Interdisciplinary Studies: Concentration in Ethics and Social Institutions

The concentration in Ethics and Social Institutions is designed to enable students to examine and evaluate social issues from interdisciplinary perspectives. Participating students will learn about economic, political and cultural institutions and the relationships between them. By examining markets, governments and community organizations, students will learn about decision-making processes and be able to determine their ethical implications and the outcomes of social choice. With the guidance of the ESI coordinator, students will design an individualized course of study by drawing on many disciplines including but not limited to Economics, Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology. Thematic possibilities could include Social Ethics; Ethics, Society, and the Law; Social Decision-making; Interaction of Societies; and The Individual and Society. A list of regularly scheduled courses which fall into these thematic categories will be available from the ESI concentration coordinator. With the proper planning, students graduating with a concentration in Ethics and Social Institutions will be well prepared for careers or advanced study in law, business or more specialized academic disciplines.

Requirements for Concentration in Ethics and Social Institutions:

I. Required courses for the major—19 hours, including:

Either:

II. Research methods—6-7 hours. Complete one of the following groups:

(a)

(b)

POLS 220 - Principles of American Political Behavior (4)
POLS 281 - Principles of International Relations (4)
either POLS 220 or 281 will be used in I. above
POLS 290 - Political Analysis (2)

(c)

And either:

ANTH 336 - Ethnographic Methods (3) or
SOC 335 - Survey and Social Research Methods (3) or
SOC 337 - Qualitative Methods (3)

III. Elective program—18 hours approved by the ESI coordinator:

In consultation with the major advisor, students will design an elective program organized around a theme in Ethics and Social Institutions. No more than 9 of these credit hours may come from any one department. Courses must come from at least three different departments, and at least 15 of the 18 elective hours must be at the 300-level or above.

IV. Other concentration requirements:

Senior demonstration of major and oral competency is met by successful completion of ESI 490 with a grade of C or higher. At least 28 of the total required hours must be taken while a student at UNCA. Students seeking a double major may count only 9 credit hours from the other major toward an ESI concentration. None of a student’s credit hours earned for a declared minor can be counted toward an ESI concentration.

Declaration of Major in Interdisciplinary Studies: Concentration in Ethics and Social Institutions:

Declaring a major in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Ethics and Social Institutions for a Bachelor of Arts degree requires the student to have their course of study approved by the ESI coordinator. After a copy of the program and the ESI coordinator’s approval are presented to the director of Interdisciplinary Studies, the student completes a Declaration of Major Form that must be signed by the director. Before declaring a major a student must satisfy the LANG 120 requirement.