Year-By-Year Overview

Sophomore Year

As a potential concentrator, you must enroll in Social Studies 10a: Introduction to Social Studies and should also consider taking classes to fulfill the requirements in economics and statistics, especially if you plan to study abroad. 

If you need help deciding whether Social Studies is right for you, our Peer Concentration Advisors are a great resource. You can learn more about each of our PCAs and why they chose Social Studies on our website; feel free to email any of them with questions or to set up a meeting.

If you do decide to concentrate in Social Studies, you must submit a Declaration of Intent  by October 10, 2025. The link to this form will be available on the Social Studies 10a Canvas site.

In some special circumstances, students not enrolled in Social Studies 10a may still declare Social Studies; however, they must meet ASAP with Dr. Rosemarie Wagner to discuss what an alternative path through Social Studies would entail. Students who are late declarers to Social Studies must take Social Studies 10 during junior year in tandem with all other junior year requirements. Students who are late declarers require the permission of Dr. Wagner and are sometimes refused. Students in this situation may not declare Social Studies until after they have registered for 10a, at which point they will be assigned a Social Studies concentration advisor.
 

Junior Year

During your junior year, you’ll work with your academic adviser to develop a preliminary focus field, which you’ll continue to develop over the course of the year. You’ll also take focus field courses, two junior tutorials, and a methodology class. Make sure to complete your Economics and Statistics requirements if you haven’t already done so. And if you’re thinking about doing a secondary, joint, or double concentration, please make sure to read the information on our website and meet with the DUS, if necessary.

Junior year is also when you begin thinking about your thesis. You’ll naturally begin working towards selecting a topic as you define your focus field and choose your junior tutorials and methods class. We’ll also talk more concretely about many of your questions about how to get started when you take Thesis 101, either in the fall or spring term. You should also check out our other program resources and support for the senior thesis process. 

Senior Year

During senior year, you’ll be working with your academic adviser to finalize your focus field and complete any outstanding requirements you have for graduation. If you studied abroad last spring, you may still need to take a second junior tutorial. (If you’re wondering what students do after Social Studies, you can also check out our Alumni Voices page.) 

Of course, as seniors you’ll also write your senior thesis, complete your oral exams, and graduate! Throughout the year, you should make use of the many different kinds of support Social Studies offers for thesis writers. In particular, we strongly encourage you to sign up for the optional Thesis Writing Seminar, Thesis Writing Fellows Office Hours, and Thesis Presentation Workshop as you’re working on your thesis. In April, you should attend an oral exam workshop to help you prepare for your thesis defense and general exam. If you have questions about how your concentration GPA will be calculated, you can find that information on our page about grading and honors.