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Through a
series of seminars and a carefully-supervised research project in an area
of personal interest, students explore how the social sciences share some
intellectual heritage and how they can come together to address problems
confronting the contemporary world. In particular,
participants will examine the perspectives of psychology, sociology,
political science, and anthropology on matters including the family, work
life, the legal system, religion, hatred, aggression, poverty,
international conflict, and other topics. Students in the track can
expect a unique learning opportunity led by interdisciplinary teams of
accomplished social scientists who are committed to their role as
teachers. Students will read and discuss some of the finest thinkers
in human history and learn how to conduct meaningful social science
research. We hope that many students in this track will be able to
present their findings at scholarly conferences and, even, to publish
their work.
The track is ideal for:
- Students from all concentrations, but especially from
sociology, psychology, political science, and anthropology.
- Students who want to strengthen their applications to
law school or graduate school in psychology, sociology, political
science, anthropology, and associated fields .
How do I enroll?
Email or call the
Track Coordinator Dr. Neil Kressel, 973-720-3389, kresseln@wpunj.edu or
call or email Jan Pinkston, 973-720-3657, pinkstonj@wpunj.edu .
-OR-
Complete and return the Honors Social Science application (PDF file) to the Honors College offices located in Raubinger Hall Rm 126-129.
Social Sciences Track core courses:
Social Science Honors 201 – Honors Seminar
in the Social Sciences I: Theory
As social scientists
attempt to decipher human social behavior, they make various moral,
theoretical, political, and methodological choices. The first two
seminars in the program examine the intellectual origins of such
choices. A special effort is made to identify where the various
social science disciplines differ and where possibilities exist for
interdisciplinary cooperation. Students in the first seminar
explore these issues while reading and discussing classic works in
psychology, sociology, political science, and anthropology.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Social Sciences Honors
Track
Social Science Honors 202 – Honors Seminar
in the Social Sciences II: Methodology
This seminar
focuses on the various methodologies of the social sciences. As in
SSH 201, students read important social scientific studies in the
original. An effort is made to use such works, often drawn from
scientific journals, as the basis for discussion of methodological
questions. The seminar covers qualitative as well as quantitative
approaches.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Social Sciences Honors
Track. In addition, it is recommended that students complete SSH 201
prior to taking this course and, more important, that they complete at
least one methods course in sociology, psychology, political science or
anthropology.
Social Science Honors 301 – Honors Seminar
in the Social Sciences III: Application
Each semester,
this seminar examines a different social dilemma from a variety of social
science perspectives. Seminars may address: (1) Law and
Justice, (2) International Conflict, (3) Family Matters, (4) Religion, or
other topics.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Social Sciences Honors
Track or permission of the Track coordinator. Students may repeat
this course for credit, though subsequent enrollments would count as
electives.
Social Science Honors 401 – Honors
Thesis I
Students design and carry out research in
preparation for writing an honors thesis. We will embrace
methodological diversity, requiring primarily that a project be feasible
and fall within the domain of the social sciences broadly conceived.
Faculty members are committed to helping students conduct successful
research.
Prerequisites: SSH 201, SSH 202, and SSH 301 or
permission of the Track Coordinator.
Social Science Honors 402 – Honors Thesis
II
Students write and present an honors thesis.
Prerequisites: SSH 401 or permission of the Track
Coordinator.
Track courses are designed to be taken in numerical
sequence, when possible. However, with the permission of the Track
Coordinator, students may modify the order in which they take the courses.
About the Track:
Representatives from psychology (Dr. Neil Kressel), political science (Drs. John Mason and Michael Principe), sociology (Dr. Mary Pat Baumgartner), and anthropology (Dr. Maria Villar) have collaborated to create this Track as part of the University Honors College. These faculty members and others will teach the required courses and supervise student research. Drs. Parillo (sociology), Lune (sociology), Korgen (sociology), Flint (sociology), Principe (political science), Heinzen (psychology), and Haines (psychology) have also taught in the Track.
About the Program Director:
Professor Neil Kressel holds a Ph.D. in social psychology from Harvard University and an M.A. in comparative history from Brandeis University. A recipient of William Paterson's award for excellence in research and scholarship and – recently – a Visiting Fellow at Yale University, his books include: Bad Faith: The Danger of Religious Extremism (Prometheus, 2007), Mass Hate: The Global Rise of Genocide and Terror (Plenum, 1996; rev. ed., Perseus/ Westview Press/Basic Books, 2002); Stack and Sway: The New Science of Jury Consulting (Perseus/ Westview Press/Basic Books, 2002; paperback, 2004), and Political Psychology (Paragon House, 1993). He very much enjoys supervising undergraduate student theses.
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