Concentrations

Anthropology is the comparative study of humankind. Most anthropologists agree that the discipline is divided into four fields: cultural anthropology, which deals with the description and the analysis of culture; physical or biological anthropology, which explores human evolution and variation; linguistic anthropology, which focuses on the relationships between language and culture; and archaeology, which examines the material remains of past cultures.

If you are interested in going to law school; pursuing graduate study; or beginning or advancing a career in international fields, business, government, public policy, education, or market research, the anthropology concentration provides an excellent foundation.

Foundation Courses by Concentration

20 Credits. Prior to beginning this concentration, students must complete the following foundation course and select three additional social sciences foundation courses and one additional humanities foundation course.

Methods and Theory

8 Credits. Students are required to take Social Sciences Research Methods and one of the other following courses.

Concentration Courses

16 Credits. Students select four of the following courses.

Major Requirements

20 Credits. To enhance their area of concentration and to broaden their knowledge base, students select 20 credits by combining their choice of the above concentration courses, other social sciences courses, or Special Topics in Anthropology.

Free Electives

26-28 Credits. Students select 26 to 28 credits from McGhee course offerings [PDF] in consultation with their advisors

Graduation Project

4 Credits. Students select one of the following courses in consultation with their advisor.

The contemporary economy is characterized by rapid change and increasing interdependence. The economics concentration provides a rigorous analytical framework for studying how current and anticipated changes influence consumers, the private sector, and government. The use of economic models to understand both historic and contemporary issues is stressed throughout the curriculum.

With an economics background, you can pursue career opportunities in business, industry, government, and private agencies. This concentration prepares you for intellectual enrichment and advanced academic and professional training.

20 Credits. Prior to beginning this concentration, students must complete the following foundation courses and select one additional humanities foundation course.

8 Credits. Mathematical Economics is a prerequisite for the following required courses.

16 Credits. Students select four of the following courses.

Business and Economics

Institutions and Policy

International Economics

Issues in Sustainability

20 Credits. To enhance their area of concentration and to broaden their knowledge base, students must complete Mathematical Economics and 16 additional credits by combining their choice of the above concentration courses, other social sciences courses, or Special Topics in Economics.

To meet the challenges of today's rapidly changing and interdependent world, it is important to understand how individuals and groups are affected by historical trends and events. The history concentration encourages exploration of the human condition in a manner that is both deep chronologically—looking back to the ancient and pre-modern periods—and broad in approach. You examine the human experience from a variety of perspectives—politically, socially, ideologically, and culturally—on a global scale. You also learn to develop and to utilize the skills critical to navigating today's world, including assessing evidence, evaluating arguments, and understanding how to synthesize various types of information. The curriculum encourages you to go beyond the more common aspects of history and to delve into how individuals, families, and societies construct different versions of the past. So, you explore not only the past, but also how the past becomes history.

The study of history prepares people for a wide variety of professions where critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to synthesize information are necessary. Graduates of our program have entered a broad array of fields, including law, education, communication, fine arts, theater and film, and national security. Some have started their own businesses, while others have gone on to graduate studies.

20 credits. Prior to beginning this concentration, students must complete two historical perspectives courses from the core curriculum (or their equivalent). In consultation with their advisor, students also select five additional foundation courses: four courses from social sciences and one from humanities.

8 Credits. Students are required to take the following courses.

Concentration Courses

16 Credits. Students select one course from each of the following categories, and one additional course from any of the categories.

Pre-Modern World

Modern World

U.S. History

20 Credits. To enhance their area of concentration and to broaden their knowledge base, students select courses in any of the categories above, other social sciences courses, or Special Topics in History.

Recent changes in world politics are rendering nation-based business and public policies obsolete. The interactions of global economies and politics, coupled with ecological concerns for the planet, have given rise to new educational needs that are worldwide in scope.

The international studies concentration combines courses in the fields of political science, business, economics, anthropology, and sociology into a flexible, multidisciplinary learning experience. This program prepares you for 21st-century careers in business, government, and international organizations, and serves as a strong foundation for advanced study at the graduate level.

