Program Overview

Social Science Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS)

The Social Science Undergraduate Major is available at OSU-Cascades, offering options in Community Development and Leadership, Cultures and Identities, General Social Science, Humans and the Environment, and Law and Society. This program enables students to investigate social and cultural dynamics, explore the impact of these dynamics on sustainable community development, and examine the role of effective community leadership in positive social change.

Program Overview

• The Social Science program contains scientific investigation and theory pertaining to human individuals, social groups, institutions, and ideologies.
• Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
  • Demonstrate understanding and the value of communication competence in group and interpersonal communication.
  • Apply concepts from the social sciences to assess human-ecological systems.
  • Demonstrate proficiency with critical thinking, analysis of problems, and synthesis of data.
  • Communicate and collaborate with multiple audiences of diverse backgrounds and interests.
  • Be prepared to pursue further professional or academic endeavors in one's selected discipline.

Requirements

BA Requirement

• College of Liberal Arts BA: 24 credits
• College of Liberal Arts Core 1: 12 credits
• Social Science Major: 17 credits
• Required Option: 21-25 credits
• Bacc Core and Electives 2: 106-110 credits
• Total Credits: 180

BS Requirement

• College of Liberal Arts BS: 15 credits
• College of Liberal Arts Core 1: 12 credits
• Social Science Major: 17 credits
• Required Option: 21-25 credits
• Bacc Core and Electives 2: 115-119 credits
• Total Credits: 180

Social Science Major

• A minimum GPA of 2.3 is required for graduation.
• Courses for the major cannot be taken S/U.
• Course List:
  • Core:
    • SSCI 211: CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (1 credit)
    • SSCI 301: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (4 credits)
    • SSCI 406: PROJECTS (3 credits)
    • COMM 321: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION THEORY (3 credits)
    • ANTH 352: ANTHROPOLOGY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT (3 credits)
    • SUS 420: SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY (3 credits)
  • Required Option: 21-25 credits
  • Total Credits: 38-42

Sample Plan

Social Science BA

• First Year:
  • Fall: WR 121Z, Bacc Core: Western Culture, Language 111, Bacc Core: Mathematics (15 credits)
  • Winter: CLA Core: Humanities, Writing II, Bacc Core: Physical Science, Language 112 (15 credits)
  • Spring: Bacc Core: Speech, Additional Science, Language 113, Elective (15 credits)
• Second Year:
  • Fall: Language 211, Bacc Core: Biological Science, CLA Core: Fine Arts, Elective (15 credits)
  • Winter: HHS 231, Language 212, Bacc Core: PAC, Bacc Core: Literature & The Arts, Elective (15 credits)
  • Spring: Language 213, Bacc Core: Social Processes & Institutions, Bacc Core: Difference, Power & Discrimination, Elective (15 credits)
• Third Year:
  • Fall: SSCI 211, COMM 321, Option Course, Bacc Core: Cultural Diversity, Bacc Core: Contemporary Global Issues (15 credits)
  • Winter: SSCI 301, CLA Core: Non-Western Culture, Option Course, Upper-Division Elective (15 credits)
  • Spring: ANTH 352, Option Course, Bacc Core: Science, Technology & Society, CLA Core: Additional Course, Elective (16 credits)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: Option Course, Upper-Division Elective, Upper-Division Elective, Elective (15 credits)
  • Winter: SUS 420, Option Course, Option Course, Upper-Division Elective (15 credits)
  • Spring: SSCI 406, Option Course, Upper-Division Elective, Upper-Division Elective (14 credits)
• Total Credits: 180

Social Science BS

• First Year:
  • Fall: WR 121Z, MTH 111Z, Bacc Core: Western Culture, Bacc Core: PAC, Elective (15 credits)
  • Winter: Writing II, CLA Core: Humanities, Bacc Core: Physical Science, Elective (14 credits)
  • Spring: Bacc Core: Speech, Additional Science, Bacc Core: Difference, Power & Discrimination, Elective (15 credits)
• Second Year:
  • Fall: Bacc Core: Cultural Diversity, Bacc Core: Biological Science, CLA Core: Fine Arts, BS Computer Science (14 credits)
  • Winter: HHS 231, Bacc Core: Literature & The Arts, CLA Core: Non-Western Culture, BS Science, Elective (16 credits)
  • Spring: Bacc Core: Social Processes & Institutions, Elective, Elective, Elective (15 credits)
• Third Year:
  • Fall: SSCI 211, COMM 321, Option Course, BS Math/Stats, Bacc Core: Contemporary Global Issues (15 credits)
  • Winter: SSCI 301, Option Course, BS Math/Stats, Upper-Division Elective (15 credits)
  • Spring: ANTH 352, Option Course, Bacc Core: Science, Technology & Society, CLA Core: Additional Course, Elective (15 credits)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: Option Course, Upper-Division Elective, Upper-Division Elective, Elective, Elective (16 credits)
  • Winter: SUS 420, Option Course, Option Course, Upper-Division Elective (15 credits)
  • Spring: SSCI 406, Upper-Division Elective, Option Course, Elective (15 credits)
• Total Credits: 180