Boise State University

What you'll study

The programme is organised around a core of foundational courses in social theory and research methods, together with quantitative and qualitative approaches to social inquiry. Typical core and elective topics include:

• Foundations of Social Science – introductions to major theoretical perspectives across disciplines.
• Research Methods and Statistics – survey design, qualitative interviewing, data analysis and basic statistics for social scientists.
• Sociology and Social Inequality – institutions, stratification, race, class and gender studies.
• Political Science and Public Policy – political behaviour, institutions, policy analysis and governance.
• Anthropology and Cultural Studies – ethnographic methods, cultural change and identity.
• Economics and Urban Studies – introductory micro/macro ideas, urbanisation and community development.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Analysis – where available, applied spatial techniques for social research.
• Capstone or Senior Project – an integrative research or applied project synthesising methods and substantive knowledge.

Students combine departmental electives with general education requirements and often choose a concentration or minor to deepen expertise. Many programmes emphasise experiential learning through internships, community-based projects and research with faculty.

Entry requirements

Admission to the undergraduate Social Sciences programme normally requires a secondary school completion certificate or equivalent. Typical requirements include:

• High school diploma or recognised equivalent with a competitive academic record.
• Recommended prior study in social studies, mathematics or statistics and English; specific course prerequisites vary by pathway.
• English language proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English (accepted tests and minimum scores are set by the university).
• Transfer students must provide college transcripts and meet transfer-credit guidelines; relevant community-college coursework in social sciences is commonly accepted.

Boise State evaluates applications holistically; exact GPA or test-score expectations can vary by applicant pool and are published by the admissions office.

Career prospects

Graduates with a Bachelor in Social Sciences develop analytical, research and communication skills that are valued across sectors. Common career directions include:

• Public sector and policy – roles in local or state government, policy analysis, urban and community planning.
• Non-profit and community organisations – programme coordination, grants administration, advocacy and outreach.
• Research and data roles – social research assistant, survey research, market research and evaluation work.
• Education and youth services – roles in teaching support, community education and programme delivery.
• Private sector – human resources, corporate social responsibility, consulting and consumer insight roles.
• Further study – many graduates progress to master's programmes in social research, public administration, law, social work or related disciplines.

Internships, practicum placements and faculty-led research at Boise State help students build relevant experience and professional networks in the Boise metropolitan area and beyond.

Why study at Boise State University

Boise State offers a practical, applied approach to social sciences, benefiting from its location in Idaho's capital city with accessible government, non-profit and community partners for internships and projects. The university emphasises small-class interaction and opportunities to work directly with faculty on research or community-engaged scholarship.

Students can take advantage of interdisciplinary collaboration across departments, hands-on learning through local placements, and resources such as research centres and labs that support social-data work. The campus’s close ties to the region provide routes to professional experience, civic engagement and career development while studying a flexible programme that can be tailored to specific interests and goals.