Social Sciences at Ozarks
Major
The Social Sciences major is intended for those students with interests and career goals which transcend the disciplines in the Social Sciences. Those disciplines are: Political Science, Geography, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology. These disciplines share perspectives which focus on individuals as contributing members of communities (e.g., familial, religious, political, spatial, economic) and which focus on structures and their functions within communities. These disciplines employ common methodological strategies, such as the use of descriptive and predictive models and the use of comparative analysis (e.g., ideological, institutional, and procedural).
The Social Sciences major is structured around two objectives: providing breadth of study through comprehensive exposure to content and methodology across the disciplines; and, providing flexibility relative to professional preparation and career tracks. Accordingly, the curriculum is divided into a mandatory core requirement of 19 hours and an area of concentration of 33 hours, for a total of 52 hours, of which 25 hours must be upper level hours.
Requirements for a Major
CORE
ECN 2003, GEO 2033, PLS 2013, PSY 1003, SOC 1013, SSS 4432 and SSS 4442
AREA OF CONCENTRATION (These areas are B.S. degrees.)
By the start of the junior year, students will have selected a discipline specific area of concentration (i.e., Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology) and will have selected an appropriate faculty advisor. For organizational and advising purposes, concentration areas will be designated as Sociology, Psychology, Political Science (including Geography and Economics). Students and their advisors will determine course selection, totaling 33 hours, of which 21 hours must be upper level to craft a program tailored towards students’ interests and career plans. Such course selection must include two courses each, of which one must be upper level, in the two discipline clusters outside of the main concentration. Thus, students who focus
on Sociology will have to take two courses from the Psychology and two courses from the Political Science areas, students who focus on Psychology will have to take two courses from the Sociology and two courses from the Political Science areas, and students who focus on Political Science will have to take two courses from the Psychology and two courses from the Sociology areas. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisors on the appropriate selection of courses related to their career aspirations (e.g., social services, law school, graduate school).
SOCIAL STUDIES CAREER TRACK IN PUBLIC EDUCATION (This track is B.A. degree.)
The courses in this track are selected in accordance with the licensure standards as stipulated by the National Council for the Social Studies. Students will take the courses listed above as the Core courses for the Social Science major. Students who intend to teach Social Studies 7-12 will take, in fulfillment of the university general education requirements, the following history courses:
HIS 2013, HIS 2023, and HIS 2113.
They will select a faculty advisor from among the Social Sciences faculty. Students in the Social Studies Career Track are encouraged to declare a minor in History. The following courses will constitute the 33 hours of concentration for the Social Studies.
ECN 2013, GEO 2023 or GEO 2043, HIS 2123, HIS 3003,
PSY 3123 or SOC 3073,
SSS 3113/PLS 3113,
SSS 3123/PLS 3123,
SSS 3133/PLS 3133,
SSS 3143/PLS 3143,
Two upper-level History courses.
Students will also have to fulfill the requirements for teacher licensure as stipulated by the Division of Education. All Social Sciences majors will have to take an advanced placement examination (e.g., LSAT, GRE, PRAXIS) prior to graduation.
Social Sciences faculty, through consensus, will designate one of their number as the responsible party for the administration of the major. That individual will be responsible for assessment of the major, licensure processes for the social studies career track, and maintaining lines of communication among the Social Sciences faculty as well as, with regard to social studies licensure, with faculty in History and Education.
Prospective students are encouraged to view Ozarks suggested eight semester plans before pursuing a degree in Social Sciences.
