Social Sciences and Humanities Breadth Requirement

NGSS Related Updates:  3-digit course numbers that remain reflect a now inactive course that did not transition to the 4-digit course number.  

To ensure breadth, you are required to select two courses in the social sciences and two in the humanities.

Please note that below the Humanities list, there is a separate list of courses offered in programs that are cross-listed with “SS” or “H” departments.

All Departmental-based topics courses must be approved for use in this category.

NOTE: The policy requiring two social sciences and two humanities courses within their General Electives category only applies to SEAS Curricula with 40 CU requirements. Students with the 37 CU requirements need an overall 7 CUs from social sciences and humanities. Please consult your worksheet and/or department for specifics.

*Please note: Red, bolded courses are not currently active. Check with the primary department to confirm course status.

Social Sciences

Courses which qualify for Social Science (SS) include any course numbered below 5000 (500) from the following departments, except where noted. Freshman Seminar courses offered by these departments can be used to fulfil the requirements.

  • ASAM – Asian American Studies (except where cross-listed with AMES, ENGL, FNAR, HIST, or SARS)
  • COMM – Communications
  • CRIM – Criminology
  • ECON – Economics (except statistics, probability, and math courses) [ECON 2310 is not allowed]
  • GSWS – Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies (formerly GSOC)
  • HSOC – Health and Societies
  • INTR – International Relations
  • Linguistics (LING) (except language courses which can be used as Humanities electives and LING 0700 which can be used as a free elective)
  • PPE – Philosophy, Politics and Economics
  • PSCI – Political Science
  • PSYC -Psychology (except statistics, probability, and math courses)
  • SOCI – Sociology (except statistics, probability, and math courses)
  • STSC -Science, Technology and Society
  • URBS – Urban Studies

The following courses may also be counted as social science:

  • Anthropology (ANTH) 0330
  • Business Economics & Public Policy (BEPP) (formerly BPUB) 1000, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2080, 2110, 2140, 2200, 2300, 2330, 2500*, 2610, 2630, 2650, 2800, 2840, 2890, 3050, 288, 289, LGST 2120
  • Eng & Applied Science (EAS) 2030, 303 (cross-listed with BE 303)
  • Earth and Environmental Science (EESC) 1060, 2300, 3003
  • Environmental Studies (ENVS) 4250
  • Finance (FNCE) 1010, 103
  • History and Sociology of Science (HSSC) (taken prior to Fall 2004)
  • Legal Studies (LGST) 1000, 1010, 210, 2150, 2200
  • Neuroscience (NRSC) 1159, 2227, 2249, 4417
  • Nursing (NURS) 098, 3130, 3150, 3160, 317, 3300, 331, 333, 5250

* Note: BPUB 2500 may be used as SS Depth along with ECON 0110

Humanities

Courses which qualify for Humanities (H) include any course numbered below 5000 from the following departments, except where noted. Freshman Seminar courses offered by these departments can be used to fulfill the requirements.

  • Any foreign language course
  • ANTH – Anthropology
  • ANCH – Ancient History
  • ARTH – Art History
  • ASAM – Asian American Studies (cross-listed with AMES, ENGL, FNAR, HIST, and SARS only) — 1520
  • ASLD – American Sign Language
  • BIOE – Bioethics 4020 (this course does not satisfy the Engineering Ethics requirement)
  • CLST – Classical Studies (ANCH, CLST, LATN, GREK)
  • COML – Comparative Literature and Literary Theory
  • DSGN – Design 0010, 233, 1020, 1030, 2010, 1040, 2030, 2040, 5001, 266, 2510, and 1050
    • Note these courses were previously approved FNAR
  • EALC – East Asia Languages and Civilizations
  • ENGL – English
  • FNAR – Fine Arts
  • FOLK – Folklore
  • HIST – History
  • HSSC – History and Sociology of Science
  • JWST – Jewish Studies
  • LALS – Latin American and Latino Studies
  • MUSC – Music
  • NELC – Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
  • PHIL – Philosophy (except 5710, 4723, and all other logic courses)
  • RELS – Religious Studies
  • South Asia Studies (SARS and SAST)
  • THAR – Theatre Arts
  • VLST – Visual Studies (except 209)

The following courses may also be counted as humanities:

  • AFRC – Africana Studies 2321
  • ARCH – Architecture 1010, 2010, 2020, 3010, 3020, 4010, 402, 403, 4110, 4120
  • CIS – Computer & Information Science 1060 (ANTH 2580)
  • IPD- Integrated Product Design 5090

Courses From Academic Programs With All Multi-Listed Courses

The following programs offer courses that are ALMOST entirely cross-listed with other academic departments. Students taking courses offered in these programs must use the “SS” or “H” designations according to their cross-listed academic department as listed above. Courses without a cross-listing will be determined as SS or H on a case-by-case basis and should be initiated via petition.

  • AFST – African Studies
  • AFRC – Africana Studies
  • AAMW – Art and Archeology of the Mediterranean World
  • CIMS – Cinema Media Studies
  • GSWS – Gender, Sex, and Women’s Studies

Writing Seminar Course

Writing Seminar (WRIT) courses offered may be used to satisfy “SS” or “H” requirements according to this list.