Academic Programs Catalog

The College of Social Science requires each student to complete a breadth requirement.  The requirement can be fulfilled by completing any of the following: (1) completion of a College of Social Science interdisciplinary minor; (2) completion of a second degree or additional major in the College of Social Science; (3) completion of a disciplinary minor in one of the academic units of the College of Social Science; or (4) completion of a second degree or additional major or minor outside of the College of Social Science. Students can apply a maximum of 2 courses within their College of Social Science major unit to the list being used for the breadth requirement (e.g., minor or second major within or outside of the College of Social Science).

Students in Social Science may also complete a Minor in Bioethics (see the Lyman Briggs College section of this catalog).

Freshmen at Michigan State University are enrolled in the Neighborhood Student Success Collaborative but may declare a major preference for a major in a department or school of the College of Social Science, the Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science major, or the Global and International Studies in Social Science major.  Students who declare any Social Science major preference will be assigned an academic advisor in this College. Upon reaching 28 credits, sophomores may choose to declare their major in the college.

 

1. An academic record which at least meets the requirements of Academic Standing of Undergraduate Students.
2. Acceptance as a major in a program of the college. The number of students admitted to the School of Social Work program is limited.
3. Students interested in the History Education major or the Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science: Social Science Education major must be admitted first to the Teacher Preparation Program in the College of Education.
    

To ensure an appropriately broad and well-balanced education, all undergraduates enrolled in the College of Social Science must satisfy the following subject matter and credit distribution requirements, in addition to the graduation requirements of the University as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog.

The following restrictions pertain to all courses taken in fulfillment of requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in the College of Social Science:

1. Courses applied to the university requirements in Integrative Studies and Mathematics may not also be counted toward the college graduation requirements.
2. Unless otherwise noted, no more than two courses offered by a student’s major department or school may be counted toward the college requirements.
3. Only credits in courses graded on the numerical, Pass-No Grade, or S-NS systems may be counted toward college and major requirements, i.e. courses taken in satisfaction of college and major requirements may not be taken on a Credit-No Credit basis.
4. Complete the requirements of a major of no fewer than 30 credits with a minimum 2.0 grade-point average for courses in the major.
    
   All candidates must meet the following requirements:
   Bachelor of Arts
   1. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING REQUIREMENT
      All students must complete an experiential learning requirement with a grade of P, S, or 2.0 or higher.  The experiential learning requirement may be satisfied either within or outside the requirements of the major.  The requirement may be met by completing a 3 or 4-credit experiential learning course, approved by the College of Social Science Committee on Curriculum and Academic Policy or its designee.  A list of approved courses will be maintained by the College of Social Science.  The experiential learning requirement is designed to ensure that each undergraduate student will have the opportunity to enhance problem-solving and integrative reasoning skills through practice outside of the traditional classroom learning environment.  Study abroad and study away experiences, internships, service learning and civic engagement experiences, undergraduate research, including, in appropriate cases, honors theses, and entrepreneurship experiences can meet this requirement.  The requirement may also be met through a non-credit experience, for example, an undergraduate research experience mentored by a faculty member, if approved in advance by the College of Social Science Committee on Curriculum and Academic Policy or its designee.  For further information, consult the Office of Student Affairs in the College of Social Science or an academic advisor in a department or school.
   2. INTERDISCIPLINARY MINOR REQUIREMENT
      Complete a minimum of 15 credits in one Interdisciplinary Minor from a list of minors approved by the College of Social Science Committee on Curriculum and Academic Policy. No more than two courses offered by a student’s major department or school may be counted toward completion of an interdisciplinary minor. In Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science, only two courses counting toward the completion of a cognate may count toward the completion of an interdisciplinary minor.  Minors approved for this requirement include: African American and African Studies (Social Science Track), African Studies; Asian Pacific American Studies (Social Science Track); Asian Studies; Chicano/Latino Studies; Cities: Environment, Design and Society; Cognitive Science (Social Science Track); Digital Cultural Heritage and History; Environment and Health; Environmental Social Science; Human Behavior and Social Services; International Development; Latin American and Caribbean Studies; Jewish Studies (Social Science Track); Law, Justice, and Public Policy; Leadership of Organizations; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Sexuality Studies (Social Science Track); Migration Studies; Peace and Justice Studies (Social Science Track); Race and Ethnicity in the United States; Resource Management from the Individual, Family, and Societal Perspective; Social Science Quantitative Data Analytics; Women’s and Gender Studies (Social Science Track); Youth and Society.  Other interdisciplinary minors can meet this requirement if approved by the College of Social Science Committee on Curriculum and Academic Policy or its designee.  For further information, consult the Office of Student Affairs in the College of Social Science or an academic advisor in a department or school. 
   3. DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS
      1. Complete a minimum of 30 credits in courses numbered at the 300 level and above. Courses offered by the student’s major department or school may be used to satisfy this requirement.
      2. A maximum of 12 credits of independent study may be applied to the degree.
      3. A maximum of 12 credits of internship, field experience, or practicum credits may be applied to the degree.
      4. The total of independent study, internship, field experience, and practicum credits applied to the degree may not exceed 20 credits.
          

1. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING REQUIREMENT
   All students must complete an experiential learning requirement with a grade of P, S, or 2.0 or higher.  The experiential learning requirement may be satisfied either within or outside the requirements of the major.  The requirement may be met by completing a 3 or 4-credit experiential learning course, approved by the College of Social Science Committee on Curriculum and Academic Policy or its designee.  A list of approved courses will be maintained by the College of Social Science.  The experiential learning requirement is designed to ensure that each undergraduate student will have the opportunity to enhance problem-solving and integrative reasoning skills through practice outside of the traditional classroom learning environment.  Study abroad and study away experiences, internships, service learning and civic engagement experiences, undergraduate research, including, in appropriate cases, honors theses, and entrepreneurship experiences can meet this requirement.  The requirement may also be met through a non-credit experience, for example, an undergraduate research experience mentored by a faculty member, if approved in advance by the College of Social Science Committee on Curriculum and Academic Policy or its designee.  For further information, consult the Office of Student Affairs in the College of Social Science or an academic advisor in a department or school.
2. INTERDISCIPLINARY MINOR REQUIREMENT
   Complete a minimum of 15 credits in one Interdisciplinary Minor from a list of minors approved by the College of Social Science Committee on Curriculum and Academic Policy. No more than two courses offered by a student’s major department or school may be counted toward completion of an interdisciplinary minor. In Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science, only two courses counting toward the completion of a cognate may count toward the completion of an interdisciplinary minor.  Minors approved for this requirement include: African American and African Studies (Social Science Track), African Studies; Asian Pacific American Studies (Social Science Track); Asian Studies; Chicano/Latino Studies; Cities: Environment, Design and Society; Cognitive Science (Social Science Track); Digital Cultural Heritage and History; Environment and Health; Environmental Social Science; Human Behavior and Social Services; International Development; Latin American and Caribbean Studies; Jewish Studies (Social Science Track); Law, Justice, and Public Policy; Leadership of Organizations; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Sexuality Studies (Social Science Track); Migration Studies; Peace and Justice Studies (Social Science Track); Race and Ethnicity in the United States; Resource Management from the Individual, Family, and Societal Perspective; Social Science Quantitative Data Analytics; Women’s and Gender Studies (Social Science Track); Youth and Society.  Other interdisciplinary minors can meet this requirement if approved by the College of Social Science Committee on Curriculum and Academic Policy or its designee.  For further information, consult the Office of Student Affairs in the College of Social Science or an academic advisor in a department or school. 
3. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENT
   Complete a minimum of 12 credits in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics courses that is a part of each BS major as approved by academic governance. If these courses are listed as part of a student’s B.S. major, the student must complete 12 credits from the major’s STEM list. If these courses are not listed as part of a student’s B.S. major, the student must complete 12 credits from a list maintained by the College of Social Science Committee on Curriculum.
4. DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS
   1. Complete a minimum of 30 credits in courses numbered at the 300 level and above. Courses offered by the student’s major department or school may be used to satisfy this requirement.
   2. A maximum of 12 credits of independent study may be applied to the degree.
   3. A maximum of 12 credits of internship, field experience, or practicum credits may be applied to the degree.
   4. The total of independent study, internship, field experience, and practicum credits applied to the degree may not exceed 20 credits.

