Social Science: B.A., B.S.

Program Details

The Social Science area of study includes a variety of academic disciplines and approaches. Social science traditions explore a range of social, political and economic issues. Students who develop programs in Social Science examine theories, methods, problems and solutions in their chosen concentrations. Students who develop degrees in Social Science develop the capacity to think critically about the social world and act as informed citizens and community members.

Bachelor’s Degree programs in Social Science must meet the six foundations listed below.

Degrees in Social Science include the following six foundations:

  1. Broad Social Perspective
  2. Historical and Comparative Perspectives
  3. Perspectives on Power and Privilege
  4. Theoretical Perspectives
  5. Social Science Research Methods
  6. Critical Thinking and Analysis

These foundations may be met through transcript credit; college-level knowledge demonstrated through individual prior learning assessment (iPLA), professional learning evaluations (PLE), or credit by examination; or individual courses, a series of courses, or components within individual courses with Empire State University. The student’s Degree Program Rationale Essay should clearly explain how the degree plan meets each of the foundations in the concentration, what will be learned, and how the student will build on these foundations to meet personal, academic, or career goals.

Foundation #1: Broad Social Science Perspective

Courses that meet this guideline include (but are not limited to): 

ANTH 1010Introduction to Cultural Anthropology4
SOCI 1005Exploring Society: An Introduction to Sociology4
SOCI 2010Introduction to Race Class & Gender4
SOCI 3100Sociology of Law4
POLI 1005Introduction to Political Science4
POLI 2010The U.S. Political System4

Foundation #2: Historical and Comparative Perspectives

Courses that meet this guideline include (but are not limited to): 

ANTH 3015Environmental Anthropology4
ANTH 3020Families in Global Perspective4
ANTH 3025Health & Illness in Global Perspective4
ANTH 3035Latin American & Caribbean Societies4
CRJS 2005Introduction to Criminology: Theorizing Crime4
GSST 1005Introduction to Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies4
POLI 3005America's Founding Ideas4
POLI 3020Comparative Politics4
POLI 3105The American Presidency4
POLI 3115The United States Constitution4
SOSC 2005Schooling in America4
SOCI 2020Social Problems in US Society4
SOCI 3020Memory & Society4
SOCI 3025Contemporary Global Social Issues4
SOCI 3055Family & Society4
SOCI 4035Privacy Security & Freedom: Social Concerns for the 21st Century4

Foundation #3: Perspectives on Power and Privilege

Courses that meet this guideline include (but are not limited to): 

ANTH 3122Sex & Gender in Global Perspective4
CRJS 4030Women Crime & Criminology4
GSST 2005Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies4
GSST 3008LGBTQ+ Youth & Education4
GSST 3152Queering American Culture4
POLI 2013Race in United States Politics4
POLI 4015Race Law & Politics4
SOCI 3010Aging & Society4
SOCI 4030Power & Privilege4

Foundation #4: Theoretical Perspectives

Courses that meet this guideline include (but are not limited to): 

POLI 3080Modern Political Theory4
SOCI 3125The Sociological Imagination4
SOSC 3015Great Conversations in Social Thought4

Foundation #5: Social Science Research Methods

Courses that meet this guideline include (but are not limited to): 

SOSC 2010Statistics for the Social Sciences4
SOSC 3020Qualitative Social Science Research: Design & Methods4
SOSC 3025Social Science Research Methods4

Foundation #6: Critical Thinking and Analysis

Courses that meet this guideline include (but are not limited to): 

Any 3000 or 4000 level course in ANTH
Any 3000 or 4000 level course in GSST
Any 3000 or 4000 level course in LEST
Any 3000 or 4000 level course in POLI
Any 3000 or 4000 level course in SOCI
Any 3000 or 4000 level course in SOSC

