADC and 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 and/or GWSS in a single concentration. However, students may not choose AMETH and GWSS as their two concentrations.

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

BS Natural and Quantitative Restricted Electives: 12-15 Credit Hours

One course in each of the following, with at least two courses at the 300 level or above OR at any level with a prerequisite in the same discipline.

Natural Science course Credits: 3-5

Quantitative course Credits: 3-4

Natural Science, or Quantitative, or Social Science w/MATH or STAT prereq Credits: 3

Natural Science, or Quantitative, or Social Science w/MATH or STAT prereq Credits: 3

BS Arts or Humanities Restricted Electives: 3 Credit Hours

3 credit hours in each of the following, with at least 3 credit hours total at 300 level or above OR at any level with a prerequisite in the same discipline.

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

Free Electives: 20-24 Credit Hours

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

Grand Total for Program of Study: 120

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

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

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