Social Science, M.A.

Mission Statement

The degree is designed to allow students to advance their knowledge of the social sciences through an interdisciplinary study of political science, criminal justice, sociology, anthropology, psychology, leadership, and related disciplines.

This program offers students the opportunity to acquire a broad interdisciplinary background in the social sciences and includes a familiarization with the perspectives, processes, and methods used in the study of social phenomena. Designed for students and professionals from all walks of life, the program allows one to tailor the emphasis of the course of study to fit a variety of individual and career interests.

Admission Requirements

Completion of the online graduate application along with the non-refundable application fee.
Submission of official transcripts from the undergraduate institution conferring the applicant’s bachelor degree and transcripts from all postgraduate institutions attended.

Graduate Requirement (Non-Credit Bearing)

LDRS 500 - Introduction to Principled Leadership - The Citadel’s graduate level leadership seminar

Program of Study

The Master of Arts in Social Science (MASS) is a 36 credit hour program consisting of the following requirements

Required Core Courses (Six Hours)

*NOTE: these six hours must be included in the first 12 hours taken in the program.

PSCI 500 - Seminar in Social Science Credit Hours: 3 *
PSCI 501 - Research Methods in Social Science Credit Hours: 3 *

Cluster: A Foundation Courses (15 Hours)

Students should select five courses from the political science, criminal justice, intelligence, sociology, or anthropology courses the School of Humanities and Social Science offers and are listed in the Cluster A box. Note that not all of the following courses are taught on a regular basis.

PSCI 502 - The American Federal System Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 503 - The Politics of American Democracy: Political Behavior, Interest Groups, and Political Parties Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 506 - Legislative Process Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 507 - American Presidency Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 509 - Urban Politics Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 510 - Topics in Political Science Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 521 - Advanced Placement: American Government Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 555 - Topics in Political Science Leadership Application Variable 1 Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 561 - Law and Legal Process Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 564 - US Foreign Policy Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 565 - International Politics Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 566 - International Political Economy Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 567 - Global Democracy Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 568 - International and Domestic Terrorism Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 569 - National Security Policy Credit Hours: 3
OR
CRMJ 569 - National Security Policy Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 570 - The Civil Rights Movement Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 571 - Comparative Politics Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 572 - International Organization Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 573 - Politics of Economic Development (Service Learning) Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 574 - Global Issues Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 575 - US Foreign Policy Leadership Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 576 - International Law Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 577 - Conflict Studies Credit Hours: 3
PSCI 662 - Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 510 - Topics in Criminal Justice Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 515 - Topics in Homeland Security Credit Hours: 3
OR
PSCI 515 - Topics in Homeland Security Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 555 - Leadership Application Course in Criminal Justice Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 560 - Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Administration Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 561 - Drugs and Crime Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 562 - Comparative Criminal Justice Systems Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 563 - Criminal Evidence Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 564 - Juvenile Justice Credit Hours:
CRMJ 565 - Corrections Credit Hours:
CRMJ 568 - International and Domestic Terrorism Credit Hours:
OR
PSCI 568 - International and Domestic Terrorism
Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 572 - Ethics and Integrity in Homeland Security Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 581 - Intelligence Research and Analysis Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 582 - Intelligence Theory Application Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 583 - Transnational Organized Crime Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 585 - Topics in Intelligence Credit Hours: 3
INTL 560 - Intelligence and Homeland Security Administration Credit Hours: 3
INTL 570 - Homeland Security Credit Hours: 3
INTL 572 - Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Intelligence and Homeland Security Credit Hours: 3
INTL 580 - Introduction to Intelligence Credit Hours: 3
INTL 581 - Intelligence Research and Analysis Credit Hours: 3
INTL 582 - Intelligence Theory Application Credit Hours: 3
INTL 585 - Topics in Intelligence Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 501 - Social Determinants of Modern Life Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 501 - Physical and Cultural Adaptations Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 505 - Special Topics in Anthropology Credit Hours: 3

Cluster B: Elective Courses (15 Hours)

Students should select five courses from those listed in this cluster, three of which must be Psychology graduate courses (9 hours). Options for the other two electives are listed below. Each course with a “*” requires permission of the instructor for enrollment. As part of Cluster B, students may also take any Military History course except MLTH 600, 601, and 602.

PSYC 500 - Human Growth and Development Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 501 - Principles of Behavior and Cognitive Change Credit Hours: 3 *
PSYC 507 - General Psychopathology Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Credit Hours: 3 *
PSYC 508 - Counseling and Personalities Theories Credit Hours: 3 *
PSYC 553 - Introduction to Family Dynamics Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 555 - Special Topics in Psychology Credit Hours: 1 to 3 *
PSYC 561 - Cultural Issues in Psychological Practice Credit Hours: 3 *
PSYC 570 - Social and Cognitive Foundations of Interpersonal Behavior Credit Hours: 3 *With Instructor Permission Only
MKTG 730 - Communications for Leadership Credit Hours: 3
OR
LDRS 723 - Communications for Leadership Credit Hours: 3
EDUC 500 - Foundations of American Education Credit Hours: 3
EDUC 561 - Counseling Diverse Populations Credit Hours: 3
EDUC 600 - Professional Negotiations Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 512 - Southern Literature Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 520 - A Survey of World Literature I Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 521 - A Survey of World Literature II Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 535 - African American Literature Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 558 - Technical and Professional Writing Credit Hours: 3
HESS 502 - Drug & Substance Abuse Credit Hours: 3
HESS 503 - Human Sexuality Credit Hours: 3
HESS 504 - Public Health Credit Hours: 3
LDRS 712 - Leading Teams: Coaching, Culture, Diversity, and Globalization Credit Hours: 3
LDRS 714 - Strategic Leadership, Vision, Mission and Contemporary Issues Credit Hours: 3
Any 500 level History course except:
HIST 560 - History of the Non Western World Credit Hours: 3
HIST 594 - Historiography for Social Studies Teachers Credit Hours: 3

Total Credit Hours: 36

MASS with Graduate Certificates in Leadership and/or Intelligence Analysis

Students accepted for the MASS degree program may enroll in the Graduate Certificate in Leadership or the Graduate Certificate in Intelligence Analysis.

Each certificate involves a separate application and acceptance. Students dually enrolled in the MASS degree and Graduate Certificate in Leadership may apply the five required courses for the certificate as the Cluster B of the MASS degree. Students dually enrolled in the MASS degree and Graduate Certificate in Intelligence Analysis may apply the five required courses for the certificate as the Cluster A of the MASS degree.

If a student is dually enrolled for the MASS degree and a Graduate level certificate and then opts to drop out of the certificate program, the Cluster requirement(s) revert to that of stand-alone MASS degree program. See Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Graduate Certificate in Intelligence Analysis for details.

Online Completion of the MASS Degree

It is possible to complete the MASS degree partially or entirely online. Students completing the entire MASS degree online should do the following:

Complete the core courses PSCI 500 and PSCI 501 online.
Complete five PSCI, CRMJ, INTL, ANTH, or SOCI online courses for the Cluster A.
Complete three PSYC online courses and two of the approved online courses in the other departments for the Cluster B or the online courses for the simultaneous graduate certificate in Leadership as discussed in the Graduate Certificate in Leadership option in the previous section.

Online courses offered each semester and summer term are listed in the Citadel’s schedule of courses. It is important to coordinate online course selection with the MASS adviser before enrolling each term to ensure students remain on schedule for graduation.