ISS Major Program of Studies at FSU: 43 hours
Students will build coursework in at least 3 disciplinary areas within the College of Social Science and Public Policy. Participating departments include Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, and Urban and Regional Planning.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all coursework applied to the major must be maintained. All coursework within the major must be passed with a grade of D or higher, with the exception of the required coursework. See below for more information.
The structure of the ISS Major
Students may complete the major using the General Option or Specialization Option.
1. General Option (43 hours): This includes 1 credit for ISS3923 and 3 credits for ISS4304.
Students must have:
- A primary concentration of 18 hours in one department
- A secondary concentration of 12 hours in second department, and
- The remaining 12 hours distributed among any of the remaining Social Science departments
(Up to nine of the required 43 hours may also apply to Liberal Studies. 21 hours must be taken in courses numbered above 2999.)
2. Specialization Option: Alternatively, students may be interested in coursework structured around a specialization: Environmental Studies, Inequalities and Society, Law and Society, Public Policy, Public Service, Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, or Urban Studies. For further details, speak with an advisor. Detailed descriptions of the specialized areas can be found on this site. Specialization track also must include required coursework: ISS3923 and ISS4304.
Required Coursework
Students must complete ISS3923 Interdisciplinary Forum with a Satisfactory grade, and ISS4304 Contemporary Social Problems and Integrative Solutions with a grade of C or higher.
ISS3923– The Interdisciplinary Forum -This course is intended as an introductory course to the major and should be completed upon entering the major. It must be completed in the first semester of the major and before the 5th map term.
ISS4304 – Contemporary Social Problems and Integrative Solutions. This is a 3-credit course that should be taken in the 7th map term. Successful completion of this course will rely on the student’s experience in the major and should be taken toward the end of the major coursework. Students must pass this class with a grade of C or higher.