Social Science, BS

After earning a Bachelor of Science with a major in social science, you will have a greater understanding of societal needs, diverse cultures and individual responsibility. You will possess a greater understanding of culture diversity and global issues, as well as communication and digital skills necessary to be competitive in the workforce.

Degree requirements

The following requirements must be satisfied for a Bachelor of Science with a major in social science.

Hours required and general/college requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfill all degree requirements for the Bachelor’s degree as specified in the University Core Curriculum in the Academic policies section of this catalog.

Major requirements

An interdisciplinary major in social science for the Bachelor of Science degree requires 48 semester hours in the social sciences, 27 of which must be advanced. The primary field must include 18 hours in one field, of which 12 hours must be advanced. The remaining 30 hours must be taken in at least two other of these fields. Fields must be chosen from anthropology, economics, geography (human geography only), history, philosophy, political science, psychology, social work or sociology.

Other course requirements

Students must complete two courses (6 hours; one course per group) from:

Group 1: Technical, professional and scientific communication. An advanced level course that will significantly enhance the student’s ability to communicate effectively in his or her field, with emphasis on practical written and verbal skills.
Group 2: Global leadership and intercultural perspectives. An advanced level course that will emphasize large-scale connectivity by broadening the student’s cultural and global leadership experience and understanding of global challenges and issues.

Courses must be chosen from a predetermined list, in consultation with an academic counselor (GAB 220) for inclusion in the student’s degree audit. Note with counselor approval, foreign language (2040 and 2050) may be substituted for this requirement.

Minor

None required.

Electives

Hours required for electives may vary based on course selection and the University Core Curriculum requirements . Electives may be required to satisfy the advanced hour requirement (42) and/or the minimum total hours required for the degree. For specific information, see an academic advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Additional information

For more information concerning this major, contact an academic counselor in the Dean’s Office for Undergraduates and Student Advising, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences GAB, Room 220.

Four-year degree plan (example)

The following four-year plan is one example of a variety of ways in which you can complete your chosen degree in four years, and will serve as a guide for you to design your pathway to degree completion. Variations will depend on whether you need to take prerequisites or have college credit from exams or dual enrollment.

Year 1

Semester 1		Semester 2
ENGL 1310 - First-Year Writing I	3 hours	ENGL 1320 - First-Year Writing II	3 hours
PSCI 2306 - US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions	3 hours	PSCI 2305 - US Political Behavior and Policy	3 hours
Mathematics core	3 hours	Component Area Option A core	3 hours
Social and Behavioral Sciences core	3 hours	Life and Physical Sciences core	3 hours
Social Science Combined Field Selection**	3 hours	Social Science Combined Field Selection**	3 hours
Total	15 hours	Total	15 hours

Year 2

Semester 1		Semester 2
HIST 2610 - United States History to 1865	3 hours	HIST 2620 - United States History Since 1865	3 hours
Language, Philosophy and Culture core	3 hours	Component Area Option B core	3 hours
Life and Physical Sciences core	3 hours	Creative Arts core	3 hours
Social Science Field Selection*	3 hours	Social Science Field Selection*	3 hours
Social Science Combined Field Selection**	3 hours	Social Science Combined Field Selection**	3 hours
Total	15 hours	Total	15 hours

Year 3

Semester 1		Semester 2
Social Science Combined Field Selection**	3 hours	Social Science Field Selection-advanced*	3 hours
Social Science Combined Field Selection-advanced**	3 hours	Social Science Combined Field Selection-advanced**	3 hours
Technical communication-advanced***	3 hours	Social Science Combined Field Selection-advanced**	3 hours
Elective	3 hours	Global leadership-advanced***	3 hours
Elective-advanced	3 hours	Elective	3 hours
Total	15 hours	Total	15 hours

Year 4

Semester 1		Semester 2
Social Science Field Selection-advanced*	3 hours	Social Science Field Selection-advanced*	3 hours
Social Science Combined Field Selection-advanced**	3 hours	Social Science Field Selection-advanced*	3 hours
Social Science Combined Field Selection-advanced**	3 hours	Elective	3 hours
Elective	3 hours	Elective	3 hours
Elective-advanced	3 hours	Elective-advanced	3 hours
Total	15 hours	Total	15 hours

Notes:

*Social Science Field Selection: 18 hours from one chosen field. See “Major Requirements” above for field selection options.

**Social Science Combined Field Selection: 30 hours from at least two other fields. See “Major Requirements” above for field selection options.

***See “Other course requirements” above.