Social Sciences Program (AA or BS)

The social science program of courses deals with mankind’s political, social, economic and psychological interrelatedness as studied in the fields of sociology, history, political science, communication studies, economics and psychology. Students in this program develop and refine their insights into human behavior through a wide range of social observation, inquiry and study. By allowing a considerable degree of freedom in choosing electives, the program permits a meaningful flexibility not found in more restrictive curricula. This major is especially suited to student seeking to complete their undergraduate education after several years away from the classroom.

Qualifications

Students must maintain an overall 2.0 cumulative average to graduate with a degree from Canisius.

Advisement

All students should have an advisor in the major and should contact the department directly to have an advisor assigned if they do not already have one.  Meetings with academic advisors are required prior to students receiving their PIN for course registration each semester. All majors should work closely with their advisor in discussing career expectations, choosing their major electives, developing their entire academic program and planning their co-curricular or supplemental academic experiences.

Students interested in pursuing this degree at either the Bachelor's or Associate's level should contact the Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Curriculum

An Ignatian Foundation

All undergraduate students must complete either the Canisius Core Curriculum or the All-College Honors Curriculum. Many schools refer to their college-wide undergraduate requirements as "general education" requirements. We believe that the core curriculum and the honors curriculum are more than a series of required classes; they provide the basis for a Jesuit education both with content and with required knowledge and skills attributes that are central to our mission.

Free Electives

Students may graduate with a bachelor's degree with more but not less than 120 credit hours. Free electives are courses in addition to the Canisius Core Curriculum or All-College Honors Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach the minimum number of credits required for graduation. The number of credits required to complete a bachelor's degree may vary depending on the student's major(s) and minor(s).

Major Requirements

The associate of arts degree program in social sciences requires the completion of 60 credits of coursework. This program has two basic purposes:

1. It offers an immediate degree goal for students seeking a general introduction to the social sciences; and
2. It provides a basic foundation for those who wish to go on for a bachelor’s degree. If a student remains at Canisius University, all of the coursework in the associate degree program is transferable and applicable to the bachelor’s program.

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Select five courses in COM, CRJ,  ECO, EVST, PSC, PSY, or SOC;  Three courses must be at the 200 level or above.

Note: Of the seven major courses, no more than five can come from any single discipline.

Core Curriculum:  Students must complete the four foundation courses, fields 1-6, and two of the six attributes. AA students are exempt from the core capstone requirement.

The basic residency requirement for A.A. degrees is 30 credit hours, at least 15 of which must be completed in traditional classroom situations. No more than 30 credits may be transferred from another institution. Not all courses at other institutions are applicable to the associate degree, and transfer students are required to have a transfer evaluation completed by the university.

For more information contact the Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Curriculum

An Ignatian Foundation

All undergraduate students must complete either the Canisius Core Curriculum or the All-College Honors Curriculum. Many schools refer to their college-wide undergraduate requirements as "general education" requirements. We believe that the core curriculum and the honors curriculum are more than a series of required classes; they provide the basis for a Jesuit education both with content and with required knowledge and skills attributes that are central to our mission.

Free Electives

Students may graduate with a bachelor's degree with more but not less than 120 credit hours. Free electives are courses in addition to the Canisius Core Curriculum or All-College Honors Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach the minimum number of credits required for graduation. The number of credits required to complete a bachelor's degree may vary depending on the student's major(s) and minor(s).

Major Requirements

The BS Social Science degree allows students to self-design a program of study or to complete their Bachelor’s degree outside the normal guidelines of more traditional majors. Students may choose this major as means of completing their degree, especially for those returning to college years after they first enrolled.