Social Science (BA)
NOTE: Social Science is typically pursued as a double-major with Secondary Education in order to prepare graduates for a career in secondary school teaching. However, a student may choose Social Science as an interdisciplinary major that does not entail teaching certification after graduation.
The Social Science major will consist of a minimum of 56 hours from history and the social sciences. Students majoring in Social Science must take a minimum of 40% of the coursework required for the major at Benedictine College.
Program Mission
The mission of the Social Science Program is to prepare students to pursue a career in secondary school teaching by providing them with a broad-based program meeting the requirements for certification to teach all or most of the usual social sciences offered in secondary schools. A student who opts to complete the Social Science degree without double majoring in Secondary Education will receive a comprehensive education in history and the social sciences but will not be prepared to meet the certification requirements necessary for a teaching career in most secondary schools.
Program Outcomes
- Graduates will have knowledge of Western history focused on North America and Western Europe.
- Graduates will have knowledge of non-Western history focused on areas outside of North America and Western Europe or peoples outside of the dominant civilization of either in order to more easily live and work in a multicultural world.
- In addition to the above-listed history competencies, graduates will have knowledge of the content of government, economics, geography, and social systems.
- Graduates will understand the implications of living and working in a diverse society.
Social Science B.A. Requirements
Note that this option does not lead to teaching certification.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| World History (15 hours) | ||
| HIST-1100 | World Civilization to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST-1101 | World Civilization Since 1500 | 3 |
| Select three from the following upper-division history courses | 9 | |
| Medieval Travelers | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Modern Asian Survey | ||
| History of Latin America | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| Ancient Rome | ||
| Greek & Roman History | ||
| Medieval History | ||
| Byzantine History | ||
| The Renaissance | ||
| Medieval England | ||
| Medieval Lay Religion | ||
| The Reformation Era | ||
| Early Modern Europe | ||
| French Revolution & Napoleon | ||
| Ninteenth-Century Europe | ||
| Europe Since 1945 | ||
| Russian History | ||
| World War I | ||
| World War II | ||
| The Holocaust | ||
| Ancient Egypt | ||
| American History (12 hours) | ||
| HIST-1300 | United States History to 1865 | 3 |
| HIST-1380 | United States History Since 1865 | 3 |
| Select two of the following upper-division American history courses: | 6 | |
| United States Diplomatic History | ||
| United States Military History | ||
| Native America 1492-1864 | ||
| Selected Themes in Early American Histor | ||
| Early American Republic 1789-1828 | ||
| United States Civil War 1828-1865 | ||
| Reconstruction & Reform 1865-1919 | ||
| Prosperity & Depression 1919-1941 | ||
| United States Since 1945 | ||
| History of American Film | ||
| Kansas History (3 hours) | ||
| HIST-3300 | History of Kansas | 3 |
| Politics and Government (9 hours) | ||
| POLS-1100 | Fundamentals of Politics | 3 |
| POLS-1800 | Principles of American Government | 3 |
| Select one of the following Politics and Government courses: | 3 | |
| The American Presidency | ||
| The American Congress | ||
| American Constitutional Development | ||
| Fundamental Freedoms: First Amendment | ||
| Civil Rights: 14th Amendment | ||
| Sociology (6 hours) | ||
| SOCI-1000 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI-3250 | Race & Ethnicity | 3 |
| Economics (6 hours) | ||
| ECON-2090 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON-2100 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Geography (3 hours) | ||
| NASC-2300 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| Total Hours | 54 | |
Suggested Sequence of Courses for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science (non-teaching)
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL-1010 | English Composition | 3 |
| THEO-1100 | Introduction to Theology | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| MATH-1220 | Introductory Statistics | 4 |
| EXSC-1115 | Wellness for Life | 1 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| SOCI-1000 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| ENGL-1020 | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| Aesthetic Foundation | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| EXSC Fitness Course | 1 | |
| POLS-1100 | Fundamentals of Politics | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| HIST-1300 | United States History to 1865 | 3 |
| HIST-1100 | World Civilization to 1500 | 3 |
| PHIL-2100 | Principles of Nature | 3 |
| Natural World Foundation | 4 | |
| NASC-2300 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HIST-1380 | United States History Since 1865 | 3 |
| Faith Foundation | 3 | |
| POLS-1800 | Principles of American Government | 3 |
| Philosophical Inquiry Foundation | 3 | |
| HIST-1101 | World Civilization Since 1500 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| SOCI-3250 | Race & Ethnicity | 3 |
| Political Science Elective | 3 | |
| Faith Foundation | 3 | |
| PSYC-1000 | General Psychology | 3 |
| History Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Natural World Foundation | 4 | |
| ECON-2090 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| Visual Communication | 3 | |
| Philosophical Inquiry Foundation | 3 | |
| Written Communication | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Written Communication | 3 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| ECON-2100 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| HIST-3300 | History of Kansas | 3 |
| SOSC-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | NULL |
| History Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Electives | 10 | |
| History Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 128 | |