Foundation Courses by Concentration

20 credits. Prior to beginning a concentration, students must complete at least two semesters of world cultures courses from the core curriculum, the following foundation courses, and select two additional social sciences foundation courses and one additional humanities foundation course.

Methods and Theory

8 Credits. Students are required to take Social Science Research Methods and one of the other following courses.

Concentration Courses

16 Credits. Students select one course from each of the following categories.

Politics and Economics

Area Studies

Anthropology/Sociology

International and Global History

Major Requirements

20 Credits. To enhance their area of concentration and to broaden their knowledge base, students select 20 credits by combining their choice of the above concentration courses, other social sciences courses, or Special Topics in International Studies.

As the 21st century began, digital media, social media, and other technological innovations revolutionized not only how media are produced, distributed, and consumed, but also how we communicate with one another in a globally connected world. The concentration in media studies is designed to provide you with the critical knowledge and analytical skills necessary to understand and examine contemporary global media. By investigating the social, cultural, political, and economic forces that shape and are shaped by the media, you also explore the role that the media play in constructing identities and worldviews.

Grounded in the liberal arts, the concentration in media studies provides a solid theoretical foundation to prepare you for future scholarly pursuits and, at the same time, it fosters the versatility, creativity, and social engagement to help you excel in your chosen professional field. Some of our graduates have entered careers in media production (film, television, and new media), marketing, advertising, public relations, media research, and media advocacy, as well as the field of education. Others have pursued graduate degrees in media, communications, journalism, sociology, and cultural studies.

Foundation Courses by Concentration

20 credits. Prior to beginning this concentration, students must complete the following foundation courses, and select two additional social sciences foundation courses and one additional humanities foundation course.

Methods and Theory

8 Credits. Students are required to take Theory of Media and Cultural Studies and one of the other following courses..

Concentration Courses

16 Credits. In consultation with their advisors, students select 12 credits of media theory courses and four  additional credits from either of the following two groups.

Media Theory

Media Practices

Major Requirements

20 Credits. To enhance their area of concentration and to broaden their knowledge base, students select 20 credits by combining their choice of the above concentration courses, other social sciences courses, or Special Topics in Media Studies.

In today’s rapidly changing work environment, effective leadership is essential to high-impact performance and the success of individuals, groups, and organizations. employees at every level have a competitive edge when they can analyze critical issues and effectively enhance leadership competencies, performance effectiveness, and multicultural communications, as well as manage diversity and human development within the workplace. The uniqueness of this concentration lies in its psychosocial, conceptual orientation grounded in experiential learning for real world application. Inspired by the scientist-practitioner model, students develop fluency in theory and application. Students learn to diagnose organizational systems and change, apply the interpersonal skills to meet strategic challenges, and advance in their own individual endeavors within organizations of the current corporate and nonprofit worlds.

Students who have completed between 40 to 64 credits at McGhee or at another accredited university or college and have earned a C or better in a college algebra course may be able to complete their degree with this concentration online.

Dual Degree Program

Eligible students in this concentration have the opportunity to pursue dual degrees, culminating in the award of the B.A. in Social Sciences with a concentration in Organizational Behavior and Communication, and the M.S. in Human Resource Management and Development. To apply, students must have completed at least 80 credits through McGhee (including accepted transfer credits) and must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher during the time they accrued those credits. If accepted, students select four courses (12 credits) from the M.S. in Human Resource Management and Development program, which will be counted as electives towards the B.A. degree. These courses and credits also will apply towards the M.S. degree.

For more information about the admissions requirements and process for the dual degrees, please contact the McGhee Advising Office at (212) 992-9055 or mcghee.advising@nyu.edu.

Foundation Courses by Concentration

20 credits. Prior to beginning this concentration, students must complete the following foundation courses and select two additional social sciences foundation courses and one additional humanities foundation course.

Methods and Theory

8 Credits. Students are required to take the following courses.

Concentration Courses

16 Credits. Students may select any four courses from the following categories. Please note prerequisites before enrolling.

Communication and Workplace Dynamics

Leadership and Organizational Strategy

Managing Organizations and Change

Major Requirements

20 Credits. To enhance their area of concentration and to broaden their knowledge base, students select 20 credits by combining their choice of the above concentration courses, other social sciences courses, or the following courses.

