Dec 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Social Science - Major


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The social science major integrates five academic disciplines: anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Students select one of these disciplines upon which to concentrate their studies. However, they have some exposure to all five disciplines before completing the major. Many students combine the social science major with the inclusive early childhood/childhood education major and become teachers. Others go on to attend graduate school or pursue a variety of careers related to working with people.

The Social Science major may be combined with the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education major.

A Social Science major may not select one of the social science disciplines as a minor.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to explain how systems of privilege, with a particular emphasis on race, class, and gender, influence life chances and social life.
  2. Students will be able to explain how social scientists conduct research, with a particular emphasis on the research design and the data collection process.
  3. Students will be able to articulate the differences and similarities among the various disciplines with the social sciences in terms of types of questions asked about human behavior. 
  4. Students will be able to analyze the impacts and influence of personality, culture, and social structure in individual life chances and social life.

Core Curriculum Requirements


All Nazareth students complete Core Curriculum coursework as part of their degree requirements. The Core provides a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences while guiding students to pose and explore their own intellectual questions. See Academic Policies and Procedures  for specific core curriculum requirements. 

Social Science Specializations


Anthropology Specialization


Major may be combined with the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Major.

*A minimum of three credits in each Social Science discipline, introductory or upper-division, is required.

*For Sample Program, please see below. There are five program variations within this major (Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology). The sample program is an example of what the program may look like for a Social Science Major with a Sociology specialization.

Introductory Courses - Anthropology Specialization


Introductory courses in 3 of the following Social Science areas: Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology

Required Courses for Anthropology Specialization


The Anthropology Specialization requires:

  • Two Upper Division Anthropology Electives Credits:  6

as well as:

Social Science Electives - Anthropology Specialization


  • Two Upper Division Social Science electives (Psychology, Sociology, Economics or Political Science) excluding Anthropology.

Social Science Senior Experience - Anthropology Specialization


The senior experience consists of a senior seminar (SSC 444) which integrates material from social science and other liberal arts core areas (history, philosophy, religious studies, literature, natural sciences, mathematics, fine arts), and a senior comprehensive (SSC 499).

Economics Specialization


 Major may be combined with the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Major.

*A minimum of three credits in each Social Science discipline, introductory or upper-division, is required.

*For Sample Program, please see below. There are five program variations within this major (Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology). The sample program is an example of what the program may look like for a Social Science Major with a Sociology specialization.

Introductory Courses - Economics Specialization


Introductory courses in 3 of the following: Anthropology, Political Science, Psychology or Sociology.

Required Courses for Economics Specialization


The Economics Specialization requires:

  • One Upper Division Economics Elective Credits: 3

as well as:

Social Science Electives - Economics Specialization


Take 2 upper division Social Science electives (Sociology, Psychology, Political Science or Anthropology) excluding Economics.

Social Science Senior Experience - Economics Specialization


The senior experience consists of a senior seminar (SSC 444) which integrates material from social science and other liberal arts core areas (history, philosophy, religious studies, literature, natural sciences, mathematics, fine arts), and a senior comprehensive (SSC 499).

Political Science Specialization


Major may be combined with the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Major.

*A minimum of three credits in each Social Science discipline, introductory or upper-division, is required.

*For Sample Program, please see below. There are five program variations within this major (Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology). The sample program is an example of what the program may look like for a Social Science Major with a Sociology specialization.

Introductory Courses - Political Science Specialization


Introductory courses in 3 of the following: Anthropology, Economics, Psychology or Sociology.

Required Courses - Political Science Specialization


The Political Science Specialization requires:

  • Three Upper Division Political Science Electives Credits: 9

as well as:

Social Science Electives - Political Science Specialization


Take 3 upper division Social Science electives (Sociology, Psychology, Economics or Anthropology) excluding Political Science.

Social Science Senior Experience - Political Science Specialization


The senior experience consists of a senior seminar (SSC 444) which integrates material from social science and other liberal arts core areas (history, philosophy, religious studies, literature, natural sciences, mathematics, fine arts), and a senior comprehensive (SSC 499).

Psychology Specialization


Major may be combined with the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Major.

*A minimum of three credits in each Social Science discipline, introductory or upper-division, is required.

*For Sample Program, please see below. There are five program variations within this major (Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology). The sample program is an example of what the program may look like for a Social Science Major with a Sociology specialization.
 

Introductory Courses - Psychology Specialization


Introductory courses in 3 of the following: Anthropology, Economics, Political Science or Sociology.

Required Courses - Psychology Specialization


Social Science Electives - Psychology Specialization


Take 3 upper division Social Science electives (Sociology, Economics, Political Science or Anthropology) excluding Psychology.

Social Science Senior Experience - Psychology Specialization


The senior experience consists of a senior seminar (SSC 444) which integrates material from social science and other liberal arts core areas (history, philosophy, religious studies, literature, natural sciences, mathematics, fine arts), and a senior comprehensive (SSC 499).

Sociology Specialization


Major may be combined with the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Major.

*A minimum of three credits in each Social Science discipline, introductory or upper-division, is required.

*For Sample Program, please see below. There are five program variations within this major (Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology). The sample program is an example of what the program may look like for a Social Science Major with a Sociology specialization.

Introductory Courses - Sociology Specialization


Introductory courses in 3 of the following: Anthropology, Economics, Political Science or Psychology.

Required Courses - Sociology Specialization


The Sociology Specialization requires:

  • One Upper Division Sociology Elective Credits: 3

as well as:

Social Science Electives - Sociology Specialization


Take 3 upper division Social Science electives (Economics, Psychology, Political Science or Anthropology) excluding Sociology.

Social Science Senior Experience - Sociology Specialization


The senior experience consists of a senior seminar (SSC 444) which integrates material from social science and other liberal arts core areas (history, philosophy, religious studies, literature, natural sciences, mathematics, fine arts), and a senior comprehensive (SSC 499).

Sample Program for Social Science Majors (Sociology Specialization)


Within the Social Science Major, students specialize in one of five areas: Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Thus there are five program variations within this major. The sample program below is an example of what the program may look like for a Social Science Major with a Sociology specialization.
 

Freshman Year


  • Modern Foreign Language Credits: 6
  • Perspectives - Enduring Questions (P-EQ) Credits: 6
  • Perspectives - Enduring Questions (P-EQ) Math and Science Credits: 7
  • Health/Wellness Credits: 0

As well as:

Sophomore Year


  • Perspectives - Enduring Questions (P-EQ) Credits: 6
  • Integrative Studies (IS) Credits: 3
  • Experiential Learning (EL) Pathway
  • DEIB designated course Credits: 3
  • Introductory Social Science Courses Credits: 9
  • Upper Division Sociology Credits: 3

As well as:

Junior Year


  • Integrative Studies (IS) Credits: 6
  • Core Milestone Experience (CME)  Credits: 0
  • Upper Division Sociology Credits: 3
  • Upper Division Social Science Credits: 6
  • Electives Credits: 12

As well as:

Senior Year


  • Upper Division Sociology Credits: 3
  • Upper Division Social Science Credits: 3
  • Liberal Arts Elective Credits: 3
  • Electives Credits: 18

As well as:

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