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By submitting this form, you agree to receive information about the Tulane School of Professional Advancement’s programs via email, phone and/or text. You may opt out at any time.

Earn Your Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences


The Social Sciences bachelor’s degree program from the Tulane School of Professional Advancement provides students with a versatile skill set and comprehensive interdisciplinary study of human behavior. Social sciences students explore the cultural, economic, political, and historical contexts of societies, with courses available in anthropology, geography, Latin American studies, Louisiana studies, sociology, political science, and related fields.

Ideal candidates for the Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences should have a desire to develop critical thinking and communication skills that can be applied in a range of professional settings, including roles in human resources, education, and consulting.

Succeed Beyond the Classroom With SoPA

Our on-campus program connects students with professors who are leaders in their respective industries, with small classes sizes to encourage peer discussion and creative problem-solving skills that will serve students in real-world professional settings. As a graduate of the Social Sciences program through Tulane SoPA, you can build your professional network and earn a degree with international name recognition. Get more information about applying to Tulane SoPA and your options for careers in the social sciences by exploring our YouTube playlist.

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Explore Career Development

Explore Expansive Career Choices in Social Sciences

Graduates of the BA in Social Sciences will develop an agile skill set, preparing them for roles in both the public and private sectors. Previous SoPA Social Sciences graduates have held positions such as teachers, human resources professionals, and consultants. This program is also ideal for candidates who wish to open their own business or work in management.

In addition to professional outlooks upon graduation, Social Sciences students may also prepare to pursue graduate programs in a range of fields, including:

  • Law
  • Business
  • Education
  • Library Science
  • Social Work
  • Public Policy
  • Arts
  • Sciences

Join a Legacy of Liberal Arts Achievement

Students in the BA in Social Sciences degree program can work one-on-one with an advisor to create a personalized plan of study focused on their interests in the social sciences. From gender and sexuality studies to geography or economics, your curriculum will depend entirely on your career goals. Our faculty includes a wide range of leaders in liberal arts and professional settings, so you will benefit from diverse viewpoints and challenging discourse.

Meet the Faculty

Three people focusing on sticky notes on a clear board representing the liberal arts degree programs at the Tulane School of Professional Advancement in New Orleans, LA

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

To apply for the BA in Social Sciences program, students must have earned a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma prior to the semester in which they would like to enroll. Students are not required to take standardized tests. Transfer students must be in good standing with the most recent prior college attended or have completed any dismissal terms set forth by the previous academic institution.

Social Sciences Degree Requirements

The School of Professional Advancement awards the Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences degree following the successful completion of 120 credits, including 30 credits in the major. In order to fulfill the major core course requirements, students must complete 12 credits in introductory level social science courses in three different subject areas and 18 credits in 3000+ level social science courses. Students will complete the major requirements with an interdisciplinary capstone course.

Undergraduate Academic Progress Requirements

Undergraduate students are required to maintain the following minimum grade-point average throughout their enrollment dependant upon the total number of credit hours completed:

  • 1-30 cumulative attempted credit hours completed: 1.75 minimum cumulative GPA
  • 31-61 cumulative attempted credit hours completed: 1.85 minimum cumulative GPA
  • 62-93 cumulative attempted credit hours completed: 1.95 minimum cumulative GPA
  • 94-124 cumulative attempted credit hours completed: 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA

Students will be placed on academic probation upon failure to meet these requirements. The cumulative grade-point average of a student is calculated by dividing the number of quality points a student has earned by the total number of quality hours (including credits with failures). Only the grades of S, U, NR, W, and grades in courses affected by SoPA's Repeated Course policy are excluded from this calculation.

Eligibility for Transfer Credits

If you're interested in transferring to Tulane SoPA, our advisors can work with you to determine which courses will be accepted and help you navigate the process. We accept credits for transfer from all fully accredited institutions. In order to transfer course credit from another school, Tulane SoPA must offer a comparable course, and the student must have achieved a C- or higher. Courses transferred from other institutions are never figured into the grade point average. Your advisor can also help you in the case that your previous school operated on a quarter system instead of semesters. Tulane SoPA accepts a maximum of 60 hours of transfer credits for bachelor’s degrees.


Visit our Student Transfers page to learn more about this process.

Listing of Required Social Sciences Courses

Major Course Requirements
https://catalog.tulane.edu/professional-advancement/humanities-social-sciences/social-sciences-ba/

Core Competencies

English 1010 Writing 4   Select one course: 3   Math   PHIL 1060 Critical Thinking   PHIL 1210 Elementary Symbolic Logic   BSMT 3250 Business Statistics   CPST 1070 Math for Information Technology     Foreign Language or Global Perspectives 6-8   Race and Inclusion 3

Supporting Requirement

  Oral Communications—Select one course: 3 SPEC 1400 Intro to Public Speaking   SPEC 3110 Small Group Communications   THEA 2100 Fundamentals of Acting   BSMT 2250 Business Communications  

Distribution Requirements (at least two disciplines per category)

  Humanities 12   Sciences 12   Social Sciences 12

Writing Requirement

  Designated writing course 3-4

 

Major Requirements

Major Core Courses

  One 1000/2000 level course in three different social science areas (e.g., anthropology, sociology, economics, political science, and gender and sexuality studies, or another social science area chosen with advisor). 9
  Introductory course elective in any social science area, as outlined above. 3
  Five social science courses at 3000+ level in any of the social science subjects noted above. 15
  Interdisciplinary capstone course @ 4000 level. 3

Minor (optional)

  Varies according to minor chosen  

General Electives

  As needed to total 120 credits  
  Total 120

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Tuition & Fees

Information about SoPA tuition and fees may be found here.

Some courses have fees to support the technology needed for high-quality virtual and on-ground experiences.  These fees are always listed on the schedule of classes.

Screenshot of the Tulane School of Professional Advancement's Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences home page on a tablet, showing the requirements of their liberal arts degree program in New Orleans, LA

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By submitting this form, you agree to receive information about the Tulane School of Professional Advancement’s programs via email, phone and/or text. You may opt out at any time.