Learning Outcomes

  • Foundation 1: Broad Social Science Perspective, Students will be able to define Social Science vocabulary, questions and topics.
  • Foundation 1: Broad Social Science Perspective, Students will be able to examine relationships among different elements of social life (e.g., institutions, systems of belief, cultural patterns, or political and economic structures of society).
  • Foundation 2: Historical and Comparative Perspectives, Students will be able to describe how key elements of social life vary across time, place and culture.
  • Foundation 3: Perspectives on Power and Privilege, Students will be able to examine the dynamics of power and privilege in relation to race, class, gender, age, sexuality, etc.
  • Foundation 4: Theoretical Perspectives, Students will be able to define relevant concepts and theories.
  • Foundation 4: Theoretical Perspectives, Students will be able to analyze the strengths, limitations and significance of relevant concepts and theories.
  • Foundation 5: Social Science Research Methods, Students will be able to define tools and methods used in Social Science research.
  • Foundation 5: Social Science Research Methods, Students will be able to analyze strengths and limitations of Social Science research methodologies.
  • Foundation 5: Social Science Research Methods, Students will be able to analyze ethical issues embedded in Social Science research.
  • Foundation 6: Critical Thinking and Analysis, Students will be able to evaluate key concepts, assumptions, theories and research from a social science perspective.

Concentration guidelines

Specific guidelines have been developed for concentrations in the following areas:

If you are interested in an area not listed here, please contact your mentor about designing your own concentration.

Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropology is a discipline that is devoted to the study of how people organize and create cultural systems, and in turn are shaped by those beliefs, ideas, and physical environments.  Students who develop programs in Social Science with a concentration in Cultural Anthropology are often curious about how and why people live the way they do, and they are interested in learning more about people in different parts of the world. 

Bachelor’s degree programs in Social Science with a concentration in Cultural Anthropology must meet the six foundations listed below. It is suggested that one course not be used to fulfill more than one Foundation (with the exception of foundation #6). Students will explain how they meet each relevant learning outcome in their rationale essay.  Knowledge of each outcome can be demonstrated through transcript credit; individual prior learning assessment (iPLA), prior learning evaluation (PLE), or credit by examination; or specific courses at Empire State University. 

Foundation #1: Broad Social Science Perspective 

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to define Social Science vocabulary, questions and topics. 
  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to examine relationships among different elements of social life (e.g., institutions, systems of belief, cultural patterns, or political and economic structures of society). 
Required Course
ANTH 1010Introduction to Cultural Anthropology4

Foundation #2: Historical and Comparative Perspectives 

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to describe how key elements of social life vary across time, place and culture. 

Choose two courses that focus on geographic areas such as: 

Choose two courses that focus on geographic areas
ANTH 3035Latin American & Caribbean Societies4
HIST 1055East Asia4
HIST 2010Mexico: History & Culture4
HIST 2015Native American Histories & Cultures: Introduction4
HIST 3010African History & Culture4
HIST 3140Caribbean: Cruises Carnival & Colonization4
HIST 3330Latin America in the Contemporary World4
HIST 3340Middle East4

Foundation #3: Perspectives on Power and Privilege  

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to examine the dynamics of power and privilege in relation to race, class, gender, age, sexuality, etc. 
Choose at least one of the following courses
ANTH 3030Immigration Today: Gender & Family4
ANTH 3122Sex & Gender in Global Perspective4
SOCI 2010Introduction to Race Class & Gender4
SOCI 4030Power & Privilege4
Any GSST course4

Foundation #4:  Theoretical Perspectives 

In relation to their chosen topics, questions or problems: 

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to define relevant concepts and theories. 
  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to analyze the strengths, limitations and significance of relevant concepts and theories. 
Required Course
SOSC 3015Great Conversations in Social Thought4
Two additional courses that address topics in anthropological theory such as
ANTH 3015Environmental Anthropology4
ANTH 3020Families in Global Perspective4
ANTH 3025Health & Illness in Global Perspective4
ANTH 3030Immigration Today: Gender & Family4
ANTH 3045Travel & Tourism: Critical Perspectives4
ANTH 3122Sex & Gender in Global Perspective4

Foundation #5:  Social Science Research Methods 

In relation to their chosen topics, questions or problems: 

