This program offers students a strong curriculum that provides critical thinking and analytical training needed for professional development, employment in social science-related fields, or graduate study. Students learn concepts, theories, and methodologies across a range of social science disciplines, with an emphasis on the interconnections between knowledge, people, and cultures in a global context. Students interested in exploration of cultural practices and dimensions of social behavior and organization, as well as those interested in sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, and applied interdisciplinary fields such as aging studies and urban and policy studies, will benefit from this program.
Required Courses
Student Success Seminar
Note: GEN 103 may be waived, upon student request, for students who (1) enter NLU with an associate’s degree or 90 or more quarter credit hours of transfer credit; and (2) have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or above in their previous undergraduate studies. Students will be required to complete or transfer in additional coursework in general education to meet the 60-quarter credit hour requirement.
Communications
Humanities
| LAH 120 | Logic and Effective Thinking | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in humanities.
Fine Arts
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in fine arts.
Quantitative Reasoning
| LAM 106 | Basic Statistics | 5 |
| LAM 110 | College Mathematics: Application of Mathematical Ideas | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any college-level mathematics course instead of
LAM 110.
LAM 106 must be completed at NLU or an equivalent course may be transferred.
Physical and Life Sciences
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in physical and life sciences.
Social Sciences
| LAS 118 | Introduction to Politics and U.S. Government | 5 |
| LAS 203 | Survey of U.S. History | 5 |
Note: Students must complete coursework in politics, political science, and/or government; and United States history at NLU or transfer in an equivalent course to fulfill this requirement.
Behavioral Science
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in behavioral sciences.
Social Science Core Requirements - 45 QH
| LAS 105 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
| LAS 110 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
| LAS 115 | Introduction to Economics | 5 |
| INT 310 | Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences | 5 |
| LAS 311 | Race and Ethnicity | 5 |
| LAS 420 | Social Theory | 5 |
| LAS 453 | Social Inequality | 5 |
| LAS 499 | Social Science Seminar | 3 TO 5 |
| LAS 302 | Asian American Cultures and Society | 5 |
| or | |
| LAS 303 | Sub-Saharan African Cultures | 5 |
| or | |
| LAS 304 | Middle and South American Cultures | 5 |
| or | |
| LAS 340 | Native American Cultures | 5 |
Note: LAS 499 must be taken for 5 quarter hours. Students may choose another research methods course in lieu of INT 310 with the approval of Program Chair or designate. Students may also choose another Ethnic Studies course in lieu of LAS 302, LAS 303, LAS 304 or LAS 340 with the approval of Program Chair or designate.
Social Science Program Electives - 20 QH
Choose 20 quarter hours (4 courses) from the Social Science categories below:
Note: Other Social Science courses may be used in the above categories or related disciplines by approval of the Program Chair or designate. Students may utilize their program electives to complete an optional concentration in Aging Studies or Urban and Policy Studies.
Electives - 55 QH
Choose additional courses to total 180 quarter hours. These hours may be used to complete minors and/or concentrations listed above.