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Interdisciplinary Social Science - Major Requirements


ISS FacultyISS minor requirementsHistory ChecksheetPolitical Science ChecksheetHistory DepartmentPolitical Science Department College of Education: Secondary Ed program




Interdisciplinary Social Science

Dr. David Dillard, Coordinator
Phone: (540) 568-3757
E-mail: dillarpd@jmu.edu

Mission
Major and Degree Requirements

Mission

The interdisciplinary social science major offers a program of integrated study that exposes students to diverse methodologies, philosophies and controversies that define the social sciences. The ISS major incorporates the following disciplines: economics, geography, history and political science. Through this major students may complete either the B.S. or the B.A. degree in support of middle or secondary education in Social Studies (ISS Licensure Track).


Goals

  • Provide students with historical and theoretical perspectives from the social science disciplines such as anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology and sociology.
  • Enable students to identify and analyze different disciplinary approaches and conceptualize the linkages among the social science disciplines.
  • Sharpen students' ability to think critically, to practice sound methodological skills, and to communicate effectively.
  • Teach students how individual, community and national identities shape and are shaped by access to freedom, power and justice.

Major and Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Social Science

Degree Requirements
Credits
General Education1
41
Foreign Language classes (intermediate level required) 2
0-14
Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses)
3
University electives
26-43
Major requirements (listed below)
33-36

120

1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student's chosen language (typically 232), or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Language's placement test.


Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Social Science

Degree Requirements
Credits
General Education1
41
Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education) 2
3
Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education) 3
3-4
University electives
36-40
Major concentration courses (listed below)
33-36

120

1The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2Students are strongly encouraged to complete one of the following sequences: GISAT 141-ISAT 142, MATH 107-108, MATH 135-235, MATH 155-220, MATH 156-220, MATH 205-206 or MATH 235-236.
3Social science to be chosen from courses in economics, geography, political science, sociology or anthropology.


Major Requirements

Social Studies Licensure Requirements

To be licensed to teach secondary school social studies, the student must satisfactorily complete requirements for a baccalaureate degree in an arts and sciences discipline and a minimum of the courses listed below in social studies or their equivalent. NOTE:Middle education minors who wish to enroll in this major must get permission from the middle education program coordinator prior to declaring this major. Additional content course work will likely be required. Courses taken for General Education credit may not be double counted as part of the major, excluding MATH 220. Licensure students must receive a "C" or better in all required ISS courses. There are three major sets of requirements:

  • Core (required of all students)
  • History Requirements
  • Social Science Requirements
Core: (3 courses)

ISS 200. Introduction to the Social Sciences*
3

MATH 220. Elementary Statistics
3

ISS 400. Senior Seminar in Social Science**
3
History Requirements

GHIST 101. World Culture to 1500, or GHIST 102. World Culture Since 1500 (Students must take whichever course was not taken as part of General Education.)
3

GHIST 225. U.S. History (if completed for GenEd credit, student must take another 200 or 300 level American history)
3-4

HIST 395. History Seminar
3

Any 300- or 400-level history course1
3

Any 400-level history course1
3

Social Science Requirements

GPOSC 225. U.S. Government (if completed for GenEd credit, student must take another 200 or 300 level POSC course related to American government.)
3

GECON 200. Macroeconomics, or ECON 201. Microeconomics
3

GEOG 280. Introduction to Cultural Geography, or GGEOG 200. The Global Dimension
3

Two courses from the following, from two different disciplines. Consult your adviser for a list of approved courses.
GEOG 300 or 400 level
POSC 300 or 400 level
ECON 200, 300 or 400 level
6

39-40

* ISS 200 is not currently being offered. Contact Dr. David Dillard for alternative courses.
** ISS 400 is offered only in conjunction with MSSE 470.

For further information about the ISS major, please contact Dr. David Dillard, dillarpd@jmu.edu, 8-3757.