College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Academic Advisors:

Communication, Foreign Languages & Philosophy
Katya Konkle, katyakonkle@suu.edu,
Student Center 205 ~ (435) 865-8431

History & Sociology and Anthropology
Andrea Donovan ~ andreadonovan@suu.edu,
Student Center 177H ~ (435) 865-8427

English, Political Science & Criminal Justice
Aaron Templin, aarontemplin@suu.edu
Student Center 205 ~ (435) 865-8371

Psychology
Jennifer Hedrick ~ hedrick@suu.edu
General Classroom 306D ~ (435) 865-8248

College Website: http://www.suu.edu/hss/
College Fax: (435) 586-7813

Departments/Programs

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Southern Utah University is composed of six academic departments

• Department of Communication  
• Department of English  
• Department of Foreign Languages and Philosophy  
• Department of History, Sociology, and Anthropology  
• Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice  
• Department of Psychology   

Mission

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences seeks to create everyday leaders. The College supports excellence in education through a diverse, dynamic, and personalized academic environment that emphasizes engaged learning. We educate students to embody holistic knowledge, inspire critical thinking, possess dynamic oral and written communication skills, and become global citizens. Together, this education and training will equip students to make positive changes in their communities.

Vision

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences will become the premier liberal arts college in the intermountain West, providing the core intellectual and engaged learning experiences that prepare students for their role as active citizens and everyday leaders.

College/School Program Goals & Learning Outcomes

Academic Excellence:

With superior teaching as its centerpiece, academic excellence is the hallmark of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Highly qualified faculty members promote and encourage critical and creative thinking, participative educational experiences, applied research, and a supportive learning community. HSS is committed to an academic environment that encourages students to develop as scholars and citizens. Assessment of quality and continual improvement are hallmarks of the education experience with HSS.

Community and Social Responsibility:

Essential to the educational process is a sense of “community,” wherein collaboration, diversity, respect for all people, civility and shared governance are cultivated. The college encourages the discussion and exploration of differing views while recognizing the cherished individual freedom to reach one’s own conclusions. Developing students into productive, responsible citizens and future everyday leaders involves training and instilling ethics and values and the responsibilities one has toward others.

Involvement and Personal Growth:

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences encourages student growth and development by providing opportunities to broaden service, social, and cultural perspectives through campus and community involvement in Internships, Study Abroad, Service Learning, UGRASP, and Honors programs. HSS affirms that active participation in extra-curricular activities provides a holistic educational experience and helps prepare students to become responsible, caring members of society.

Degrees/Program Titles, Certificates and Centers

Graduate Degrees

Master of Arts in Professional Communication (M.A.) 
Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) 
Master of Science in Forensic Science (M.S.F.S.)  

Undergraduate Degrees and Majors

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

Communication

Communication - Communication Studies Emphasis, B.A. 
Communication - Communication Studies Emphasis, B.S.  

• Corporate Communication Area - contact department
• Interpersonal and Relational Area - contact department
• Political Communication Area - contact department

Communication - Media Studies Emphasis, B.A. 
Communication - Media Studies Emphasis, B.S.  

• Film Interest - contact department

Communication - Strategic Communication Emphasis, B.A 
Communication - Strategic Communication Emphasis, B.S.  

English

English - Literature Emphasis, B.A. 
English - Teaching Emphasis, B.A. 
English - Creative Writing Emphasis, B.A. 
English Composite - Secondary Education/Creative Writing Emphasis, B.A.  

Foreign Languages & Philosophy 

French 
French Education 
Spanish, B.A. 
Spanish Education 
Philosophy  

History, Sociology, and Anthropology 

History Major, B.A. 
History Major, B.S. 
History Teaching, B.A.  
History Teaching, B.S.  
Sociology Major, B.A. 
Sociology Major, B.S. 
Social Science Composite, B.A. 
Social Science Composite, B.S.  

Political Science and Criminal Justice

Political Science, B.A. 
Political Science, B.S. 
Criminal Justice, B.A. 
Criminal Justice, B.S. 
Criminal Justice - Forensic Science Emphasis, B.A. 
Criminal Justice - Forensic Science Emphasis, B.S.  

Psychology

Psychology, B.A. 
Psychology, B.S.  

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) 

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, B.I.S.  

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Criminal Justice 
Paralegal/Legal Assistant   

Minors

Communication

Communication - Communication Studies Emphasis Minor  

• Corporate, Interpersonal & Relational, Political Communication - contact department

Communication - Media Studies Emphasis Minor  

• Film Interest - contact department

Communication - Strategic Communication Emphasis Minor  

English

English, Literature Emphasis 
English, Secondary Education Emphasis 
English, Creative Writing Emphasis  

Foreign Languages & Philosophy

French 
German 
Philosophy 
Spanish  

History, Sociology, and Anthropology

History 
History Teaching Minor 
Sociology 
Anthropology 
Sustainability Studies 
Women and Gender Studies  

Political Science and Criminal Justice 

Political Science 
Criminal Justice 
Legal Studies  

Psychology

Psychology  

Certificates

Leadership Certificate 

Communication

Communication Speech Writing Certificate  

Licensure

English

Secondary Education Licensure  

Other Information

Student Advising

Students are assisted in selecting appropriate general education courses and major and minor courses through the joint efforts of College academic advisors and faculty.

• Students interested in Psychology should contact Jennifer Hedrick, GC 306D, (435) 865-8248, Hedrick@suu.edu.
• Students interested in Communications, Foreign Languages, Philosophy should contact Katya Konkle, ST 205G, (435) 865-8431, katyakonkle@suu.edu.
• Students interested in History, Sociology, or Anthropology should contact Andrea Donovan, ST 177H, (435) 865-8427, andreadonovan@suu.edu.
• Students interested in English, Political Science and Criminal Justice should contact Aaron Templin, ST205T, (435) 865-8371, aarontemplin@suu.edu

Student Scholarships

Academic scholarships are available for students with outstanding academic credentials. College and department scholarships are available for students who demonstrate strong academic and leadership potential in the humanities and social sciences. Students must submit applications by February 1. Interested students should contact the Financial Aid Office, Sharwan Smith Center, Room 167, (435) 586-7535.

Student Organizations

The way to get the best experience is to participate in one of the excellent college student organizations. Among the many student organizations, the following are of particular interest to majors in the humanities and social sciences:

• Alpha Chi
• Alpha Kappa Delta (sociology)
• Alpha Phi Sigma (criminal justice)
• Lambda Pi Eta (communication)
• Pi Sigma Alpha (political science)
• Psi Chi (psychology)
• Phi Alpha Theta (history)
• Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish)
• Sigma Tau Delta (English)
• Public Relations Student Society of America (Communication)
• Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi

Internships

Excellent internship opportunities are available for students in most disciplines of the college. Interns are able to gain valuable practical educational experience, academic credit, and often financial compensation. Internships significantly enhance career opportunities for students. Students interested in internships should contact the appropriate academic department; The Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service at (435) 586-7868; or The Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative at (435) 586-7738.

Archeology Repository

Curator: Barbara Frank
Electronic Learning Center ~ (435) 586-7870

The repository serves as the only official depository in Southern Utah permitted to archive cultural artifacts removed from public and private lands. Located on the first level of the Electronic Learning Center, the repository contains artifacts culturally affiliated with the Puebloan groups, specifically the virgin Anasazi, the Fremont, and the Neo-Archaic Southern Paiutes. The artifacts have been deposited from field work done by the SUU Archeology field School, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. This repository was selected as the site for all the artifacts found in the recent work on the Escalante-Grand Staircase Monument. The repository is open by appointment.