What if I want to include a course that is not in a social science department in my focus field?

Students commonly include courses outside of our five member departments (Anthropology, Economics, Government, History, and Sociology) in their Focus Fields. Typically, courses that have substantial social science, historical, or social theoretical content (e.g., more than half of the topics covered) can be counted, as can courses taught by faculty members with PhDs in the social sciences, history, or continental philosophy. If the course that you want to include in your Focus Field is taught by a faculty member with a PhD in one of these areas, all you need to do is list the course on your Focus Field form when you submit it for approval during the junior or senior fall. If you want to include a course both outside our five member departments and also taught by someone with a PhD outside these areas, then you’ll need to include a syllabus for the class with your Focus Field form when you submit it for approval to the BOI.