Social Sciences is an interdisciplinary major with courses from the Departments of Economics; Geography and Environmental Planning; History; Political Science; and Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice.
The program is designed for those students who do not wish to major in a single discipline, but are interested in a broad education that transcends traditional department boundaries. It is useful for those students who plan to enter graduate school for an advanced degree in one of the disciplines of the program; for those students who plan to enter professional schools for a degree in law, social service, or a phase of law enforcement; or for those students who seek a broad background in preparation for employment in business, industry or a government agency. The secondary education concentration is particularly designed for students planning to teach social studies at the secondary school level.
The major offers students the choice of two programs:
Social Sciences Majors with a concentration in Secondary Education are eligible for Maryland State Department of Education certification to teach history/social studies at the secondary level upon graduation.
Students do not need approval to select the concentration as part of their major, but they must be admitted to the Secondary Education program in order to complete the certification requirements. For admission information and the application, see Secondary Education.
All students majoring in Social Sciences, including those in the Secondary Education concentration, must complete a graduation portfolio consisting of essays and research papers written for courses taken in the major as well as a reflective essay. The portfolio is due to the program director before the completion of the final semester of study. See the program director for more information.
View degree requirements and course descriptions in the Undergraduate Catalog.