Humanities and Social Sciences Department
Chairperson: Michael Steiner
Faculty: Joel Benson, Jeremy Bryson, Kimberly Casey, Mark Corson, Robert Dewhirst, Patricia Drews, James Eiswert, Matthew Engel, Richard Field, Elyssa Ford, Richard Fulton, Dawn Gilley, Theodore Goudge, Brian Hesse, Ming-Chih Hung, Matthew Johnson, Yanfen Le, Curtis Richardson, Daniel Smith, Thomas Spencer, Michelle Wade, Yi-Hwa Wu
Statement of Mission
The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences includes the disciplinary areas of geography, geographic information science, history, humanities, philosophy, political science, and social science education, thus serving a kaleidoscope of constituencies on campus. Throughout the department, academic experiences that embrace broad, general, liberal education as well as applied skills encourage students to be inquisitive, creative, and imaginative as well as functional. The department strives to prepare students to be adaptable and flexible in their occupational and professional pursuits but ever cognizant of and responsible to the human and environmental conditions. The disciplines represented by the department should serve as a foundation upon which every person bases his or her professional career as well as being integral to their lives and the lives of those around them.
Degree Programs
The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences offers eleven majors, twelve minors and certification in middle and secondary school social sciences.
The Bachelor of Arts (30 hours) and the Bachelor of Science (37 hours) degrees in Geography provide students the opportunity to prepare themselves to pursue positions in government, business, education, urban and regional planning, environmental analysis, and natural resource management. The comprehensive Bachelor of Science (53 hours) degree in Geographic Information Science prepares students for careers that apply GIS and related geospatial technologies to these fields.
The Bachelor of Arts (30 hours) and Bachelor of Science in History (36 hours) provide a traditional liberal arts program and prepares students for careers in such diverse areas as government, public service, business and industry, archives, museums, historical preservation, writing and research.
The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (31 hours) provides students with the rich history of the Western philosophical tradition and the values of free, impartial and disciplined inquiry embodied therein. The major in philosophy fosters skills of critical thinking and clear expression which are transferable to any field, and integrates philosophical study with other fields through interdisciplinary electives.
A Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Social Science (51 hours) draws upon economics, geography, government, history and sociology in providing preparation for teaching social science. This major must be completed as a part of the B.S.Ed. degree, Secondary Education Program, thus meeting Missouri teacher certification standards for social studies grades 9-12, as well as preparing the student to become a facilitator for lifelong learning in a world of diversity and change. This is a comprehensive major; no minor is required. However, students are free to complete a minor in another field appropriate to the B.S.Ed. degree, Secondary Program, if seeking another teaching area.
The Bachelor of Arts (31 hours) and Bachelor of Science (37 hours) degrees in Political Science introduce the student to the decision-making processes that guide, direct and determine a society’s behavior. Courses focus on the politics and administration of government and factors involved in the competition for political power. The political science program prepares students for a number of careers as well as advanced study in law, municipal planning, city management, urban affairs, education and public policy analysis.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (37 hours) prepares the student for a career in local, state or national government as well as nonprofit organizations. Like the political science major, public administration requires a minor. Majors are required to intern at a governmental agency or at a nonprofit organization.
The Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Crisis Response (36 hours) uses a multi-disciplinary approach to study crisis, drawing from courses and faculty in communications, geography, psychology, and social sciences. In addition to the crisis management core, multiple options, and electives within those options, provide flexibility so that students can tailor the major to their individual and specific academic and professional needs. This approach provides the student with both theoretical and practical knowledge that is valued in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Minors are available in the areas of geography, geographic information science, history, humanities, philosophy, public history, criminal justice, political science, public administration, international relations and comprehensive crisis response. These minor programs assist students interested in a variety of careers, including museum studies, archives, historic preservation, national park service, law enforcement, juvenile justice, theology, crisis management, business and graduate studies.
Test-Out Policy
Credit by examination through the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences is not available for courses in this catalog.
Department Policies
All students selecting majors or minors in this department must have a departmental advisor from the appropriate area who shall approve all programs, deviations or options. An advisement file shall be maintained on each major as well as for each minor. Advanced standing requirements for each of the majors in the department are indicated preceding each major.