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:
- Courses applied to the university requirements in Integrative Studies and Mathematics may not also be counted toward the college graduation requirements.
- Unless otherwise noted, no more than two courses offered by a student’s major department or school may be counted toward the college requirements.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- BREADTH REQUIREMENT
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). Students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs in the college may elect the Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. For additional information, refer to the statement on Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
- DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS
- 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.
- A maximum of 12 credits of independent study may be applied to the degree.
- A maximum of 12 credits of internship, field experience, or practicum credits may be applied to the degree.
- The total of independent study, internship, field experience, and practicum credits applied to the degree may not exceed 20 credits.
Bachelor of Science
- 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.
- BREADTH REQUIREMENT
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). Students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs in the college may elect the Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. For additional information, refer to the statement on Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
- 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.
- DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS
- 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.
- A maximum of 12 credits of independent study may be applied to the degree.
- A maximum of 12 credits of internship, field experience, or practicum credits may be applied to the degree.
- The total of independent study, internship, field experience, and practicum credits applied to the degree may not exceed 20 credits.