Social Science

Students who want to understand and explore the dynamic, challenging world we live in—for example, why individuals decide to take certain actions or how large structures, such as social classes, governments, and economies, influence their decisions—need to be equipped with the best theoretical and methodological tools to collect, analyze, interpret, and use social science data. The multi-disciplinary social science major encourages students to use two social science areas to examine a wide range of human behavior, experiences, and outcomes and their contexts. Each social science area comprises both a methodological approach (qualitative or quantitative) and a level of analysis (individual or institutional). Social science majors select a primary and a secondary area of concentration.

The major focuses on understanding individuals, groups, social institutions, and societies, as well as the structure, culture, and functioning of the social world, with attention to changes wrought by economic, historical, political, psychological, social, cultural, and global processes. Courses that can be used toward the social science major are offered by the Departments of Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. (With prior approval, select offerings in other departments and programs may also be included.)

The purpose of the social science major is to educate well-rounded social scientists who have actively pursued mastery either in a specific methodological approach (i.e., qualitative or quantitative) or at a particular level of analysis (i.e., individual or institutional). Accordingly, students will select their primary area and then determine their secondary area; the secondary area must complement their primary area, such that the secondary area either broadens the student’s methodological training (i.e., by applying the methodological approach of the primary area to a second level of analysis for their secondary area) or the student’s understanding of a given level of analysis (i.e., by expanding the examination of the level of analysis of the primary area with a second methodological approach for their secondary area).

The major comprises ten units, three of which must be in the primary area and two of which must be in the secondary area. Typically, one of the three units in the primary area will be the senior project course in the discipline most closely aligned with the student’s primary area and research interests; hence, the student must satisfy the collateral requirements and prerequisites of the senior project course in their senior project discipline, with any exception to be determined by the department chair of that discipline, in consultation with the coordinator of the social science major. Finally, majors must complete all of the College of Arts and Sciences General Education requirements.

More information can be found online at https://www.stetson.edu/other/academics/undergraduate/social-science.php.

Student learning outcomes describe what students know, understand, and are able to do as a result of completing a degree program. The learning outcomes for this program are:

Define/describe major concepts, theories, and principles from content domains and apply them to illustrate or explain social science phenomena.
Critically evaluate relevant scholarly social science sources of information and integrate evidence from multiple sources to draw conclusions about social science phenomena.
Apply appropriate social science research methodological tools to analyze and explain social science processes and outcomes and/or to critique existing explanations or methodologies.
Design and execute an original, ethical social science research study to address significant questions in content domains.
Write clear, concise scholarly social scientific prose in a manner consistent with current disciplinary standards.

Social Science Majors

Bachelor of Arts in Social Science

Advising Course Plan

Social Science Major

Core, Rachel
Associate Professor and Chair of Sociology and Anthropology
BA, Carleton University
MSc , University of London
PhD, Johns Hopkins University

Auyong, Zenta
Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology
BA, Stetson University
MA, PhD, University of Florida

Servigna, Ana
Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology
BArch, MS, Zulia State University, Venezuela
PhD, Syracuse University

Smith, Sven
Associate Professor of Sociology
BA, Stetson University
JD, Florida State University
MA, PhD, University of Chicago

SSCI 200S. Introduction to Social Science Theories and Methods. 1 Unit.

This course introduces students to core Social Science theories and methodologies. By analyzing foundational works across the social science disciplines, this course develops students’ understanding of both social scientific theory and how individuals and societies can become objects of empirical analysis through qualitative and quantitative methods.

SSCI 396. Research Apprenticeship. 0.5 or 1 Units.

SSCI 397. Internship in Social Science. 1 Unit.

Letter-graded or pass/fail. This course provides an opportunity for students to enrich their classroom experiences by exploring a substantive area of sociology in an approved setting. Full-unit internships require 140 hours for the semester. The student intern and supervising instructor negotiate the setting, structure, requirements, and outcomes and outline them in a contract signed by the student. Basic expectations include field notes; a research paper, project, or other appropriate work product; and a letter of evaluation from the site supervisor. Prerequisite: Major status, and permission of instructor. Enrollment in an internship course requires students to attend an orientation prior to beginning work at their internship site. For more information regarding internship orientations, please contact the Office of Career and Professional Development at career@stetson.edu or 386-822-7315.