If you’re interested in how people, society and institutions have changed and continue to change over time, you may want to consider a major in American studies, history or social science.

Among the most interdisciplinary of the liberal arts, these majors give students the chance to examine issues or ideas from many perspectives, discussing the arts, economics, law, literature, politics and social change. Each emphasizes logical thinking, creativity and skills in critical analysis that students can use in many careers.

The Social Science Major

Dominican’s flexible, interdisciplinary major in social science is carefully designed to prepare future teachers to contribute to a wide variety of high school and junior high school social science programs. Teachers of the social sciences must discuss human actions and human society from many perspectives.

An acquaintance with politics, economics, history and sociology––and the ways in which these different perspectives help us to understand the workings of human society and institutions––is important for teachers in a rapidly changing world. The origins and development of American society are a particular focus for social science teachers, who must also be prepared to discuss different world cultures and world systems to help their students understand the interrelatedness of societies throughout time.

Required major core courses include course work in US and world history, American government, introductory sociology and microeconomics. Individual student majors elect sequences of other courses that prepare them for Illinois teacher certification from the following options:

• Social Science: History
• Social Science: Political Science
• Social Science: Sociology
• Social Science: Economics