Students at Michigan State University may select programs of study that satisfy the admission requirements of a professional school of their choice, such as law or medicine.  Since the admission requirements to professional programs vary among schools, it is not feasible to establish a single program for each profession that satisfies the admission requirements of all professional schools.  In the field of law, however, the College of Social Science has suggested programs of study that satisfy the admission requirements of most law schools.  It is the student’s responsibility to determine whether a proposed program meets the entrance requirements of the desired professional school.

Prelaw. Prelaw programs in the College of Social Science are available through the Department of Political Science and the Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science Program. For additional information refer to those sections and to the university statement on prelaw programs in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog.

Premed. Students preparing for medical school may pursue a premed program in combination with the B.S. degree program in several majors in the College, such as Anthropology, Human Development and Family Studies, Psychology, Sociology or the Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science (Health and Society) major.  Declared premed students will be advised by a preprofessional advisor in the College of Natural Science as well as by the academic advisor in their Social Science major.

The College of Social Science encourages honors students to develop distinctive undergraduate programs in their chosen fields.  In each major a specially designated Honors Advisor, usually a member of the faculty, assists students to plan a rigorous and balanced program tailored to the students’ individual interests and abilities.

Departments and schools of the college offer honors courses and seminars at both introductory and advanced levels.  These courses are provided chiefly, but not exclusively, for members of the Honors College.  In addition, the college offers independent study and research opportunities for Honors College students whose interests in social, behavioral, and economic science reach beyond the topics covered by college courses.

The Minor in Chicano/Latino Studies, which is administered by the College of Social Science, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University.  Although the minor complements a number of major fields, students who wish to pursue careers in education, social work, government, healthcare, in businesses that serve mixed ethnic communities or who plan graduate study related to the arts and humanities or social sciences may find the minor particularly appealing.  With the approval of the department and college that administer the student's degree program, the courses used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor's degree.

The Minor in Chicano/Latino Studies is designed to develop students’ understanding of the multicultural dimensions of society; to gain knowledge of Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x scholarship and scholars; and to apply that knowledge to the study of Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x communities and life. The minor draws on research, teaching, and community service among Chicanas/os/xs and Latinas/os/xs that: (1) focuses intensively on the histories of different racial and cultural subgroups of Latinas/os/xs; (2) draws larger theoretical lessons from comparisons among Latina/o/x groups and between Latina/o/x and non–Latina/o/x populations; (3) seeks to articulate general principles that shape racial and ethnic relations; (4) explores how ethnic identity is constructed and reconstructed over time; and (5) develops methodologies and principles which empower students to enhance leadership and human relations within diverse communities of peoples and conditions.

Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the Director of Chicano/Latino Studies.

Requirements for the Minor in Chicano/Latino Studies

The student must complete a total of 15 credits including:

The Minor in Contemporary Global Studies, which is administered by the College of Social Science, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University.  With the approval of the department and college that administer the student's degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor's degree.

The Minor in Contemporary Global Studies is designed for students who wish to increase their understanding of the impact of globalization with an interdisciplinary lens. Students will learn about contemporary global issues and how they shape their everyday experiences at an individual, community, and societal level. Students will also learn effective ways to investigate and document global and local issues that shape globalization. 
Topical courses abroad and internship experiences abroad could be utilized as part of the minor with the approval of a faculty member or a Center for Integrative Studies in Social Science faculty or advisor. 

Requirements for the Minor in Contemporary Global Studies

Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits from the following: