The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective.
Social Sciences
cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/social-sciences
Science & Engineering Building (VSCI), Room 130
360-546-9620
Academic Director, Professor P. Narayanan; Because the social sciences program is an interdisciplinary pursuit, contributing faculty members come from a variety of departments.
A Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences provides a series of options for students who wish to investigate the nature of society and how its structures and institutions affect individuals, groups, and communities. In this program, students concentrate their work in the disciplines of anthropology, history, political science, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
Students can complement the courses in the primary concentration with courses from at least one other academic area or department with the advisor's approval. With the direction of an advisor, students can shape programs of study that can be used as preparation for a variety of careers or graduate study.
All students must complete the University-level General Education Requirements as described elsewhere in this catalog. Entering students must have at least a 2.0 transfer GPA. Above and beyond the General Education Requirements, the College of Liberal Arts requires an additional six semester hours of arts and humanities or social science course work, two semester hours of science with a lab, and a foreign language requirement (either two years of the same language in high school or one year of the same language in college).
All social science/humanities majors must complete a minimum of 39 semester hours of departmental course work, 21 of which must be upper-division. Students may organize these 39 departmental credits in one of two ways:
- Earn at least 24 semester hours (of which 15 semester hours must be upper-division) in a chosen primary concentration and at least 15 semester hours (of which 6 semester hours must be upper-division) in a chosen secondary concentration; or
- Combine three closely-related areas, earning at least 9 credits in each.
Beyond the credit distribution requirements, there are no specific course curriculum requirements.
Personnel Psychology/Human Resources Option
The Personnel Psychology/Human Resources (PP/HR) option takes an interdisciplinary approach by drawing from psychology, human development, and management coursework. It is designed to provide human resource professionals, and those preparing for a career in human resources, the tools to be effective managers.
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences with an emphasis in personnel psychology and human resource management must complete all University General Education Requirements, the additional requirements of the College of Liberal Arts (see Social Sciences description), and a minimum of 40 semester hours of prescribed course work in the major.
Schedules of Studies
Honors students complete the Honors College requirements which replace the UCORE requirements.
Social Sciences Major - Personnel Psychology/Human Resources Option (Vancouver-only) (120 Credits)
The Personnel Psychology/Human Resources (PP/HR) option for the BA in Social Sciences - Social Sciences major is designed to provide human resource professionals, and those preparing for a career in human resources, the tools to be effective managers. 120 credit hours are required, including completion of WSU UCORE requirements, CAS requirements, and a combination of social sciences courses totaling 40 upper-division hours from three academic areas (psychology, human development, and management). The GPA for the 40 hours must be a 2.00 minimum. Students declare the General Social Sciences major (Gen S) and receive a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences with an Option in Personnel Psychology/Human Resources.
| First Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| Biological Sciences [BSCI] with lab1 | 4 |
| ENGLISH 101 [WRTG] | 3 |
| Humanities [HUM] | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning [QUAN] | 3 |
| Social Sciences [SSCI] | 3 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Communication [COMM] or Written Communication [WRTG] | 3 |
| Equity and Justice [EQJS] | 3 |
| HISTORY 105 [ROOT] | 3 |
| Physical Sciences [PSCI] with lab1 | 4 |
| Second Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| PSYCH 306 | 3 |
| Foreign Language, if necessary, or Electives | 12 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Arts [ARTS] | 3 |
| Diversity [DIVR] | 3 |
| PSYCH 308 | 3 |
| Foreign Language, if necessary, or Electives | 6 |
| Complete Writing Portfolio | |
| Third Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| H D 406 | 3 |
| MGMT 301 | 3 |
| PSYCH 311 | 4 |
| Area 1 Electives 2 | 3 |
| Electives | 3 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Area 1 Electives 2 | 3 |
| Area 2 Electives 3 | 3 |
| Area 3 Electives 4 | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Fourth Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| Area 1 Electives 2 | 3 |
| Area 2 Electives 3 | 3 |
| Area 3 Electives 4 | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Integrative Capstone [CAPS] | 3 |
| Area 3 Electives 4 | 3 |
| Electives | 9 |
Footnotes
| 1 | To meet College of Arts and Sciences requirements, students must complete 1 additional lab credit of [BSCI] or [PSCI] for a total of 8 credits (2 labs). |
| 2 | Area 1 electives: PSYCH 309, 350, 412, 470, or 495. |
| 3 | Area 2 electives: H D 301, 350, 385, 403, or 430. |
| 4 | Area 3 electives: I BUS 453 [M], MGMT 401 [M], 450, 455, 456 [M], 485 [M], 487, 496. Must include two [M] courses. |
Social Sciences or Humanities Major - Plan A Option (120 Credits)
This division of general studies is for students whose primary interest in the humanities or social sciences requires programs and course selections which are not possible within single academic units or established curricula. Students who wish to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities or a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences will devise an approved, coherent program of study which fulfills an academic or career goal and includes prerequisites consistent with the 300-400-level course work. In addition, each student will satisfy the UCOREs and any additional requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Students are admitted to the General Humanities major (Gen H) or General Social Sciences major (Gen S) upon making their intentions known to the School of Languages, Cultures, and Race.
Plan A—Primary/Secondary Concentration
Primary concentration: a minimum of 24 credits, including at least 15 300-400-level credits, must be completed in a single humanities or social sciences department or published program with a minimum 2.00 primary concentration GPA. The degree (Gen H or Gen S) will depend on the primary concentration.
Secondary concentration: a minimum of 15 credits, including at least 6 300-400-level credits, must be completed in another academic department, program or area published in the catalog with a minimum 2.00 GPA.
