Social Science

The ultimate goal of the Social Science department is to develop students as educated citizens to participate in the United States democracy, create analytical thinkers and help build an appreciation of other peoples and cultures from around the world.  In the social sciences courses, students have the opportunity to discover more about the world they live in.  They will explore how humans interact and how the students themselves are connected to and different from those who have come before them. They will examine who we are as a nation and what our values and traditions are.  We will attempt to understand how we got to be the way we are and whether or not we have found unity within all of the diversity that exists here.  Students will evaluate individuals and groups for their contributions to our progress and development. Finally, studying will be able to identify the achievements we have had as a nation and evaluate where we have failed and what we need to do to change.  In examining these issues, social sciences courses engage students in the study of history, geography, economics, government, and  civics.  Elective courses offered by the department also draw on other disciplines such as political science, psychology, and religion.