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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
CERTIFICATE IN PUBLIC POLCY
PUBLIC POLICY AREA COURSES
GRADUATE STUDIES

Undergraduate Department of Social Science

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES & PUBLIC POLICY

Department of Social Science Website

Director: Lisa Turner de Vera, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy

The Interdisciplinary Program in Social Science (ISS) provides a multidisciplinary view of contemporary social issues and problems. The program offers students an opportunity to draw on the several disciplines of the social sciences. Students learn to integrate those disciplinary perspectives as they seek an understanding of complex social issues, problems, and events. The program is flexible so that students may pursue their own individual specialized and pre-professional interests. Students may design their major to focus around disciplinary orientations to the social science, or special interdisciplinary concentrations in urban studies, inequality and society, public policy, public service, law and society, social entrepreneurship and innovation, and environmental studies are offered.

Digital Literacy Requirement

Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Digital Literacy Requirement with a grade of “C–” or higher. Courses fulfilling the Digital Literacy Requirement must accomplish at least three of the following outcomes:

  • Evaluate and interpret the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of digital information

  • Evaluate and interpret digital data and their implications

  • Discuss the ways in which society and/or culture interact with digital technology

  • Discuss digital technology trends and their professional implications

  • Demonstrate the ability to use digital technology effectively

  • Demonstrate the knowledge to use digital technology safely and ethically

Each academic major has determined the courses that fulfill the Digital Literacy requirement for that major. Students should contact their major department(s) to determine which courses will fulfill their Digital Literacy requirement.

 Undergraduate majors in the interdisciplinary program in social science satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of “C–” or higher in CGS 2060 or CGS 2100.

State of Florida Common Program Prerequisites for Social Science

The Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) houses the statewide, internet-based catalog of distance learning courses, degree programs, and resources offered by Florida's public colleges and universities, and they have developed operational procedures and technical guidelines for the catalog that all institutions must follow. The statute governing this policy can be reviewed by visiting the Florida Postsecondary Academic Library Network page.

FLVC has identified common program prerequisites for the degree program in Social Science. To obtain the most up-to-date, state-approved prerequisites for this degree, visit the Social Sciences General Requirements page.

Specific prerequisites are required for admission into the upper-division program and must be completed by the student at either a community college or a state university prior to being admitted to this program. Students may be admitted into the University without completing the prerequisites but may not be admitted into the program.

Internet Supported Distance Learning

A bachelor's degree program is available that enables students with an AA degree to earn an FSU degree without moving to Tallahassee. To be admitted, students are strongly recommended to have completed the University's oral communication competency requirement and the computer skills competency requirement. Due to limited course availability, it is strongly suggested that students contact the distance learning advisor to review course planning options, prior to admission. For more information, visit the FSU Distance Campus webpage or contact the program advisor.

Requirements

Major Program of Studies: 43 Credit Hours

A major in the interdisciplinary program requires forty-three semester hours. For the general option, work must be taken in at least three departments within the program. Participating departments include: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, public administration, sociology, and urban and regional planning. Up to nine of the required forty-three hours may also apply to General Education. Twenty-one hours must be taken in courses numbered above 2999. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all coursework applied to the major must be maintained. All coursework within the major must be passed with a grade of “D” or higher.

Required Coursework

Students must complete the required course, ISS 3923 Interdisciplinary Forum, with a grade of “S”.

Students must also complete the required course, ISS 4304 Contemporary Social Problems and Policy Solutions with a grade of “C” or higher. This course is applicable to any departmental concentration area within the structure of the major.

Interdisciplinary Social Science General Option (43 Credit Hours)

Students must have:

  • Satisfactory completion of the one-hour forum

  • A primary concentration of eighteen hours in one participating department

  • A secondary concentration of twelve hours in a second participating department and

  • The remaining twelve hours distributed among any of the remaining participating departments that are not being used for the primary or secondary concentrations

Interdisciplinary Social Science Specialization Option (43 Credit Hours)

Alternatively, students may complete the requirements of interdisciplinary specializations in law and society, public policy, public service, urban studies, inequality and society, social innovation and social entrepreneurship, or environmental studies. For further details, speak with an advisor.

Degrees

The courses of study offered by the interdisciplinary program in social science lead to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees.

Requirements for a Minor in Social Sciences for Psychology Majors at the Panama City Campus

A minor in the interdisciplinary program in social sciences is available for psychology students at the Panama City campus. Students may obtain the minor by successfully completing a total of fifteen semester hours of coursework in interdisciplinary social science participating departments, which include interdisciplinary social science, anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, public administration, sociology, and urban and regional planning.