Social Sciences BA

Students and faculty in FDU’s Department of Social Sciences, History, and Criminal Justice examine some of humanity’s most pressing concerns through wide-ranging coursework in government and politics, history, geography, law, and sociology.

Have you ever wondered why the world exists as it does? Why are there nations, wars, international organizations, and borders?  Where did inequality come from, and why in our era of plenty does it continue to exist?  What does it mean to be healthy?  Why is good governance so difficult, and has technology made leadership more complicated than it was before?  Have you wondered what you can do to help? The Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (aka BASS) offers students the opportunity to answer these societal questions and more.

The BASS – with a rich range of concentrations- is a flexible degree that takes advantage of our faculty’s expertise and dedication to undergraduate teaching and mentoring across the social sciences and history to equip you with the skills and abilities to tackle these and other difficult matters our global society faces. 

Available Concentrations

History and Government Concentration

This concentration is designed to understand the complexities of societal change, continuity, and structure.

About the Program

The BASS concentration in History and Government offers the skill sets and knowledge to understand complex subjects by providing students with a guided sampling of courses in these related fields.  One can think of History as the study of the past to understand why things happened using analysis, interpretation of evidence, and narrative construction.  Historians are interested in the continuities and changes of the past while understanding that every new generation brings its own unique questions to its study.  History compliments the study of Government (and vice versa), as both fields help us understand how societies have, and continue to, organize themselves.   Political science seeks theoretical explanations for human governance, administration, relations, and law.  Because human actions are fundamentally political actions, the field is broad and diverse, emphasizing evidence-based studies that are repeatable and then applicable to policy-making action.

Students choosing this BASS concentration begin with a choice of introductory survey courses in World History, American Government and Politics, as well as Global Politics, before moving towards upper-division courses in both disciplines. Students also gain hands-on experience in the gathering of knowledge through their choice of qualitative or quantitative research methods and a senior interdisciplinary capstone in the social sciences. The program encourages students to further explore opportunities outside the classroom with internships, independent studies, study abroad, and participation in Model UN.

Potential Career Paths

According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, graduates with degrees in History and Politics can pursue a variety of career paths, including:

  • Business
  • Consulting Services
  • Education
  • Government
  • Law
  • Library Archives
  • Museums
  • Non-Profits and NGO’s, including the United Nations
  • Research and Development Services

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will learn to comprehend and analyze social relationships within human societies with an awareness of how data is presented and to identify potential bias and ethical consequences. Students will conduct critical inquiry, analysis, and interpretation of subject materials. Students will develop the skills to become knowledgeable and participatory citizens in civil society.

Major Requirements (30 cr)

Required Major Courses (18 cr)

  • Introductory survey courses (9 credits)
  • Three courses at the 1000 level in at least two disciplines within the major. (choose from HIST, GEOG, GOVT, SOCI)

Upper division courses (9 credits) that include:

  • Methods in Social Research (SOSCI 3500)

                             Or

  • Qualitative Research Methods (SOSCI 3510)
  • Senior Capstone in Social Science (SOSCI 4400)
  • One additional upper-division (3000 and above) course in any discipline within the major

History and Government Concentration (12 cr)

  • GOVT/HIST XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • GOVT/HIST XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • GOVT/HIST XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • GOVT/HIST XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • Free Electives (48 cr)

 

Environmental Studies Concentration

About the Program

The twenty-first century is replete with complex sustainability challenges that require an integrative, historical understanding of human and environmental phenomena. The BASS with a concentration in Environmental Studies gives students an interdisciplinary overview of the dynamic interactions between social, political, and economic structures and Earth’s physical and biological systems. Coursework will prepare students to be active participants in the work to build a sustainable future on Earth on the basis of sound evidence.

Students begin with introductory courses in human-environment geography and environmental science. Continued study involves courses in social sciences and management, choices in qualitative and quantitative research methods, data visualization and mapping, international perspectives, and a senior interdisciplinary capstone in the social sciences, all shared with other BASS concentrations in the social sciences (that double-counts for a General Education requirement). The program encourages students to further explore opportunities outside the classroom with internships, independent studies, and study abroad. 

Potential Career Paths

According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, graduates with degrees in Environmental Studies can pursue a variety of paths, including:

  • Business (sustainable and green technology)
  • Journalism
  • Education
  • Government
  • Law
  • Legal And Policy Research
  • Lobbying and Advocacy
  • Non-Profits and NGO’s
  • Research and Development Services
  • Consulting Services

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to understand and critically scrutinize relevant issues within the environmental studies literature — including scholarship in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities — and apply this understanding to novel problems and contexts. Students will develop proficiency in communicating environmental studies concepts verbally, in writing, and through data mapping and visualization. They will become proficient in applying the scientific method to generate hypotheses, collect data, design and conduct experiments, and analyze a broad range of environmental data. Students will develop the critical thinking skills necessary to debate, deliberate, and organize for change in local, regional, national, and global policies and practices.

Major Requirements (30 cr)

Required Major Courses (18 cr)

  • Introductory survey courses (9 credits)
  • Three courses at the 1000 level in at least two disciplines within the major

Upper division courses (9 credits) that include:

  • Methods in Social Research (SOSCI 3500)

                             Or

  • Qualitative Research Methods (SOSCI 3510)
  • Senior Capstone in Social Science (SOSCI 4400)
  • One additional upper-division (3000 and above) course in any discipline within the major

Environmental Studies Concentration (12 cr)

  • GEOG XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • GEOG XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • GEOG XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • GEOG XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • Free Electives (48 cr)

 

Health and Society Concentration

This concentration provides an interdisciplinary overview of the complex relationships linking social forces with historic and current patterns in health and healthcare.

