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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Interdisciplinary Social Sciences B.A., with Communication Concentration
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 Return to: Programs by Degree
TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120
Plans of Study
The Interdisciplinary Social Sciences program is designed to provide an interdisciplinary integration of the social sciences for students who are interested in a holistic educational experience. The program offers an opportunity to design a rigorous course of study geared toward individual needs and interests that emphasizes critical analysis of social issues through a variety of paradigms and perspectives.
Students complete an Interdisciplinary Social Sciences program of study that includes completing two concentrations (24 total credit hours) from the following list: Africana Studies, Aging Sciences, American Studies, Anthropology, Behavioral Healthcare, Communication, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Criminology, Deaf Studies, Economics, Environmental Science and Policy, Geography, Global and Government Affairs, History, Humanities, Information Studies, Integrated Community Research, International Studies, Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies, Mass Communications, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Public Health, Religious Studies, Social Relations and Policy, Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies.
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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:
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.
- The College may approve an exception when a student has successfully earned the minimum grade required for all courses applied in the major but does not have a major GPA of 2.0.
- 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.
- 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.
Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Required Courses: (51 credit hours)
State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences B.A. (6 credit hours)
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 X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
- CPO X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
- ECO X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
- GEO X000-X999- 3 credit hours
- INR X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
- ISS X000-X999- 3 credit hours
- POS X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
- SYA X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
- SYD X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
- SYG X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
- SYO X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
- SYP X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
State Mathematics Pathway – Interdisciplinary Social Sciences B.A. (6 Credit Hours)
The Interdisciplinary Social Sciences B.A. uses the Mathematical Thinking in Context Mathematics Pathway with the following requirements:
Interdisciplinary Social Sciences B.A. Foundation Courses
Major Core Courses: 3 courses; 9 credit hours
Other Requirements (6-9 credit hours)
Diversity and Global Context Courses (2-3 courses; 6-9 credit hours)
Courses used to fulfill the Diversity and Global Context requirement may not be used to fulfill the major core and/or concentration requirements.
If one or more of the student’s areas of concentration require(s) more than 12 credit hours of coursework, fewer than 9 credit hours of coursework will be required in the Diversity and Global Context requirement.
The remainder of the 42 hours of major coursework (in addition to major core and concentration requirements) will be selected from courses in the following categories:
Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Major (Restricted) Electives
Students complete the general Interdisciplinary Social Sciences program of study and two of the following twenty-eight concentrations:
Communication Concentration (4 courses; 12 credit hours)
Choose 1 course (3 credit hours) from the following list:
Choose 2 courses (6 credit hours) of 3000-/4000-level coursework with an COM, SPC, ORI prefixes
Additional Information - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences B.A.
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.
Other Requirements
- Students declare two concentrations.
- American Sign Language will satisfy the Foreign Language Exit Requirement.
Optional Honors 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. Byron Miller at bamille3@usf.edu, for Interdisciplinary Social Sciences for more information and application materials.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
- Junior standing.
- 12 semester hours of Sociology or ISS course work with a major GPA of 3.0 by the end of the semester in which application is made.
- Overall USF GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Selection and approval of faculty mentor.
Completion Requirements
- Completion of all requirements for the major.
- Completion of at least one upper-level elective relevant to the thesis (course must be approved by faculty mentor).
- USF overall and major GPA of at least 3.0.
- Successful completion of the Honors Thesis (SYA/ISS 4910 and the thesis itself).
Research Opportunities - College of Arts and Sciences
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
Undergraduate Advising Information
The College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) Advising Team provides students with support to create timely graduation plans that will integrate both their academic and professional goals. Each of our undergraduate programs has dedicated professional advisors with specialized knowledge and understanding of the major requirements, course offerings, undergraduate research, and career opportunities in their field. Additionally, we have dedicated pre-health and prelaw advisors to help students prepare for admission to professional graduate programs.
CAS Academic Advisor Contact information can be found here: CAS Advisors
To schedule an advising appointment: Advising Appointments
Plans of Study – Interdisciplinary Social Sciences B.A., with Communication Concentration
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