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School of Social Sciences

As a collective of several disciplines, social science is the study of people, groups of people, institutions, and organizations. It is a commitment to the description, explanation and prediction of human behavior. Social scientists ask such questions as: How are groups formed? How do people produce and distribute goods? Why do cities grow, and why do some cities decay? What are the causes of war, of racial discrimination, of revolutions? What roles do government, law and politics play in our society? And, how can we improve our quality of life? Social science uses rigorous methodologies to apply ideas and theories to the real world. Degrees in the social sciences provide students with the tools of critical thinking that allow them to work and succeed in business, government and not-for-profit organizations.

The School of Social Sciences offers undergraduate degrees in Crime and Justice Studies, Economics and Finance, Geography, Government and Politics, Public Administration, and Sociology. Each degree offers a large number of elective hours that allow students to direct their educational focus. Careers building on social science degrees include law, public service, finance, banking, criminal justice, human resource management, teaching, market research and analysis, urban planning and counseling to name a few.

Faculty

Professors: Brian J. L. Berry, Ronald Briggs, Anthony M. Champagne, Harold Clarke, Lloyd J. Dumas, Euel Elliott, Donald A. Hicks, Rita M. Kelly, Kimberly Kempf-Leonard, L. Douglas Kiel, Murray J. Leaf, James C. Murdoch, Lawrence J. Redlinger, Richard K. Scotch, Barry J. Seldon, Marianne C. Stewart, Larry Terry, Paul Tracy, Wim P. M. Vijverberg, Douglas Watson
Associate Professors: Bobby C. Alexander,Sheila Amin Gutiérrez de Piñeres, Philip K. Armour, Kurt J. Beron, Pamela Brandwein, Marie Chevrier, Simon Fass, Edward J. Harpham, Bruce Jacobs, Paul Jargowski, Gregory S. Thielemann, Susan Williams-McElroy
Assistant Professors: Nathan Berg, Timothy Bray, Kevin Curtin, Douglas Dow, Roxanne Ezzet-Lofstrom, Joao Faria, Karen Hayslett-McCall, Jennifer Holmes, Melinda Kane, Chad King, Danielle Lavin-Loucks, Magnus Lofstrom, Isaac McFarlin, Dan O’Brien, Fang Qiu, Scott Robinson, Sheryl Skaggs, Carole Wilson
Professor Emeritus: Alexander L. Clark, Irving J. Hoch
Senior Lecturers: Julie Harrelson-Stephens, Karl Ho

Programs and General Courses

The School of Social Sciences has six degree granting programs: Crime and Justice Studies, Economics and Finance, Geography, Government and Politics, Public Administration, and Sociology. Within each of these programs, students may specialize in areas that complement their interests and career plans, such as urban studies, political economy, law and society, and comparative studies. Students should also note that many courses listed under Interdisciplinary Studies (ISSS) and Social Sciences (SOCS) apply within their major.

Minor Areas of Study

The School of Social Sciences offers minors in Crime and Justice Studies, Economics and Finance, Geography, Government and Politics, Public Administration, and Sociology. Minors are described following each major. The School of Social Sciences requires that a minimum of 12 of the 18 hours for a minor be taken at UTD.

Related Minor Areas: (See Minor’s Handbook for specific course requirements)

Minor in Urban Development (18 hours)
Minor in Gender Studies (18 hours)
Minor in Global Studies (18 hours)

Social Studies Teacher Certification

Teacher certification is offered in Composite Social Studies, Economics, Geography, Government, and History. Each teaching field requires 24 hours in that field, while the composite requires 48 hours. Specific course requirements are available in the Teacher Development Center.

Social Science Core Requirements

All undergraduates receiving degrees in the School of Social Sciences must have taken and passed a core of courses designed to provide breadth and an interdisciplinary perspective beyond any individual social science discipline. These courses include:

• Three semester hours in economics (normally ECO 2302 or ECO 2301)
• Three semester hours in sociology (normally SOC 1301 or SOC 2319)
• SOCS 3105 Social Statistics Laboratory
• SOCS 3305 Introduction to Social Statistics
• Three semester hours in an approved ISSS or other Social Science course with a comparative or international focus; see required comparative or international courses under Major Core Courses under each Major.
• Three semester hours in an approved Social Science course satisfying the advanced writing requirement; see courses under Major Core Courses for each Major.
• Three semester hours in an approved ISSS or other Social Science course with a distributive justice focus; see required distributive justice courses under Major Core Courses for each Major.

Internship and Independent Study Policy

The total number of independent study and internship hours are limited to nine total hours with the exception of extenuating circumstances to be approved by the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education.

Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master’s Degrees

Undergraduate Social Science majors (Economics and Finance, Geography, Government and Politics, Public Administration, and Sociology) with a strong academic record (3.0 or above) are encouraged to enter the Fast Track program, which allows students to take graduate courses for undergraduate credit while at the same time satisfying requirements for a master’s degree in Applied Economics, Geographic Information Sciences, Applied Sociology, or Public Affairs or any other graduate program within the School of Social Sciences. Qqualified seniors mayto take up to 15 credit hours of graduate courses during their senior year. The number of hours required to complete the graduate degree is reduced by the number of Fast-Track graduate hours completed with grades of B or better. So, for example, if the degree requirements were only 36 hours, a Fast-Track undergraduate who passed 12 hours of well-chosen graduate coursework with grades of A or B, would have only 36-12=24 hours of graduate coursework left in order to complete the graduate degree. When a successful Fast-Track student graduates with the B.S./B.A. degree, he or she still needs to complete an application for admission to the graduate school at U.T. Dallas and meet all requirements for admission, including the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) and letter of recommendation. Degree requirements and hours vary by programs. Students enrolled in the Fast Track must maintain a 3.0 grade point average and earn grades of B or better in graduate courses taken. Students who are interested in the Fast Track should speak with the Program Head and complete an application form with their academic advisor prior to the final 30 credit hours of work for the B.A. or B.S. degree.

Degree Programs in the School of Social Sciences

Crime and Justice Studies
Economics and Finance
Geography
Government and Politics
Public Administration
Sociology

The University of Texas at Dallas 2004-2006 Undergraduate Catalog
Volume 30, Number 1
Copyright © The University of Texas at Dallas

This catalog is a general information publication only. It is not intended to nor does it contain all regulations that relate to students. The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract, express or implied, between any applicant, student or faculty member and The University of Texas at Dallas or The University of Texas System. The University of Texas at Dallas reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time, to change fees or tuition, calendar, curriculum, degree requirements, graduation procedures, and any other requirements affecting students. Changes will become effective whenever the proper authorities so determine and will apply to both prospective students and those already enrolled.

Statement on Equal Educational Opportunity
The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, and veteran status. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is also prohibited pursuant to University policy.