Social Sciences
Faculty
Jeremy Rich, Ph.D., Chairperson
Sinan Celiksu, Ph.D.
Patrick Seffrin, Ph.D.
Adam Shprintzen, Ph.D.
Alexander Vari, Ph.D.
*Stephanie Anuszewski, M.A.
*Joseph P. Donohue, M.A., M.S.W.
*James Frutchey, M.A.
*James F. Kanavy, M.A.
*Frank Hacken, M.A.
*Erika Grimminger, Ph.D.
*John Saimbert, M.A.
*Scott Kester, Ph.D.
*Erika Wildman, M.A.
*Jonathan Wilson, Ph.D.
*John Zugarek, M.A.
*Part-time
Goals
The social sciences comprise the disciplines of history, sociology, political science, anthropology, geography, and the applied fields of criminal justice, elementary and secondary school history and social studies, public history, and pre-law. It is a bi-level department, offering a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice (see graduate catalog). The department’s goals contribute to the undergraduate curricular purpose by enabling students to perceive the larger social, political, economic, and environmental contexts within which individual action is set. Knowledge of the dynamic processes underlying these contexts will lead students to identify those points in their individual lives and careers where they can contribute responsibly to life in a diverse and interdependent world. The department provides courses for liberal arts education of all students and specialized courses in social science fields.
General Social Sciences Requirements - All Students
All students are required to complete two semester courses in history and one other course in the social sciences, selecting from Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Criminology, Psychology 211, or any other Social Science course.
Social Sciences Overview
The courses in the Social Sciences are designed to enable the student to: (a) acquire knowledge of major interpretations of the social sciences; (b) engage in the specific modes of inquiry of the social sciences and pursue purposeful, honest, and effective research; (c) participate effectively in discussion, exercising respect and critical thinking in analyzing opinions and tentativeness in formulating opinions and conclusions; (d) respond actively and effectively to the challenges of contemporary society, relating the study of social sciences to current affairs; and (e) empathize with human emotions and values and understand the cultural characteristics and accomplishments of diverse ethnic and religious groups, recognizing and appraising the values implicit in their specific orientation.
Students concentrating in the social sciences who meet the nationally established criteria may be invited to membership in Pi Gamma Mu, the National Social Sciences Honor Society, through its resident chapter on campus. Students majoring in History, History/Pre-Law, or History/Social Sciences: Secondary Education may be invited to membership in Phi Alpha Theta, the International Honor Society in History.