College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Our world is highly complex. An interdisciplinary orientation to the social sciences allows students to pursue a holistic study of the complex issues and problems facing the social world. Our students are encouraged to apply a spectrum of perspectives to specific public policies and social issues. They are guided to identify an interdisciplinary “discipline” that draws on various fields of research and scholarship as they choose from several flexible options to pursue their individual interests.
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Student Spotlights
Kayla Mathai
Majoring in Interdisciplinary Social Science with a concentration in Law and Society, Mathai is also receiving her public policy and US Intelligence Certificate; she was initially a political science major.
“I wanted to learn more about the social sciences instead of focusing on just one aspect. So, I decided to change my major in a way that would allow me to gain knowledge on the social sciences but also prepare me with an interdisciplinary skill set for the real world. In this major, I am also able to choose a primary and secondary concentration.”
Rodney Wells
Majoring in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Wells is a part of a cohort of eight scholars selected from colleges across the country for the John Robert Lewis Scholars & Fellows Program. The Program was founded by the Faith and Politics Institute in honor of former congressman, civil rights and voting rights icon John Lewis.
“In studying the principles that guided John Lewis, these principles of nonviolence serve as the north star in the pursuit of civil rights and social justice. I’m not only grateful, but very hopeful that this makes me a better leader at FSU and in my home community in Jacksonville.”
The Interdisciplinary Social Science degree can be attained through several optional academic plans. Academic plans can be focused in flexible multidisciplinary academic paths, or through structured specializations.
The ISS major consists of 43 credits that can be organized in various ways. Students are encouraged to work with academic and faculty advisors to plan the best options for pursuing a cohesive, multidisciplinary path toward their learning goals.
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Students will use at least two social science disciplines in pursuit of their academic goals. The major coursework can be organized to include primary and secondary departments, and the integration of departmental perspectives as a successful academic path.
Specialized areas of study support a structured multidisciplinary plan of study related to specific interest areas. The specialized areas of study include pre-organized multidisciplinary options to advance student interests and learning within a specific area of study.
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February 7, 2025
Join us for the inaugural Mark and Marianne Barnebey Leadership Lecture Series talk by Jorge Gonzalez on Friday, February 28, at 3 pm in the DeVoe L. Moore Conference Room (BEL 150E). Gonzalez' talk, "Lessons on Leadership with JOE President Jorge Gonzalez," will provide students and community members with insi …
February 4, 2025
Oleksandra Matviichuk, one of the most prominent human rights defenders in Ukraine and head of the Center for Civil Liberties (CCL), will be presenting at Florida State University. CCL is the first Ukrainian organization to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which it won in 2022. Matviichuk will present …
October 4, 2024
Florida State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (COSSPP) celebrated its first 50 years of excellence with alumni and friends in Tallahassee, FL, on September 13, 2024. …