About the Program

Health and illness are central aspects of human experience that are deeply shaped by cultural, political, and socio-economic conditions that vary over time and through different national/regional contexts. The BASS with a concentration in Health and Society is designed to provide students with an interdisciplinary overview of the complex relationship linking social forces and historic and contemporary patterns in health, disease, and healthcare provision. By exploring how different societies define what it means to be healthy or sick, why some groups suffer disproportionate burdens of disease and premature death, how culture shapes the delivery of health care, and how individuals experience illness in their everyday lives, students will gain valuable insights on how to participate effectively and ethically in the medical workforce.

Students will be introduced to the concentration through a choice between freshman surveys in Sociology and Geography, and will then move towards upper-division courses. The course study will include choices in qualitative and quantitative research methods and a senior interdisciplinary capstone in the social sciences, all shared with other BASS concentrations in the area. The program encourages students to further explore opportunities outside the classroom with internships, independent studies, and study abroad.

Potential Career Paths

The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to equip students to pursue a range of career paths in an area that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is projected to grow much faster than others in the next ten years. These include:

  • Medicine
  • Advance nursing
  • Public health
  • Health policy
  • Health advocacy
  • Genetic counseling
  • Athletic Training
  • Audiologist
  • Social work

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will learn to understand and analyze human behaviors and social relationships within human society. Additionally, they will learn how to interpret information, evaluate data presentation, identify potential bias, and evaluate ethical dilemmas. They will also conduct critical inquiry, analysis, and interpretation of subject materials. Finally, students will develop the skills necessary to become knowledgeable and participatory citizens in civil society. 

Major Requirements (30 cr)

Required Major Courses (18 cr)

  • Introductory survey courses (9 credits)
  • Three courses at the 1000 level in at least two disciplines within the major

Upper division courses (9 credits) that include:

  • Methods in Social Research (SOSCI 3500)

                             Or

  • Qualitative Research Methods (SOSCI 3510)
  • Senior Capstone in Social Science (SOSCI 4400)
  • One additional upper-division (3000 and above) course in any discipline within the major

Health And Society Concentration (12 credits)

  • HEALTH/SOSCIXXXX _______________________(3)
  • HEALTH/SOSCIXXX________________________ (3)
  • HEALTH/SOSCIXXX________________________ (3)
  • HEALTH/SOSCIXX_________________________ (3)
  • Free Electives (48 cr)

 

Hispanic Studies Concentration

This concentration emphasizes Latin American history, geography, literature, and sociopolitical issues, providing an understanding of Latino communities in the Americas and beyond.

About the Program

The BASS in Hispanic Studies is a concentration created to provide students with an understanding of Latino communities in the United States as well as the history of Latin America as a region, in a way that will prepare them for their future. This concentration is led mostly by international faculty, emphasizing Latin American history, geography, literature, and sociopolitical issues. We offer courses focusing on the culture, history, politics, and identity of the Latin American experience. Students who complete this concentration will be able to participate in special academic events and have access to internships, independent studies, and study abroad.

Potential Career Paths

Graduates of Hispanic Studies programs often pursue careers in:

  • Journalism
  • Diplomacy
  • Education
  • International relations
  • Business
  • Law
  • Museums
  • Non-Profits and NGO’s
  • Research and Development Services

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will learn to comprehend and analyze the complex social, economic, cultural, and political characteristics of Latin America and the Latinx communities in the United States. Students will conduct critical inquiry, analysis, and interpretation of subject materials. Students will develop the skills to understand major historical and cultural processes that have shaped the region’s identity as well as its relationship with the United States.

Major Requirements (30 cr)

Required Major Courses (18 cr)

  • Introductory survey courses (9 credits)
  • Three courses at the 1000 level in at least two disciplines within the major (choose from HIST, GEOG, GOVT, SOCI)

Upper division courses (9 credits) that include:

  • Methods in Social Research (SOC 3500)

                             Or

  • Qualitative Research Methods (SOC 3510)
  • Senior Capstone Seminar (HIST4400)
  • One additional upper-division (3000 and above) course in any discipline within the major

Hispanic Studies (12 cr)

  • XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • Free Electives (48 cr)

 

Law and Policy Concentration

This concentration explores the intersection of law and policy, and gives students the opportunity to explore legal and policy careers. 

Major Requirements (30 cr)

Required Major Courses (18 cr)

  • Introductory survey courses (9 credits)
  • Three courses at the 1000 level in at least two disciplines within the major (choose from HIST, GEOG, GOVT, SOCI)

Upper division courses (9 credits) that include:

  • Methods in Social Research (SOSCI 3500)

                             Or

  • Qualitative Research Methods (SOSCI 3510)
  • Senior Capstone in Social Science (SOSCI 4400)
  • One additional upper-division (3000 and above) course in any discipline within the major

Law and Policy Concentration (12 cr)

  • XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • XXXX ________________________ (3)
  • Free Electives (48 cr)

 

Social Sciences: QUEST

Working with our colleagues in Quest, this program trains students to become certified public-school teachers as a part of a 4+1 master’s degree. The emphasis is on broad-based instruction, including history, geography, and government.

Contact Information

History and Government Concentration:

Florham Coordinator: Dr. John Schiemann
Email: jws@fdu.edu

Metro Coordinator: Dr. Kyle Kattelman
Email: ktk94@fdu.edu

Environmental Studies Concentration:

Metro Coordinator: Dr. Fiona Gladstone
Email: f.gladstone@fdu.edu

Health and Society Concentration:

Coordinator: Dr. Francesca Degiuli
Email: degiuli@fdu.edu

Social Sciences: QUEST:

Coordinator: Dr. Gary Darden
Email: darden@fdu.edu