Interdisciplinary Social Science, BA

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Program Mission Statement

The mission of the B.A. degree program in Interdisciplinary Social Science is to empower students with the flexibility of crafting an individualized program of study enabling the combination of existing minor and option programs, self-defined areas of study under the direction of a faculty advisor, and/or packages of transfer credits. This program establishes an integrated, multidisciplinary foundation for lifelong learning and preparation for advanced study in graduate or law school.

Graduate Outcomes

Interdisciplinary Thinking:

Students will demonstrate interdisciplinary thinking. “Interdisciplinary Thinking” means using the perspectives, methodologies, or modes of inquiry of two or more disciplines in exploring problems, issues, and ideas to make meaning or gain understanding.

Oral Communications skills:
Students will demonstrate oral communication (in a formal interview or presentation) by introducing and developing main points with effective examples and language choices; responding to the verbal and nonverbal feedback of audiences; and using language that is familiar to the audience, appropriate for the setting, and free of disrespect.

Written Communications skills:
Students will demonstrate written communication by producing work with a clear rhetorical purpose, organized with a coherent structure, and conforming to academic standards of written English with appropriate documentation.

Assessment

B.A. ISS students will be assessed using a Capstone Portfolio with multiple required elements. The portfolios will be scored by the ISS program lead and at least one additional faculty (ideal best practice being two additional faculty members scoring the Oral and Written Communication assessments, respectively).

(assessed in ANTY/GPHY/HSTA/HSTR/PHL/PSCI/PSYX/SOCI 498 or 499)

Highly Recommended GenEd courses

PHL 101, PHL 114, 0r PHL 122 (Hum:L&AS)

Credit Requirements

General Education: 32 Credits

General Education

Highly Recommended General Education Courses

PHL 122 - History & Philosophy of The Social Sciences 4 Credit(s)
STAT 121 - Probability 4 Credit(s)

Interdisciplinary Social Science Major & Minor: 76-84 Credits

ISS Minor

Select 3 from the following ISS Minors; or 2 from the following ISS Minors and 1 non- ISS Minor from another department (more than 1 non-ISS Minor by departmental permission only); or the Secondary Education Professional Core.

Anthropology Minor (on moratorium) 20 Credit(s)
Constitutional Studies Minor 24 Credit(s)
Modern History Minor 24 Credit(s)
Psychology Minor 24 Credit(s)
Sociology Minor 20 Credit(s)
Systems of Thought Minor 24 Credit(s)

Select 1 Capstone/4 credits from one of the selected Minors (in non-ISS Minor by Department permission only)

HPSS rubric 498 Internship 4 Credit(s)
HPSS rubric 499 Senior Project/Thesis Capstone 4 Credit(s)
HPSS rubrics include: ANTY/GPHY/HSTA/HSTR/PHL/PSCI/PSYX/SOCI

Electives: 12 Credits

Choose elective credits from any college-level catalog courses to bring degree total to 120.