Social Science - B.A. Requirements

Social Science Program (B.A.)

Students in the Bachelor of Arts Social Science Program have the following three options. Students enrolled in the Comprehensive B.A. in Social Science (75 quarter hours) receive a broad education in social science by selecting courses of interest in the fields of sociology, political science, economics, history, and anthropology. The Preparation for Teaching Secondary Education B.A. in Social Science (100 quarter hours) prepares students who are seeking to fulfill the State of Illinois endorsements for teaching at the secondary level. The Cohort B.A. in Social Science (90 quarter hours) permits students to complete their B.A. in as little as eighteen months based on a predictable schedule and series of courses. The General Education Requirements are identical for all three programs.

General Education Requirements 60 QH

The Social Science Department accepts the following types of credit as equivalent to general education coursework at NLU: appropriate transfer courses from other accredited institutions, Credit by Portfolio, appropriate credit by proficiency, AP, CLEP or DANTES credit as determined by appropriate academic department.

Fields of Knowledge

1. Communications

LAE101	English Composition I	5
LAE102	English Composition II	5
LAT210	Effective Speaking	5

2. Humanities

1 Philosophy course

5

3. Fine Arts

Fine Arts course(s)

5

4. Quantitative Reasoning

LAM110	College Mathematics		5
LAM106	Basic Statistics OR
LAM216	Statistical Methods OR		5

5. Physical and Life Sciences

Life Sciences course	5
Physical Science course	5

6. Social Sciences

Introductory Social Science course	5
1 US History course	5

7. Behavioral Science

LAP100

General Psychology

5

Integrated Competencies

Information and Technological Literacy

Requirement is satisfied in LAE101 and LAE102 English Composition I and II (with required word processing), and integrated throughout the student's academic experience in courses that require computer use.

Analytical Skills

Requirement is satisfied in LAH120 Logic and Effective Thinking, LAM110 College Mathematics, and LAM106 Basic Statistics, LAM112 Math Content for Teachers, or LAM216 Statistical Methods, and integrated throughout student's academic experience in courses that emphasize critical thinking and analysis.

Ethics, Values and Respect for Human Diversity

Requirement is satisfied in LAS300 Contemporary World Cultures, LAP100 General Psychology, Introductory Social Science course, and LAS200 U.S. History and Culture: 1492-1828, LAS20 U.S. History and Culture: 1828-1898, or LAS203 U.S. History and Culture: 1898-present, or upper division literature course, and integrated throughout student's academic experience in courses that focus on ethical values and social justice.

Comprehensive B.A. in Social Science 75 QH

Sociology and Anthropology

(Select 4 of the following courses)

LAS313	Metropolitan Community	5
LAS441	Urban Anthropology	5
LAS306	Marriage and Family	5
LAS405	Social Problems	5
LAS420	Social Theory	5
INT310	Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences	5
LAS240	Human Origins	5
LAS303	Sub-Saharan African Cultures	5
LAS342	Folklore	5
LAS441	Urban Anthropology	5

Political Science

(Select 4 of the following courses)

LAS118	Introduction to Politics	5
LAS120	Introduction to American Politics	5
LAS310	International Relations	5
LAS316	Comparative Social and Political Systems	5
LAS319	Elections and Electoral Behavior	5
LAS321	American Political and Social Ideas	5
LAS450	Political Theory	5
LAS458	Public and Social Policy in the Legislative Process	5

Economics

(Select 3 of the following courses)

LAS115	Introduction to Economics	5
LAS250	Macroeconomics	5
LAS255	Microeconomics	5
LAS315	World Economics	5
LAS345	Labor Economics	5
LAS445	Evolution of the American Economy	5

History

(Select 4 of the following courses)

LAS200	U.S. History and Culture: 1492-1828	5
LAS201	U.S. History and Culture: 1828-1898	5
LAS203	U.S. History and Culture: 1898 to the present	5
LAS302	Asian History and Cultures	5
LAS304	Middle and South American Cultures	5
LAS495	ST in World History: Conflict in the Middle East	5
LAS301	Western History and Culture to 1650	5
LAS305	Western History and Culture since 1650	5
LAS311	Racial and Ethnic History and Culture	5

 

Free Electives 36 QH

Total Hours 180 QH

A minimum of 50 quarter hours in the program must be upper level, and a minimum of 50 quarter hours in the program must be completed at NLU with a grade of 'C' or better.

