Interdisciplinary Social Sciences B.A., with Criminology Concentration

University Admissions - College of Arts and Sciences

Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:

• Freshman: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/freshmen/admission-information/requirements-deadlines.aspx
• Transfer: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/transfer/admission-information/index.aspx
• International: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/international/admission-information/index.aspx

For Admission information specific to the College of Arts and Sciences, see the information at College of Arts and Sciences .

Graduation Requirements - College of Arts and Sciences

Satisfactory completion of the following requirements:

• Students must complete all State and University level graduation requirements.
•  Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in USF coursework. Note: Some Departments/program/major require a higher GPA. Students should refer to Department/program/major specific catalog requirements.
• Physical Education coursework is limited to two (2) semester hours.
• ROTC courses that are primarily physical training and field experiences will not be applied to College of Arts and Sciences degree programs. All other military Science coursework will apply, in particular, coursework utilized toward completing an established ROTC minor will be applied to the total hours toward degree. 
• When earning a second degree, double major or concurrent degree, the Major Core and Major Elective/Concentration areas of the degree audit must not overlap for both degrees.  All other areas of the degree audit may have overlapping credit hours applied.
• Maximum of 20 hours of S/U option. S/U contracts must be negotiated in writing within the first three (3) weeks of the term. None of the 20 credits may be taken in the student’s major unless S/U is the only grading option. Coursework fulfilling the General Education Core Curriculum Requirements and the State Communication Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Writing) and State Computation Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Math) may not be taken S/U.
• The Audit option is available only during the first 5 days of classes.
• “D” grades are not acceptable in the major and supporting sciences for all natural sciences majors (Biomedical Sciences; Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology; Integrative Biology; Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences; Medical Technology; Chemistry; Geology; Math; Physics, and Physical Sciences). “D” grades are not acceptable for the major area in Anthropology, Communication, English, Geography, History, Humanities, Mass Communications, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology.
• Complete all major course requirements.
• College of Arts and Sciences students are expected to complete a minimum of 50% of their major and/or minor coursework in residence at USF. Some College of Arts and Sciences Departments/programs/majors have established additional major course hours to be taken in residency at USF. See the major or program section of the catalog for these credit-hour requirements.

State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences B.A.

Following Florida BOG Regulation 8.010, state mandated common course prerequisites are lower-division courses that are required for progression into the upper division of a particular baccalaureate degree program. 

Transfer students should complete the State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at a Florida College System institution, they must be completed before the degree is granted. Successful completion of the common prerequisites alone does not guarantee a student admission into the degree program. 

Unless stated otherwise, a grade of C- is the minimum acceptable grade in prerequisite courses.

Select two courses (6 credit hours total) from the following courses within the social sciences:

• ANT XXXX - 3 credit hours
• CPO XXXX - 3 credit hours
• ECO XXXX - 3 credit hours
• GEO XXXX - 3 credit hours
• INR XXXX - 3 credit hours
• ISS XXXX - 3 credit hours
• POS XXXX - 3 credit hours
• SYA XXXX - 3 credit hours
• SYD XXXX - 3 credit hours
• SYG XXXX - 3 credit hours
• SYO XXXX - 3 credit hours
• SYP XXXX - 3 credit hours

Required Supporting Course: 1 course, 3 credit hours

The following course is a supporting course for this major.  The degree will not be awarded if this course has not been taken by the end of the student’s final semester.

• STA 2122 - Social Science Statistics Credit(s): 3

Required Courses: (42 credit hours)

Other Requirements

• Students declare two concentrations.
• American Sign Language will satisfy the Foreign Language Exit Requirement.

GPA Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in the major to graduate.

Grading Requirements

• A grade of C- or better is required in all core courses.
• No more than two grades of D are acceptable in the major.
• No transfer courses with grades of D are acceptable for credit in the major.

Optional Honor Program

Through the Undergraduate Honors Program, the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences provides its outstanding students with opportunities to work closely with faculty and graduate students with shared interests in specific areas of social experience.  Students accepted into the program select a faculty mentor with expertise in the area of study of interest to the student.  Under the supervision of this mentor, honors students conduct social scientific research in their area of interest culminating in the preparation of an honors thesis.  Students typically apply to the Honors Program in the Spring Semester during their junior year for admission for the following Fall.  If you are interested in the Undergraduate Honors Program, please contact the Undergraduate Program Director, Dr. Erica Toothman at eltoothman@usf.edu for Sociology or Dr. Melissa Sloan at melissasloan@usf.edu for Interdisciplinary Social Sciences for more information and application materials

Research Opportunities - College of Arts and Sciences

All ISS majors participate in a Senior Research Project as part of the requirements for ISS 4935 - Seminar in the Social Sciences . Other research opportunities may be provided in courses related to the student’s area of concentration or courses selected in the Diversity and Global Context category. ISS advisors can assist students in selecting courses that provide these research opportunities.

Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914  course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of High Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research is able to assist with further inquiries.

Advising Information - College of Arts and Sciences

USF students schedule advising appointments online through USF Archivum Platform.   Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester to discuss courses planning, degree progression, and career preparation.

Tampa Campus Website: https://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/students/academic-advising/index.aspx
For questions, email ISSadvise@usf.edu.

St. Pete Campus Website: https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/academics/academic-resources/academic-advising/about/index.aspx
For questions, email usfsp-advising@usf.edu.

Sarasota/Manatee Campus Website: https://www.sarasotamanatee.usf.edu/academics/academic-resources/academic-advising/
For questions, email sar-advising@usf.edu.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 1

Year 2