Social Science Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- OSU-Cascades
Options available:
At OSU-Cascades, students can pursue a social science degree with an option in law and society, cultures and identities, community development and leadership, humans and the environment, or a general SSCI option. Students will investigate the social and cultural dynamics in our communities, explore how these dynamics impact the development of sustainable communities, and examine how effective community leadership impacts positive social change. Social Science studies contain scientific investigation and theory pertaining to human individuals, social groups, institutions, and ideologies.
Major Code: 286
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Effectively communicate in group and interpersonal settings.
- Apply concepts from the social sciences to assess human-ecological systems.
- Demonstrate proficiency with critical thinking, analysis of problems, and synthesis of data.
- Communicate and collaborate with multiple audiences of diverse backgrounds and interests. Specifically, be able to write for and talk with both experts and lay persons utilizing multiple approaches.
- A minimum GPA of 2.3 is required for graduation.
- Courses for the major cannot be taken S/U.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| ANTH 352 | +*ANTHROPOLOGY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT | 4 |
| COMM 321 | +INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION THEORY | 3 |
| ES 451 | +THEORIES OF RACE AND ETHNICITY | 3-4 |
| or ENSC 333/GEOG 333 | +*ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | |
| SSCI 211 | +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2 |
| SSCI 301 | ^QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES | 4 |
| SSCI 406 | PROJECTS | 3 |
| Required Option | 21-24 | |
| Required Core Ed, BA/BS Requirements and Electives | 136-140 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
Major Code: 286
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
Bachelor of Arts
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Language 111 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| Language 112 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Language 113 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Language 211 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Language 212 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Language 213 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 321 | +INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION THEORY | 3 |
| ES 451 | +THEORIES OF RACE AND ETHNICITY or +*ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | 4 |
| SSCI 211 | +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2 |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| SSCI 301 | ^QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES | 4 |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANTH 352 | +*ANTHROPOLOGY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT | 4 |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SSCI 406 | PROJECTS | 3 |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Bachelor of Science
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Math | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| BS Computer Science | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| BS Science | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 321 | +INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION THEORY | 3 |
| SSCI 211 | +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2 |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| SSCI 301 | ^QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES | 4 |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANTH 352 | +*ANTHROPOLOGY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT | 4 |
| ES 451 | +THEORIES OF RACE AND ETHNICITY or +*ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | 4 |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SSCI 406 | PROJECTS | 3 |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course