USF 2005-2006 Undergraduate Catalog - USF Lakeland - Pages 210-211

Interdisciplinary Social Sciences (ISS)

The ISS program is designed to provide an interdisciplinary integration of the social sciences for students who are interested in a broad educational experience. ISS offers a wide choice of courses, and an opportunity to design a quality program geared toward individual needs and interests. Students plan their program in ongoing consultation with the advisor who approves each individual curriculum contract.

Specific requirements for a B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences (ISS) are outlined below:

Recommended Prerequisites (State Mandated Common Prerequisites)
Students wishing to transfer to USF should complete the A.A. degree at the community college. Some courses required for the major may also meet General Education Requirements thereby transferring maximum hours to the university. If students transfer with fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the students must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements.

Please be aware of the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university.

There are no State Mandated Common Prerequisites for the ISS degree program.

Some of the following courses if available, during the program of study at the community college, and when feasible in General Education/Gordon Rule courses, could count toward the ISS degree. A grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable grade.

• AFA 2000 Introduction to the Black Experience [In Africa and Its Diaspora] (3)
• AMH 2010 American History I (3)
  or
• AMH 2020 American History II (3)
• ANT 2000 Introduction to Anthropology (3)
• ECO 2013 Economic Principles (Macroeconomics) (3)
• ECO 2023 Economic Principles (Microeconomics) (3)
• GEA 2000 World Regional Geography (4)
• POS 2041 American National Government (3)
  or
• POS 2112 State and Local Government (3)
• SYG 2000 Introduction to Sociology (3)
• WST X015 Introduction to Women’s Studies (3)

Interdisciplinary Core Courses
Two of these courses, an introductory course (3010) and the senior seminar (4935), introduce and employ the interdisciplinary social science perspective. These courses involve students in the study of human life and experience; the various concepts, theories and methods used in the social sciences; and apply them to contemporary issues and questions. Social Science Statistics is the third core course required for majors in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences.

Coursework required for Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Majors

1. Required core courses for the major are:
   ISS 3010 Introduction to Social Sciences (3)
   ISS 4935 Seminar in the Social Sciences -MW (3)
   STA 2122 Social Sciences Statistics -6A QM (3)

2. The ISS student chooses between two cognate areas and completes twelve hours in each. In addition, three special electives emphasize cultural diversity.

3. Students should work out a program of study at the onset of their junior year, particularly before too many courses are completed in the College of Arts and Sciences. No student should assume that courses already completed will automatically count toward the ISS degree.

4. The completion of 42 approved hours of course work from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), with a minimum of 30 hours at the 3000 or above level.

5. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in ISS to graduate.

6. ISS majors must satisfy two semesters of a foreign language in order to graduate.

7. Other personal curricula may be tailored for those highly motivated students, with a minimum grade point average of 3.2, developed with the approval of the advisor. This course of study will be directed toward the special educational interests of these students. An in-depth Honors Research Paper will be required of students taking this option.

No transfer courses with grades of “D” are acceptable for credit in the ISS major.

COGNATE AREAS - Students select two areas and take 12 hours in each. Cognates must be selected from the areas of study listed below: Africana Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Criminology, Economics, Environmental Science and Policy, Gerontology, Geography, History, Humanities, International Studies, Interpreter Training, Latin American Studies, Library and Information Science, Multidisciplinary Behavioral Sciences, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Religious Studies, Social Work, Sociology, and Woman’s Studies.

Please send questions or comments to:
Karen M. Hall - webcat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 2005

http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0506/lakiss.htm