Bachelor of Arts in Social Science (Flex)

You’ll complete your studies part-time, with courses offered year-round in the evenings (online and on campus). This program requires 120 credit hours of study, which consists of 36 credits toward your major, 42 credits for free electives, and 42 credits for Core Curriculum courses.

Social Science major coursework includes:

INT 150: Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies (3 credits) 

This course introduces students to an interdisciplinary approach to describing, analyzing, and researching current themes, problems, and projects. By the end of the course, each student will be able to define interdisciplinarity and to engage in reflective, critical reading and writing on interdisciplinary topics and to connect their academic pursuits with their professional interests. 

SSC 209: Research Methods in Social Science (3 credits) 

This course introduces students to social science research design including tech­niques for conducting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting social science research. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are reviewed, along with the ethical implications of such research. 

Choice of nine courses from two or three social science disciplines, with a minimum of three courses in at least one of the following areas (27 credits): 

• Economics 
• History 
• Leadership Development 
• Political Science 
• Psychology 
• Sociology

INT 480: Capstone in Interdisciplinary Studies (3 credits) 

The Capstone course is a culminating experience in which students complete their educational plan (initially created in the introductory course and further developed throughout their program), reflect on their ePortfolio, and design and complete their capstone project. This final piece, the capstone project, is designed by the student, in conjunction with the instructor, is tailored to the student’s professional development, and addresses issues and topics of particular concern to that student. In-depth individualized work, peer-critique and collaboration, presentations and a final update to the student’s e-portfolio are all incorporated into an in-depth individualized experience.

Like most PCSCE programs, tuition for the Bachelor of Arts in Social Science is a very competitive $404 per credit, which is $1,212 total per course as of the 2022-2023 academic year. To further reduce cost, we accept up to 75 credits for prior college experience, as well as credits for military, job training, and other life experience. 

This program helps prepare you for careers including, but not limited to*:  

• Teacher  
• Case Worker / Social worker 
• Attorney 
• Politician 
• Journalist 
• Urban or municipal planner 
• Economist 
• Police officer 
• Community Organizer 

*Keep in mind that several professions may require advanced degrees or training.  

Professor Susan Dargan, Ph.D. 
Dr. Dargan is an expert in diversity and race issues. She’s a sociology professor and current dean of the College of Education and Social & Behavioral Sciences at Framingham State University. In the evenings, she teaches courses in race and racism, sociology of sport, and urban sociology at Providence College. 

Professor Jess Geier, Ph.D. 
Dr. Geier is the Director of Special Projects at New Heights Charter School, as well as a founding member. Her seminar-style courses cover issues of race, class, and gender. She teaches various Sociology and Gender Studies courses as well as INT 480, the Capstone course for the major. 

Professor Sean Kenny 
Professor Kenny offers more than 25 years of experience coaching work teams in the medical device, pharmaceutical, nonprofit, and retail sectors. He teaches LDR 101 (Leadership Development and Theory). 

• Students will demonstrate increasingly sophisticated understanding of the theories and research methodologies in at least two different social science disciplines.
• Students will integrate the perspectives, methods, and concepts of different social science disciplines and compare and contrast the different ways social sciences address social issues.
• Students will develop the reasoning and analytical skills needed to understand human behavior and societal relationships and apply social science theories to social issues. 
• Students will develop a research or other written project within the capstone course that culminates select issues within the disciplines comprising the major, demonstrating the development of the student’s perspective and knowledge of these disciplines.
• Students will integrate prior life and work experience into their coursework by means of written and oral assessments; by the student’s selection of relevant projects and/or internships; and by means of online and in-class discussions, utilizing personal experience as examples of social theories and issues.