Curriculum For Future High School Social Science Teachers

Social Science majors who wish to prepare for careers teaching Social Science in high school complete 100 quarter hours of Social Science courses for Secondary Certification by the Illinois State Board of Education listed below. Future Social Science teachers may choose to participate in the B.A.-M.A.T. Program, which is designed to help students make a smooth transition from their undergraduate program to the NLU Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) Secondary Education Program. A full description of the B.A.- M.A.T. program is given on page 93.

Preparation for Teaching Secondary Education B.A. in Social Science 100 QH

Sociology and Anthropology:

LAS313	Metropolitan Community OR	5
LAS441	Urban Anthropology	5
LAS306	Marriage and Family	5
LAS405	Social Problems	5
LAS420	Social Theory	5
INT310	Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences	5

Political Science:

LAS120	Introduction to American Politics	5
LAS310	International Relations	5
LAS316	Comparative Political and Social Systems	5
LAS319	Elections and Electoral Behavior	5
LAS321	American Political and Social Ideas	5

Economics:

LAS250	Macroeconomics	5
LAS255	Microeconomics	5
LAS315	World Economics	5

History:

LAS300	Contemporary World Cultures (prescribed in Gen. Ed.)	5
LAS302	Asian History and Cultures	5
LAS304	Middle and South American Cultures	5
LAS495	ST in World History: Conflict in the Middle East	5
LAS301	Western History and Culture to 1650 OR
LAS305	Western History and Culture since 1650	5
LAS311	Racial and Ethnic History and Culture	5

Choose two of the following courses

LAS200	U.S. History and Culture: 1492-1828
LAS201	U.S. History and Culture: 1828-1898
LAS203	U.S. History and Culture: to the present	10

A minimum of 60 quarter hours in the program must be completed at NLU with a grade of 'C' or better.

Free Electives 21 QH

Total Hours 180 QH

Cohort B.A. in Social Science 90 QH

Term I (13 QH): Foundations of Social Science

LAS311	Racial and Ethnic History and Culture	5
INT310	Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences	5
LAS420A	Social Theory I	3

Term II (17 QH): Cities, States, and Systems

LAS313	Metropolitan Community (Online)	5
LAS316	Comparative Political and Social Systems	5
LAS319	Elections and Electoral Behavior	5
LAS420B	Social Theory II	2

Term III (15 QH): International and Domestic Dimensions

LAS310	International Relations	5
LAS405	Social Problems (Online)	5
LAS495	ST in World History: Conflict in the Middle East	5

Term IV (17 QH): Gender, Labor, and World Cultures

LAS300	Contemporary World Cultures	5
LAS304	Middle and South American Cultures	5
LAS345	Labor Economics (Online)	5
LAS302A	Asian History and Cultures I	2

Term V (14 QH): Government and Political Culture

LAS458	Public and Social Policy in the Legislative Process	5
LAS321	American Political and Social Ideas	5
LAS302B	Asian History and Cultures II	3
LAS499	Social Science Seminar	1

Term VI (14 QH): Families and the Economy

LAS306	Marriage and Family	5
LAS315	World Economics	5
LAS499	Social Science Seminar	4

 

General Education and Free Electives 90 QH

Total Hours 180 QH

English competency must be documented by all B.A. Social Science Program students by passing the English Competency examination or by passing English Composition I (LAE101) and English Composition II (LAE102) at National-Louis University with a grade of "C" or better.