Social Sciences Requirement---3 credits

Approved Core social science classes and sequences can be found in item 4 under Core Curriculum Requirements in the UNR General Course Catalog.

Core social science courses aim to provide students with an understanding of human behavior in scientific perspective, enabling students to appreciate the relevance of science to their own lives and to contemporary social issues and problems. Students will examine both classical literature, current literature on the subject and current events within the subject. These courses introduce students to the methods of study used by the social sciences. Written essays and class room discussion will be tools of analysis.

This course introduces students to the methods of study and basic content of one of the social sciences. Students are exposed to the major questions relating to human, social, cultural, and institutional behavior. As part of this examination of the social sciences, students will explore the major approaches of the relevant social science, with each approach being critically evaluated. Questions may be considered in a comparative manner using a cross-cultural, comparison of major ethnic or other social groups, or comparisons of institutions with a world society.

As in all areas of the core curriculum, these courses emphasize continued development of writing skills, critical thinking skills and quantitative skills using methods, theory, or applications relevant to the particular social science discipline.

The Core Curriculum Social Science Subcommittee and the Core Curriculum Board approved the following objectives for Social Science courses on September 29, 2003:

General Objective

Core social science courses provide students with tools for analyzing human actions, enabling them to understand and apply a scientific approach in the study of contemporary individual and social issues, problems, and their own lives. As part of the University Core, social science courses foster critical understanding of human action and interaction with other humans and their environment.

Specific Objectives

Expose students to current events, issues, and literature relevant to the particular social science discipline.
Develop critical thinking and writing skills.
Apply the scientific method and body of theories to analyze human actions.