Social Sciences

Social Sciences consists of History and Political Science and offers six majors: Criminal Justice; History; Political Science; Political Science Pre-Law; Social Studies; and Social Studies Education. Minors in Criminal Justice, History, National Security Studies, and Political Science are also offered.

Majors in Social Sciences are designed to enable students to develop an integrated perspective and an analytical understanding of the world and its various institutional components. Herein division majors are intended to foster discernment of present realities and trends, and greater understanding of global contemporary patterns from the perspective of biblical presuppositions and a biblical Christian worldview.

Students majoring in these programs are encouraged to consider double majoring, completing a second program (outside or within Social Sciences) within a four-year period. Frequently selected combinations are noted under each major. Careful advising and course planning is necessary, in close consultation with academic advisors. In addition to meeting all requirements for both majors, students must be able to show that they meet the university requirement for a double major: a minimum of 30 credit hours of credit in each of two specific areas with a minimum of 51 unduplicated credit hours. Regarding minors, IWU requires that a minimum of 15 credit hours counting toward each minor be "unduplicated," that is, not needed to complete the student's other major(s) or minor(s).

NOTE: Students majoring in history (as their first major) will have the option of choosing to graduate with a B.A. or a B.S. degree. The sole difference is the language requirement. This option is a common practice at Christian colleges, as well as state schools. Students thinking seriously about graduate work in history will be advised to study a foreign language, graduating with the B.A. Those students pursuing the B.A. in history will be required to satisfy the language proficiency requirement.