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to define tools and methods used in social-science research. 
  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to analyze strengths and limitations of social-science research methodologies. 
  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to analyze ethical issues embedded in social-science research. 
Required Course
SOSC 3020Qualitative Social Science Research: Design & Methods4
Additional elective courses
SOSC 3025Social Science Research Methods4
SOSC 2010Statistics for the Social Sciences4

Foundation #6:  Critical Thinking and Analysis 

In relation to their chosen topics, questions or problems: 

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to evaluate key concepts, assumptions, theories and research from a Social Science perspective. 
Any 3000 or 4000 level course in ANTH

Sociology Concentration

Sociology is the study of social life and social change, as well as the social structures and institutions that shape our lives.  Sociologists use different empirical methods to analyze social problems. Students who develop degrees in social science with a concentration in sociology are curious about how societies function and change, why social injustice and inequalities occur, and explore the forces that unite and divide us.

Bachelor's degree programs in Social Science with a concentration in Sociology must meet the six foundations listed below. Students will explain how they meet each relevant learning outcome in their rationale essay.  Knowledge of each outcome can be demonstrated through transcript credit; individualized prior learning assessment (iPLA), professional learning evaluation (PLE); credit by examination; or specific courses at Empire State University. 

Foundation #1: Broad Social Science Perspective

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to define Social Science vocabulary, questions, and topics.
  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to examine relationships among different elements of social life (e.g., institutions, systems of belief, cultural patterns, or political and economic structures of society).
Required Course
SOCI 1005Exploring Society: An Introduction to Sociology4

Foundation #2: Historical and Comparative Perspectives

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to describe how key elements of social life vary across time, place, and culture.
Choose at least 2 courses with at least one at the 3000/4000 level
ANTH 1010Introduction to Cultural Anthropology4
CRJS 4010Comparative Criminal Justice Systems4
GSST 1005Introduction to Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies4
SOCI 2020Social Problems in US Society4
SOCI 3020Memory & Society4
SOCI 3025Contemporary Global Social Issues4
SOCI 3045Disaster & Society4
SOCI 3055Family & Society4
SOCI 3065Perspectives on Terrorism4
SOCI 3095Sociology of Education4
SOCI 4035Privacy Security & Freedom: Social Concerns for the 21st Century4
SOSC 2005Schooling in America4
CRJS 2005Introduction to Criminology: Theorizing Crime4

Foundation #3: Perspectives on Power and Privilege

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to examine the dynamics of power and privilege in relation to race, class, gender, age, sexuality, etc.
Choose one course
SOCI 2010Introduction to Race Class & Gender4
or SOCI 4030 Power & Privilege
Additional optional courses
GSST 2005Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies4
GSST/EDST 3008LGBTQ+ Youth & Education4
POLI 2013Race in United States Politics4
POLI 4015Race Law & Politics4
SOCI 3010Aging & Society4

Foundation #4: Theoretical Perspectives

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to define relevant concepts and theories.
  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to analyze the strengths, limitations and significance of relevant concepts and theories.
Choose one course
SOSC 3015Great Conversations in Social Thought4
or SOCI 3125 The Sociological Imagination

Foundation #5: Social Science Research Methods

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to define tools and methods used in social-science research.
  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to analyze strengths and limitations of Social Science research methodologies.
  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to analyze ethical issues embedded in Social Science research.
     
Required Course
SOSC 2010Statistics for the Social Sciences4
Choose one additional required course
SOSC 3020Qualitative Social Science Research: Design & Methods4
or SOSC 3025 Social Science Research Methods

Foundation #6: Critical Thinking and Analysis

  • Learning Outcome: Students will be able to evaluate key concepts, assumptions, theories, and research from a Social Science perspective.
Any 3000/4000 level course in ANTH
Any 3000/4000 level course in CRJS
Any 3000/4000 level course in LEST
Any 3000/4000 level course in PAFF
Any 3000/4000 level course in POLI
Any 3000/4000 level course in SOCI
Any 3000/4000 level course in SOSC

See sample degree programs at Department of Social Science and Public Affairs website under Degree Planning Resources.