Social Sciences (BA)
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Program Description
Central to an NYU School of Professional Studies Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies (DAUS) education is a strong foundation in the liberal arts. An academic requirement that all DAUS students must fulfill, the 32 to 34 credits of liberal arts core courses provide critical information and develop a broad range of competencies that afford the basis for more specialized and professionally oriented study. The curriculum is enriched by NYU’s access to the exceptional cultural, economic, political, creative, technical, and business resources of New York City.
The Bachelor of Arts in the Social Sciences allows students to engage in, learn from, and lead dynamic intellectual explorations and shared experiences. You will learn to communicate complex ideas effectively through core courses that will help you to develop precise and persuasive writing skills. The core curriculum provides broad conceptual understanding and critical insights—in science, history, culture, and the arts—that strengthen creative and analytical thinking and reasoning abilities. The knowledge and the skills that you will acquire will provide the context and the methodological approaches essential to understanding and to solving the real-world challenges that you will face in almost all professional arenas.
Concentrations
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences offers concentrations in:
- Anthropology
- Economics (online or on-site)
- History
- International Studies
- Media Studies
- Organizational Behavior and Change (online or on-site)
- Politics
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Sustainability
- Urbanism
Each concentration provides a comprehensive exploration of subject matter that is deeply relevant to work and life.
Admissions
New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply.
Program Requirements
The program requires the completion of 128 credits, comprised of the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | ||
| The following courses may be required based on a writing placement assessment, and should be successfully completed within the first three semesters | 8-10 | |
| Introduction to Creative and Expository Writing | ||
| Writing Workshop I | ||
| Writing Workshop II | ||
| Critical Thinking | ||
| HUMN1-UC 6401 | Critical Thinking | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Students, in close consultation with their adviser, select Math 1 and Math II or one of the following other courses based on a math placement assessment: | 4 | |
| Math I and Math II | ||
| Mathematical Reasoning | ||
| Precalculus | ||
| Calculus W/Applications to Business & Economics | ||
| Scientific Issues | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Human Biology | ||
| Environmental Sustainability | ||
| Stars, Planets, & Life | ||
| Biology of Hunger & Population | ||
| Historical Perspectives | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Renaissance to Revolutn | ||
| The American Experience | ||
| Classical & Medieval World | ||
| Contemporary World | ||
| Global Perspectives | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| World Cultures: Africa | ||
| World Cultures: Middle East | ||
| World Cultures: Asia | ||
| World Cultures: Latin America & The Caribbean | ||
| Literary and Artistic Expressions | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| History of Music | ||
| Visual Expressions in Society | ||
| Contemporary Global Literature | ||
| Oral Traditions in Literature | ||
| Foundation Courses: Social Sciences | ||
| Prior to beginning a concentration, students must complete a series of foundation courses within their major. A student’s chosen concentration determines which particular combination of the following required courses and elected humanities and social sciences courses will make up the foundation curriculum of their social sciences major. Students select four of the following courses: | 16 | |
| American Politics | ||
| Business Organization & Management | ||
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| The Global Economy | ||
| History of Economic Thought | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Intro to Macroeconomics | ||
| Intro to Microeconomics | ||
| Intro to Psychology | ||
| Intro to Sociology | ||
| Oral Communications | ||
| Organizational Behavior | ||
| Understanding Media | ||
| The Language of Contemporary Images | ||
| Political Thought | ||
| Introduction to International Studies | ||
| Foundation Courses: Humanities | ||
| Prior to beginning a concentration, students must complete a series of foundation courses within their major. A student’s chosen concentration determines which particular combination of the following required courses and elected humanities and social sciences courses will make up the foundation curriculum of their social sciences major. Students select one of the following courses: | 4 | |
| Foundations of The Creative Process | ||
| Foundations of Philosophical Thought | ||
| Hinduism, Buddhism, & Taoism | ||
| History of Art I: Earliest to Middle Ages | ||
| History of Art II: Renaissance to Modern | ||
| Introduction to Literature | ||
| Judaism, Christianity, & Islam | ||
