Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies

The Social Studies B.A. gives students knowledge of and appreciation for the complexity and diversity of human history, cultural traditions, and cross-cultural interaction, as well as expertise in reading critically, researching carefully, thinking rigorously, and writing persuasively. Through the study of the institutions, values, systems, leaders, and the interrelatedness of historical peoples and nations, students will acquire the skills and knowledge needed to understand the present, engage contemporary challenges, and address future problems. Students will prepare to teach if they pursue a M.A. in Teaching after completing this degree. Students will investigate social studies problems, identify reliable sources, provide evidence for a position, contextualize information, and understand past events and actors from multiple perspectives, and all through the lens of a Christian worldview.

Core Curriculum

First Year Experience, Choose 1 (1 Credit)

COLL-1100	NGU 101	1
HNRS-1110	Honors First Year Experience/Introduction to Honors	1

Communication, Choose 1 (3 Credits)

COMM-2300	Oral Communication	3
COMM-2310	Interpersonal Communication	3
COMM-2308	Small Group Communication	3

Required

CSCI-1100	Computer Tech for Success	1
ENGL-1310	Composition and Rhetoric	3
ENGL-1320	Composition and Literature	3

Literature, Choose 1 (3 Credits)

ENGL-2330	American Literature to 1865	3
ENGL-2340	American Literature Since 1865	3
ENGL-2310	British Literature to 1785	3
ENGL-2320	British Literature Since 1785	3
ENGL-2300	Multicultural Literature	3
ENGL-2390	Special Topics	3

Required

CHST-1301	Engaging the Biblical Narrative	3
CHST-1302	Integrating a Biblical Worldview	3
CHST-1201	Interpreting the Biblical Text	2

Fine Arts, Choose 1 (3 Credits)

MUSC-1300	Engaging the Arts Through Music	3
ARTS-1300	Engaging the Arts Through Visual Arts	3
THTR-1300	Engaging the Arts Through Theatre	3
COMM-1320	Engaging the Arts Through Film	3

Required

HIST-1385

Western Civ in a Global Context Since 1517

Math, Choose 1 (3 Credits)

Any 1000-level math course 1310 or higher

Required

PSYC-2310	Introduction to Psychology	3
BIOL-1310	Scientific Inquiry in a Living World	3
PHSC-1430	Scientific Inquiry in a Physical World	4
PHSC-1431	Scientific Inquiry in a Physical World Lab	0
PLSC-2310	American National Government	3
Total Credit Hours:		44

Major Requirements

Economics, Choose 1 (3 Credits)

ECON-2310	Principles of Macroeconomics	3
ECON-2320	Principles of Microeconomics	3

Required

GEOG-2310	Introduction to Geography	3
HIST-1350	Western Civilization to 1715	3
HIST-2310	United States History to 1865	3
HIST-2320	United States History Since 1865	3
HIST-2360	Historical Research and Writing	3

Senior Seminar, Choose 1 (3 Credits)

HIST-4390	Senior Seminar	3
SSED-4390	Senior Seminar for Social Studies Education	3

Required

PSYC-2385	Adolescent Psychology	3
SOCY-2310	Introduction to Sociology	3

Foreign Language, Choose 2 (6 Credits)

xxxx-1310	Foreign Language 1
xxxx-1320	Foreign Language 2
Total Credit Hours:		33

Major Electives

Western History, Choose 3 from: (9 Credits)

HIST-3300	History of South Carolina	3
HIST-3310	History of Appalachia	3
HIST-3311	The History of Great Britain, 1066-1714	3
HIST-3312	The History of Great Britain, 1714-Present	3
HIST-3315	Colonial America	3
HIST-3330	Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1877	3
HIST-3331	The American South	3
HIST-3349	Twentieth Century Europe	3
HIST-3350	Recent America	3
HIST-3358	African American History Since 1877	3
HIST-3371	History of Latin America, Colonial Period	3
HIST-3372	History of Latin America, Modern Period	3
HIST-3373	United States and Latin American Relations	3
HIST-3390	America and The Second World War	3
HIST-4301	United States - Middle East Relations	3
HIST-4310	Special Topics	3
HIST-4311	Special Topics Western	3

Non-Western History, Choose 3 from: (9 Credits)

HIST-3313	History of The Islamic Societies	3
HIST-3314	History of The Middle East	3
HIST-3371	History of Latin America, Colonial Period	3
HIST-3372	History of Latin America, Modern Period	3
HIST-3373	United States and Latin American Relations	3
HIST-3375	Africa and The Slave Trade	3
HIST-4301	United States - Middle East Relations	3
HIST-4310	Special Topics	3
HIST-4312	Special Topics Non-Western	3
HIST-4360	Soviet Russia	3
HIST-4365	East Asian History	3

Social Science Electives, Choose 2 from: (6 Credits)

CHST-2335	World Religions	3
ECON-2310	Principles of Macroeconomics	3
ECON-2320	Principles of Microeconomics	3
ECON-4310	History of Economic Thought	3
HIST-3xxx	Any
HIST-4xxx	Any, [except for HIST-4390 Senior Seminar]
PLSC-2350	Introduction to International Relations	3
PLSC-2375	Comparative Politics	3
PLSC-3330	Classical and Christian Political Thought	3
PLSC-3335	Modern Political Thought	3
PLSC-3360	Constitutional Law	3
PLSC-3365	The American Presidency	3
PLSC-3370	American Political Thought	3
PLSC-3380	American foreign Policy	3
PSYC-2350	Human Growth and Development	3
PSYC-4350	Cognitive Psychology	3
Total Credit Hours:		24

Notes: History courses are divided into Western History and Non-Western History, though some courses (such as Latin America courses and US-Middle East Relations) can count as either. The “Open History Electives” category refers to any history course 3000-level or above except for HIST-4390, Senior Seminar.

Total Free Elective Requirements

Total Degree Requirements

121

The Social Studies B.A. provides a strong foundation in historical research and writing as well as other social studies disciplines, such as economics and politics. This background equips students to pursue a M.A. in Teaching and teach secondary education at all kinds of institutions with exceptional training, though students are equally well equipped to pursue a variety of careers such as public history, journalism, business, and government service. All this preparation occurs in the framework of a Christian worldview.