39 Credit Hours
A successful career in this field begins with a firm grounding in the Liberal Arts through the university-wide General Education curriculum. The major's core courses stress student learning in diverse areas with a geographic focus like the United States, Europe, or the non-Western World, and thematic approaches including social, cultural, and political history. This broad array of courses allows students to shape their major while being broadly prepared for a wide range of professional fields after graduation.
6 credit hours at the 100-level, 9 credit hours of 200-level or above History courses (HIST), 9 credit hours of 300-level or above American History, 9 credit hours of 300-level or above World/European History
The student then chooses one 6 hour option to complete the program:
Thesis Option
Non-Thesis Option
6 Credit Hours
2 HIST courses 200-level or above
Students pursuing graduate studies are strongly encouraged to complete two years of college-level courses in one foreign language. Students are also encouraged to complete an appropriate internship.
Students also complete general education courses as outlined in the USF undergraduate catalog. Total course work for graduation must be at least 128 semester hours including all the above courses.
128 Credit Hours
In conjunction with the Department of Education, the Department of History and Social Sciences offers history, sociology, and political science courses to satisfy state-mandated requirements for teacher certification in social studies at the secondary level. Students must complete required general education courses, professional education courses from the Department of Education and three fields of study in Social Studies.
Course work for the major consists a core of social studies plus courses in one primary and two supporting concentrations in three different academic areas.
Social Studies Core
42 credit hours
These courses may also count towards general education requirements and/or part of the social studies concentrations.
Government: 6 hours
History: 9 hours
Geography: 3 hours
Psychology: 6 hours
Sociology: 9 hours
Primary Field
18 credit hours
History, Sociology, Economics, Psychology
Supporting Field
12 credit hours
History, Sociology, Economics, Psychology
Total course work for graduation must be at least 128 semester hours. See Education Department for general education and professional course requirements.
33-36 Credit Hours
The Sociology major includes 12 hours in core courses, 12 hours from either of our two concentrations, 6 hours in related upper-level courses, and 3 + hours internship.
Core Courses
12 credit hours
Introduction to Sociology, Sociological Theory, Research Methods, Statistics
Concentration Courses: Social Justice or Criminology
12 credit hours
Social Justice: Inequality/Class/Justice, Nature and Society, Self and Society, Sociology of Religion
Criminology: Causes of Crime, Criminal Justice Systems, Corrections, Contemporary Issues-Criminal Justice
Related Courses
6 credit hours
Any additional 300/400 level courses: Sociology, History, Political Science, Franciscan Studies, Theology/Philosophy
Internship
3-6 credit hours