| The Language of Contemporary Images | ||
| Methods and Theory | ||
| A student’s chosen concentration determines which particular combination of the following courses will make up the methods and theory curriculum of their social sciences major. Select two of the following courses: | 8 | |
| Contemporary Social Theory | ||
| History of Social Thought | ||
| Intermed Microeconomics | ||
| Intermed Macroeconomics | ||
| Current Issues in Organizational Behavior | ||
| Organizational Behavior Research Methods | ||
| The Historical Imagination | ||
| Theory of Media & Cultural Studies | ||
| Classical Political Thought | ||
| Research Methods in Psychology | ||
| Statistics & Experimntal Design in Psychology | ||
| Social Sciences Research Methods | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| Media & Communications Research Methods | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| Cities and Urban Culture | ||
| Statistical Methods | ||
| NYC’s Natural and Urban Environment | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| Select 20 credits of upper division social science courses in consultation with advisors: | 20 | |
| Sp Tpcs in Anthropology | ||
| Mathematical Economics | ||
| Sp Tpcs in Economics: | ||
| Statistical Methods in Economics | ||
| Sp Topics in History | ||
| Sp Tpcs Intrnatnl Std | ||
| Sp Tpcs in Media Stud: | ||
| Internship in Business | ||
| Sp Tpcs in Organizatnal Behavior & Communication | ||
| Sp Tpcs in Politics | ||
| Special Topics in Psych: | ||
| Sp Tpcs in Sociology | ||
| Liberal Arts Internship | ||
| Special Topics in Sustainability | ||
| Special Topics in Urbanism | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Students select 26-28 credits from DAUS course offerings in consultation with their advisor. | 26-28 | |
| Graduation Project | ||
| A student’s chosen concentration determines which particular course will fulfill the graduation project requirement of their social science major. Select one of the following courses in consultation with advisor: | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts Senior Project: Internship | ||
| Senior Project Seminar: Social Sciences | ||
| Concentrations (Optional) | ||
| Students may select 16 credits in one of the following 11 concentrations within their major in consultation with their advisors. Students who do not select a concentration must complete 16 credits in two or more of these concentrations: | 16 | |
Anthropology | ||
Economics | ||
History | ||
International Studies | ||
Media Studies | ||
Organizational Behavior and Change | ||
Politics | ||
Psychology | ||
Sociology | ||
Sustainability | ||
Urbanism | ||
| Total Credits | 128 | |
Concentrations
Anthropology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH1-UC 5047 | Anthropology of Religion | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 5051 | Cities and Urban Culture | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 5056 | Culture & Colonialism | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 7902 | Culture, Tourism & Development | 4 |
| SOCY1-UC 7256 | Families, Marriage and Kinship | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 6672 | Globalization & World Culture | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 5065 | Language & Society | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 5066 | Law, Culture and Society | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 5062 | Psychology & Culture | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5851 | Riots, Rituals and Witch Hunts | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 5061 | Sex, Gender & Language | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 6669 | Transnationalism, Immigration & Identity | 4 |
Economics
Online and On-site Study Options
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Economics Concentration Category: International Economics | ||
| ECON1-UC 364 | American Economic History | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 373 | Comparative Economics | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 372 | International Economics | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 344 | International Financial Markets & Trade | 4 |
| LRMS1-UC 583 | International Trade & Investment | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 356 | Transition Economics | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 375 | Industrialization and Development in China | 4 |
| Economics Concentration Category: Business and Economics | ||
| ECON1-UC 350 | Finance & Investments | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 361 | Government Intervention in The Economy | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 352 | Industrial Organization | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 378 | Intro to Econometrics | 4 |
| Economics Concentration Category: Issues in Sustainability | ||
| ECON1-UC 377 | Development Economics | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 351 | Economics & Gender | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 362 | Environmental Economics | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 363 | Urban Economics | 4 |
| Economics Concentration Category: Institutions and Policy | ||
