Social and Behavioral Science Major with a Concentration in Culture and Society

This interdisciplinary major provides the basis for a broad education in social science, leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Social and Behavioral Sciences (referred to as “SOBS”). Unlike traditional majors, SOBS offers students a unique learning experience based on their own interests across multiple academic fields. Students choose a combination of courses in one of three career-focused tracks (Allied Health; Policy, Justice and Administration; and Culture and Society) from among several social science disciplines, including:

• Anthropology
• Criminal justice
• Economics
• Political science
• Psychology
• Social work
• Sociology

The program is an excellent springboard for graduate studies as well as work in:

• Public, nonprofit and private sector administration
• Research
• Teaching
• Public health
• Social services
• Social justice

The SOBS major is an ideal foundation for essential professional skills such as creative thinking and synthesis of ideas across multiple fields. Students can complete their core requirements and the SOBS major within six semesters. This provides students the flexibility to potentially explore additional academic interests, dovetail minors or certificate programs, study abroad, or take prerequisite courses for graduate and professional school programs.

Major in Social and Behavioral Sciences Program

Program Requirements

In addition to meeting the standards and requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, degree candidates must complete program requirements for a total of 36 credits.

All SOBS students will complete:

1. Foundational courses (12 credits), which include a combination of introductory courses across the social sciences and the option of one integrated human science course with a career planning component;
2. Focused courses (18 credits) which entail integration of courses across the social sciences aimed at a specific professional knowledge area;
3. Research methods and Senior Seminar (SOBS 5002 Sem-Social and Beh Science) capstone (6 credits), which require a statistics prerequisite of one the following:

• MATH 1101 Stat Concepts and Methods
• MATH 1203 Stats Models for Soc Science 

Students are encouraged to complete a minor and/or certificate depending on his/her specialized interests and career path. Three (3) credits from the SOBS major requirement are permitted to fulfill a minor or certificate requirement.

In consultation with the SOBS advisor and participating faculty, students will craft a personalized curriculum from several disciplines aligned with one the three offered tracks for a total of 36 credits. Many of the courses fulfill categories in the College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required.

Culture and Society Track (36 credits)