Per Academic Regulation 54, students may not be admitted in or awarded an additional major or minor if it carries the same name as one of the areas of study or options, concentrations or sub-plans within a major. In addition, students pursuing a Business major or minor may not also be admitted in an option, concentration or subplan of Administrative Studies.
For a list of approved Plan A areas, please contact the Liberal Arts General Studies office.
| First Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| Arts [ARTS] | 3 |
| Biological Sciences [BSCI] with lab1 | 4 |
| ENGLISH 101 [WRTG] | 3 |
| Humanities [HUM] | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning [QUAN] | 3 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Communication [COMM] or Written Communication [WRTG] | 3 |
| Equity and Justice [EQJS] | 3 |
| HISTORY 105 [ROOT] | 3 |
| Physical Sciences [PSCI] with lab1 | 4 |
| Foreign Language, if necessary, or Elective | 3 or 4 |
| Second Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| Primary Concentration | 3 |
| Secondary Concentration | 3 |
| Social Sciences [SSCI] | 3 |
| Foreign Language, if necessary, or Elective | 6 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Diversity [DIVR] | 3 |
| Primary Concentration | 3 |
| Secondary Concentration | 3 |
| Electives | 4 |
| Complete Writing Portfolio | |
| Third Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| 300-400-level Primary Concentration2 | 3 |
| Primary Concentration | 3 |
| Secondary Concentration | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| 300-400-level Primary Concentration2 | 3 |
| 300-400-level Secondary Concentration2 | 3 |
| Integrative Capstone [CAPS] | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Fourth Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| 300-400-level Primary Concentration2 | 6 |
| 300-400-level Secondary Concentration2 | 3 |
| Electives2 | 6 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| 300-400-level Primary Concentration2 | 3 |
| Electives2 | 12 |
Footnotes
| 1 | To meet College of Arts and Sciences requirements, students must complete 1 additional lab credit of [BSCI] or [PSCI] for a total of 8 credits (2 labs). |
| 2 | Students must take a total of 40 credits of upper-division (300-400 level). 21 upper-division credits must be taken within the designated concentration areas. The UCORE requirements include 3 upper-division credits. The remaining 16 credits may be taken in the electives, the UCOREs, or by electing to take more than the minimum required in the areas. Among the 300-400 level course work in the areas, two courses, each at 3 credits, must have a [M] designation. Only 6 credits of internship or P, F credits are allowed to count towards major requirements. |
Social Sciences or Humanities Major - Plan B Option (120 Credits)
Humanities: A combination of humanities courses totaling at least 39 credits involving three academic areas with a minimum of 9 credits in each of the three areas. At least 21 of the 39 credits must be at the 300-400-level and the GPA for the 39 credits must be a 2.0 minimum. Students are admitted to the General Humanities major (Gen H) upon making their intentions known to the School of Languages, Cultures, and Race, and receive a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities.
Social Sciences: A combination of social sciences courses totaling at least 39 credits involving three academic areas with a minimum of 9 credits in each of the three areas. At least 21 of the 39 credits must be at the 300-400-level and the GPA for the 39 credits must be a 2.0 minimum. Students are admitted to the General Social Sciences major (Gen S) upon making their intentions known to the School of Languages, Cultures, and Race, and receive a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences.
Per Academic Regulation 54, students may not be admitted in or awarded an additional major or minor if it carries the same name as one of the areas of study or options, concentrations or sub-plans within a major. In addition, students pursuing a Business major or minor may not also be admitted in an option, concentration or subplan of Administrative Studies.
For a list of approved Plan B areas, please contact the Liberal Arts General Studies office.
| First Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| Arts [ARTS] | 3 |
| Biological Sciences [BSCI] with lab1 | 4 |
| HISTORY 105 [ROOT] | 3 |
| Humanities [HUM] | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning [QUAN] | 3 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Communication [COMM] or Written Communication [WRTG] | 3 |
| ENGLISH 101 [WRTG] | 3 |
| Equity and Justice [EQJS] | 3 |
| Physical Sciences [PSCI] with lab1 | 4 |
| Social Sciences [SSCI] | 3 |
| Second Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| Area 1 | 3 |
| Area 2 | 3 |
| Foreign Language, if necessary, or Electives | 7 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Area 1 | 3 |
| Area 3 | 3 |
| Diversity [DIVR] | 3 |
| Foreign Language, if necessary, or Electives | 6 |
| Complete Writing Portfolio | |
| Third Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| 300-400-level Area 12 | 3 |
| Area 2 | 3 |
| Area 3 | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| 300-400-level Area 22 | 3 |
| 300-400-level Area 32 | 3 |
| Integrative Capstone [CAPS] | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Fourth Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| 300-400 Any Area2 | 9 |
| Electives2 | 6 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| 300-400 Any Area2 | 3 |
| Electives2 | 12 |
Footnotes
| 1 | To meet College of Arts and Sciences requirements, students must complete 1 additional lab credit of [BSCI] or [PSCI] for a total of 8 credits (2 labs). |
| 2 | Students must take a total of 40 credits of upper-division (300-400 level). 21 upper-division credits must be taken within the designated concentration areas. The UCORE requirements include 3 upper-division credits. The remaining 16 credits may be taken in the electives, the UCOREs, or by electing to take more than the minimum required in the areas. Among the 300-400 level course work in the areas, two courses, each at 3 credits, must have a [M] designation. Only 6 credits of internship or P, F credits are allowed to count towards major requirements. |
The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective. Courses showing two entries of the same number indicate that the course information is changing. The most recently approved version is shown first, followed by the older version, in gray, with its last-effective term preceding the course title. Courses shown in gray with only one entry of the course number are being discontinued. Course offerings by term can be accessed by clicking on the term links when viewing a specific campus catalog.