| ECON1-UC 371 | Labor Economics | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 360 | Law & Economics | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 376 | Money & Banking | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 374 | Public Policy and Public Finance | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 348 | Sports Economics | 4 |
History
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History Concentration Category: Pre-Modern World | ||
| Student select one course from the list below. Students can select a second course from this category to fulfill the fourth concentration course requirement. | ||
| HIST1-UC 5846 | The Atlantic World: 1400-1800 | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5862 | Humanism & The Renaissance | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5871 | Knights & Chivalry | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5830 | The Middle Ages in Film | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5851 | Riots, Rituals and Witch Hunts | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5870 | 4 | |
| History Concentration Category: Modern World | ||
| Student select one course from the list below. Students can select a second course from this category to fulfill the fourth concentration course requirement. | ||
| HIST1-UC 5843 | Empires and the Shaping of the Modern World | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5812 | Modern Middle East in International History | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5849 | The Revolutionary Era | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 6669 | Transnationalism, Immigration & Identity | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5813 | 4 | |
| History Concentration Category: U.S. History | ||
| Student select one course from the list below. Students can select a second course from this category to fulfill the fourth concentration course requirement. | ||
| HIST1-UC 5823 | America's Forever Wars, Vietnam to Afghanistan | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5835 | Civil War & Reconstruction | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5815 | History of the City of New York | 4 |
| MEST1-UC 6016 | Mass Media & American Popular Culture | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5829 | The Nineteen Sixties in America | 4 |
| POLS1-UC 6653 | U.S. Foreign Policy | 4 |
International Studies
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| International Studies Concentration Category: International Relations | ||
| POLS1-UC 6661 | International Law | 4 |
| POLS1-UC 6673 | International Human Rights | 4 |
| POLS1-UC 6674 | International Political Economy | 4 |
| POLS1-UC 6662 | International Organizations | 4 |
| International Studies Concentration Category: Politics and Economics | ||
| ECON1-UC 373 | Comparative Economics | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 344 | International Financial Markets & Trade | 4 |
| POLS1-UC 6601 | Comparative Politics | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 356 | Transition Economics | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 375 | Industrialization and Development in China | 4 |
| ECON1-UC 362 | Environmental Economics | 4 |
| HEAL1-UC 2690 | International Health Issues | 4 |
| POLS1-UC 6653 | U.S. Foreign Policy | 4 |
| INST1-UC 2010 | Interrogating Political Globalization | 4 |
| International Studies Concentration Category: Area Studies | ||
| Students are required to take one of the courses listed below: | ||
| POLS1-UC 6657 | European Politics | 4 |
| POLS1-UC 6656 | Latin American Politics | 4 |
| POLS1-UC 6667 | Politics of Africa | 4 |
| POLS1-UC 6658 | Politics of East and South East Asia | 4 |
| POLS1-UC 6659 | Politics of The Middle East & North Africa | 4 |
| International Studies Concentration Category: Anthropology/Sociology | ||
| Students are required to take one of the courses listed below: | ||
| ANTH1-UC 5051 | Cities and Urban Culture | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 5056 | Culture & Colonialism | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 7902 | Culture, Tourism & Development | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 5050 | Gender & Development | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 6672 | Globalization & World Culture | 4 |
| SOCY1-UC 7251 | Social Movements | 4 |
| SOCY1-UC 7263 | Sociology of Development in Global Perspective | 4 |
| ANTH1-UC 6669 | Transnationalism, Immigration & Identity | 4 |
| International Studies Concentration Category: International and Global History | ||
| Students are required to take one of the courses listed below: | ||
| HIST1-UC 5846 | The Atlantic World: 1400-1800 | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5843 | Empires and the Shaping of the Modern World | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5812 | Modern Middle East in International History | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5813 | 4 | |
| HIST1-UC 5819 | Early Civilizations | 4 |
| HIST1-UC 5824 | The Historical Imagination | 4 |
Media Studies
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Media Studies Concentration Category: Media Theory | ||
| Students are required to take a minimum of 12 credits from the Media Theory category: | 12 | |
| Children's Culture and Media | ||
