B.A.
Social Sciences
The social sciences are concerned with the total experiences of human beings: their society, their environment, their institutions, their accomplishments, and their inner needs.
Students who pursue the major in Social Sciences gain a broad-based education that includes experience from among at least three of the principal social science disciplines: Criminal Justice, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Human Services and Sociology/Anthropology. At the same time, the major is designed to provide integrated experiences which, while capitalizing on the strengths of each of the individual disciplines involved, help students to perceive the concepts and methodologies which underlie and unite the fields.
Successful graduates of the major find it a useful foundation for law school, for postgraduate study in one of the social science disciplines, or for direct entry into a variety of professions such as government service, business, community-focused careers, or education. Internship opportunities are available to students while they are at the University and are recommended as valuable additional preparation for the beginning of a career path.
Summary of Requirements: Social Sciences & Education
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Social Sciences with Preparation for Childhood Education -- | |
| Liberal Arts | 90 |
| Social Sciences: | 36 |
| History | 15 |
| Classical History | 3 |
| Medieval History | 3 |
| American History | 6 |
| European History | 3 |
| Social Sciences | 21 |
| Social Science Seminar | 3 |
| Economics | 6 |
| Political Science | 6 |
| Sociology/Anthropology | 6 |
| Social Sciences with Preparation for Adolescence Education in Social Studies – | |
| 90 credits in Liberal Arts, including 48 credits as follows: | |
| History | 24 |
| American History | 9 |
| European History | 6 |
| Non-Western Regional Studies | 3 |
| History Electives | 6 |
| Social Science | 24 |
| Social Science Seminar | 3 |
| Social Science Electives | 21 |
Teacher certification is also available in connection with the B.A. program in History. See History section for further information.
Pi Gamma Mu Social Sciences Honor Society
Purpose
The purpose of Pi Gamma Mu is to encourage the study of the social sciences among graduate and undergraduate students and faculty members in colleges and universities throughout the world, and to recognize outstanding achievement through election to membership and the presentation of various awards for distinguished achievement.
Eligibility
Any person of good moral character who is, or was, an officer, member of the teaching staff, graduate student, senior or junior in a college or university where there is a chapter of the Society, may be elected to membership by a majority vote of the chapter under the supervision of chapter faculty members, or by a committee of chapter faculty members, provided that such person has had at least 20 semester hours of social science with an average grade therein of "B" or better, and has further been distinguished in the social sciences.
Major Activities
The Society holds national, regional, and inter-chapter meetings. Many chapters have extensive programs of lectures, panels, and discussion groups. The Society also operates a program of scholarships by which outstanding students can continue their study of the social sciences in approved graduate schools. Pi Gamma Mu is affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Social Sciences-to-Occupational Therapy Pre-Professional Tracks
Undergraduate students interested in ultimately pursuing a graduate degree in occupational therapy have two pathways within the Social Sciences with Psychology Emphasis degree.
Sample Undergraduate Curricular Pathways
- Social Sciences with Psychology Emphasis
- (Accelerated Pathway)
The Accelerated Social Sciences-to-Occupational Therapy path is reserved for Dominican University New York undergraduate students who have begun study at the University no later than the first semester of the Sophomore year with fewer than 35 transfer credits. Addition-ally, students on the Accelerated Path must attain and maintain a mini-mum term and cumulative GPA of 3.0 every term without exception. If the GPA for any individual term falls below a 3.0, the student is no longer eligible to remain on the Accelerated Path and must complete the traditional 4-year curriculum, even if that term is the spring semester of the Junior year and said student has been accepted to the program for the following Fall.
Degrees and Certificates
-
Social Sciences, -
Social Sciences-to-Occupational Therapy Pre-Professional Tracks, B.A. -
Social Sciences with Psychology Emphasis (Traditional 4-Year Path), B.A.
Courses
SS 114: Cultural History
Credits 2A study of the history and culture of a society (for example, the Dominican Republic), in order to provide a context for a service learning experience. Students enrolled in the course will understand the history and culture of the society prior to spending time in the country living and working with its people. Students will read academic articles, fiction and poetry and oral history narratives in preparation for conducting their own interviews.
Only those students participating in the service learning experience are eligible to enroll in this course.
SS 221: Quantitative Methods & Research
Credits 3A survey in elementary research and quantitative methods. This course provides students with an entry-level preparation in communication and analytical skills in empirical research for courses taken later in the area of social sciences or in other related discipline/professional areas. Particular emphasis on the history of scientific methods, skills in literature research and writing, problem formulation, making of a hypothesis, research designs, field and laboratory observations, sampling data organization, processing and analysis, as well as ethical issues.
In order to proceed to PS 331, a minimum grade of C is required.
Open to Sophomores, juniors and seniors only.
SS 467: Teaching Social Studies (Adolescence Education)
Credits 3Diagnosing instructional needs; planning, implementing, and evaluating instruction in Social Studies. Attention to developing an eclectic approach to the teaching of Social Studies to adolescents by acquiring a strategy repertoire that meets the needs of today’s diverse learner population.
Students prepare units and lessons that focus on NYS Learning Standards for Social Studies.
Field experience required.
SS 472: Social Science Seminar
Credits 3Under the supervision of a faculty member, students prepare and defend a significant research paper on a topic of their own choosing in their area of emphasis in the Social Sciences. In this course, students have the opportunity to integrate into a single project much of what they have learned during their undergraduate education and to demonstrate the development they have achieved in analytic, research, and language skills.
SS 481: An Ethnographic Study: A Global Perspective
Credits 3This course is in conjunction with the Spring semester Alternative Spring Break (ASB). In preparation for this experience students will examine the American society from a social structural perspective. Particular emphasis is placed on the centrality of class, race and gender as sources of division, inequality and injustice. A demo-graphic analysis of the community will provide the basis for examination.
Students engage in field observations while they participate in the service learning experience.