The humanities, interdisciplinary social sciences and interdisciplinary liberal studies undergraduate bachelor's degree programs challenge you to think critically and incisively about ideas, people, society and the human condition.

You'll learn about, think about and come to understand the issues and problems facing the modern world and worlds past.

As a student in the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences major, you'll learn about the diversity and the complexity of social life and how the human condition and experience has been captured in literature and art. You explore the different ways people use ideas and issues to form social constructs.

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Curriculum

Major

The Interdisciplinary Social Sciences/Humanities/Liberal Studies majors have a total of 28 out of the 120 credit hours devoted to program-specific classes. This leaves flexibility for you to narrow your area of interest with minors, concentrations or double majors. There is also a capstone course (HSS 480) which is a major research seminar in your chosen area of study. Take courses such as:

  • Introduction to Gender
  • Introduction to Sexuality
  • Social and Political Issues in the Adirondacks
  • Introducing Liberal Arts
  • Introduction to Human Geography
  • Advanced Topics
Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Core Requirements

The interdisciplinary social sciences program consists of 28 credit hours in social sciences. 30 credit hours are in free electives, which is enough to complete a minor or second major if you so choose.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Students are required to complete the following courses:

Humanities and Social Sciences

  • HSS120 Introducing the Liberal Arts (1 credit)
  • HSS480 Major Research Seminar

Professional Experience

Students are required to complete the following Professional Experience:
HSS480 Major Research Seminar

Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Core Electives

Students must complete eight courses total from the following subject areas:*

  • Political Science (POL) 3-credit courses
  • and/or Anthropology (ANTH) 3-credit courses
  • and/or Sociology (SOC) 3-credit courses

*Students should work with their academic advisors to find the courses that best fit their interests.

Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Electives

Pre-Professional External Field Electives

Students must complete five courses in a pre-professional external field, such as business, communications and media, pre-dentistry, pre-law, pre-medicine, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physician assistant, pre-physical therapy, pre-veterinary, etc. This pre-professional concentration provides students with opportunities to increase career choices while exploring a wide variety of interests through their major.

Knowledge Area/University Course Electives

Students will have at least 15 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives to satisfy the Clarkson Common Experience requirements.

Free Electives

Students will have approximately 30 credit hours available to use toward courses of their choice.

Clarkson Common Experience

The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson.
FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)

Minors

Looking to take your education a step further? Check out our list of minors to complement your interdisciplinary social sciences degree.

Clarkson Minors

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