Politics permeate all aspects of society on the local, regional, national, and international levels. The lives of all human beings are shaped, defined, and influenced by political institutions, laws, regulations, and political forces. The concentration in politics offers you the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of both American and international political systems, as well as, the theoretical foundations of political behavior. This program prepares you for careers in government, business, teaching, social work, urban affairs, and journalism, in addition to paving the way for advanced, graduate-level study.

Foundation Courses by Concentration

20 credits. Prior to beginning this concentration, students must complete the following foundation courses and select one additional social sciences foundation courses and one additional humanities foundation course. Students planning to attend graduate school in political science are advised to take at least two semesters of a foreign language and one course in statistics.

Methods and Theory

8 Credits. Students are required to take Classical Political Thought and one of the other following courses.

Concentration Courses

16 Credits. Students select one course from each of the following categories.

American Government and Politics

American Politics is a prerequisite for these courses.

Comparative Politics

International Relations is a prerequisite for these courses.

International Relations

International Relations is a prerequisite for these courses.

Political Theory

Major Requirements

20 Credits. To enhance their area of concentration and to broaden their knowledge base, students select 20 credits by combining their choice of the above concentration courses, other social sciences courses, or Special Topics in Political Science.

Psychologists seek to understand the general principles underlying the mind and behavior, and they attempt to explain and to predict individual differences in characteristic ways of thinking, feeling, and acting. The concentration in psychology introduces you to the broad spectrum of psychological research, with courses that examine the biological bases of behavior; the ways in which we understand the world, ourselves, and other people; the nature of social interactions and close relationships; the influences of biology, family, culture, and society on the development of the individual; and the causes and treatment of psychopathology. The program provides the background necessary to obtain advanced training in research or clinical psychology, and it also serves as excellent preparation for work in the health professions, education, clinical social work, business, and law.

Foundation Courses by Concentration

20 credits. Prior to beginning this concentration, students must complete the following foundation course and select three additional social sciences foundation courses and one additional humanities foundation course.

Methods and Theory

8 Credits. The following courses should be taken early in the program. It is best to complete Math I before taking upper level courses in the concentration.

Concentration Courses

16 Credits. Students select one course from each of the following categories, plus one additional course from both the first and second categories. Please note prerequisites before enrolling.

Biological Foundations and Cognitive Processes

Social, Personality, Clinical, and Developmental Psychology

Applied and Advanced Topics in Psychology

Major Requirements

20 Credits. To enhance their area of concentration and to broaden their knowledge base, students select 20 credits by combining their choice of the above concentration courses, other social sciences courses, or the following courses.

Advanced Methodology and Laboratory Courses

At least one of the following courses is recommended for students applying to graduate school. A laboratory course can also be used to develop topics for a senior project.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is recommended for students considering graduate work or careers in mental health services. A fieldwork course can also be used to develop topics for a senior project.

26-28 Credits. Students select 26 to 28 credits of additional psychology courses or other courses [PDF] in the social sciences and humanities in consultation with their advisors.

Sociologists study the way humans create social structures and build social institutions, communities, nations, and states. They accomplish this by conducting analyses of the full range of behaviors and interactions that shape the human experience. The concentration in sociology provides the tools and the knowledge base to help you to understand and to make sense of the rapidly changing world around you. After completing this concentration, you are prepared for graduate study in sociology or other social science fields. This concentration also is ideally suited for those individuals who are interested in a career in social services, public administration, health, law, social research, or policy making.

Foundation Courses by Concentration

20 credits. Prior to beginning this concentration, students must complete the following foundation course and select three additional social sciences foundation courses and one additional humanities foundation course.

Methods and Theory

8 Credits. Students are required to take Social Sciences Research Methods and one of the other following courses.

Concentration Courses

16 Credits. Students select one course from each of the following categories.

Inequality in Human Society

Social Problems

Family, Gender, and Kinship

Communities, Organizations, and Global Change

Major Requirements

20 Credits. To enhance their area of concentration and to broaden their knowledge base, students select 20 credits by combining their choice of the above concentration courses, other social sciences courses, or Special Topics in Sociology.