Human and Social Sciences Concentration
About the Human and Social Sciences Concentration
Historically, the human sciences emerged as traditional cultures were turning modern. One of their central concerns has therefore been the problems of negotiating this transition. This makes them indispensable for understanding human existence in the contemporary world.
Accordingly, the concentration in Human and Social Sciences has five major goals.
- To understand how the transformations of the contemporary world have both enhanced life and created unprecedented problems;
- To instill a sophisticated appreciation for the contemporary influences, movements, forces and tendencies that are transforming human life and institutions;
- To offer ways of understanding the structures of contemporary societies and the processes of change that they undergo;
- To counteract the divisive force of intellectual overspecialization and compartmentalization;
- To place these matters within the context of the great traditions of Western and Christian civilization, in particular the tradition of the West’s openings to other cultures and now to global civilization.
Concentrators in the program learn to apply the theories and concepts of the human and social sciences to problems of contemporary societies. The skills and knowledge acquired regarding cultural practices, social structures and forms and aspects of the contemporary world are useful for anyone planning to go into law, medicine, government, business, journalism, social work, pastoral ministry, graduate studies in the social sciences, or any other field demanding an articulate grasp of life in a globalizing environment.
A student electing the Human and Social Sciences concentration will take (1) HUSC 3331: Conceptual Foundations of the Human Sciences or HUSC 3334: Philosophical Anthropology, and (2) at least nine more credit hours of HUSC courses, of which six credit hours must be numbered 3000 or higher. Students may elect to take HUSC 3V57 (Internship) or HUSC 4V61 (Directed Readings and Research) to fulfill course requirements, but only three hours of any combination of these two courses may be applied toward the concentration.
Course Information
Courses in Human and Social Sciences