| Cultural Identities in The Media | ||
| Global Perspectives in Media | ||
| Media, News & Politics | ||
| Media & Community | ||
| Hip Hop Culture | ||
| Social Media | ||
| Reality TV | ||
| Video Games and Culture | ||
| Writing for Media and Communication | ||
| Digital Storytelling | ||
| Gender, Sexualities & The Media | ||
| Food, Culture, and Communication | ||
| Documentary Cinema | ||
| World Cinema | ||
| Media Studies Concentration Category: Media Practices | ||
| Students can select four credits from the Media Practices category or take an additional four credits from the Media Theory category to fulfill the concentration course requirements: | 4 | |
| Consumer Behavior | ||
| Digital Filmmaking I | ||
| Fundamentals of Advertising, Media, and Public Relations | ||
| Integrated Marketing Campaigns | ||
| Interactive Design I: Building A Website | ||
| Motion Design I: Time and Space | ||
| Producing for Media | ||
Organizational Behavior and Change
Online and On-site Study Options
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Behavior and Change Concentration Category: Communication and Workplace Dynamics | ||
| Students select up to two courses in consultation with their advisor from the following: | 8 | |
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Managing Diversity in the Global Workplace | ||
| Business Writing | ||
| Gender Issues in Organizations | ||
| Storytelling and Employee Engagement | ||
| Organizational Behavior and Change Concentration Category: Leadership and Organizational Strategy | ||
| Students select up to two courses in consultation with their advisor from the following: | ||
| Human Resources Management Principles (Students select up to two courses in consultation with their advisor from the following:) | ||
| Business Ethics | ||
| Corporate Social Responsibility | ||
| Leadership Strategies for The Global Workplace | ||
| Leadership: Theory & Practice | ||
| Conflict Management | ||
| Organizational Behavior and Change Concentration Category: Managing Organizations and Change | ||
| Students select up to two courses in consultation with their advisor from the following: | 8 | |
| Organizational Change (Students select up to two courses in consultation with their advisor from the following:) | ||
| Collaborative Team Processes | ||
| Talent Management and Performance Effectiveness | ||
| Corporate Culture & Organizational Learning | ||
| Green Design and the Future of Organizations | ||
| Mindfulness, Spirituality and Meaning in the Workplace | ||
| Career Management and Transitions | ||
| Uses & Abuses of Assess- Ments in Organizations | ||
| Industrial/Organizationl Psychology | ||
Politics
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Politics Concentration Category: American Government and Politics | ||
| Students select one or two courses in consultation with their advisor from the following: | 2-8 | |
| Civil Rights: Race, Gender and the Law | ||
| U.S. Constitution & Supreme Court | ||
| U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| Theories of Democracy | ||
| Media, News & Politics | ||
| Current Political Issues: | ||
| Public Opinion and Political Behavior | ||
| Politics Concentration Category: Comparative Politics | ||
| Students select one to two courses in consultation with their advisor from the following: | 4-8 | |
| Latin American Politics | ||
| European Politics | ||
| Politics of East and South East Asia | ||
| Politics of The Middle East & North Africa | ||
| Politics of Africa | ||
| Politics Concentration Category: International Relations | ||
| Students select one to two courses in consultation with their advisor from the following: | 4-8 | |
| International Law | ||
| International Organizations | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| International Human Rights | ||
| Theories of War | ||
Psychology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Concentration Category: Biological Foundations and Cognitive Processes | ||
| Students select one to two courses in consultation with their advisor from the following: | 4-8 | |
| Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Perception | ||
| Physiological Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Language | ||
| Psychology Concentration Category: Social, Personality, Clinical, and Developmental Psychology | ||
| Students select one to two courses in consultation with their advisor from the following: | 4-8 | |
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Clinical Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Personality | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Psychology Concentration Category: Applied and Advanced Topics in Psychology | ||
| Students select one course in consultation with their advisor from the following: | 2-8 | |
| Adult Develop & Aging | ||
| Cross-Cultural Psycholgy | ||
| Death, Dying & Bereavement | ||
| Forensic Psychology | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| History & Systems of Psychology | ||
| Industrial/Organizationl Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Emotion | ||
| Psychology of Women | ||
| Psychology Concentration Category: Advanced Methodology and Laboratory Courses | ||
