Individualized Studies BA with Concentrations in Social Sciences
The Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Studies or BAIS is a baccalaureate degree program structured to provide students with a variety of options in meeting University requirements for an undergraduate degree grounded in the liberal arts. Students in the program may choose to pursue a single area of study in-depth or design a program of study by combining liberal arts courses with career-related specializations in a subject that matches their professional goals or personal interests.
This page describes Social Sciences concentrations available to students in the BAIS program. For other BAIS options, see the Arts Concentration and the Degree Completion BA.
Available Concentrations
History and Politics Concentration
About the Program
The BAIS with a concentration in History and Politics offers students an interdisciplinary overview of history and politics that also offers coursework in geography and sociology. Students begin with a choice of introductory surveys in World History, American Government and Politics, and Global Politics, and move towards upper-division courses in both disciplines. The course of study includes choices in qualitative and 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, and study abroad.
Potential Career Paths
According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, graduates with degrees in History & Politics can pursue a variety of career paths including:
- Business
- Consulting Services
- Education
- Government
- Law
- Library and Archives
- Museums
- Non-Profits and NGO’s
- 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 (24 credits)
- International Perspective (3 credits)
- Advanced Writing (3 credits)
- Specialization (18 credits)
- 1000-level surveys (6 credits)
Choose either one of these courses:
HIST1150 World History to 1500 or HIST1151 World History since 1500
and choose either one of these courses:
GOVT1000 American Government and Politics or GOVT1100 Global Politics - Concentration 200-level or above (6 credits)
Take any two courses with one each in History and Politics - Research Methods Course (3 credits)
SOCI3500 Methods in Social Research (3 Credits) or SOCI3510 Qualitative Research Methods (3 Credits) - Capstone Course (3 credits)
SOCI4500 – Senior Capstone in Social Sciences
- 1000-level surveys (6 credits)
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 BAIS 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 BAIS 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 tech)
- 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 (24 credits)
- International Perspective (3 credits)
- Advanced Writing (3 credits)
- Specialization (18 credits)
- 1000-level Intro Surveys (6 credits)
GEOG1102 Geography and World Issues
and either one of the following two courses:
BIOL1105/BIOL1115 The Human Environment or ENVR1001/ENVR1002 Intro to Environmental Science - Concentration 2000-level or above (6 credits)
Take any two of the following courses: - Research Methods Course (3 credits)
SOCI3500 Methods in Social Research (3 Credits) or SOCI3510 Qualitative Research Methods (3 Credits) - Capstone Course (3 credits)
SOCI4500 Senior Capstone in Social Sciences (3 credits)
- 1000-level Intro Surveys (6 credits)
Health and Society Concentration
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 BAIS 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 upped 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 BAIS 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 (24 credits)
- International Perspective (3 credits)
- Advanced Writing (3 credits)
- Specialization (18 credits)
- 1000-level surveys (6 credits)
GEOG1102 Geography and World Issues
SOCI1201 Intro to Sociology - Concentration 2000-level or above (6 credits)
Take any two of the following courses: - Research Methods Course (3 credits)
SOCI3500 Methods in Social Research (3 Credits) or SOCI3510 Qualitative Research Methods (3 Credits) - Capstone Course (3 credits)
SOCI4500 Senior Capstone in Social Sciences (3 credits)
- 1000-level surveys (6 credits)
Hispanic Studies Concentration
About the Program
The BAIS 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 (24 credits)
- International Perspective (3 credits)
- Advanced Writing (3 credits)
- Specialization (18 credits)
- 1000-level surveys (6 credits)
GEOG1102 Geography & World Issues
and either one of the following two:
HIST1150 World History to 1500 or HIST1151 World History since 1500 - Concentration at the 2000-level or above
Take any two courses in Hispanic Studies and see your advisor for details - Research Methods Course (3 credits)
SOCI3500 – Methods in Social Research (3 Credits) or SOCI3510 Qualitative Research Methods (3 Credits) - Capstone Course (3 credits)
SOCI4500 Senior Capstone in Social Sciences (3 credits)
- 1000-level surveys (6 credits)