| Please note that at least one of these courses is recommended for students applying to graduate school. A laboratory course can also be used to develop topics for a senior project. | 4 | |
| Developmental Psych Lab | ||
| Social, Personality & Clinical Psychology Lab | ||
| Learning & Memory Lab | ||
| Psychology Concentration Category: Fieldwork | ||
| Please note that fieldwork is recommended for students considering graduate work or careers in mental health services. A fieldwork course can also be used to develop topics for a senior project. | ||
| PSYC1-UC 6891 | Fieldwork in Psychology | 1-4 |
Sociology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Sociology Concentration Category: Society and the Individual | ||
| Students select two courses from the following: | 8 | |
| Families, Marriage and Kinship | ||
| Sexuality & Society | ||
| Inequality in Society: Race, Class, and Gender | ||
| Social Deviance and Crime | ||
| Sociology Concentration Category: Social Structures and Processes | ||
| Students select two courses from the following: | 8 | |
| Cities and Urban Culture | ||
| Transnationalism, Immigration & Identity | ||
| Globalization & World Culture | ||
| Sociology of Groups and Organizations | ||
| Sociology of Development in Global Perspective | ||
| Social Movements | ||
| Religion, Power & Social Change | ||
Sustainability
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students select 16 credits from the following: | 16 | |
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Green Design and the Future of Organizations | ||
| Corporate Social Responsibility | ||
| Sustainable Management Principles | ||
| Sustainable Development in Emerging Economies | ||
| NYC: The Future Metropolis | ||
| Engaged and Sustainable Media | ||
| Literature and the Environment | ||
| Current Sustainability Issues: | ||
| Environmental Activism in Global Perspective | ||
| NYC’s Natural and Urban Environment | ||
| Affordable and Sustainable Housing | ||
Urbanism
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students select 16 credits from the following: | ||
| History of the City of New York | ||
| Pre-Modern Cities | ||
| Early Civilizations | ||
| History of Architecture | ||
| New York City Architecture | ||
| The Manhattan Skyline | ||
| Public Art in New York | ||
ARTH1-UC 5419 | ||
| Cities and Urban Culture | ||
| Urban Economics | ||
| International Health Issues | ||
| Current Urbanism Issues: | ||
| Introduction to GIS | ||
| NYC’s Natural and Urban Environment | ||
| Affordable and Sustainable Housing | ||
Courses of Interdisciplinary Interest
Valuing interdisciplinary studies, we encourage students to consider courses outside of their specific degree area. See Social Sciences Courses of Interdisciplinary Interest for courses we feel might be of interest.
Sample Plan of Study
| 1st Semester/Term | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| EXWR1-UC 7502 | Writing Workshop I | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 4 | |
| Historical Perspectives | 4 | |
| SOCY1-UC 7200 | Intro to Sociology | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 2nd Semester/Term | ||
| EXWR1-UC 7503 | Writing Workshop II | 4 |
| Scientific Issues | 4 | |
| Literary & Artistic Expressions | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 3rd Semester/Term | ||
| HUMN1-UC 6401 | Critical Thinking | 4 |
| Foundation: Social Sciences | 4 | |
| Foundation: Humanities | 4 | |
| Sociology Concentration Course: Social Structures & Processes | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 4th Semester/Term | ||
| SOCY1-UC 7201 |
Contemporary Social Theory or History of Social Thought |
4 |
| Foundation: Social Sciences | 4 | |
| Foundation: Social Sciences | 4 | |
| Sociology Concentration Course: Society & the Individual | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 5th Semester/Term | ||
| SOCS1-UC 7241 | Social Sciences Research Methods | 4 |
| Sociology Concentration Course: Society & the Individual | 4 | |
| Sociology Concentration Course: Social Structures & Processes | 4 | |
| Sociology Major Requirement Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 6th Semester/Term | ||
| Sociology Major Requirement Course | 4 | |
| Sociology Major Requirement Course | 4 | |
| Sociology Major Requirement Course | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 7th Semester/Term | ||
| Sociology Major Requirement Course | 4 | |
| Global Perspectives | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 8th Semester/Term | ||
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Graduation Project | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have the skills and abilities to:
- Explain key theories, perspectives, and approaches to selected Social Science disciplines.
- Apply theories appropriate to continuing and current issues in the Social Sciences.
- Conduct critical inquiries supported by evidence appropriate to the Social Sciences.
- Identify, evaluate, and compare different scholarly interpretations and arguments.
- Use empirical evidence to evaluate the arguments and conclusions of scholars and researchers in selected Social Science disciplines.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
School of Professional Studies Policies
Additional academic policies can be found on the School of Professional Studies academic policy page.